Marking our past – part 3
In 2005, as part of Kelowna’s centennial – the town of Kelowna became a city on May 4, 1905 – more than 140 grave markers were installed in Kelowna Pioneer Cemetery, acknowledging the lives of individuals whose graves had previously been unmarked.
“Marking Our Past” committee consisted of historian Sharron J. Simpson, genealogist Marie (nee Loyst) Ablett, the late James H. “Jim” Hayes (researcher), and me (researcher). We had our assigned tasks which were finished on time and in good order, completing a project that has given names and other information to many of our pioneer residents who had previously been largely ignored.
This week, seven more people in “Marking Our Past” are featured, recounting their lives before and after they came to Kelowna. Information listed directly after the names – including birth and death dates – comes from Marking Our Past grave markers:
• William Smith Cameron’s grave marker records that he lived from 1826 to 1923. The British Columbia Death Registration index records that he died at Kelowna on Dec. 2, 1923, age 97 years. The 1921 Canada Census (British Columbia, Yale County, Okanagan Division) records William Smith, 95 years old, born in Ontario and living on Richter Street, Kelowna, with his 77-year-old wife Aphlia.
• Isabella Archibald lived from 1865 to 1912. The index of British Columbia Death Registrations records Isabella Brown Archibald’s death at Kelowna on Jan. 18, 1912. The Jan. 18, 1912 edition of “The Kelowna Record” (page one) reports, “The death took place at noon today (Thursday) of Miss Archibald sister of Mrs. D. McFarlane of Glenn Ave. The deceased lady has been lingering at the point of death for some time with an affection of the heart...” Ancestry.ca records indicate that Isabella Brown Archibald was born at Edinburgh, Scotland, on Oct. 15, 1864, daughter of William Archibald (born 1837) and Jane Porteous (1831-97).
• William Stewart, “Retired Coal Miner” died in 1923 age 69 years. The Index of British Columbia Death Registrations records his death at Kelowna on Nov. 21, 1923, age 69 years. The 1921 Canada Census (British Columbia, Yale Country, Okanagan Division) shows 66-year-old William Stewart, born in England, coming to Canada in 1903 and living on Richter Street with his daughter Hannah Cunningham, her American-born husband Hugh J. Cunningham and their sons William C. and Vernon S. Cunningham. The Jan. 3, 1907, marriage at Coal Creek, B.C., of Hannah Stewart and Hugh John Cunningham lists her parents as William Stewart and Jane Groves Dickson.
• Elizabeth Jane Bower lived from 1847 to 1928. Elizabeth Jane Orchard was born in Ontario, daughter of Simon and Lillie Orchard. On Jan. 1, 1873, at Port
Elgin, Ont., she married David Bower. “The history of Ellison and District 1858-1958, page 43) records that “David [and Elizabeth] Bower came to the district from Ontario about 1905. There were five sons in the family besides one daughter (later Mrs. McAuley). They settled on the property later owned by Wm. Spencer and built a house there. When the house burned down they moved for a time to Glenmore and a few years later settled north of Calgary. Mr. Bower was a carpenter and built the barn still standing on the Orchard farm (Ellison) now owned by Alf Neid.
• Thomas Wallis was a rancher and lived from 1852 to 1918. The Index of British Columbia Death Registrations show that he died at Kelowna on Aug. 21, 1918, age 66 years. Kelowna Cemetery burial records indicate that Thomas Wallis was born in Cornwall, England. Ancestry.ca records the July 1902 marriage of Thomas Wallis and Elizabeth Jane Bolitho at Penzance, Cornwall. Other Ancestry.ca records show that Thomas and Elizabeth landed at Ellis Island, U.S., on Nov. 4, 1909. Elizabeth Jane Wallis died at Vancouver on May 20, 1917, age 54 years.
• William Stanley Morris, “Sawmill Worker,” died in 1914 age 25 years. The Index of British Columbia Death Registrations records his death at Kelowna on Nov. 3, 1914. His obituary on page one of the Nov. 5, 1914, edition of the “Kelowna Record” indicates that William Stanley Morris “ex-army” in England died in the Kelowna Hospital of appendicitis. Locally, he had numerous jobs, including assisting the British Columbia Police.
“Find My Past” records that William Stanley Morris was born at Eastbourne,
Sussex, England, son of Abel (marine store owner) and Joan Morris. In 1908 he “signed up” with the Lancers regiment and within a few years came to Canada.
• William McLaughlin, “1890s Logger,” lived from 1835 to 1915. His obituary, part of which follows, is on page one of the Jan. 6, 1916 edition of the “Kelowna Record”: “Last Friday night (Dec. 31, 1915) as the closing hours of 1915 were passing out, a pathetic human tragedy of a kind of which the story of the west holds many, was taking place across the lake opposite Kelowna.
“All unknown to the many revellers in town who each in his own ways was celebrating the passing of another milestone on life’s journey, old Bill McLaughlin, of Westbank, was lying unconscious on the snow-covered trail leading to his cabin, his life slowly ebbing away with the dying year. ‘Wild Goose Bill,’ for by that sobriquet he was far better known than by his real name, had been in town during the afternoon and returned on the ferry that evening .... ” The rest of the obituary recounts ‘Wild Goose Bill’s’ life, including his troubles with the law.
It is my hope that “Marking Our Past” will be revived; there are many more unmarked Kelowna Pioneer Cemetery graves needing attention.
The Kelowna Branch of the Okanagan Historical Society operates on the unceded traditional territory of the Syilx people. It gratefully acknowledges their traditional knowledge, the elders and all those who have gone before us.
This article is part of a series, submitted by the Kelowna Branch, Okanagan Historical Society. Additional information would be welcome at P.O. Box 22105, Capri P.O., Kelowna, B.C., V1Y 9N9.