Cleasby, Henry Standley (????-1959)
Henry Cleasby came to the Nicola Valley in 1887. In 1901, Henry married Matilda Ann Voght, daughter of William Voght. Henry bought the Alexander Coutlee Ranch in 1902 and made a number of improvements to the ranch.
Henry Cleasby was an active member in the community, including being the first chairman of the Merritt School Board in 1907, and a member of the Hospital board. Mr. Cleasby served on the Board of Trade, and the Nicola Valley Ranchers Association. Before his death in 1959, Henry wrote the historical booklet, “The Nicola Valley in Review”.
Collett, Allan (1911-1992)
Allan Collett’s father Jack Collett and his mother Caroline Lobsinger came to Merritt from Ontario in 1898. Allan Collett was born October 31st, 1911. First elected as Mayor in 1952, he remained in office until 1966. He was defeated by George Fillinger in 1967 but served again from 1969 to 1972. In 1973, he left municipal politics for private life, but returned once again as Mayor in 1975, serving until 1978.
While in office, Allan Collett witnessed numerous City improvements including a fully equipped fire hall and library. The area presently known as Collettville was named after the Collett family, and the bridge to Collettville is named “Mayor Allan Collett” Bridge.
Coutlie, Alexander (1826-1901) / Coutlee, Joseph (1867-1945)
Alexander Coutlie came from France to Yale in the early days of the Fraser River Gold Rush. In 1861 he moved to Boston Bar where he married Yentla. They had four children: Joseph, Jesse, Alexander Jr, and Matilda.
The Coutlies moved to the Nicola Valley in 1873, where he built a stopping house west of present-day Merritt. In the 1880’s, Alexander Coutlie built a store, hotel, and a warehouse. When the Blair and Company purchased his store, he retained the hotel and ranch which he ran until he died on January 6th, 1901.
Alexander’s son, Joseph Coutlee, was born in Boston Bar on November 24, 1867. When he finished his schooling, he worked at his father’s ranch and hotel. Joe’s real love however was the cowboy life, which he did from 1895 to 1945. He worked for the Douglas Lake Cattle Company and was known as the “King of Cowboys”. Joe Coutlee died on October 18, 1945.
Dodding, David (1858-1933)
David Dodding was born in Abbeystead, Lancashire in 1858. He married Dorothy Whitaker in 1884 and they moved to Canada in 1901. They purchased the R. M. Woodward ranch in Lower Nicola. The couple had six children: Robert, Bartell, David, William, John and Mary. Dorothy Dodding (Whitaker) died in 1918.
During David’s time in the Nicola Valley, he was active with the Methodist church of Lower Nicola. David also served on the Lower Nicola school board, farmer’s institutes and Stock breeders association. David Dodding Sr. passed away June 7th, 1933 at the age of 74.
Forsyth, Hannah (1906-1997)
Hanna Forsyth was born in Glasgow, Scotland in 1906 and came to Canada in 1911. Hannah Forsyth began working for the Doctors J.J Gillis and A.F Gillis as a receptionist in 1928. She also assisted with registrations on Dr. J.J. Gillis’s Black/Silver Fox Farm. Forsyth worked for the Doctors for 37 years, all the while contributing to the Red Cross, RCMP Bone Marrow Fund, and the Vancouver Children’s Hospital.
During the Second World War, the Red Cross formed a unit to supply clothing needed by the soldiers. The local Patricia Rebekah Lodge asked the sisters of the lodge, which included Hannah, to knit vests and long-sleeved sweaters. By 1945, Hannah had knitted 482 sweaters for the Red Cross.
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Note: Research by Nicola Valley Museum & Archives staff and summer students from Merritt Herald files and personal interviews. Editing by Michael Sasges & Murphy Shewchuk.
