Jean Baptiste Lolo
Encyclopedia
Jean Baptiste Lolo also known as St. Paul or Chief St. Paul, or Chief Lolo, was an employee and interpreter with the Hudson's Bay Company
in pre-Confederation British Columbia
, Canada
. First serving in the region at Fort Fraser in the New Caledonia fur district
, he acquired the nickname there of St. Paul because of his affection for that saint. He was the right-hand man of John Tod and followed him to Fort Kamloops, where Tod was Chief Trader from 1841 to 1843, and remained in that region for the rest of his life. He acquired such great respect among the local Secwepemc
(Shuswap) people as to become regarded as a chief
.
One of Lolo's daughters, Sophia, wed John Tod in 1843 in a "country marriage" Though many other such marriages in HBC ranks were later abandoned in favour of "proper" wives, Tod kept true to Sophie and re-married her officially in a legal ceremony.
, northeast of Kamloops near Heffley Lake, and Lolo Lake and Lolo Creek in the same vicinity, were named for him. "Paul" and "St. Paul" placenames in the same region (e.g. Paul Lake Provincial Park
) are also believed to be derived from his name. Another Mount Lolo
on Quadra Island
is also believed to be named for him.
Hudson's Bay Company
The Hudson's Bay Company , abbreviated HBC, or "The Bay" is the oldest commercial corporation in North America and one of the oldest in the world. A fur trading business for much of its existence, today Hudson's Bay Company owns and operates retail stores throughout Canada...
in pre-Confederation British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. First serving in the region at Fort Fraser in the New Caledonia fur district
New Caledonia (Canada)
New Caledonia was the name given to a district of the Hudson's Bay Company that comprised the territory largely coterminous with the present-day province of British Columbia, Canada. Though not a British colony, New Caledonia was part of the British claim to North America. Its administrative...
, he acquired the nickname there of St. Paul because of his affection for that saint. He was the right-hand man of John Tod and followed him to Fort Kamloops, where Tod was Chief Trader from 1841 to 1843, and remained in that region for the rest of his life. He acquired such great respect among the local Secwepemc
Secwepemc
The Secwepemc , known in English as the Shuswap people, are a First Nations people residing in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Their traditional territory ranges from the eastern Chilcotin Plateau and the Cariboo Plateau southeast through the Thompson Country to Kamloops and the Shuswap...
(Shuswap) people as to become regarded as a chief
Tribal chief
A tribal chief is the leader of a tribal society or chiefdom. Tribal societies with social stratification under a single leader emerged in the Neolithic period out of earlier tribal structures with little stratification, and they remained prevalent throughout the Iron Age.In the case of ...
.
"His face was a very fine one, although sickness and pain had worn it away terribly. His eyes were black, piercing and restless; his cheekbones high, and the lips, naturally thin and close, had that white, compressed look which tells so surely of constant suffering."
When Mayne remarked that Lolo, in his decayed health, must find it hard to rule over his people,
"...he heard me with a grim smile, and for answer turned back his pillow, where a loaded gun and a naked sword lay ready to his hand."
The invalid Lolo showed, in fact, unexpected reserves of strength. Rising from his bed, he mounted his horse, and accompanied Mayne on a ride to see the view from the top of a neighbouring mountain, which was forthwith named Mt. St. Paul in honour of the old chief. Moreover, Lolo insisted on accompanying Mayne on the next lap of his journey, that from Kamloops to Pavilion."
One of Lolo's daughters, Sophia, wed John Tod in 1843 in a "country marriage" Though many other such marriages in HBC ranks were later abandoned in favour of "proper" wives, Tod kept true to Sophie and re-married her officially in a legal ceremony.
Legacy
Mount LoloMount Lolo
Mount Lolo, 1748m , prominence 818m, is a summit 20 km northeast of Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada, between Paul and Heffley Lakes...
, northeast of Kamloops near Heffley Lake, and Lolo Lake and Lolo Creek in the same vicinity, were named for him. "Paul" and "St. Paul" placenames in the same region (e.g. Paul Lake Provincial Park
Paul Lake Provincial Park
Paul Lake Provincial Park is a provincial park in British Columbia, Canada, located southwest of Heffley Lake and to the northeast of the city of Kamloops....
) are also believed to be derived from his name. Another Mount Lolo
Mount Lolo (Quadra Island)
Mount Lolo, 218m is a summit on the west side of Quadra Island, British Columbia, Canada, overlooking Seymour Narrows.-Name origin:Mount Lolo is said to be named after Jean Baptiste Lolo, a fur trader and interpreter at Fort Kamloops.-References:...
on Quadra Island
Quadra Island
Quadra Island is an island off the eastern coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada, part of the Discovery Islands. It is separated from Vancouver Island by Discovery Passage, and from Cortes Island by Sutil Channel...
is also believed to be named for him.
External links
- Picture of Chief Lolo and Family, from John Tod, Rebel in the Ranks, Robert C. Belyk, 1995, Page 157
- LOLO (Leolo), JEAN-BAPTISTE(1798 - 1865) HBC employee, trader & Indian spokesperson, Living Landscapes website, Royal British Columbia Museum