Fraser, Alberta (Berta) Evangeline (1912-2006)
Berta Fraser’s parents first settled at Canford and then moved to Merritt in the 1950s. She worked for the Department of Veteran’s Affairs in Ottawa during World War II. After the War Miss Fraser worked at the Bank of Montreal, then the Nicola Valley Sawmill. Later, Berta Fraser worked for the City of Merritt City as treasurer for 16 years before retiring in 1977.
Berta Fraser was active with numerous charitable organizations, including the Cancer Society and Trinity United Church. She supported the “Berta Fraser Adult Day-Care”; Skalula; and a Bursary for Merritt Senior Secondary School students.
Garcia, Jesus (1832-1916)
Jesus Garcia, one of the earliest settlers in the Nicola Valley, was born in Mexico. After a stay in California, he came to British Columbia in 1859 during the Fraser River Gold Rush. He initially drove cattle and packed supplies to the gold miners of the Cariboo. He later operated a freight service and brought cattle over the Coquihalla Pass into the Nicola Valley.
Jesus settled in the Valley in the 1870s, where he established a ranch in 1872, which later became part of the City of Merritt. He married Mary Kroventko and they had fourteen children. Many of their descendants still live in the Nicola Valley.
Ghog, Tara Singh (1922-2002)
Tara was born in the village of Autholi, Punjab, India and came to Canada in his late teens. In 1948, Tara returned to India to meet his wife, Swarn Kaur. When he returned to Canada in 1952, he worked at a portable sawmill in Kamloops until he moved to Merritt in 1959.
Tara built a family forest industry business in the , Aspen Planers, of Merritt, B.C. which expanded to the coast. His sons continue to operate the business. Tara Ghog has also been involved in the community, helping with the Merritt Arena, the N.V.G.H., the Coquihalla-Gillis House, and the building of the old and new Gurdwara (Sikh Temple).
Gillis, Dr. J.J. (1881-1965)
John Joseph Alban Gillis M.D. was born 1881 in Miscouche, Prince Edward Island, graduated in medicine from McGill, and came to Merritt in 1911. Prior to opening his own practice in the Valley in 1911, Gillis worked as a railway doctor for the Kettle Valley Railway.
In 1921, he persuaded his younger brother, Dr. Austin Gillis, to join his practice. J.J. Gillis served as Mayor of Merritt 1925-1928 and as MLA 1928-1952. Merritt Fox Ranch, located on Iron Mountain, was owned by Dr. J.J Gillis, and operated by Charles and Edgar Collett. The current Gillis House in Merritt is named after Dr. John Joseph Gillis.
Guichon, Joseph (1843-1921)
Born in Chambéry, Savoie, France in 1843, Mr. Guichon came to B.C. in 1862 during the Cariboo Gold Rush. After trying mining, he took up ranching. In 1894, Joseph Guichon introduced registered Hereford cattle to the Nicola Valley. Ten years later, he acquired the land on which stands the Quilchena Hotel, built in 1908, and General Store, built in 1913.
Joseph Guichon passed away in April, 1921. By 1923, more property, including the Beaver Ranch, at the north end of Nicola Lake, was acquired. In 1957, the assets of the ranch were divided. In 2014, the Douglas Lake Ranch purchased the Quilchena Cattle Company property.
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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.
