James Houston: Scottish Adventurer & Langley Pioneer

Above photo of James Houston courtesy of salishan Place by the River

James Houston stands out as a remarkable figure in the history of Fort Langley, British Columbia.  Born December 8, 1823 in  Dunfermline Fife, Scotland, to Alexander Houston, a mason,  and Mary Shaw, Houston’s adventurous spirit led him across oceans, shaping not only his own destiny but also in part, the future of our region.

Early Life and Epic Journey

Houston’s background was marked by privilege — history has it that his brother Robert was an engineer and his nephew, Sir Robert Houston, was a wealthy ship owner, inventor,  Member of Parliament,  and a titled Baron.  James Houston knew a young, 12 year old Andrew Carnegie, also born in Dunfermline and counted him among his friends.  Carnegie was to be of Carnegie Hall fame and noted builder of hundreds of libraries.

James chose adventure over comfort, setting out from Scotland for New York in 1848 as a stowaway on the ship, Wiscasset.  From there, his path was anything but straightforward. Houston endured shipwrecks off New Zealand and Mexico, faced imprisonment and attacks by Indigenous peoples, and moved restlessly through California, Oregon, and Washington in search of gold and opportunity. He even attempted to deliver cattle to the gold fields along the Columbia River, barely escaping further dangers before making his way on foot to Fort Kamloops, where he was briefly imprisoned by the Chief Factor Donald McLean.

Gold!

In 1857, Houston’s persistence paid off when he and his partner Ferdinand Boulanger,  discovered gold at Tranquille near Kamloops. He sent gold to the Governor of the Colony of Vancouver Island and Hudson’s Bay Company Chief Factor, James Douglas, who forwarded it with other finds from Indigenous peoples to San Francisco for assaying. The resulting news prompted a mad rush of thousands of American miners to the Fraser River, which contributed directly to the proclamation of British Columbia as a crown colony of the British Empire at Fort Langley in November of 1858.

Life in Fort Langley

With his newfound wealth, Houston purchased land in Fort Langley near the Hudson Bay Company farm and the Salmon River, and credited as becoming the first independent farmer in the Fraser Valley.  He was also an active force in establishing local governance in 1873 as one of 33 men who petitioned the provincial government to create the District of Langley. James was one of the first elected councillors.

He married Mary Kushan (recorded also as Mary Cusheon), an Indigenous woman, on December 22, 1875. Their marriage certificate lists James as 52 years of age and Mary as 35.  She had been a wife to Kwantlen Chief Casimir. Together, they built a family and a farm, a legacy that endures to this day.

• Step Son Joseph, born May 6, 1860
• Stepdaughter Mary, born June 4, 1866
• Son Alexander, born April 14 1868

Community and Legacy

Throughout his years in Fort Langley, Houston was known as a pioneer and devoted farmer. He had travelled by pony to Oregon to bring back Holstein and Hereford cows and a bull.  According to the 1881 census, he was a Reformed Presbyterian farmer living with his wife Mary and children. Mary, born 1837, passed away on April 14, 1885, and is buried in the Fort Langley Cemetery. Ten years later the 1891 census records James living with his stepdaughter Mary and son Alexander in Fort Langley, still working as a farmer and maintaining his Presbyterian faith.

Later Life and Passing

James Houston continued to live in Fort Langley, contributing to the community until his death in 1902. He is also buried in the Fort Langley Cemetery, resting alongside his wife Mary, marking the end of a life defined by resilience, adventure, and a pioneering spirit.

James Houston’s story is one of remarkable grit and vision. From a privileged youth in Scotland to a pioneering life beside the Fraser River, he left a lasting mark on Fort Langley and its people. Those interested in learning more about his impact are encouraged to explore local archives, historical societies, and the Fort Langley National Historic Site.

 

 

Thank you to Bonnie Hartup for researching the life of James Houston.