Theme: Luck of the Irish | Images: Click on many to enlarge
Updates 3 Apr 2015: added Christiana & Ezekial Evans, 1871 census, credits to Kerry Johnston
Updates 3 Apr 2015: added Christiana & Ezekial Evans, 1871 census, credits to Kerry Johnston
Johnston, Kerfoot & Co. were outfitters for those seeking their fortunes in the Klondike Gold Rush, 1898 Terry’s paternal grandmother, Daisy Louise Johnston was Irish, the daughter of James Irvine JOHNSTON and Deborah Sophronia KERFOOT. Both James and Deborah (also of Irish heritage) were born in Canada West (Ontario). For this “luck of the Irish” segment I would like to focus on Terry's Great-Grandfather James Irvine Johnston because, in the late 1890s, he seized the opportunity of the Klondike Gold Rush and became a Klondike outfitter in Vancouver BC. Was it Irish luck that put him in the right place at the right time?
James Irvine JOHNSTON was probably born in Cartwright Township, Durham County, Ontario in 1843. His father James Elden Johnston, born in County Fermanagh, Ireland, was enumerated in Cartwright Ontario as head of household in both the 1841 Canada West census and the 1848 Cartwright Township census. By 1851 when all name in the household were listed for the first time, , James Elden and his wife Elizabeth (nee DEVER) were living in Cartwright and already had 8 children. Their fifth child James Junior was said to be born in Canada, age 9 on his next birthday.
In 1854 the family moved to Wallace Township in “Canada West” (Ontario). Throughout these years, their extended family also owned property nearby, including James Jr’s grandparents Richard and Christian(a) JOHNSTON, and his father’s siblings Robert, John, Jane (who married a James ARMSTRONG) and Christiana (who married Ezekial EVANS). About 1856, and certainly by 1861, James Sr (merchant) and his family had moved to Maryborough Ontario. Nine children are itemized including 17-year-old James Jr who was already working as a carpenter.
James Irvine JOHNSTON was probably born in Cartwright Township, Durham County, Ontario in 1843. His father James Elden Johnston, born in County Fermanagh, Ireland, was enumerated in Cartwright Ontario as head of household in both the 1841 Canada West census and the 1848 Cartwright Township census. By 1851 when all name in the household were listed for the first time, , James Elden and his wife Elizabeth (nee DEVER) were living in Cartwright and already had 8 children. Their fifth child James Junior was said to be born in Canada, age 9 on his next birthday.
In 1854 the family moved to Wallace Township in “Canada West” (Ontario). Throughout these years, their extended family also owned property nearby, including James Jr’s grandparents Richard and Christian(a) JOHNSTON, and his father’s siblings Robert, John, Jane (who married a James ARMSTRONG) and Christiana (who married Ezekial EVANS). About 1856, and certainly by 1861, James Sr (merchant) and his family had moved to Maryborough Ontario. Nine children are itemized including 17-year-old James Jr who was already working as a carpenter.
At this point I would like to acknowledge the kind assistance of Kerry Johnston, a distant cousin and excellent researcher who has provided me with much information on these Johnstons in Ontario and in Ireland. When I wasn't able to find James Irvine Johnston in the 1871 census (too many Johnstons to choose from, I thought), Kerry found him working as a carpenter in Wallace County, Ontario. He knew of other close relatives working in this area by 1874, so perhaps they were all helping to build the town of Palmerston. James' parents James and Elizabeth were living in Colborne Township Ontario in 1871. According to Kerry Johnston, the family had moved to Toronto by 1879 :
"The 1879 City of Toronto Directory lists the firm of Johnston, Winters and Co., a mercantile agency at 22 Adelaide St. East, Toronto and also lists Benjamin B. Johnston, James E. Johnston and James "J" Johnston (probably James Irvine Johnston) of the firm Johnston, Winters and Co., all residing at 7 Maitland St., Toronto. James E. [father] and Benjamin B. [youngest brother] also appear in the 1880 Directory and although the firm of Johnston, Winters and Co. appears in the 1881 Directory, only James E. is listed as living at 7 Maitland.”
