James George Currie

See page 1 of the Schisler History - Western Canada and page 44 of the History of the Schisler Family Canadian Branch for earlier summaries.

James George Currie Schisler is our original ancestor in terms of being the start of the BC Branch/Western Canada family tree. Newer information:

• The Canadian Census in 1901 listed Currie Schisler as living in Yale, BC with is wife and three children. His youngest and fourth child, George, was born in 1905 in Princeton. He declares his heritage as "German" and his religion as "German Methodist." His occupation listed as "stock raiser" which in those days would be a rancher.

From many historical records, it was obvious that the famous or infamous train robber Billy Miner would hide out at the Currie Schisler homestead located behind Baldy Mountain near the Similkameen River (north side of the river).

Famous train robber Billy Miner references:

• Frederick Clifford SCHISLER was born on 3 Oct 1897 in Crowland, Ontario.He almost shot Miner with a .22 cal. Rifle. He was the son of Currie Schisler and the father of letter writer Cliff Schisler in Ontario. He saw Jack Budd’s papers that indicated he allegedly was a brother to Bill Miner. Fred Schisler, as a youngster of eight years, inadvertently almost shot Bill Miner with his single shot 22 cal. rifle. 
  "At the Schisler ranch at Bald Mountain the farm house was similar to many of the time with a full open porch. When one came home for a meal they would use a bench on the porch that held water and basins etc. for all those going into the house to wash up first." 
  "This day my father (Fred) was home and was aiming the 22 cal. single shot through the window over the wash up porch. The men were outside washing up. One of these was Bill Miner, when he bent over the bench while washing up my Dad pulled the trigger, the bullet went through the window and over Miner's head who had just bent down to the wash basin. My Dad would have been eight then??" 
• Reference: From Princeton, 100 Years. 1867 to 1967. Currie. For one year between May of 1905 till 1906 Miner as George Edwards lived on the Currie Schisler homestead on Miner Mountain. Millie Schisler remembers George Edwards as being a "kind gentleman" and a "wonderful person." She danced with Bill (Miner) when she was only twelve at one of the many social gatherings in the small rural community. Miner, as Edwards, attended many of these functions and she fondly remembered the 25 cent pieces he would press into her hand.Spouse: Emma MATHEWS. James George Currie (Currie) SCHISLER and Emma MATHEWS were married in 1891 in Ontario. 
• From Millie Schisler (daughter of Currie): She related anecdotes about Miner such as $1000 bills in his coat lining, Budd letters, etc. 
  For one year between May of 1905 till 1906 Miner as George Edwards lived on the Currie Schisler homestead on Miner Mountain. 
  Jack Huey and his wife, the former Millie Schisler. are shown in a photo taken during their 50th wedding anniversary in 1965. 
  Millie Schisler was married to Jack Huey. Both Edwards and Shorty Dunn worked at the Currie Schisler homestead on Miner Mountain. Millie reported that Edwards posed as a rich gold miner from Mexico, and "he had a habit of disappearing for short periods of time." She also remembered that Miner "never worked much." 
  She remembers that Shorty Dunn often worked in the Schisler potatoe patch. 
  Edwards once paid his board to the Schislers by buying Currie Schisler a cow. 
  Shorty before Edwards moved away from the Schisler's ranch to take up with Jack Budd, Currie Schisler warned Edwards that Budd was "an old skinflint, and would take him for everything he had." 
  
  According to Vera Cawston in the Bank of B.C. Pioneer News in 1984, the Schisler's in Princeton said that Dunn couldn't have taken part in the Mission robbery as he was hoeing potatoes at the family farm that week end. (Sat. Sep 10th, 1904). She goes on to state that soon after Miner as Edwards arrived in the Similkameen Valley, "... he arranged to board with the Schisler family, at least for most of the time he spent in the district." 
  "The Schisler family remembered Mr. Edwards mostly for his many treats - candy, ‘Quarters,’ and, once, a whole crate of oranges." However Miner never seemed to stay in one place for any length of time. He varied his business and prospecting trips with interludes in Hedley, just east of Princeton. 
• Princeton Book:
  Millie (Schisler) Huey memories. (Gives her family history.)
  "My father, Currie Schisler, accompanied by my mother, my sister Myrtle, my brother Fred and I, came to Princeton in May 1900, by covered wagon via Nicola and Tulameen."
  (Skipped paragraphs.)
  "At one time my father, in all innocence, gave refuge to the train robber, Bill Miner. I remember this man as a well dressed, cultured gentleman, ..."
  "... known as George Edwards, who owned a gold mine in New Mexico. On occasion, when he ended a little stay with us, he would say that his financial affairs needed stabilizing. Once he even had my mother sew one thousand dollar bills in the lining of his coat before he left. He said he was wary of robbers! It was quite some time before we knew that we had been harbouring a notorious character."