Thomas Gutteridge was born in England in 1886. He was adopted by Mr. and Mrs. George Gutteridge. The family came to Drinkwater when the village was being built. Thomas's father was a section foreman with the railroad, and his mother was a cook for the section men. Later, Tommy as he was known rented land ( S 15 14 25) west of Briercrest from Dr. Wardell. In 1911, Tommy married Eliza Oakley, a widow, ten years his senior. There were no children. Eliza died in 1937. After her death, the R.M. of Baildon asked Mrs. Judith Huntley to look after Tommy, which she did for many years. Tommy died in 1967. He is buried in Hillsdale (Baildon) Cemetery. It is said that Tommy stuttered badly, but sang beautifully, and also played the fiddle and helped out at dances.
Judith (Bowkett) Huntley was born in 1882 in Gloucestershire England. She married Sidney Huntley in 1905 and they immigrated to Winona, ON. In 1909 they came west to the Murray Ranch south of Crestwynd. The same year they moved onto their homestead on SE-14-14-27 W/2 where they lived for fourteen years. In 1923 they moved back to Winona, but in 1929 returned to the Buttress, SK district to the NW-24-14-27 W/2.
Judith and Sidney had five children, Stanley, Miles, Norah, Cecil and Jennie. Judith liked to knit. She loved to sing and dance and play the pump organ. She sang at community dances, was active in the Red Lake Ladies’ Aid, and attended the church that was held in the school.
After Sidney’s passing in 1936, the municipality approached Judith if she would take care of Thomas (Tommy) Gutteridge from Hearne who was widowed and ill. She looked after Tommy in the Huntley home until 1945. They then moved to NW-14-14-27 W/2. In 1949 they again moved to SW-13-14-27 W/2. In 1960 they moved to Moose Jaw. Judith passed away in 1965 and is buried in Hillsdale Cemetery.
