Brother
Frank Henry Price
(1866 - 1943)
Temple Lodge, No. 33
The grave of Brother Frank Price in St. Peter's Quamichan churchyard. The GPS location of the grave is: N 48⁰ 46.917’ W 123⁰ 40.030’
Here is a brief biographical sketch of Brother Frank Henry Price taken from his obituary in the local newspaper:
“Price – A well-known resident of the Cowichan district since 1884, Mr. Frank H. Price passed away at his home on York Road on Thursday, aged 77. He had been in poor health for about two months.
Born at Quenington, Gloustershire, England on March 13, 1866, son of the late Charles and Jane Price, Mr. Frank Price was educated at a private school in Cheltenham. In 1881 he came to Canada and the first two years were spent in Ontario, in Toronto, Newmarket and Muskoka district. In 1883 he went to Manitoba with the intention of farming.
Disliking the long, cold winter, he left the next year for Winnipeg and worked on the construction of the C.P.R. in the Kicking Horse Valley until October. In company with a young man he had met while working there, he decided to go through the mountains to British Columbia. They started from what is now known as Golden at the junction of the Kicking Horse and Columbia River.
As it was getting late in the season they were advised not to start, but though they ran into several feet of snow on top of the Selkirks for about two days, they arrived at the head of Schuswap Lake on October 30. Here his companion left him, and Mr. Price proceeded on. He travelled on the south Thompson River on the steamer Peerless. By stage, work-train and boat he eventually arrived at Port Moody and then went by steamer to Victoria.
By the steamer Amelia he went to Cowichan Bay, arriving there on November 5, 1884, 59 years ago to-morrow. Mr. Price never regretted the day he made up his mind to strike out for the coast before the C.P.R.
During the summer of 1885 and in 1886 he was on a survey party laying out Indian reserves on the mainland of British Columbia. In 1887 Mr. Price, in partnership with the late Percy F. Jaynes, brother of the late W.P. Jaynes, built the Quamichan Hotel in Duncan, on the site of the present Commercial Hotel.
In 1893 Mr. Price and his partner built the Lakeside Hotel at Cowichan Lake. Later his brother, the late Ernest Price, took over Mr. Jaynes’ interests. It became a well-known hostelry and many distinguished visitors were among its guests. A stage operated between the hotel and Duncan. Four years ago The Leader published several articles on the early days of Cowichan Lake which Mr. Price had prepared and read in 1935 at a meeting of the Cowichan Historical Society. It contained many interesting stories of Indian lore and legends and names of early white settlers.
When the Tyee mine opened up on Mt. Sicker about 1902, Mr. Price sold the Lakeside Hotel and built the Tzouhalem Hotel in Duncan. He operated it for some years and sold out to his brother Ernest, who died in 1919. Since then Mr. Frank Price had lived more or less a retired life at his home on York Road.
In his younger days he was an all round sportsman, specializing in fishing and shooting. He took a keen interest in all community affairs and was a member of the Masonic Lodge. During his days of retirement he took a great pride in the lovely gardens surrounding his home. Mr. Price will be missed by a wide circle of friends in the district, especially among the old-timers.
Besides his wife, the former Edith L. Booth, whom he married in Victoria in 1899, he leaves an only son, Fred., Duncan; a grandson, Bryan; and a sister, Mrs. M.J. Marriott, Vancouver. His four brothers, William, Arthur, Charles and Ernest, predeceased him some years ago. He was a nephew of the late Augustus Pimbury, well-known old-time resident of Cowichan Bay.
Funeral services were held on Monday afternoon at St. Peter’s Quamichan, the Rev. Canon T.M. Hughes officiating. Mr. B.W. Clements was at the organ and the hymn sung was ‘Peace, Perfect Peace.’
Pallbearers were Messrs. H.E. Donald, S.K. Matterson, W.M. Dwyer, K.F. Duncan, A. Day and R.W. Whittome. The body was later cremated. The lovely floral tributes were placed on the memorial cross in Duncan. Davis Funeral Service had charge of arrangements.”
Source: Cowichan Leader, 4 November 1943
