My Genealogy / History Pages of
British Columbia
Canada

 

Usk BC

 

Site Index

British Columbia

Terrace
Home Page
Post Office
Archive Pictures 1, 2, 3, 4
Aerial Picture, ca1950's
Founder, George Little
Hotel-Motel History
Town Plan, Oct 1911

Terrace Calcium Products Ltd.
Terrace Co-op Garden Centre
Grand Trunk Pathway
Cramer St History
Ferry Island
Relay for Life, May 3, 2008
Terrace-Kitimat Airport
Hospital- Early Doctors
Child Development Centre
Terrace Area War Memorial

Private Berger War Mystery

No 1, Armoured Train, WWII
WWII Mutiny
Military Headstones
Logging Archives
Water Towers / Reservoirs
Dairy History
Kitsumgallum Cemetery
Braun's Island
Hatt Brothers Store
Lanfear Hill
Kitsumkalum School
Albert & McCaffery Ltd.
Gordon & Anderson Ltd.

Prince Rupert
Home Index Page
Archive Photos:
Page 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7
- 8- 9- 10
Albert & McCaffery Ltd
BC Govt. Court House
City Halls
Fire Department
Funeral Directors
Gordon & Anderson Ltd.
Grand Trunk Pacific, Page 1 - 2
GTP Steamships-SS Prince- Rupert/George
Hotel History
Knoxville
Lindsay's Cartage & Storage
Miller Bay Hospital
Post Office History
Prince Rupert Dry Dock
Prince Rupert Riots

Ridley
Seal Cove
Vickersville
Watson Island
First Around the World Flight
Rupert Area Cemeteries

Dodge- Hospital Island
Digby Island

North West BC Area
Aberdeen
Aiyansh
Aiyansh Tseax Volcano Cone
Aldermere
Alice Arm
Amsbury
Andimaul
Anyox 1, 2, 3
Barrett Lake
Bateman's Landing
Billmor
Carnaby
Cedarvale / Minskinish
Copper City
Dorreen
Ellison
Evelyn Station
Exstew
Falls River Hydro Dam (Pr Rupert)
Fiddler Creek
Glentanna
Hanall Point
Haysport
Hazeltons- Old / New / South
Houston
Hubert
Inverness
Kemano / Kitimat, mid 1950's
Kitsault
Kitselas- (Old Town/ Canyon)
Kitsumkalum Lake
Kitwanga
Kwinitsa
Lakelse Lake Valley
Lorne Creek
Nass Camp
North Bulkley
Pacific
Pitman
Port Edward
Port Essington
Prince Rupert
Quick Station
Remo
Ridley
Ritchie
Salvus
Sealy-Sealey-Seeley
Seaton
Shames
Skeena City
Skeena Crossing
Smithers
Stewart
Telkwa
Terrace
Tramville
Usk
Vanarsdol
Woodcock

Cassiar District
Centreville
Defot
Glenora Landing
Lake House
Laketon/Lake Town

McDame
Porter Landing/ Thibert Creek
Telegraph Creek

North Coast
Claxton
Ethelda Bay (DOT site)
Fort / Port Simpson

Georgetown Mills/ Georgetown
Woodcock's Landing

Skeena / Bulkley Pioneers
Arthur Lee Clore
Michaud Brothers
George Albert Kerr
John "David" Stuart
Rev. Thomas Jabez Marsh
James Darius Wells
Frank Lazelle

Frederick "Fred" Hampton
James Kelso Gordon
Frank Phiscator Jr. and Sr.
Oscar Olander / Paul Brodin
Dennis Tulley Christopher

Joel "Joe" Trulson
Samuel Arden Singlehurst
John Arthur Clark King Sealy
William Binnie "Tom" Forrest
Clair Leon Morris Giggey
Charles Merson "Charlie" Adam
Mrs Lanfear, Miss French

Grand Trunk Pacific History
GTP Railway Station Index

GTP Railway Contractors
GTP Railway Medical Service
Grand Trunk Pacific, Page 1 - 2
GTP Steamships-SS Prince Rupert
Foley, Welch and Stewart
Dr. William Percy Johns
Dr. Seymour Traynor
Daniel Joseph Dempsey
Edwin G. Russell
Adolph Butze
Frank Watrous Morse
George Alexander McNicholl
Joseph Frederick "Fred" Ritchie
Ernest Joseph Rowley
Allan Cameron Aldous
William Pitt Murray
Henry H. Brewer
Dr. Francis James Ewing
Western Canadian Immigration Association

Dominion Government Telegraph
Dominion Telegraph System
John Theodore Phelan

Enoch Roscoe Lukens Jones
Hugh Bernard Ashton Birch
Thomas Howard Walsh
John Franklin Richardson

Sternwheelers
Sternwheeler History
Capt. William Francis Madden
SS Mount Royal Sinking

Capt. George Hamilton Ritchie

Steamships
SS Princess Norah

SS Prince Rupert / Prince George

Misc Pages
Misc History Info
BC Tel Northern District History
Various Pictures, Northern BC

Skeena River Photos
Copper River Bridge
Russian Stone Fort Mystery
North Route Service Center

Ski Hill History
BC Coastal Airline History
NW BC Logger's Memorial, Usk
Usk Pioneer Chapel
Usk Ferry Page
Forestry Lookouts
Kitselas Tunnel Explosion
New Zealand Moose?
Bear Glacier

1978 Flood, Northwest BC
Sunsets, Mountains, Lakes, Creeks
Reg German Anyox Archive Photos
Robert Ridley
Arthur Marsden "Art" Priestley
Monckton Family
Postcard Photographers
Patrick Joseph Ryan
Oolichan Fish

Vancouver Island
Logging Archive Pictures
________________

Links below are
NOT my pages
but worth a visit for sure
Ext Links

Terrace Library

  Contact Me?
Contact Page

View My Feedback

Return to my BC History Index Page

 

 NO Reproduction in Whole or in Part, on ANY, and ALL of my Pages,
 Including Text and Pictures,
 May be made, without the express Written Permission
 of Web Editor, Doug Gent
© 2016

Want to add a link to my pages?
see my
Copyright Information Page
for the only Authorized Picture Link allowed.
All Pictures on all my web pages, are now Visibly Watermarked,
All my pages are now Right Click, (copy and paste), disabled.
I ask everyone that enjoys free history sites,
to start policing these violations.
If we don't stop this, no one will donate pictures to me, or anyone,
and we all loose.
If you see one of my pictures on Facebook, etc.
tell them to remove it.