This was excellent news, and provided valuable information about the family's entrepreneurial and business skills as well as their shifting locations. The only points I can add is that, according to the list of Mercantile Agencies in the 1881 Toronto city directory, another company "Winters & Clarke (retail)" was operating at 22 Adelaide E, the location previously occupied by Johnston, Winters & Co. Was this the same Mr Winters with a new partner? It seems that by 1881 the Johnston & Winters partnership had ended. James E Johnston was still living at 7 Maitland, but his 2 sons James and Benjamin were no longer listed in Toronto. As directories are generally prepared at the end of the previous year, it is possible that some entries were out of date even before they were printed, and certainly they wouldn’t contain changes that occurred in the given year. The Johnstons had left town.
It’s amazing how many life changes can happen in just a few years. Nationally, it was certainly a time of rapid development. Canada had just become a new nation of four provinces in 1867 following confederation. Canada West was renamed as the new Province of Ontario. In 1870 Manitoba joined Canada as its fifth province, and British Columbia followed suit in 1873. The West was expanding and was rife with new opportunities and free land for homesteaders. So it shouldn’t have been a surprise that James, having severed ties with Mr Winters and the family business in about 1880, decided to head west.
It’s amazing how many life changes can happen in just a few years. Nationally, it was certainly a time of rapid development. Canada had just become a new nation of four provinces in 1867 following confederation. Canada West was renamed as the new Province of Ontario. In 1870 Manitoba joined Canada as its fifth province, and British Columbia followed suit in 1873. The West was expanding and was rife with new opportunities and free land for homesteaders. So it shouldn’t have been a surprise that James, having severed ties with Mr Winters and the family business in about 1880, decided to head west.
By the time of the 1881 census, James was found living in Emerson Manitoba, a small prairie community first settled only a few years earlier in 1874, and located on the east side of the Red River at the Canada-US border. He was probably kept very busy working as a cabinet maker. Surprisingly he has already married to Deborah Johnston (nee KERFOOT), living with her and his brother Benjamin B Johnston (also a cabinet maker). Deborah's brother William "Cerfoot" was boarding next door. Other researchers claim that James and Deborah were married on 27 Jan 1881 in Emerson Manitoba. I am also assuming that the couple first met in Emerson because they came from different regions of Ontario. But it must have been a whirlwind romance if the entire relationship blossomed in Emerson! Children were soon on the way.
Probably in 1888 or 1889, after their fourth child Daisy Louise JOHNSTON was born, James and his family decided to move west again, this time to Vancouver on the Pacific coast. Deborah’s brother William John KERFOOT also decided to move. James’ fifth child Della was born in Vancouver in December 1889, which helps establish the date of their migration.
Probably in 1888 or 1889, after their fourth child Daisy Louise JOHNSTON was born, James and his family decided to move west again, this time to Vancouver on the Pacific coast. Deborah’s brother William John KERFOOT also decided to move. James’ fifth child Della was born in Vancouver in December 1889, which helps establish the date of their migration.
CPR Terminus, Vancouver BC, 1884 Why did they choose Vancouver? Once again the national landscape had changed. Only 4 years before on 7 Nov 1885, the Canadian Pacific Railway was completed between Ontario and BC, making it much easier for people to travel west. In 1886 the community of Granville (where the CPR ended on the west coast) incorporated as the City of Vancouver. Word got out that this port city was booming, and the new business opportunities were likely irresistible to young entrepreneurs. Considering his past experience as a merchant, James may have had dreams of opening his own store in Vancouver, and found a willing partner in his brother-in-law William Kerfoot.
It seems likely that they traveled west by train. If so, they would have arrived in Vancouver at the CPR terminus and docks at the foot of Cordova Street. It was also on Cordova, only a few blocks away, where James and William decided to set up their own store.
Speaking of fast growing populations, this is a most enlightening excerpt from the 1887 directory for the "City of Vancouver - Terminus of the CPR" in their introduction:
“The population of the city at the present time is about 5,000, and train and steamer are adding their quota to it daily. In the same month last year the population was not over 300, giving an increase in twelve months of sixteen hundred per cent."
It seems likely that they traveled west by train. If so, they would have arrived in Vancouver at the CPR terminus and docks at the foot of Cordova Street. It was also on Cordova, only a few blocks away, where James and William decided to set up their own store.
