Francis Xavier Richter
Encyclopedia
Francis Xavier Richter, commonly known as Frank Richter, was a pioneer settler, miner and rancher in 19th century Washington and British Columbia
.
Born in Friedland
, Bohemia
, then part of Austria-Hungary
, Richter was the son of a textile manufacturer. At the age of 15 he emigrated to Texas
, and after a misadventure where he was wounded and captured by Indians, following the lure of the gold rushes westward, he came to Rich Bar, Washington and with the take from his placer claim opened a small store and operated a small riverboat. Hearing of good grazing land northwards in British Columbia, he sold out his holdings in Oregon and Washington and bought 40 head of cattle, and drove them to the Keremeos
area of the Similkameen Country
of British Columbia's Southern Interior
in October 1864.
He pre-empted land six miles (10 km) down the Similkameen from Keremeos and founded the "R" Ranch. He also worked for a while for the Hudson's Bay Company at Fort Similkameen
(Fort Keremeos). With his cattle business thriving he started a new ranch at what was to become Keremeos Centre
, where he also operated a thriving store. In addition to an opulent new residence, Richter planted 30 acres (121,405.8 m²) of fruit trees on the new property, which was to become the foundation of the Similkameen's still-thriving orchard industry and, alongside the Oblate priests of Okanagan Mission, is reckoned to be the founder of BC's fruit industry. The house and the Richter household became social pillars of British Columbia society and important guests were common at the Richter ranch. Among those hosted by Richter was Earl Grey
in 1908.
Eventually the Richter holdings comprised 10,000 acres (40 km²) of land and 1,500 head of cattle.
In 1910 Richter was to return to his native Austria but fell ill at a Christmas Dinner at St. Joseph's Hospital in Victoria and died within moments, of "a stroke of apoplexy".
Richter had six sons and five daughters, all of whom were accomplished musicians. For schooling the boys had to ride on horseback to Okanagan Mission and board there while attending.
Richter's youngest son, Frank Richter, Jr., was a Member of the Legislative Assembly
and Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Mines in the Social Credit government of W.A.C. Bennett
, representing the Similkameen riding
from 1953 to 1966 and its successor riding Boundary-Similkameen
from 1966 to 1975.
, Richter Mountain, Richter Creek and Richter Lake, all in the small mountain range at the southeast end of the Thompson Plateau
between the lower Similkameen and South Okanagan, are named for him. The Richter Ranch in the same area continues in operation to this day.
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
.
Born in Friedland
Friedland
- Places :Germany:* Friedland, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern* Friedland, Brandenburg* Friedland, Lower SaxonyRussia:* Pravdinsk , RussiaCzech:* Frýdlant v Čechách , Czech Republic...
, Bohemia
Bohemia
Bohemia is a historical region in central Europe, occupying the western two-thirds of the traditional Czech Lands. It is located in the contemporary Czech Republic with its capital in Prague...
, then part of Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
, Richter was the son of a textile manufacturer. At the age of 15 he emigrated to Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, and after a misadventure where he was wounded and captured by Indians, following the lure of the gold rushes westward, he came to Rich Bar, Washington and with the take from his placer claim opened a small store and operated a small riverboat. Hearing of good grazing land northwards in British Columbia, he sold out his holdings in Oregon and Washington and bought 40 head of cattle, and drove them to the Keremeos
Keremeos, British Columbia
Keremeos is a village in the Southern Interior of British Columbia, Canada. The name originated from the Similkameen dialect of the Okanagan language word "Keremeyeus" meaning "creek which cuts its way through the flats" referring to Keremeos Creek which flows down from the Upper Benchlands to the...
area of the Similkameen Country
Similkameen Country
The Similkameen Country, also referred to as the Similkameen Valley or Similkameen District, but generally referred to simply as The Similkameen or more archaically, Similkameen, is a region roughly coinciding with the basin of the river of the same name in the Southern Interior of British Columbia...
of British Columbia's Southern Interior
British Columbia Interior
The British Columbia Interior or BC Interior or Interior of British Columbia, usually referred to only as the Interior, is one of the three main regions of the Canadian province of British Columbia, the other two being the Lower Mainland, which comprises the overlapping areas of Greater Vancouver...
in October 1864.