Usk BC

Klew Nu original Native village at this site

Known as the Skeena's Industrial Centre in 1924

12 miles east of Terrace BC

107 mi from Rupert on the Grand Trunk Railroad, now CNR

A small Hamlet north of Highway 16
Reaction Ferry between the 2 parts of Usk (see link below)
Skeena River divides the 2 areas.

Latitude-
54º 38' N,
Longitude- 128º 25' W


Map showing Usk top of map, Terrace at the bottom
part of whole map, see my Kitsumkalum Lake site

Usk was named by a GTP Railroad Superintendent
Dominic Daniel Joseph Dempsey Loftus

aka: Dominic Demsey
aka: Daniel Joseph Demsey Loftus
aka: Daniel Joseph Demsey
aka: Daniel J. Dempsey
aka: Dan J. Dempsey
aka: Dan Dempsey
Yes he used all those names!

Received this note from Helen McRae, Terrace, Mar 2013
"Dan Dempsey - he was in charge of track laying
and there is a memorial mention of him in Alberta. 
My Grandparents pre-empted DL 704
between the present day GTP tunnels at Kitselas Canyon. 
As so many years were spent on building the tunnels,
the crews spent many evenings at their place,
pool table, daughters, music, etc.
so my Mom knew many of the fellows
Dan Dempsey was one of them and he told her
he named Usk for his home in ?
(I seem to think she said by the Usk River in Scotland
but so many seem to think after the castle
on Kitselas mountain, like the Wales castle.
 

When the Mayor of Usk, Wales, and his partner visited us,
they offered to put a letter in one of their newspapers
but it did not turn up hints - anyway, one of our mysteries."
One of the links below is about their visit.
Helene and others have been trying to find
 Mr. Demsey for a while now.

 


1911
Canadian American Consolidated Mining Co. Ltd.


1921

D. A. Buchanan (Duncan?)

1923
Golden Cache Claim


1925
 Population= 200

CNR

Sam Alger- Section Foreman
Samuel James Alger-
b- Feb 1872, Hartismere Reg District, Suffolk England
d- Mar 20, 1936 in Prince Rupert, age 64
shown as a Foreman, Train Station in Brandon in 1911
married Eliza "Maud?" Gillman, (Gilman?)
b- Jan 23, 1870, Norfolk England
d- Oct 20, 1951, Victoria BC

son- Samuel "George" Alger
b- Feb 25, 1901, Norfolk England
d- Feb 11, 1962, St. Joseph's Hospital, Victoria, age 60
1916 in Amsbury as a farmer
1925 Railroad Man in Usk
Steam Fitter, age 30 when he married
Assistant Foreman, Pipe shop, HMC Dockyard, Victoria when he died
married Muriel Kroeger, Nov 3, 1931 at United Church Parsonage, Terrace
b- ca 1902, London England
d- bef 1962
Telephone Operator, age 29, daughter of
Martin Kroeger, b- Hamburg Germany
and Elizabeth Anna Warren, b- Northampton, England

siblings of George Alger:
William E. Alger
b- Apr 1892, in England
 shown as a Wiper at round House in Brandon in 1911

Alice Maud Alger-
b- Feb 24, 1894 in England
d- June 24, 1967 Prince Rupert BC
correction came in as I had her married 4 times:

She was actually married 5 times;
 Holmes, O’Brien, Halbert, Bethurem, Brule.
  With Holmes she had William and James;
with O’Brien, Patrick and Bessie;
with Halbert, no children;
with Bethurem, Leona.  

Beatrice Helen Alger
b- Jan 20, 1896 in England, Laundress in 1911
Married a Mr. Crowner, then Joseph Bell, see below

Winnifred (Winifred) (Winnie) Alger
b- Apr 1905 in England

Ivy Alger
b- Oct 1907, in MB

Edward William Alger
b- May 4, 1911, in Brandon, MB

Alger Family immigrated arriving in Mar 29, 1906, on the SS Virginian
all shown from Norfolk, England
1911 family living in Brandon MB, except for Alice
her location unknown, until 1921 census in Usk.
she probably married between 1906 and 1911.


Joseph "Joe" Halbert- Section Man
Wallace Morgan- Section Man
E. T. Squires- Section Man

Charles J. H.  Durham- CNR watchman
received an email from Helene McRae Apr 5, 2013,
with some additional info for Usk etc. with thanks.

"One of the things on the Kitselas page is of Charles Durham
 I have that his name was Carl Joseph Halvar Dorum
but of course in English, Charles Durham
he was born on Aug. 21, 1861 in Molde, Norway
and died at Usk, B. C. on September 13, 1958. (Helene's Grandfather) 

 His planned Durham town was on DL 704
 Railroad side of Kitselas Canyon - did not become Usk. 
Richard Lowrie (Lizzy Kitselas' husband),
pre-empted the lot that become Usk.

