7
Lieutenant-Governor Hugh NelsonDietz's Friend and Partner,
Future Man of British Columbia
Born in far-away Ireland in 1830 Hugh Nelson would go on to become an integral part of B.C.'s past and present. His beginning as a leading man of B.C. began in Yale B.C. while in partnership with Mr. Dietz.
Together, Dietz & Nelson dabbled and succeeded in a number of business ventures, including an express service and sawmill. Hugh Nelson arrived in B.C. in 1858 and headed directly to Yale. He came to the colony with the same ambition as thousands before and after him, but he veered away from the popular route and made a sizeable fortune on the miners rather than with the miners.
Connecting the Cariboo with the West Coast he and Dietz established themselves amongst the businessmen at Yale and became wealthy members of the town. Through an association of the 'elites' of Yale he became friends with such people as John Kurtz, David Higgins, and William Powell.
Nelson remained closely associated with Yale until he and Dietz sold their express company to Francis Barnard in 1867 and moved closer to the Coast. He would return to Yale the following year for the Yale Convention but would not spend an extended period in the small town where it all began.
While running their sawmill in Burrard Inlet he was also involved in politics. A supporter of confederation he was elected as "MP for New Westminster in 1871 as a follower of John A. MacDonald." 1
Nelson left political life for a while to continue running the mill, a time when the unexpected loss of his partners made his attention there prudent. Moody was a victim on the doomed steamship, the 'Pacific', and it is not really known what happened to Dietz.
He returned to politics in 1879 after MacDonald elected him to the Senate. In 1882 he sold his share of the mill that he and his partners had made so successful, and devoted his full attention to public life. His dedication paid off when he was elected lieutenant-governor of B.C. in 1887.
Around this time Nelson met and married Miss Stanton. She was described as a "lady who brought to Government House a charming personality and a winsome manner, which captivated all who were so fortunate as to be entertained there." 2
He completed his term in office in 1892 and retired to England as a result of poor health. "While on a visit to Ditchely Park in Oxfordshire, the seat of Lord Dillon, his brother-in-law, he died and was laid to rest in the family mausoleum of that nobleman." 3
Hugh Nelson's noble vestige remains in the province he dedicated so much time in creating. Though he was born and died in Europe his presence within B.C. will never be forgotten.
1 "Hugh Nelson." Government House, the Ceremonial Home of British Columbians. Internet: http://www.ltgov.bc.ca/office/HughNelson.htm.
2 Higgins, David. "Chasing the Golden Butterfly." The Mystic Spring, 1904.
3 Higgins, David.
8
End of Yale Convention |
 |
 |
 |