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We have had some recent requests from family members of Revelstoke pioneers to do profiles of them on our blog and Facebook page. In the first of these, I will give a brief history of John Drinkwater Sibbald, a Revelstoke pioneer who arrived here in 1893, coming originally from the Lake Simcoe area of Ontario, where he was born in 1846. He settled for a short time in California, then moved to Yuma, Arizona, where he became involved in mining interests. In 1882, he returned to Canada, settling in Regina, where he was manager of the Western Milling Company. J.D. Sibbald moved to Revelstoke in 1893, starting in the flour and feed business, but soon gave this up to pursue mining interests, and to open an insurance and real estate office. He organized and was the first president of the Revelstoke Board of Trade in 1895. This organization still exists, under the current name of Revelstoke Chamber of Commerce.
In December of 1897, Sibbald was appointed as Gold Commissioner and Government Agent for the Revelstoke district. This was a political appointment, and when the provincial government changed in January of 1899, he was asked to resign. This created outrage among his supporters in Revelstoke, although the two local newspapers took opposing sides. The Revelstoke Herald supported Sibbald, and in their issue of January 14, 1899, they led with this headline: “The Sibbald Outrage – The Dismissal of J.D. Sibbald Characterized as Un-British, Unjust and Cruel – The Reason That the Position Was Wanted by a Friend of the Government is an Aggravation of the Wrong.” The opposing newspaper, The Kootenay Mail, published statements that caused J.D. Sibbald to sue them for libel, but the case was dismissed.
J.D. Sibbald met with a serious accident in 1904, when he was inspecting mining property at McCullough Creek, north of Revelstoke. A large rock came loose from the hillside above where Sibbald was standing, and it struck him in the back of the head, fracturing his skull and rendering him unconscious. A mining packer made the 75 mile trip to Revelstoke in a very fast 10 and ½ hours and early the next morning, Doctor Graham and Mrs. Sibbald set out on the S.S. Revelstoke, reaching the scene of the accident that afternoon. The next morning, they were able to bring Mr. Sibbald into Revelstoke where he was admitted to the hospital. The return trip took over 14 hours. Mr. Sibbald remained in the hospital for over two weeks.
Mrs. Amelia Sibbald was also very active in the community and was the first president of the Women’s Canadian Club of Revelstoke when it formed in 1913. This organization was very active in supporting the troops during World War I. The Sibbalds had two children: J.D. Sibbald, Jr., and Mrs. Kathleen Lloyd.
Mr. and Mrs. Sibbald returned to the family home in Ontario in 1919, where J.D. Sibbald died on September 19, 1923. The museum has more information on the family and would be pleased to provide this to anyone who is interested.
In December of 1897, Sibbald was appointed as Gold Commissioner and Government Agent for the Revelstoke district. This was a political appointment, and when the provincial government changed in January of 1899, he was asked to resign. This created outrage among his supporters in Revelstoke, although the two local newspapers took opposing sides. The Revelstoke Herald supported Sibbald, and in their issue of January 14, 1899, they led with this headline: “The Sibbald Outrage – The Dismissal of J.D. Sibbald Characterized as Un-British, Unjust and Cruel – The Reason That the Position Was Wanted by a Friend of the Government is an Aggravation of the Wrong.” The opposing newspaper, The Kootenay Mail, published statements that caused J.D. Sibbald to sue them for libel, but the case was dismissed.
J.D. Sibbald met with a serious accident in 1904, when he was inspecting mining property at McCullough Creek, north of Revelstoke. A large rock came loose from the hillside above where Sibbald was standing, and it struck him in the back of the head, fracturing his skull and rendering him unconscious. A mining packer made the 75 mile trip to Revelstoke in a very fast 10 and ½ hours and early the next morning, Doctor Graham and Mrs. Sibbald set out on the S.S. Revelstoke, reaching the scene of the accident that afternoon. The next morning, they were able to bring Mr. Sibbald into Revelstoke where he was admitted to the hospital. The return trip took over 14 hours. Mr. Sibbald remained in the hospital for over two weeks.
Mrs. Amelia Sibbald was also very active in the community and was the first president of the Women’s Canadian Club of Revelstoke when it formed in 1913. This organization was very active in supporting the troops during World War I. The Sibbalds had two children: J.D. Sibbald, Jr., and Mrs. Kathleen Lloyd.
Mr. and Mrs. Sibbald returned to the family home in Ontario in 1919, where J.D. Sibbald died on September 19, 1923. The museum has more information on the family and would be pleased to provide this to anyone who is interested.
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