Stephen Tingley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Stephen Tingley
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Stephen Tingley
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| Born | September 13, 1839 Point de Bute, New Brunswick
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| Died | October 9, 1915 |
| Occupation | stagecoach driver, entrepreneur |
| Spouse(s) | (1) Elizabeth Harper (1839-1873); (2) Pauline Laumeister (md. 1877) |
| Children | Clarence Harper Tingley, Fredeick Chipman Harper Tingley |
| Parent(s) | Caleb Tingley, Deborah ? |
Stephen Tingley (born September 13, 1839 – died October 9, 1915) was a famous stagecoach driver. He was also one of the first owners of a big transportation company called BC Express. This company helped people travel and move goods in the Cariboo area of British Columbia, Canada.
BC Express operated for 60 years, from 1860 to 1920. It started as Barnard's Express. Stephen Tingley was known as the "Whip of the Cariboo" for twenty years. He drove stagecoaches for BC Express. These coaches traveled between Yale and Cache Creek. This route was one of the most dangerous roads in North America at the time.
A stream called Tingley Creek is named after him. It flows into the Fraser River near Marguerite.
Stephen Tingley's Career
Stephen Tingley was born in Point de Bute, New Brunswick. He came to British Columbia in 1861. He first tried to find gold during the Cariboo Gold Rush.
In 1864, he returned to Yale. He opened a shop that made harnesses for horses. He had learned this skill in New Brunswick. Later that year, he started working as a driver for Francis Jones Barnard.
In 1868, Stephen traveled to California and Mexico. He bought 500 wild horses for Barnard. His notes describe the tough journey bringing them north to Vernon. This trip made him financially secure. In 1869, he went back to New Brunswick. There, he married Elizabeth Harper and they returned to BC.
The British Columbia Express Company was officially formed in 1871. Francis Jones Barnard owned half of the company. Stephen Tingley and James Hamilton each owned a quarter. In 1886, James Hamilton passed away. Barnard then sold his share to Tingley. This made Stephen Tingley the sole owner of the company. He ran the company for ten years. After that, he sold it to Charles Vance Millar.
In 1894, Tingley bought the Hat Creek Ranch. He built a large barn there called the BX Barn. He also built big stables for the draft horses. These horses pulled the stagecoaches along the Cariboo Road.
In 1896, Tingley started a new company. He partnered with Captain John Irving and Senator James Reid. Their company was called the North British Columbia Navigation Company. They hired Alexander Watson to build a sternwheeler. A sternwheeler is a boat powered by a large paddle wheel at the back. This boat, named the Charlotte, worked on the upper Fraser River. The Charlotte traveled between Soda Creek and Quesnel. It was the only sternwheeler on the upper Fraser until 1909.
Stephen Tingley's Family Life
Stephen Tingley was married two times. His first wife was Elizabeth Harper. They had two sons together. Elizabeth passed away in 1873. Stephen traveled for over a month to take her body back to New Brunswick for burial.
Later, he married Pauline Laumeister. Pauline was the daughter of Frank Laumeister. Frank Laumeister was famous for bringing camels to the Cariboo region. Stephen Tingley passed away on October 9, 1915. He was buried at the Mountain View Cemetery in Vancouver.
