Loyalty Beyond Borders

​Philip Figary (1870-1925)


The Sash Our Forefathers Wore
​Philip Figary was born in Newfoundland in 1870 and as a young man taught school there for a number of years. While in Newfoundland he married and two children were born.

About 1905, he moved to Toronto where he operated a photo studio on Yonge St. until 1919, at which time he moved to Port Perry.

Mr. Figary first wife died about 1913 and he married a second time, in 1915, to Florrie Honour. From this marriage five children were born. In 1917 he purchased the large orchard at the south end of the town from Mr. Monet, but did not move to town until 1919.

After arriving in town he became interested in the community. “Service” was the word which governed Mr. Figary’s life, and for some years he has devoted a great deal of his time in forwarding the welfare of this village.

He ran successfully for town council in 1921 and served in that capacity until 1923 when he was elected Reeve of the village. Mr. Figary was in his third term as Reeve, when he became sick and passed away on April 21, 1925. In Hydro matters a great deal of constructive work was done by the deceased and he had the honour of presiding over the public meeting to formally open the hydro system in the town.

Although his time in the community was relatively brief, he had become one of the town’s outstanding figures, and his demise was a sad blow to the people of the community.

He was a strong supporter of the temperance movements, a Methodist, Conservative and a prominent member of the Orange Lodge, and also well known in the Oddfellows. One of his greatest accomplishments is said to have been his efforts in having a new cement roadway laid through the village in 1924.

Mr Figary passed away on Tuesday, April 21, 1925 while in his 56 year. In his death, Port Perry lost one of the best municipal officers that had ever given themselves unstintingly in the interests of the community. At County Council, following his death, the chair occupied by Reeve Figary was draped in black as a token of respect to his memory. He was survived by his wife Florrie, their five children, and two children from a previous marriage. A large crowd gathered for his funeral, and he was buried in Pine Grove Cemetery on April 23, 1925.
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