There's a bit of confusion between your
Newtown / Vanarsdol / Kitselas
 and the Kitselas Canyon town
- the white people moved to Usk - 3 miles East of the Canyon,
Newtown would be about 3 miles West, more across from the Copper River."


Mines and Miners / Prospectors

Comet Mineral Claims-
 McDonnell, Edgar & Sculley owners- copper

John Patrick MacDonnell
b- ca 1871 in Ireland
Immigrated in 1886
daughter- Verona Maud MacDonnell
b- ca 1901 in BC

Magnus William Edgar- Prospector
b- Mar 6, 1877 in Port Simpson BC
d- June 18, 1954 in Prince Rupert General Hospital, Prince Rupert BC, age 77
buried in Hartley Bay Cemetery
Permanent residence was Sunnyside Cannery
occupation- blacksmith
son of George Edgar, b- Nanaimo BC
 and Mary Ann Alexcee, b- Port Simpson BC
 wife- Amelia Augusta Anderson
Magnus had a daughter, Emily Edgar
He had a brother Louis Edgar (see below)

Thomas Sculley- Prospector
b- ca 1891, in Yukon
d-
wife-Irene Sculley, nee Edgar?
b- ca 1899, in BC
d-
son- John Sculley
b- ca 1819, in BC
d-
they had at least one daughter, name unknown,
who died Aug 1925, in Butedale,
where Irene's parents lived.
Can't find much info on this family


Continental Mineral Claims
 James Darius Wells, Manager- Copper/Gold


Cordillera Mineral Claims
owners Kitselas Mountain Copper Co. Ltd.

the KITSELAS MOUNTAIN COPPER CO., LTD. report of September 15th, 1926.
The letter to the shareholders is signed by F. R. FORTNER, President,
and there is also a report signed by J. D. WELLS, Manager
"I beg to hand you a precise report of development and mineral conditions
 of your holdings in the Cordillera Mining property here at Usk, British Columbia."
Directors of the Company: 
James Darius Wells, A. J. Thompson, J. Darby,
F. R. Fortner, and E. E. Kaseberg
They were all in Prince Rupert for a meeting in June 1925
I found a Fred R. Fortner and Edward E. Kaseberg
both in Wasco, Sherman, Oregon ca 1920.
Fred a Banker, Edward a farmer ca1910, after than that, no occupation shown
see bios-genealogy below:

J. Darby would be James Darby, a Prospector in Usk.
very possibly James Joseph Darby
b- ca 1878 possibly Oregon
d- Oct 28, 1945 in Prince Rupert, age 78
his parents were born in Canada
He immigrated in 1912
shown in Usk in 1921, married

Frederick Roy "Fred" Fortner
b- July 25, 1883, Tuscarora, Nevada
d- Oct 15, 1952 in Portland Oregon
Land Appraiser at a Bank in 1940 in Portland Oregon
He worked as a Bank Clerk in Wasco Oregon.
Employer- ca 1942- Pacific Coast Joint Stock Land Bank
wife- Annabel "Anabel" L. Fortner, nee Lucas,  b- WA
daughter- Mary L. Fortner, b- OR
daughter- Winifred A. Fortner, b- OR

Edward E. "Ed" Kaseberg
b- July 18, 1879 Salem, Missouri, USA
d- Nov 20, 1964, Wasco, Oregon, age 85
both parents born in Germany
1942 in Portland, Oregon
wife- Evalyn "Eva" Kaseberg, nee Morrow
son- Hollis Kaseberg

Archibald Joseph Thompson
b- ca 1880 in USA
d- ?
A. J. Thompson shown as Manager in 1925
both parents born in USA
Immigrated in 1917
wife- Greta Moon Thompson,
b- ca 1893 in USA
they left Usk area, to Vancouver, in Dec. 1925


Golden Crown Mineral claims
- Kleanza Co Ltd. Lessees,
-Gold/silver


Kleanza Mining claims
 -Gold/silver/copper


Sultana Mineral claims
-Stanwood & Dyers owners, gold/copper

I think this is James Dyer, free miners cert # 1649D
Sultana Group was at Boulder Creek


Wells Mineral Claims
- Copper


Montana Mineral claims
-
James Darius Wells, Manager, copper


Peerless Mineral Claims
- O. T. Lindland, Foreman
Ole T. Lindland


Lucky Seven Mineral claims-
 Richard "Dick" Lowrie & Loyal Ernest Moody
Lucky Luke
was one of the claims they worked on

Richard Garobaldy "Dick" Lowrie
Buried in Fairview Cemetery, Prince Rupert, BC
One of the first settlers in what became Usk,
 taking a pre-emption surrounding the station.
Lowrie Creek between Usk and Hanal to the north,
(54°38'48''N, 128°23'58''W at the approximate mouth),
would be named after this man.

Helene McRae sent this correction below,
for Richard Lowrie, (founder of Usk) and his family:

Gary Richard Lowrie
b- Nov. 9, 1865 (in ON)
d- Mar 17, 1948, at Usk BC

Father: William Lowrie  (no dates)
1st wife- Elizabeth Scott
 2nd wife- (Richard's Mother)- Anne Mulnyx from Lurgin, Ireland 

Grandfather:  William Lowrie 1792 - 1867 Scotland

Richard Lowrie married Elizabeth (Lizzy) Kitselas (no date of this)
- widow of George Ellis,
aka: Kitselas, who was called Kitselas George by the Riverboat Captains 
Elizabeth (Lizzy) was born in the Nass
her father was a Guno (from the Nass)
and her mother a Mathews from Kitsequela (spelling)
  First son, George, born September 1899.

