Susan Louisa Moir Allison
Encyclopedia
Susan Louisa Moir Allison (August 18, 1845 – February 1, 1937) was a Canadian
author
and pioneer
. In 2010 Allison was designated a National Historic Person by the Canadian Government.
, where her father owned a tea plantation
. When Susan's father died, her family, consisting of her mother, sister and brother, relocated to England, where she was educated. In 1857, Susan's mother remarried, this time to Thomas Glennie, a Scotsman
. In 1860, when Susan was 14, Glennie moved the family to Hope, British Columbia
in Canada
. However, in 1864, Susan's stepfather deserted his new family, leaving her to work as a governess
. Using this experience, Susan established Hope's first school with her mother, and subsequently married John Fall Allison
, one of the founders of what is now Princeton, British Columbia
, in 1868.
, becoming the first non-Aboriginal settlers to live there. The couple, aided by John's knowledge of Chinook Jargon
, a trade language, as a result of his previous marriage to an Aboriginal woman, became close with nearby Aboriginal populations. There, the two produced 14 children. In the Valley, Allison had what she described as her happiest days, traversing nearby mountains on horseback and establishing relationships with nearby First Nations
. Allison claimed to have sighted Ogopogo
, a cryptid
lake monster
similar to the Loch Ness Monster
in Okanagan Lake
. In 1891, an ethnographic paper
of Allison's was published by the British Association for the Advancement of Science
, and in 1900 she published a poem about an Aboriginal chief.
in 1928, where she died on February 1, 1937. Her memoirs, partially published in The Province
in 1931, were edited and republished by the University of British Columbia Press
in 1976, 39 years after her death. On September 4, 2010, Allison was designated a National Historic Person by Jim Prentice
, the Government of Canada
's Minister for the Environment and Minister responsible for Parks Canada
.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
and pioneer
Settler
A settler is a person who has migrated to an area and established permanent residence there, often to colonize the area. Settlers are generally people who take up residence on land and cultivate it, as opposed to nomads...
. In 2010 Allison was designated a National Historic Person by the Canadian Government.
Early life and education
Susan Louisa Moir was born on August 18, 1845 in CeylonSri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
, where her father owned a tea plantation
Plantation
A plantation is a long artificially established forest, farm or estate, where crops are grown for sale, often in distant markets rather than for local on-site consumption...
. When Susan's father died, her family, consisting of her mother, sister and brother, relocated to England, where she was educated. In 1857, Susan's mother remarried, this time to Thomas Glennie, a Scotsman
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. In 1860, when Susan was 14, Glennie moved the family to Hope, British Columbia
Hope, British Columbia
Hope is a district municipality located at the confluence of the Fraser and Coquihalla rivers in the province of British Columbia, Canada. Hope is at the eastern end of both the Fraser Valley and the Lower Mainland region, and is at the southern end of the Fraser Canyon...
in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. However, in 1864, Susan's stepfather deserted his new family, leaving her to work as a governess
Governess
A governess is a girl or woman employed to teach and train children in a private household. In contrast to a nanny or a babysitter, she concentrates on teaching children, not on meeting their physical needs...
. Using this experience, Susan established Hope's first school with her mother, and subsequently married John Fall Allison
John Fall Allison
John Fall Allison was a pioneer settler, Justice of the Peace, and Gold Commissioner in the Similkameen Country of the Southern Interior of British Columbia, Canada.-Life and career:...
, one of the founders of what is now Princeton, British Columbia
Princeton, British Columbia
Princeton is a small town in the Similkameen region of southern British Columbia, Canada. It lies just east of the Cascade Mountains, which continue south into Washington, Oregon and California. The Tulameen and Similkameen Rivers converge here...
, in 1868.
Similkameen Valley
After their marriage, the Allisons moved to the Similkameen ValleySimilkameen River
The Similkameen River runs through southern British Columbia, eventually discharging into the Okanogan River near Oroville, Washington in the United States. The river is approximately long, and its drainage basin is in area...
