Category: British Columbia History

Elbows of the Little Sask. 9 Sp 1879 Marcus Smith letter to his wife Lot 25 in our auction...

Fort Carleton, Sk. 10 Au 1879 Marcus Smith letter to his wife

Fort Carleton, Sk. 10 Au 1879 Marcus Smith letter to his wife Lot 23 in our auction Saturday 17th...

C.P.R. Manitoba District Engineer’s Office 7 Sep 1878 Marcus Smith letter “My dear wife..”

Realized $605 in our auction 10th July 2021, Marcus Smith 1878 to his wife “..any motive to act dishonestly or underhand in a great national question- he [Fleming] took the sneaking course of finding out what the Govt. wanted and acted accordingly- ignoring me altogether, and keeping me in the dark as to what he was reporting even up to the last moment both in regard to the work to be done and the assistants to be appointed &.c-..”

C.P.R. Office Engineer in Chief 28 July 1878 Marcus Smith letter to wife

Marcus Smith, Prince Arthur’s landing Lake Superior July 28th1878, “My dear Wife…..Love to all the children”

Blackwater 45 Miles NW of Quesnelle 23 Sep 1875 Marcus Smith letter

Realized $526 in our auction Saturday 19th June 2021 Blackwater 45 miles N.W. of Quesnelle-Sept. 23rd,1875 “My Dear Wife…yourself and children would be far better in Victoria then anywhere in Canada and the climate is far superior- and living is always getting cheaper and so will all conveniences when the work commences as there will be a large influx of people of all condition..”

Parker’s Market Victoria, B.C. 31 December 1874 Butcher’s invoice, ex Wellburn

Parker’s Market Victoria, B.C. 31 De 1874 Butcher’s invoice, ex Wellburn Lot 74 in our...

C.P.R. Survey Western Division 7 Se 1875 Marcus Smith letter home

CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILWAY SURVEY.
Salmon House Dean River Sept 4th. 1875,
My dear wife, I have just walked from the head of the Dean channel, through the Cascade mountains to this point where horses have been sent to meet us- I am in excellent health. This last walk has done me as much good as that in the spring did me harm- The weather is fine and cool

C.P.R. Survey Western Division Victoria 22 Au 1875 4 pg Smith Letter

C.P.R. Survey Western Division Victoria 22 Au 1875 4 pg Smith Letter Lot 87 in our auction...

1875 Marcus Smith letter to wife from camp before survey in B.C. for Canadian Pacific Railway

“Camp near Tatla Lake, Sunday July 4th, 1875 My dear Wife, I start tomorrow early and...

C.P.R. Survey Western Division 22 Jn 1875 Soda Creek Smith Letter

Sold for $2,600 Lot 82 in our auction Saturday 15th May 2021 1875 Marcus Smith letter to wife Anne from Soda Creek B.C. describes the start of journey to survey route across Coast mountains to Bute. Inlet, on Canadian Pacific Railway Survey headed notepaper

Victoria, B.C. 18 No 1871 Sproat Coal invoice, ex Wellburn

Victoria, B.C. 18 No 1871 Sproat Coal invoice, ex Wellburn Lot 81 in our auction Saturday 15th May...

Marcus Smith 1 Fe 1875 C.P.R. Engineer 3.5pg letter to his wife

CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILWAYOFFICE OF THE ENGINEER-IN-CHIEFFeb 1st(4pm) 1875My dear WifeI sent a...

Victoria, V.I. 1 Au 1861 James Bell Mining Tools invoice, ex Wellburn

Victoria, V.I. 1 Au 1861 James Bell Mining Tools invoice, ex Wellburn Lot 81 in our auction...

B.C. Amos Card Youmans circa 1800 uniface 25 Cents Copper Token

B.C. Amos Card Youmans circa 1800 uniface 25 Cents Copper Token Realized $825 Lot 188 in our...

Ottawa Jan 8, 1875 Marcus Smith 2.5 page letter to his wife

Ottawa Jan. 8th, 1875 “I had the honor of dining with the Premier and Mrs. Mackenzie yesterday evening…”

Roderick Finlayson Signature on piece

Roderick Finlayson was born in Scotland and came to Vancouver’s Island with the HBC. He worked under Charles Ross in the building of Fort Victoria in 1843–1844. By 1859 he was the HBC Chief Factor in Victoria.

Matthew Baillie Begbie signature on piece

“Upon BC entering Confederation in 1871, Begbie became its first chief justice. He guided the judicial system of the province to an era of considerable sophistication, displaying characteristics unexpected of a Victorian judge: espousal of the rights of Chinese and native people; a lifelong interest in progressive law reforms and a tendency to take the side of the “little man.”

Clinton, B.C. 14 Nov 1874 2.5pg Marcus Smith letter to his wife

I could get through easily and give a decided Report if I were Chief Engineer-but with Mr. Flemings perpetual alterations and non committals combined with the political forces in the back ground I expect to have a hard time of it- I have a good mind to give in my Report pure and simple and not submit to any alterations and let them suppress it altogether if they think fit…I am weary weary and long for rest. I have been travelling every day and many nights since I left you in May..So excuse my writing more, it is late and I am tired travelled 60 miles today in an open wagon- thermometer to zero.

Kamloops, B.C. 30 Oc 1874 Marcus Smith letter to his wife

I got back from my long trip north and within the limits of civilization a few days ago and received a great pile of letters, among others, yours of sept. 25th (with Tom’s and Eloise’s likeness enclosed) in which you tell me you have got them both to school- I am glad Eloise went to Miss Dupont’s I think she will do well-

Victoria, B.C. 24 May 1874 Marcus Smith Letter to his wife, faults

The hard work on this vast [BC] line is wearing me down and I shall get no thanks for it- these cussed policies are a disgrace and will bring ruin to the country- I only wish I were at the Cape now-They have found gold in large nuggets everybody is leaving Capetown

Marcus Smith Letter 7 Oct 1874 from Fort George on the Upper Fraser

Fort George, on the Upper Fraser Oct 7th,1874
My dear wife
I have come down by canoe from Francois lake about 140 miles west of this and am so far on my way back to Victoria. I intended to go down the Fraser by canoe to Quesnelle about 100 miles below this which I should have made in two days…