Elizabeth (Lizzy) Kitselas delivered two of the Durham babies at Kitselas: 
 Irene Olga Durham - March 28, 1906
 and Kathleen Hjordis Durham, November 27, 1908


Loyal Elmer Ernest Moody
b- Dec, 1866, age 51 in 1921, in Missouri, USA
d- Feb 25, 1940 in Usk, age 74
buried in Terrace Pioneer Cemetery
(also seen Earnest as his name)
son of Charles Smith Moody, and Martha Belle Wilson
married to Nettie May Frazier, Nov 8, 1905, Caldwell, Canyon Co., Idaho, USA
b- ca 1898, Kansas, USA
son- George Loyal Moody
b- Oct 9, 1908, in Emmett, Gem, Idaho, USA
d- Sept 26, 1992, Trail BC, age 83
1921 he was with his father in Usk
In 1925 he attended high school in Seattle
1929 he was President of the Usk Tennis Club
He was still shown in Usk ca 1935.
Worked for Cominco in Trail
He married Margaret McGregor Glass
they had at least one daughter


Old Hickory Mineral claims
Andrew Jackson Kelch
b- Mar 26, 1872,  in Indiana, USA
d- Apr 2, 1949 in San Francisco CA
Immigrated in 1897
father-  ? , Kelch,
mother- Appleman
married Ida May Kelch, nee ?
b- age 40 in 1921 in ON
both her parents born in England

Old Hickory in 1918 mining report

"Old Hickory Claim" became "Independence Claim" ca 1929


Tulon Mineral Claims
have also seen Toulon claim as the name
-Bornite Co.


Valhalla Mineral Claims
-Gold/silver/copper

1920-1934 mining reports


Albert Baxendale- Mine Owner
b- ca 1862, Lancashire, England
d- Oct 31, 1931 in Prince Rupert General Hospital, Pr. Rupert, age 69
buried in Fairview Cemetery, Prince Rupert
married Elizabeth Ann Pickering Oct 25 1893.
They had 3 daughters: Nancy, Rachael, and Ellen.
 His wife died in childbirth and he left his daughters with a relative
 and he went to Canada
He became Court House Gardener in Prince Rupert
Obit shows him in Rupert since 1925, single
1921 census shows him in Hanall spur, age 52 in England
Immigrating in 1913
shown as a sawmill labourer

Joseph "Joe" Bell- Prospector
Joseph "Joe" Bell
aka Jack Bell
b- Nov 19, 1893  in Preston, Lancashire, England
d- Jan 17, 1973, Hemlock St., Nanaimo BC, age 79
buried in Terrace Cemetery
His residence when he died was Usk
Immigrated in 1910 (70 years in BC when he died so 1903?)
Clearing land on his own ranch in 1921
Ferry Foreman, Public Works Department, in 1931
Occupation Plumber when he married Dec 1, 1920 in Pacific BC
son of Richard Bell and Annie Simmonds
married- Beatrice Helen Crowner, nee Alger, a widow.
b- Jan 20, 1896, in England
(shows Brandon MB in death cert but don't believe that is correct.)
d- Nov 1, 1968, Mills Memorial Hospital, Terrace BC
buried in City of Terrace Cemetery
Immigrated in 1908
daughter of Samuel Alger and Elizabeth Gillman

Clarence William Bingham
- Miner
b-  Dec 4, 1884 in NS
d- ?
Father- William Bingham,
b- Feb 10, 1840, in Ireland,
Immigrated in 1862
General Merchant in Englishtown in 1901
 mother- Sarah Bingham, nee ?
b- Oct 19, 1838, in NS
In Englishtown, Victoria Dist, NS
Clarence was a Telegraph Operator in Usk in 1921
He worked on the Dominion Telegraphs before mining
He was agent operator at Telegraph Creek ca 1928/29
He worked on the Lucky Luke with S. A. D. Davis
enlisted in WWI
reg # 2021681, Private, Army, Canadian Infantry
11th Regiment, Irish Fusiliers
Sister- Bessie Bingham, b- Nov 23, 1880 in NS

Arthur Lee Clore- Rancher, Prospector

James Darby- Prospector (see above)

S. A. D. Davis- Mine Operator (see link below)

Frederick "Fred" Forrest- Prospector (aka: Forest, De Forrest)
b- ca 1853, in Quebec
d- Sept 22, 1937 in Prince Rupert BC, age 85
At one time he owned the Lucky Jim claim,
the claim was mined by the Federal Mining Company, ca fall 1923
Federal Mining Company- head John F. Fife.
also James McKiernan and C. P. Riel
Company formed by Feb 1914
Clifton Philip Riel,
d- June 22, 1945 in Vancouver, age 66

Zephyr Gagne- Prospector
Z. P. Gagne shown as a Bridgeman in Prince Rupert, in 1940 Directory

Zephir Pierre Gagne
aka: Zephyr Gagne
aka: Pierre Zephir Gagne
aka: Pierre Gagné
aka: Zephyr Gagné

b- June 28, 1887, Cap Chat, Gaspe County, Quebec, 
d- Aug 9, 1952 in St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver BC, age 66
buried in Mountainview Cemetery, Vancouver BC
son of Malone Gagné (Magloire Gagné)
b- Sept 15, 1840, in Quebec
mother
- Aurélie Gagné, nee Ouellet?
b- Dec 1848, in Quebec
they married in 1871

