Stephen Tingley
Encyclopedia
Stephen Tingley was a stagecoach
driver and one of the original owners of the pioneer transportation company BC Express
that served the Cariboo
region in British Columbia
, Canada
for 60 years, from 1860, when it was first founded as Barnard's Express, until 1920, when it ceased its sternwheeler
service.
For twenty years Stephen Tingley was known as the "Whip of the Cariboo" and drove the BC Express stagecoaches between Yale
and Cache Creek
, over what was then one of the most hazardous roads in North America.
before returning to Yale in 1864 and starting a harness shop. In 1864, he hired on as a driver for Francis Jones Barnard
.
.
s that were used to pull the stagecoaches along the Cariboo Road
.
of Victoria
and Senator James Reid of Quesnel
and formed the North British Columbia Navigation Company. The partners hired Alexander Watson to build a sternwheeler
to work on the upper Fraser River
, the Charlotte
. The Charlotte ran from Soda Creek to Quesnel
and was the only sternwheeler on the upper Fraser until 1909.
in Vancouver.
Stagecoach
A stagecoach is a type of covered wagon for passengers and goods, strongly sprung and drawn by four horses, usually four-in-hand. Widely used before the introduction of railway transport, it made regular trips between stages or stations, which were places of rest provided for stagecoach travelers...
driver and one of the original owners of the pioneer transportation company BC Express
Barnard's Express
Barnard's Express, later known as the British Columbia Express Company or BX, was a pioneer transportation company that served the Cariboo and Fraser Fort George regions in British Columbia, Canada from 1861 until 1921....
that served the Cariboo
Cariboo
The Cariboo is an intermontane region of British Columbia along a plateau stretching from the Fraser Canyon to the Cariboo Mountains. The name is a reference to the woodland caribou that were once abundant in the region...
region in British Columbia
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...
, 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...
for 60 years, from 1860, when it was first founded as Barnard's Express, until 1920, when it ceased its sternwheeler
Paddle steamer
A paddle steamer is a steamship or riverboat, powered by a steam engine, using paddle wheels to propel it through the water. In antiquity, Paddle wheelers followed the development of poles, oars and sails, where the first uses were wheelers driven by animals or humans...
service.
For twenty years Stephen Tingley was known as the "Whip of the Cariboo" and drove the BC Express stagecoaches between Yale
Yale, British Columbia
Yale is an unincorporated town in the Canadian province of British Columbia. It was founded in 1848 by the Hudson's Bay Company as Fort Yale by Ovid Allard, the appointed manager of the new post, who named it after his superior, James Murray Yale, then Chief Factor of the Columbia District...
and Cache Creek
Cache Creek, British Columbia
Cache Creek is a junction community northeast of Vancouver in British Columbia, Canada. It is on the Trans-Canada Highway in the province of British Columbia at its junction with northbound Highway 97...
, over what was then one of the most hazardous roads in North America.
Early years
Stephen Tingley came to British Columbia in 1861, and tried his luck at mining during the Cariboo Gold RushCariboo Gold Rush
The Cariboo Gold Rush was a gold rush in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Although the first gold discovery was made in 1859 at Horsefly Creek, followed by more strikes at Keithley Creek and Antler Horns lake in 1860, the actual rush did not begin until 1861, when these discoveries were...
before returning to Yale in 1864 and starting a harness shop. In 1864, he hired on as a driver for Francis Jones Barnard
Francis Jones Barnard
Francis Jones Barnard , often known as Frank Barnard Sr., was a prominent British Columbia businessman and Member of Parliament in Canada from 1879 to 1887....
.
Barnard's Express
The British Columbia Express Company was incorporated in 1871 with original owner, Francis Jones Barnard, holding one half interest, and Stephen Tingley and James Hamilton each holding one quarter interest. In 1886, Hamilton died and Barnard sold out to Tingley, who thus became sole owner. Tingley ran the company for ten years before selling out to Charles Vance MillarCharles Vance Millar
Charles Vance Millar was a Canadian lawyer and financier. However, he is now best known for his penchant for practical jokes and his unusual will which reflected that sense of humor.-Early years:...
.
The Hat Creek Ranch
In 1894 Tingley bought the Hat Creek Ranch where he built the BX Barn and a large stables for the draft horseDraft horse
A draft horse , draught horse or dray horse , less often called a work horse or heavy horse, is a large horse bred for hard, heavy tasks such as ploughing and farm labour...
s that were used to pull the stagecoaches along the Cariboo Road
Cariboo Road
The Cariboo Road was a project initiated in 1860 by the colonial Governor of British Columbia, James Douglas...
.
The North British Columbia Navigation Company
In 1896, Tingley partnered with Captain John IrvingJohn Irving (steamship captain)
John Irving was a steamship captain in British Columbia, Canada. He began on the Fraser River at the age of 18 and would become one of the most famous and prosperous riverboat captains of the era...
of 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...
and Senator James Reid of Quesnel
Quesnel, British Columbia
-Demographics:Quesnel had a population of 9,326 people in 2006, which was a decrease of 7.1% from the 2001 census count. The median household income in 2005 for Quesnel was $54,044, which is slightly above the British Columbia provincial average of $52,709....
and formed the North British Columbia Navigation Company. The partners hired Alexander Watson to build a sternwheeler
Paddle steamer
A paddle steamer is a steamship or riverboat, powered by a steam engine, using paddle wheels to propel it through the water. In antiquity, Paddle wheelers followed the development of poles, oars and sails, where the first uses were wheelers driven by animals or humans...
to work on the upper Fraser River
Fraser River
The Fraser River is the longest river within British Columbia, Canada, rising at Fraser Pass near Mount Robson in the Rocky Mountains and flowing for , into the Strait of Georgia at the city of Vancouver. It is the tenth longest river in Canada...
, the Charlotte
Charlotte (sternwheeler)
The Charlotte sternwheeler was built in 1896 by Alexander Watson for the Northern British Columbia Navigation Company. The partners of the NBCNC were Stephen Tingley, Senator James Reid and John Irving...
. The Charlotte ran from Soda Creek to Quesnel
Quesnel, British Columbia
-Demographics:Quesnel had a population of 9,326 people in 2006, which was a decrease of 7.1% from the 2001 census count. The median household income in 2005 for Quesnel was $54,044, which is slightly above the British Columbia provincial average of $52,709....
and was the only sternwheeler on the upper Fraser until 1909.
Later years
Tingley died on October 9, 1915 and was buried at the Mountain View CemeteryMountain View Cemetery (Vancouver)
Mountain View Cemetery is the oldest cemetery in the City of Vancouver, British Columbia. Opened in 1887, it is located west of Fraser Street between 31st and 43rd Avenues...
in Vancouver.