Category: Economic History

Painting of Chimney Creek ranch buildings

Amédée was the first pre-emptor of land at Chimney Creek, south-east of Williams Lake, in the district now named after the Isnardy family. By 1864, he built a […]

Sons of Amédée and Julianne Isnardy

No photo exists of Amédée Isnardy or Julianne Waillamalkwa, the parents of these young men. Note the very Mexican tone of the hats and jackets. Many cowboys in […]

Mike Isnardy heading out on a cattle drive

Rupert Michael “Mike” Isnardy (1923-2004), eldest child of Jimmy and Evelyn, was well respected as a horseman. On his Springhouse ranch, he raised cattle as well as bucking […]

Mike Isnardy’s prize saddle

Some of Mike Isnardy’s winnings are now artifacts at the BC Cowboy Hall of Fame, Museum of the Cariboo Chilcotin, Williams Lake, including the prize saddle presented to […]

Isidore Boucherie with “old-timers” of the Okanagan

Isidore Boucherie is seated second from the right. Luc Girouard, the first European settler at Vernon stands second from the right. Bernard Lequime, son of Éli Lequime, the […]

“Old-timers” of the Okanagan

Isidore Boucherie is seated second from the right. Luc Girouard, the first European settler at Vernon stands second from the right. Bernard Lequime, son of Éli Lequime, the […]

Éli Lequime

No photo exists of Éli’s wife, Marie-Louise. Éli, Marie-Louise and the family of their daughter Aminade eventually settled in San Francisco, leaving behind the flourishing town of Kelowna.

The Lequime ranch house

The residence on the Lequime ranch, beside their first general store, 1872.

Gloves from the Lequime general store

The source’s cataloging information is as follows: “The gloves worn by Indians and cowboys were so striking for Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria East that he bought no […]

Ruins of Gaspard grist mill

At Dog Creek, Isidore Versepuech began to profitably grow several strains of wheat at his new Gaspard ranch. He also opened a flour mill with business partner Charles […]

The Versepuech family

Mootla was the daughter of Koteminak and Cormenaskat of the Dog Creek Band (today, the Stswecem’c Xgat’tem First Nation). Mootla and Isidore’s son Édouard became a champion golfer […]

The Versepuech house