Zephyr Gagne- Prospector in Usk BC
Z. P. Gagne shown as a Bridgeman in Prince Rupert, in 1940 Directory
He enlisted in WWI, Jan 28, 1918 in Victoria BC
Svc # 167768
Single, Miner, living in Terrace
next of kin, sister, Aurelie Gagne, New Hampshire, USA
shown as a widower when he died.
death cert says born in 1886, railroad construction worker.
sister, Maria Gagné (shown as Marie age 16, in 1891 census)
b- 1889, Quebec
brother- Auguste Gagné
b-  August 1894, Quebec
living with his mother, sister, and brother in Rimouski Quebec in 1911
mother shown married to Auguste Lepage, age 63
Shown as Pierre Gagné here
brother- Damon Gagné
b- June 4, 1869 in Quebec
brother- Arthur Gagné
b- Jan 10, 1884, in United States
sister- Aimee Gagné
b- abt 1871 in Quebec

grandfather- Antoine Gagné
grandmother- Josephte Beaulieu

James Gall
- Rancher, Prospector, Justice of the Peace
b- July 18, 1858 in ON
d- May 27, 1947, Prince Rupert General Hospital, Prince Rupert BC, age 78
buried in Fairview Cemetery, Prince Rupert
Lived at Usk before he died.
shows up in 1914 and 1923 mining reports

Harry D. Gazanoff
- Miner
b-
d-
previous to mining he owned the Dage Hotel in Smithers
He sold it to the McKenzie Brothers of Moricetown
He was heading to work on the Peerless Group of Mines after selling it.
He was involved in a lawsuit with a Mr. Ole Lindland (see above)
Feb 11,1925 he was taking out an application to sell beer
at part of the building known as Webb-Taylor Supply Co.
at Kleanza village, opposite Usk
on sub lot 1, subdivision of DL 1435, Coast Range 5.

Steve McNeil- Miner

Guy Mills- Miner

August Nyberg- Miner

Andrew Wesley Snodgrass- Carpenter- Prospector
b- ca 1859 in Douglas, Webster,  Iowa, USA
d- Oct 8, 1934 in CA, USA, age 75
buried in Grandview Memorial Park, Glendale CA
He Immigrated in 1914
son of David Snodgrass and Mitchell Snodgrass, nee ?
wife- Minnie P. Snodgrass
b- ca 1875 in USA
d- May 13, 1935, Los Angeles CA, age 60
buried in Glendale CA
She Immigrated in 1916

John Smith- Mining

Arthur Alexander Stewart
- Prospector (Served in WWI)
b- Sept 16, 1886 in London England
d- July 12, 1961 in Shaughnessy Hospital, Vancouver BC, age 74
buried in Veteran's Memorial park in Vancouver BC
son of James Stewart and Charlotte Amelia Davis
Next of kin- a sister in California, Mrs. H. C. Bolt
reg # 102930
enlisted in Prince Rupert Sept 25, 1915
he became a Hotel clerk, accounting until 1955
Immigrated in 1906
his brother is below, Arthur was living with his brother's family
in 1921 in Usk.

Frederick Albert Stewart
- Prospector (Served in WWI)
b- Dec 15, 1892 in Liverpool England
d- Oct 19, 1934 in Hazelton BC, age 43
reg # 102944
enlisted in Victoria BC, Oct 25, 1915
next of kin Mrs H. C. Bolt, St. Helens CA
1921 census shows him as Frederick Alfred Steward
immigrated in 1908
wife- Dorothy Theresa Stewart, age 30 in 1921 b- ca 1891, in England
daughter- Dorothy Belinda Stewart, b- ca 1920 in BC

James Darius Wells- Mining- Sec Skeena District Prospectors, Notary

Benjamin F. Woodward
- Mining
b-ca 1884 in USA
d- ?
Immigrated in 1907


Usk Ferry
James Eckert- Ferryman (see
Usk Ferry page)

Hotels

Usk Hotel
Margaret Durham, nee Evensen- Proprietor

Shackleton Hotel
Thomas W. Shackleton owner (pic link below)
Thomas Waddy Shackleton
b- bet Oct-Dec 1883, Bradford, Skipton Reg district, Yorkshire, England
d- Sept 12, 1932, Tranquille TB Hospital, Kamloops BC
buried in Pleasant Street Cemetery, Kamloops
age 36, Miner in Alice Arm, when he married #1
age 44 when he married #2 in 1928
son of James Edward Shackleton and Ellen Clarkson, both b- England
Father was a Miner as well.
Married three times as far as I can figure out.
One marriage to Alice Rigby, date ?
produced a son, b- July 22, 1922
Thomas married Nellie Goodwill, Aug 6, 1919 in Prince Rupert
b- ca 1898, England
d- bef Aug 1928
age 21 in 1919
daughter of Joseph Goodwill and Martha Colbert
Father was a boilermaker, she lived in Prince Rupert when married
married last Melanie Bouyer, Aug 21, 1928, St. James Church, Smithers BC
b- ca 1888, France
d- ?
Dressmaker, age 40
daughter of Jule Bouyer and Gabriel Shauck, both b- France

Restaurant
Joseph "Joe" Bush
- Manager of a Restaurant
b- ca 1886 in USA
Immigrated in 1901

Sawmill / Shingle Mill
R. E. Allen
- Manager, Royal Lumber Co. (see my
Hanall Point site)

Richard Adams- Steam Engineer

Joseph "Joe" Colburn- Shingle Mill

Henry Weismiller- Millwright
b- June 4, 1878 in Muskoka, ON,
d- Jan 27, 1954 in Mission Memorial Hospital, Mission BC, age 75
buried in Hatzic Cemetery, Mission BC
son of Henry Weismiller and Tena Grik
Henry Jr. built Usk's 2nd Sawmill after Lee
Bethurem
Owned a sawmill at Duncan BC when he was married
married- Annie Florence Weismiller, nee Meads Nov 24, 1910 in Vancouver BC
b- Jan 27, 1891 in Muskoka, ON
d- Jan 27, 1951 in St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, age 60
daughter of George Meads and Edith Parfit
6 children:
son- Edgar Weismiller, b- ca 1911 in BC
son- Arnold Weismiller, b- ca 1914 in BC
Arnold drowned in the old Mill Pond, end of June 1924
son- Ralph Weismiller, b- ca 1915 in BC
son- Frank Weismiller, b- ca 1916 in BC
daughter- Edna Weismiller, b- ca 1917 in BC
son- Walter Weismiller, b- ca 1918 in BC