, becoming the first non-Aboriginal settlers to live there. The couple, aided by John's knowledge of Chinook Jargon
Chinook Jargon
Chinook Jargon originated as a pidgin trade language of the Pacific Northwest, and spread during the 19th century from the lower Columbia River, first to other areas in modern Oregon and Washington, then British Columbia and as far as Alaska, sometimes taking on characteristics of a creole language...
, a trade language, as a result of his previous marriage to an Aboriginal woman, became close with nearby Aboriginal populations. There, the two produced 14 children. In the Valley, Allison had what she described as her happiest days, traversing nearby mountains on horseback and establishing relationships with nearby First Nations
First Nations
First Nations is a term that collectively refers to various Aboriginal peoples in Canada who are neither Inuit nor Métis. There are currently over 630 recognised First Nations governments or bands spread across Canada, roughly half of which are in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. The...
. Allison claimed to have sighted Ogopogo
Ogopogo
Ogopogo or Naitaka is the name given to a cryptid lake monster reported to live in Okanagan Lake, in British Columbia, Canada. Ogopogo has been allegedly seen by First Nations people since the 19th century...
, a cryptid
Cryptid
In cryptozoology and sometimes in cryptobotany, a cryptid is a creature or plant whose existence has been suggested but is unrecognized by scientific consensus and often regarded as highly unlikely. Famous examples include the Yeti in the Himalayas and the Loch Ness Monster in...
lake monster
Lake monster
A lake monster or loch monster is a purported form of fresh-water-dwelling megafauna appearing in mythology, rumor, or local folklore, but whose existence lacks scientific support. A well known example is the Loch Ness Monster. Lake monsters' depictions are often similar to some sea monsters...
similar to the Loch Ness Monster
Loch Ness Monster
The Loch Ness Monster is a cryptid that is reputed to inhabit Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands. It is similar to other supposed lake monsters in Scotland and elsewhere, though its description varies from one account to the next....
in Okanagan Lake
Okanagan Lake
Okanagan Lake is a large, deep lake in the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia. The lake is 135 km long, between 4 and 5 km wide, and has a surface area of 351 km². The lake's maximum depth is 232 meters near Grant Island...
. In 1891, an ethnographic paper
Ethnography
Ethnography is a qualitative method aimed to learn and understand cultural phenomena which reflect the knowledge and system of meanings guiding the life of a cultural group...
of Allison's was published by the British Association for the Advancement of Science
British Association for the Advancement of Science
frame|right|"The BA" logoThe British Association for the Advancement of Science or the British Science Association, formerly known as the BA, is a learned society with the object of promoting science, directing general attention to scientific matters, and facilitating interaction between...
, and in 1900 she published a poem about an Aboriginal chief.
Later life
In her final years she was forced to gradually return to urban life, first moving back to Hope and then to VancouverVancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
in 1928, where she died on February 1, 1937. Her memoirs, partially published in The Province
The Province
The Province is a daily, tabloid format newspaper published in British Columbia by Postmedia. It has been a daily newspaper since 1898.According to a recent NADbank survey, The Provinces average weekday readership was 520,100, making it British Columbia's most read newspaper...
in 1931, were edited and republished by the University of British Columbia Press
University of British Columbia Press
The University of British Columbia Press is a university press that is part of the University of British Columbia. It was established in 1971.-External links:*...
in 1976, 39 years after her death. On September 4, 2010, Allison was designated a National Historic Person by Jim Prentice
Jim Prentice
James "Jim" Prentice, PC, QC is a Canadian lawyer, and politician. In the 2004 federal election he was elected to the Canadian House of Commons as a candidate of the Conservative Party of Canada...
, the Government of Canada
Government of Canada
The Government of Canada, formally Her Majesty's Government, is the system whereby the federation of Canada is administered by a common authority; in Canadian English, the term can mean either the collective set of institutions or specifically the Queen-in-Council...
's Minister for the Environment and Minister responsible for Parks Canada
Parks Canada
Parks Canada , also known as the Parks Canada Agency , is an agency of the Government of Canada mandated to protect and present nationally significant natural and cultural heritage, and foster public understanding, appreciation, and enjoyment in ways that ensure their ecological and commemorative...
.