He pre-empted land six miles (10 km) down the Similkameen from Keremeos and founded the "R" Ranch. He also worked for a while for the Hudson's Bay Company at Fort Similkameen
Fort Similkameen
Fort Similkameen is the site of a former Hudson's Bay Company fort located in the Similkameen region of British Columbia. The fort was also called Fort Keremeos situated near the Similkameen River close to the City of Keremeos....
(Fort Keremeos). With his cattle business thriving he started a new ranch at what was to become Keremeos Centre
Keremeos Centre, British Columbia
Keremeos Centre is a ghost town located in the Similkameen Country region of British Columbia, Canada. The town is situated on the west side of Keremeos Creek....
, where he also operated a thriving store. In addition to an opulent new residence, Richter planted 30 acres (121,405.8 m²) of fruit trees on the new property, which was to become the foundation of the Similkameen's still-thriving orchard industry and, alongside the Oblate priests of Okanagan Mission, is reckoned to be the founder of BC's fruit industry. The house and the Richter household became social pillars of British Columbia society and important guests were common at the Richter ranch. Among those hosted by Richter was Earl Grey
Earl Grey
Earl Grey is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1806 for General Charles Grey, 1st Baron Grey. He had already been created Baron Grey, of Howick in the County of Northumberland, in 1801, and was made Viscount Howick, in the County of Northumberland, at the same time as...
in 1908.
Eventually the Richter holdings comprised 10,000 acres (40 km²) of land and 1,500 head of cattle.
In 1910 Richter was to return to his native Austria but fell ill at a Christmas Dinner at St. Joseph's Hospital in Victoria and died within moments, of "a stroke of apoplexy".
Richter had six sons and five daughters, all of whom were accomplished musicians. For schooling the boys had to ride on horseback to Okanagan Mission and board there while attending.
Richter's youngest son, Frank Richter, Jr., was a Member of the Legislative Assembly
Member of the Legislative Assembly
A Member of the Legislative Assembly or a Member of the Legislature , is a representative elected by the voters of a constituency to the legislature or legislative assembly of a sub-national jurisdiction....
and Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Mines in the Social Credit government of W.A.C. Bennett
W.A.C. Bennett
William Andrew Cecil Bennett, PC, OC was the 25th Premier of the Canadian province of British Columbia. With just over 20 years in office, Bennett was and remains the longest-serving premier in British Columbia history. He was usually referred to as W.A.C...
, representing the Similkameen riding
Similkameen (electoral district)
Similkameen was the name of a provincial electoral district in the Canadian province of British Columbia formed around the historic mining district of the same name. It made its first appearance on the hustings in the election of 1903...
from 1953 to 1966 and its successor riding Boundary-Similkameen
Boundary-Similkameen
Boundary-Similkameen is a new riding which was formed in 2008 assembled together with populations of Penticton-Okanagan Valley, West Kootenay-Boundary and Yale-Lillooet...
from 1966 to 1975.
Legacy
Richter PassRichter Pass
Richter Pass is a mountain pass to the south of the summit of British Columbia highway 3 between Keremeos and Osoyoos , linking the Similkameen Valley with the South Okanagan over the southernmost end of the Thompson Plateau...
, Richter Mountain, Richter Creek and Richter Lake, all in the small mountain range at the southeast end of the Thompson Plateau
Thompson Plateau
The Thompson Plateau, also known as the Okanagan-Thompson Plateau, forms the southern portion of the Interior Plateau of British Columbia, Canada, lying to the west of Okanagan Lake, south of the Thompson River and to the east of the Fraser River...
between the lower Similkameen and South Okanagan, are named for him. The Richter Ranch in the same area continues in operation to this day.