B. Buchanan- Millwright
Ernest Campbell- Mill Man
Richard Edgar- Mill Man (see below)
William Eirling- Mill Man
George Kitselas- Mill Man
Donald McDonald- Mill Worker
J. Smith- Mill Man


Railroad Tie Contractors
Thomas Snell- Tie Contractor
E. O. Berge- Tie Contractor
William Edgar- Tie Contractor (see below)
Foster Eckert- Tie Contractor
Charles Edgar- Tie Contractor (see below)


Stores / Supplies
James Lee Bethurem
- Post Master,  General Store (see Bio below)

Percy Ralph Skinner
- General Store- Rooms (see
Copper City History)

Canada Products Ltd.
- E. H. Edwards, Managing Director
alt-  A. H. Edwards
He was married and lived in Edmonton AB

Webb & Taylor Supply Co.
Herbert Taylor
b- ca 1888 in England
d-
Sidney George Webb
b- ca 1893 in England
d-
Immigrated in 1910
both shown as Merchants, General Store in 1921


Rancher- Farmer
Peter Brusk- Rancher
John Dye- Farming
Andrew Falk- Farming
Charles Hillstrum- Ranching
D. A. Simpson- Farming

Andrew Pete- Ranching
b-  ca 1882 in Romania
Immigrated in 1897
Naturalized in 1914
shown as a prospector in 1921

Amos Wells- Farmer
b- ca 1874, Mission City, (age 46 when he married)
He was living at Round lake, Telkwa when he got married.
d- May 27, 1943 in Smithers, age 69
son of Joshua Wells and Julia Douglas
married Sarah Elizabeth Emptage June 27, 1917 at LaCroix's Ranch, Hubert BC
b- Langley BC, (age 19 when she married)
daughter of Stephen Emptage, and Christina Elkins

came from Aldermere to purchase 640 acres
to ranch Dec 4, 1911

Arthur Lee Clore-  Rancher, Prospector

Express
Canadian Express Co.
R. W. Graves-  Agent
Originally Dominion Express Co., changed in 1926

Edward Hendrickson- Teamster
Hugh McDonald- Teamster
R. McKenzie- Teamster
? Evans- Teamster

School
O. L. James- School Teacher
John Patrick McDonnell- Secretary Usk School Board (see above)
Mrs. M. Whitlow- School Trustee

Builders
Duncan Wallace McIntosh- Carpenter
b- ca 1867 in Scotland
Immigrated in 1889
He was in Pitman in 1921

Daniel McClarty
- Contractor and Builder
b- ca 1881 in ON
shown as Foreman, Roads
wife- Elsie McClarty,
b- ca 1889 in USA
daughter- Kathryn McClarty, b- ca 1911 in USA
daughter- Laurene McClarty, b- ca 1913 in USA
daughter- Montana McClarty, b- ca 1915 in BC
daughter- Coreta McClarty, b- ca 1919 in BC

W. G. Perry- Contractor

Usk Liberal Assn- James Darius Wells Secretary-Treasurer

Unknown

John Reid
b- ca 1868 in ON
Treasurer Lumber & Mining

John Sparkes


1930-32

I. Lougheed

May Claim (1932)



Hayward Lumber Company Mill Baseball Team, 1920
Mill was a mile or 2 east of Usk
Photo from McRae Collection, Terrace
 
Slim (Harry) Varner, is the tall fellow 4th from right, husband of Kathleen. 
 The lady is Irene Durham (born 1906 Kitselas Canyon, sister of Kathleen)
If you know others in photo, please let me know.

Jan-Feb 1924, Robert Henry Bourke
 was the contractor building the New Hayward Mill.
He came from Springwater SK. with his wife and children.
The mill was idle for 2 years before this.
They brought in a carload of heavy draft horses
to move the mill.
They moved the old mill to a new site, 1 mile east.
Mill was owned by C. H. Hayward from Edmonton
He was President and owner.
Some Corrections / Additions came in from Mr. George Hayward, Toronto,
I believe C. H. Hayward was Chester Hayward one of my Grandfather's brothers.

George Eldon Hayward was President and Owner originally.
My Grandfather had several mills
 In the interior of BC, in the late teens & early 20's

He started his business in Vermilion Alberta in 1905.
Correct
born Apr 5, 1882  (in ND, USA)
No- born outside of Fredericton, New Brunswick.
Died- July 26, 1956 in Edmonton AB

Mill was Located at the west end of the CN yards.

Jan 1924- A. H. Edwards was Manager (alt- E. H. Edwards see above)
I can't remember Mr Edwards name ever been used.
of the Usk Branch of the Hayward Lumber Company Ltd.
He was from Edmonton at that time.
They were operating a large tractor at this time.
This mill became Canada Products Ltd.


