A fight at the Whonnock Reserve

The Roman Catholic Church
on the Whonnock Reserve 

Following from Victoria's Daily Colonist. 

"Henry West and David Rehberger have been committed for trial on two separate charges of attempting to murder." (18 February 1892)”

"H. West and David Rehberger, committed for trial in connection with the Indian shooting affair near Langley, two weeks ago have been admitted to bail [jail?]" (26 February 1892).

In his book The Langley Story (p. 145.) Donald Waite mentions this incident. It is particularly interesting that his story includes the only known date for the construction of the church on the Whonnock Reserve: 1888.

In 1888 he [Henry West] sold lumber on credit to the Indians of the Whonnock Reserve for the building of a Roman Catholic church. The church was built but West was never paid. Four years later West, two of his sons, and David Rehberger went over to collect the outstanding debt.  West took along his Winchester rifle just in case there might be trouble. There was, when Rehberger poked one of the Indians in the ribs with the muzzle of the rifle. The rifle discharged and put a hole through another Indian's shirt. He was not hurt. Rehberger, a few moments later, was hurt when an Indian hit him with a pike pole, breaking his arm. The West party managed to jump into their skiff and escaped home across the river. Repercussions followed when one of the Indians swore out an information in New Westminster charging West and Rehberger with attempted murder.

Sampson

The house in Oak Bay Francis M. Rattenbury built for the Sampsons

William Curtis Sampson (4 November 1848  - 23 March 1934) married his first wife Emma Munro (6 November 1846 – 16 October 1902) in England in December 1876. 

They settled in Whonnock ca. 1886 on their land on the Ruskin side of the Reserve.  Sampson was the area’s first Justice of the Peace. 

In July 1893 Sampson took a position with the Nakusp & Slocan Railway. The Victoria Colonist of 7 April 1894 shows his name as secretary of The Inland Construction and Development Company. In his absence took care of the Whonnock lands until they sold their property to the Gilchrist brothers in 1895.

The Canada Census of 1901 shows the couple in Vancouver but later that year they moved to Esquimalt where Sampson started an accounting firm. In the fall of 1902 Emma died of cancer. 

On 14 April 1909, married Harriet Susan Pemberton (13 May 1871 – 15 May 1949)

Sampson retired from his business in 1921.

Gilchrist

From Gerry in Sapperton via Doug and Shannon came these two snapshots.

One is of "Kildonan Lodge" at the south-east corner of 280th Street and 96th Avenue. "Kildonan Lodge" was the former house of Charles Whetham who had called it "Walden."

The other picture is of Elizabeth Mildred Black née Gilchrist (1902-1963) who was the daughter of George Gilchrist and Benjamina Laing. Her husband was Charles Black.

You will see these images again in the 2015 calendar. Thank you!!!