James M. Kellie
Encyclopedia
James M. "Pothole" Kellie (December 6, 1848 – 1927) was a miner and political figure in British Columbia
. He represented West Kootenay from 1890 to 1894, West Kootenay North
from 1894 to 1898 and West Kootenay-Revelstoke
from 1898 to 1899 in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
.
He was born in Cobourg, Ontario
; his parents were natives of Scotland
.
Kellie acquired the nickname of "Pothole" when he was prospecting for gold in Golden
around 1884. He was convinced that there was gold to be found in two deep potholes in Canyon Creek. Kellie and his two partners eventually succeeded in diverting the creek, only to find the decaying leg of a mountain goat.
In 1889, Kellie and twelve other miners upset with taxation on their mines persuaded John Robson
, who was passing through by train, to stop over and listen to their complaints. The outcome was that Kellie was elected to the assembly and was able to sit on the committee drafting a new Mineral and Placer Mining Act. He later served in the cabinet as Minister of Mines.
Kellie mined quartz
in the Kootenay
region. In 1890, he moved to Revelstoke
, where he founded the Miners' Association. Kellie retired from politics in 1899 to look after his mining and lumber business interests. In 1913, he moved to Victoria
.
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...
. He represented West Kootenay from 1890 to 1894, West Kootenay North
West Kootenay North
West Kootenay North was an electoral district in the Canadian province of British Columbia in the 1894 election only. Its official name was "West Kootenay...
from 1894 to 1898 and West Kootenay-Revelstoke
West Kootenay-Revelstoke
West Kootenay-Revelstoke was an electoral district in the Canadian province of British Columbia from 1898 to 1903.- Demographics :- References :*...
from 1898 to 1899 in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
The Legislative Assembly of British Columbia is one of two components of the Parliament of British Columbia, the provincial parliament ....
.
He was born in Cobourg, Ontario
Cobourg, Ontario
Cobourg is a town in the Canadian province of Ontario, located in Southern Ontario 95 km east of Toronto. It is the largest town in Northumberland County. Its nearest neighbour is Port Hope, to the west. It is located along Highway 401 and the former Highway 2...
; his parents were natives of Scotland
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...
.
Kellie acquired the nickname of "Pothole" when he was prospecting for gold in Golden
Golden, British Columbia
Golden is a town in southeastern British Columbia, Canada, located west of Calgary, Alberta and east of Vancouver.-History:Much of the town's history is tied into the Canadian Pacific Railway and the logging industry...
around 1884. He was convinced that there was gold to be found in two deep potholes in Canyon Creek. Kellie and his two partners eventually succeeded in diverting the creek, only to find the decaying leg of a mountain goat.
In 1889, Kellie and twelve other miners upset with taxation on their mines persuaded John Robson
John Robson
John Robson was a Canadian journalist and politician, who served as the ninth Premier of the Province of British Columbia.-Journalist and activist:...
, who was passing through by train, to stop over and listen to their complaints. The outcome was that Kellie was elected to the assembly and was able to sit on the committee drafting a new Mineral and Placer Mining Act. He later served in the cabinet as Minister of Mines.
Kellie mined quartz
Quartz
Quartz is the second-most-abundant mineral in the Earth's continental crust, after feldspar. It is made up of a continuous framework of SiO4 silicon–oxygen tetrahedra, with each oxygen being shared between two tetrahedra, giving an overall formula SiO2. There are many different varieties of quartz,...
in the Kootenay
Kootenays
The Kootenay Region comprises the southeastern portion of British Columbia. It takes its name from the Kootenay River, which in turn was named for the Ktunaxa First Nation first encountered by explorer David Thompson.-Boundaries:The Kootenays are more or less defined by the Kootenay Land...
region. In 1890, he moved to Revelstoke
Revelstoke, British Columbia
Revelstoke is a city in southeastern British Columbia, Canada. It is located east of Vancouver, and west of Calgary, Alberta. The city is situated on the banks of the Columbia River just south of the Revelstoke Dam and near its confluence with the Illecillewaet River...
, where he founded the Miners' Association. Kellie retired from politics in 1899 to look after his mining and lumber business interests. In 1913, he moved to Victoria
Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...
.