Miss P. E. Spragg, Senior Teacher at Usk School, 1924
Eva Spragge shown in 1924 directory in Usk.
Miss Spragge taught school in Port Essington in 1927
E. Spragge, shown as School Principal in Terrace in 1927
a Mr. D. L. Spragge lived in Terrace in 1926
note- middle name L. father below D. K.?
maybe her brother Leonard, whose name
might have been David Leonard?
I know she had a brother L. Spragge, living in Terrace in 1927.

my educated guess-
 I think her name was
Phebe "Eva" Spragge
b- Oct 9, 1878, Guelph, Wellington, ON
d- Aug 15, 1962, in Vancouver BC
In BC for 61 years when she died.
20 years in Vancouver
Shown as a School Teacher

father- David Kribbs Spragge
mother- Agnes Elmslie
both born in ON

I know Phebe had a brother Leonard,
which fits the brother note above.
Phebe and Leonard were both Honour students in Victoria, ca 1894


Miss James, Junior Teacher
Miss O. L. James shown in 1924 Directory
possibly Olive L. James?

In 1925 there were 2 James sisters,
both teachers here, and their home was in Vancouver BC.


Post Office History

Name of Office: Usk
Federal Electoral District: Skeena (BC)
Office Opened- Apr 1, 1916 in the store
Office closed- May 15, 1967
Office permanently closed on 1967-05-15,
due to the resignation of the Postmaster
and the lack of a suitable person being available
 to assume charge of the office. (Group 2)
 
Postmaster Information:
Name of Postmaster Military
 Status
Date of
 Appointment
Date of
Vacancy
Cause of
 Vacancy
James Lee Bethurem (see below) - 1916-04-01 1947-03-28 Death
Vincent Herbert Dodd (see below) OAS 1947-04-02 Acting -
        " OAS 1947-09-22 1948-04-29 Resignation
Charles Reid Donaldson (see below) OAS 1948-06-25 Acting -
       "   1949-01-20 1951-04-10 Resignation
William Hugh "Bill" McRae OAS 1951-04-10 Acting -
Mrs Bernadette Claire Dietrich - 1951-07-01 Acting -
       " - 1952-01-12 1952-07-16 Resignation
Arnt Mathias Arntzen OAS 1952-07-27 Acting -
Mrs Winona Logan Campbell - 1954-11-02 Acting -
       " - 1955-02-03 1964-02-18 Resignation
Mrs Pauline Wilmot - 1964-05-01 1967-04-07 Resignation
 
This reproduction is NOT represented as an official version of the materials reproduced,
nor as having been made in affiliation with,
or with the endorsement of the National Archives of Canada.
The source of this material is the National Archives of Canada

James "Lee" Bethurem
b- Oct 12, 1888 (Aug 1887?) at Missouri USA
d- Mar 28, 1947 at Usk, age 59
buried at Kitsumgallum Cemetery, Terrace
1st Sawmill Owner and Operator in USK
Lee was one of the first to move to Usk from Kitselas,
and he started the store, Post Office, Mining recording, etc. 
He was Helene McRae's Dad's sawmill partner
 from 1940's until he died 1947

Lee was the son of James Land "John" Bethurem
b- Missouri
and Mary Jane Mayfield
b- Mar 1855 Laclede Missouri
d- 1904
married Alice Maud O'Brien, nee Alger, Feb 27, 1929 at Usk
Lee was her 4th husband
see Alger family above, and link below

Per Enoch JonesLee came to the Skeena from Montana, with a friend.
The friend was a Locomotive Engineer, and Lee was his fireman.
Reading about the plans to build the GTP, they quit their jobs
in Montana, and went up north to Kitselas.
They planned on taking up land, work at clearing it,
until the railroad was built.
Until Lee settled in Kitselas, he worked with
 the Jack Thorne Telegraph Line Maintenance Gang.

Jack Thorne was Superintendent of Construction
on the Yukon Telegraphs in 1913
Charles G. Thorne named Houston BC, relative?
can't find much on Jack
Then I found a small article that Jack Wrathal, J. A. Thorne,
Bob McDonald and Frank Cullin
 joined the 238th Foresters Batt at Halifax, Sept 5, 1916

John Albert "Jack" Thorne
b- Nov 4, 1870, Lacrosse, WI
d-
when he enlisted in WWI he was living in Telegraph Creek, BC,
shown as a Bush Foreman, single, Reg #1038101
next of kin was a friend in Prince Rupert
Jan 1913 he was in Queen Charlotte Islands
preparing plans for a telegraph system there.

Vincent Herbert Dodd
b- Oct 11, 1913, Milden SK
d- Sept 21, 1979 in Prince Rupert Regional Hospital, Prince Rupert, age 65
son of Herbert Alfred Dodd, b- Highte England
and Winifred Anna Burn, b- Ireland
Insurance Salesman
married Olga Pobureny
shown as a WWI veteran in PO records,
but can't seem to find his records

Charles Reid Donaldson
b- Dec 21, 1892, Crieff, Scotland
d-  Dec 15, 1982, Royal Jubilee Hospital, Victoria BC, age 89
Store Keeper
shown in 1921 in Hazelton, age 28, immigrated in 1912
He was b- Dec 21, 1893 in Forfar Scotland in enlistment form
enlisted in Vernon Aug 2, 1916, Reg # 524921
He was a Grocery Clerk in Victoria BC
next of kin, brother John Reid Donaldson
Another brother, David Reid Donaldson
b- May 23, 1889 in Forfar, Forfarshire, Scotland
Produce Clerk in Victoria when he enlisted in WWI


Doing research on a Rowe family
that owned land behind
Kitselas
I found the family below, so added them here

Leroy Leland "Roy" Rowe
b- June 1, 1890, Bainant, Ottertail Co, Minnesota, USA
d- Oct 27, 1953  at 549 9th Ave. West, Prince Rupert, (son's home) age 63
buried in Kitwanga BC
French nationality.
Railroad Machinist, retired in 1928, after 14 years in the trade
Before he died he was in BC for 21 years, and Canada for 48 years.
1916 family in Battle River AB
Permanent residence= Usk BC
Leroy's Father- Lorne Rowe, b- Wisconsin, USA
Mother- Elnora Rathburn, b- USA

married to Faye Irene "Fay" Rowe, nee Rowe?
b- July 20, 1897, Raynor, Minnesota, USA
d- July 2, 1967 at Mills Memorial Hospital, Terrace BC, age 69
Father- Walter Rowe, b- USA
Mother- May Trout, b- USA
buried in Kitwanga BC

