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John Fall Allison

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John Fall Allison
Born1825 (1825)
Leeds, Yorkshire, England
Died28 October 1897(1897-10-28) (aged 71–72)
Princeton, British Columbia
NationalityCanadian
OccupationGold Commissioner

John Fall Allison (1825–1897) was a pioneer settler, Justice of the Peace, Postmaster and Gold Commissioner in the Similkameen Country of the Southern Interior of British Columbia, Canada.

Life and career

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Allison was born in Leeds in West Yorkshire, England in 1828.[1][2] In 1837, he emigrated with his parents to the United States.[2] In 1849, he went prospecting in California.[2] 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.[3] Allison was the first European settler in the area, where he staked gold, copper and coal claims and established the first cattle ranch.[1][3]

In 1862, Allison married a First Nations woman named Nora Yakumtikum, with whom he had four children.[1][3] In 1868, he married Susan Louisa Moir.[2][3][4] Together John and Susan had fourteen children.[3][4]

In 1876, Allison was appointed a Justice of the Peace and became the first Gold Commissioner of the newly created Similkameen Mining District.[citation needed] Allison died in 1897 and was buried at a site overlooking the Similkameen River near a landmark named "Castle Rock".[citation needed]

Allison Pass, through which Highway 3 runs, was named for Allison, as he was the first European explorer to discover the pass.[5]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Peter Grauer. "Interred With Their Bones - Names - B1". Peter Grauer. Archived from the original on July 6, 2011.
  2. ^ a b c d Encyclopedia of British Columbia. "Allison, John Fall and Susan (Moir)". KnowBC. Retrieved June 20, 2011.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Experience Our History". Town of Princeton. Archived from the original on August 31, 2011.
  4. ^ a b Parks Canada. "Backgrounder: Susan Louisa Moir Allison". Parks Canada. Retrieved June 20, 2011.
  5. ^ ABC Books. ALLISON, Susan