Speaking of fast growing populations, this is a most enlightening excerpt from the 1887 directory for the "City of Vancouver - Terminus of the CPR" in their introduction:
“The population of the city at the present time is about 5,000, and train and steamer are adding their quota to it daily. In the same month last year the population was not over 300, giving an increase in twelve months of sixteen hundred per cent."
Clipping from a 1899 Vancouver Street Directory for Johnston & Kerfoot Still trying to pinpoint their date of arrivable, I was unable to find our James in the 1889 Vancouver directories. But the year before in 1888, a "Johnson & Tyson clothiers" is listed on Carrall, headed by an A G Johnson and J C Johnston (who may also have had a boot and shoe store on Cordova). They both lived on Westminster Avenue, as did a James Johnston (no occupation listed). It seems quite the coincidence that some of the names and occupations match, but I do not yet know if these Johnston entries are connected in any way to our James.
We do know that by 1890 James and his brother-in-law William had established "Johnston, Kerfoot, and Co.", a clothing store at 140 Cordova. Also in 1890, James Irvine Johnston is listed as a tailor living at 433 Hamilton with William John Kerfoot as his partner. Business must have been good because they already had 8 employees: 3 clerks (William Grover, James Osborne Johnstone and Charles Davis, 4 tailors (LA Peterson, George Alexander Mills, A W Milne, and Cathel Kier), and 1 tailoress (Miss Jennie Allen). Over the next several years the company is listed at various addresses on Cordova (140, 104, 114, 108, 104-106), sometimes showing conflicting addresses in the same year. So either they moved frequently, had multiple storefronts, the street numbers on the buildings changed, and/or there were typos in the directories!
We do know that by 1890 James and his brother-in-law William had established "Johnston, Kerfoot, and Co.", a clothing store at 140 Cordova. Also in 1890, James Irvine Johnston is listed as a tailor living at 433 Hamilton with William John Kerfoot as his partner. Business must have been good because they already had 8 employees: 3 clerks (William Grover, James Osborne Johnstone and Charles Davis, 4 tailors (LA Peterson, George Alexander Mills, A W Milne, and Cathel Kier), and 1 tailoress (Miss Jennie Allen). Over the next several years the company is listed at various addresses on Cordova (140, 104, 114, 108, 104-106), sometimes showing conflicting addresses in the same year. So either they moved frequently, had multiple storefronts, the street numbers on the buildings changed, and/or there were typos in the directories!
| James I Johnston - Vancouver Residence
| Johnston, Kerfoot & Co - Vancouver Store Location
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Over this decade Vancouver continued to grow, with new ventures and established businesses coming and going. With the competition increasing, Johnston & Kerfoot expanded the scope of their store, starting as clothiers who focused on custom tailoring, and later adding “gents furnishings", hats, caps, trunks and valises to their merchandise. There was naturally some turnover in employees, and in 1899 "George W Kerfoot" was working for them. Although this was probably William's brother George, the middle initial should have read "B" for Benjamin.
The Klondike gold rush of 1897 and 1898 was a golden opportunity for merchants to further diversify by supplying the hordes of prospectors heading to the Yukon to make their fortune. Johnson & Kerfoot was not to be left behind, and by 1898 they had opened a second location at 308 Cordova under the name of Johnston, Kerfoot & Cross, specializing as Klondike outfitters. It looks like they financed this expansion by going into partnership with a Mr A S Cross who in 1898 lived at 806 Hornby Street, Vancouver. I couldn't find either Mr Cross or this new business listed in other years, so it was probably a short term but hopefully profitable venture for them all.
Many other outfitters also climbed on the Klondike band wagon, and at least four were in their immediate vicinity: Club & Stewart at 408 Cordova, Klondike Outfitting & Trading Co. at 17 Cordova, RA Muskett at 326 Cordova, and Thomas Dunn Co at 8 Cordova who supplied a lot of the necessary hardware. This competition generated a flurry of marketing and publicity tactics to try and gain a bigger share of the market.
The Klondike gold rush of 1897 and 1898 was a golden opportunity for merchants to further diversify by supplying the hordes of prospectors heading to the Yukon to make their fortune. Johnson & Kerfoot was not to be left behind, and by 1898 they had opened a second location at 308 Cordova under the name of Johnston, Kerfoot & Cross, specializing as Klondike outfitters. It looks like they financed this expansion by going into partnership with a Mr A S Cross who in 1898 lived at 806 Hornby Street, Vancouver. I couldn't find either Mr Cross or this new business listed in other years, so it was probably a short term but hopefully profitable venture for them all.