Leroy's sons-
Vernon LeRoy Rowe
b- ca 1915, Alberta

Marvin Eugene Rowe
b- Mar 12, 1916 Whatcheer, AB
d- May 18, 1990 Mills Memorial Hospital, Terrace BC


see Usk Ferry page


Henderson Family
See the
Terrace Area War Memorial page for
James Marvin "Jimmy" Henderson and his family


Louis Samuel Edgar
b- Jan 25, 1874, in Port Simpson, BC
d- Apr 3, 1968, Lions Gate Hospital, North Vancouver BC, age 94
widowed, retired Shipwright, when he died.
German Ancestry
Shown as a Carpenter at a Saw Mill in 1921 in Prince Rupert
Sawmill Operator when his daughter Mabel married
son of George Edgar, b- Nanaimo BC
 and Mary Ann Alexcee, b- Port Simpson BC
his father shown born in USA in 1921, mother in BC
wife- Elizabeth Bertha "Bessie" Edgar, nee Blackwell
b- Jan 1, 1876 in Victoria, BC
d- Sept 22, 1954, in Prince Rupert BC
daughter of George Edgar, and Sarah LNU
father born in Glasgow Scotland, mother in Kitkatla BC

2 daughters and 4 sons:
Mabel Sarah Edgar
b- May 8, 1895, at home, Mission House, Hartley Bay, BC,
d-
Nurse in Dentist Office in 1921 in Rupert
she married twice, Dan Lidstone, Sept 24, 1921 in Rupert,
and Reginald Barons Skinner Jan 30, 1932 in Rupert
Ruben Edgar
b- ca 1898, in BC
d-
Watchman for CNR in 1921 in Rupert
Richard Louis Edgar
b- ca 1899, age 22 in BC
d- Aug 16, 1935, in Prince Rupert, age 36
Ella Edgar
b- ca 1901, in BC
d-
Helper at the Hospital
William Edgar
b- ca 1903, in BC
d-
Gas Engineer, Fishing Boat, in 1921
Charles Lawrence Edgar
b- ca 1904, in Vancouver BC
d- Oct 27, 1928, Alert Bay, BC, age 24
He married Catherine E. Faulkner, Nov 16, 1927 in Rupert


Robert Henry Bourke
alt- Robert Henry Bourk

b- 1880, Oso, ON (6 mo old in 1881 census)
d- 1960 at Meadow Lake SK.
married Mary Sayers, July 1900
b-
d- 1951
both buried in Springwater SK.
 

NW BC Logger's Memorial, located at Usk BC

Usk Pioneer Chapel

Usk Ferry Page

Return to my BC History Index Page

Disclaimer

I am an Amateur Historian, and Genealogist.
I use every source I can find, old newspapers, census, archives, etc.
I do a quick search for the names on these pages.
Therefore I do NOT profess to have 100% accurate information.
Use my info as a clue to do your own research.
I am not related to these folks, nor do I have hidden info.
I encourage everyone to visit their local Museum,
or buy a local history book for more info.
I attempt to connect people with their ancestor in these places.
If it works on just one person, per page, it is worth the time it takes me.
I do not charge for access to my pages,
I do not have any Ads on my pages.
Please "Link" to my page from Facebook, Blogs, etc.
Please do Not copy the pictures, or text on any page.
Please do Not ask to use pictures etc. on Facebook.
A "Link" to my pages, does the same thing.
Just copy the hyper link, URL, shown in your browser above,
and paste that into facebook etc.,
or copy the links I have on the left side.
That is the honest and proper way to do it!


EXT Links
note- these are not my web sites-
Links may or may not work in the future

Usk the beginning history
http://www.livinglandscapes.bc.ca/northwest/skeena_river/usk.htm

Usk History
http://www.terracelibrary.ca/history1/usk_history/usk_history.htm

Usk Ferry Schedule
http://www.th.gov.bc.ca/marine/ferry_schedules.htm#usk

Mine history
http://www.em.gov.bc.ca/dl/PropertyFile/NMI/103I9_Cu7.pdf

Shackelton Hotel Picture
http://www.bcarchives.gov.bc.ca/cgi-bin/www2i/.visual/img_med/dir_21/e_05240.gif

Usk GTP station early 1900's
http://www.bcarchives.gov.bc.ca/cgi-bin/www2i/.visual/img_med/dir_31/na_03621.gif

Darby Ranch 1914
http://www.bcarchives.gov.bc.ca/cgi-bin/www2i/.visual/img_med/dir_79/e_08430.gif

Usk History
http://sobshistoricalramblings.blogspot.ca/2012/09/usk-bc.html

 

 

My Quick Navigation Bar
Choose Your Next Step From Below

Return back to our Terrace PageClick this Icon to Return to My Home Index Page at any timeClick this Icon to go to Doug's Email Contact PageClick to Return to the Top of any PageReturn to my BC History Index Page

Page Created Mar 14, 2013
Revised  Feb 4, 2016

Quick Links
Personal Family Pages
SE Sask. Web Pages / Dad's 1927 Map of SE Sask. / Hillside Public School
Estevan Collegiate Institute / Nor-West 1904 Newspaper / Terrace BC
BC Tel Terrace District History /
Contact Page

Maintained and Created by
Doug Gent © 2016