Hugh Charles Catt, 1912.

BIRTH:  February 12, 1887 (Spetisford, England)
DEATH:  November 1, 1960 (Vernon, BC)

• Pete had a twin brother.
• Served the navy at age 15.
• Fulfilled his dream; owned a herd.
• Passed away on November 1, 1960.
• The Catt Residence.

The pioneer and long time residents of Lumby remember Hugh Charles Catt as a man who dedicated his life to justice during the 54 years he lived here.

Hugh Charles Catt and his twin brother, George Clifford, were born February 12, 1887 in Spetisford, Dorset, England: the 4th and 5th of nine children of George Henry Catt.

At the age of 15, Pete (no one ever called him Hugh) qualified as a midshipman in the Royal Navy Reserve after completing his education at Stubbington, a naval preparatory school, and aboard HMS Worcester, a training ship of the Thames. Then, for two years, he served on sailing vessels and for two more years on steamships.

Pete was eventually approached on the verandah of the old Okanagan Hotel by Isaac Deschamps and offered a job as a slasher. Having no idea what the job entailed, he willfully accepted the offer. While working in the bush in the Lavington district, he had to opportunity to scout the district. When his father returned from his journey to the coast in the fall, Pete was deeply interested in a ranch for sale in Lumby. Mr. Catt (Pete's father) hired contractors to build the largest and grandest house in Lumby - 27 rooms - for the family who came from England in the spring of 1907.

As George and Jim Catt stayed in Lumby to work on the ranch, hiring Chinese laborers to clear the land, Pete took himself off to Alberta to take a job as a cow puncher for two years. After that, he returned to Lumby and took the position as a teacher at the one-room schoolhouse. He taught there for two and a half years.

Pete and Elda were married April 14, 1914 by Father Doheny in Sacred Heart Church, situated at the time near the present cemetery. Pete and Elda moved into the farm house built by Quinn Faulkner in 1916, buyiing from his father on a lease-to-purchase agreement. There was still a great deal of work to be completed of the land before Pete could realize his dream of owning a herd of Registered Shorthorn cattle. Eventually, he owned a herd of cattle consisting of 42 cows.

Hugh Charles Catt passed away in Vernon Jubilee Hospital on November 1, 1960. Elda Marie Louise Catt passed away November 30, 1975 and was laid to rest beside her husband.