People Archives | Page 2 of 4 | British Columbia’s Black Pioneers

Willis Otis Stark as a young man (circa 1870, age about 18)

When his father, Louis, moved the family to another farm near Nanaimo on Vancouver Island, Willis Stark stayed on Salt Spring Island and kept the farm. His mother, […]

Marie Albertina Stark Wallace, age 98, author of “The History of the Stark Family”

Marie’s story about the Stark Family was published in The Gulf Islands Driftwood newspaper as an 11-part series in 1979-1980.

Marie and Louise Stark, youngest daughters of Louis and Sylvia

Marie Albertina (Wallace) Stark (about 23) and her sister Louise Edna (Wylie) Stark (about 11), circa 1890. Marie Albertina and Louise Edna were the two youngest children. Marie […]

Sylvia Estes Stark at middle age

Sylvia Stark moved to Cedar on Vancouver Island in the early 1870’s. She returned to Salt Spring Island in the early 1880s. She missed her neighbours and life […]

“I want them to know I am a working woman” Sylvia Stark age 96

As the population of Salt Spring Island grew, the story of Sylvia Stark became legendary. She was visited by numerous historians and photographers. “Although she is 96 years […]

Vesuvius (Central) School – Salt Spring Island’s First Schoolhouse (1894)

As the population on Salt Spring Island increased demands grew for a proper school and for financial support from Victoria. In 1864 permission was granted for a school […]

John Craven Jones with his wife Almira (Scott) Jones (1885)

During a visit to Ohio, John met Almira Scott (1851 – 1923), a fellow graduate of Oberlin College, and a person of like mind. Almira Scott was widowed […]

Nancy (nee Davis) Lester – Abolitionist Supporter

Nancy Lester moved with her husband Peter and children to San Francisco from Philadelphia in 1850. Then in 1858, their 15-year-old daughter Sarah became part of a local […]

Maria Gibbs “One of the best-educated women”

While in Victoria, Maria experienced first-hand the discrimination that prevailed here by some. On Wednesday evening, September 25, 1861, heavily pregnant, Maria attended the theatre with her husband […]

Victoria (nee Richard) Clanton (1865) – influential in the Black Community

The Richard family was part of a nucleus of families who moved to California from Florida and then later to Vancouver Island. Born in Jacksonville, Florida, Victoria married […]

Mary Louise Barnswell – well known and respected for her common sense and integrity

Mary Louise Barnswell “She was widely known and respected for her common sense and integrity. Businessmen and politicians, who valued her intelligence, sought her opinion” Crawford Kilian, Author

Richard Stokes: Owner and operator of livery stables

He also served with the Victoria Pioneer Rifle Corps.