John Fall Allison
Encyclopedia
John Fall Allison was a pioneer settler, Justice of the Peace
, and Gold Commissioner
in the Similkameen Country
of the Southern Interior
of British Columbia
, Canada
.
in West Yorkshire
, England in 1828. In 1837, he emmigrated with his parents to the United States
. In 1849, he went prospecting in California
. In 1858, during the Fraser River Gold Rush, Allison travelled to the Colony of British Columbia
and arrived in Vermillion Forks (now Princeton
) in 1860. Allison was the first European settler in the area, where he staked gold, copper and coal claims and established the first cattle ranch.
In 1862, Allison married a First Nations
woman named Nora Yakumtikum, with whom he had four children. Later in life, in 1868, he married Susan Louisa Moir
. Together John and Susan had fourteen children.
In 1876, Allison was appointed a Justice of the Peace and became the first Gold Commissioner
of the newly-created Similkameen Mining District. Allison died in 1897 and was buried at a site overlooking the Similkameen River
near a landmark named "Castle Rock".
Allison Pass
, through which Highway 3 runs, was named for Allison, as he was the first European explorer to discover the pass.
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
, and Gold Commissioner
Gold Commissioner
Gold Commissioner was an important regional administrative post in the Colony of British Columbia.In the 1860s, Governor Douglas had three priorities to protect the two colonies he governed: to protect the boundaries, to uphold law and order and to provide access to the gold fields...
in the Similkameen Country
Similkameen Country
The Similkameen Country, also referred to as the Similkameen Valley or Similkameen District, but generally referred to simply as The Similkameen or more archaically, Similkameen, is a region roughly coinciding with the basin of the river of the same name in the Southern Interior of British Columbia...
of the Southern Interior
British Columbia Interior
The British Columbia Interior or BC Interior or Interior of British Columbia, usually referred to only as the Interior, is one of the three main regions of the Canadian province of British Columbia, the other two being the Lower Mainland, which comprises the overlapping areas of Greater Vancouver...
of 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...
.
Life and career
Allison was born in LeedsLeeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
in West Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
, England in 1828. In 1837, he emmigrated with his parents to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. In 1849, he went prospecting in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. In 1858, during the Fraser River Gold Rush, Allison travelled to the Colony of British Columbia
Colony of British Columbia
The Colony of British Columbia was a crown colony in British North America from 1858 until 1866. At its creation, it physically constituted approximately half the present day Canadian province of British Columbia, since it did not include the Colony of Vancouver Island, the vast and still largely...
and arrived in Vermillion Forks (now Princeton
Princeton, British Columbia
Princeton is a small town in the Similkameen region of southern British Columbia, Canada. It lies just east of the Cascade Mountains, which continue south into Washington, Oregon and California. The Tulameen and Similkameen Rivers converge here...
) in 1860. Allison was the first European settler in the area, where he staked gold, copper and coal claims and established the first cattle ranch.
In 1862, Allison married a First Nations
Aboriginal peoples in Canada
Aboriginal peoples in Canada comprise the First Nations, Inuit and Métis. The descriptors "Indian" and "Eskimo" have fallen into disuse in Canada and are commonly considered pejorative....
woman named Nora Yakumtikum, with whom he had four children. Later in life, in 1868, he married Susan Louisa Moir
Susan Louisa Moir Allison
Susan Louisa Moir Allison was a Canadian author and pioneer. In 2010 Allison was designated a National Historic Person by the Canadian Government.- Early life and education :...
. Together John and Susan had fourteen children.
In 1876, Allison was appointed a Justice of the Peace and became the first Gold Commissioner
Gold Commissioner
Gold Commissioner was an important regional administrative post in the Colony of British Columbia.In the 1860s, Governor Douglas had three priorities to protect the two colonies he governed: to protect the boundaries, to uphold law and order and to provide access to the gold fields...
of the newly-created Similkameen Mining District. Allison died in 1897 and was buried at a site overlooking the Similkameen River
Similkameen River
The Similkameen River runs through southern British Columbia, eventually discharging into the Okanogan River near Oroville, Washington in the United States. The river is approximately long, and its drainage basin is in area...
near a landmark named "Castle Rock".
Allison Pass
Allison Pass
Allison Pass is a highway summit along the Crowsnest Highway in British Columbia, Canada. It is the highest point on the highway between the cities of Hope and Princeton. It is located in the middle of Manning Park, at the divide between the Skagit & Similkameen River drainages, approximately ...
, through which Highway 3 runs, was named for Allison, as he was the first European explorer to discover the pass.