Many other outfitters also climbed on the Klondike band wagon, and at least four were in their immediate vicinity: Club & Stewart at 408 Cordova, Klondike Outfitting & Trading Co. at 17 Cordova, RA Muskett at 326 Cordova, and Thomas Dunn Co at 8 Cordova who supplied a lot of the necessary hardware. This competition generated a flurry of marketing and publicity tactics to try and gain a bigger share of the market.
As luck would have it, a wonderful photo of Kerfoot & Johnston has survived, taken in 1898 during a promotional event outside their store at 104-106 Cordova Street location (I would have expected them to promote their outfitters store at 308 Cordova). The photo shows a large banner across their store front, a mule train loaded up with supplies ready for the Klondike, and crowds of curious people. Some even managed to gain access to the upstairs windows for a better view. Just imagine the excitement all this would have generated!
Johnston & Kerfoot Klondike Outfitters - 104-106 Cordova Street, Vancouver BC - 1898 publicity event
While the company was still riding high on this gold rush boom, James became ill with cancer. We don't know for how long he suffered, but tragically James died on 16 September 1900 at the age of 57, leaving his widow Deborah and 6 young children to mourn his passing: Howard, Russell, Morley, Daisy Louise, Della and Irene (ages 8 to 17). The luck of the Irish had run out for James.
His death also had an affect on the business. Although the Klondike Outfitters location had already closed, the company of Johnston & Kerfoot continued on for a number of years. In 1910, they were located at 125 and 127 West Hasting under the names of Mrs J I (Deborah) Johnston & Wm J Kerfoot. Deborah's son Oliver Morley Johnston was also working for them as a clerk. Deborah was living at 1419 Harwood along with sons Morley and Russell, and perhaps others. And they would have been a very busy getting ready for two family weddings. Deborah's daughter Daisy Louise was married in May 1910 to Harry BOORMAN, and then her son Morley married Gertrude COCKBURN in October.
Yet by the very next year there was no further trace of the Johnston & Kerfoot store. All the Cordova addresses had long been left behind and another company had already taken over their 127 West Hastings location. I don't know why 125 West Hastings wasn't even listed as a valid street address, but elsewhere Morley was still said to be working as a salesman at 125 West Hastings (his employer's name not mentioned). Interestingly a Johnson Clothing House business appeared at 131 West Hastings, sharing the premises with the Tavern Cafe and the Union Pool Rooms. Could this have been a related yet smaller liquidation site? Deborah's business partner and brother William John KERFOOT was also missing from the Vancouver directories, so perhaps he moved to the United States sooner than I thought? More research on this is needed for another story, I think!
It was an end of an era for the James Irvine JOHNSTON family, with new beginnings already in motion. The store had closed and the partnership dissolved after a good twenty year run, with James at the helm for half that time. And perhaps along the way they even found or earned their own pot of gold, as the Irish yearn to do!
References and Further Reading
BC City Directories
BC Archives and Royal BC Museum - BMD database
History of Vancouver - Tourism Vancouver
History of Canadian Pacific and Port Metro Vancouver
Historical Maps and History of Canada - Canadian Geographic site
History of the Canadian Pacific Railway - CPR site
Klondike Gold Rush - Yukon Government site
Klondike Gold Rush - Canadian Encyclopedia
Vancouver Exposed: A History in Photographs
Changing Vancouver, Then and Now Images
BC Archives and Royal BC Museum - BMD database
History of Vancouver - Tourism Vancouver
History of Canadian Pacific and Port Metro Vancouver
Historical Maps and History of Canada - Canadian Geographic site
History of the Canadian Pacific Railway - CPR site
Klondike Gold Rush - Yukon Government site
Klondike Gold Rush - Canadian Encyclopedia
Vancouver Exposed: A History in Photographs
Changing Vancouver, Then and Now Images
See my JOHNSTON Genealogy page for more family photos and an overview of this JOHNSTON line.
Our JOHNSTON Family Tree has even more details.
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