Smith, Nelson (1854-after 1903)

Henderson’s BC Gazetteer and Directory, 1902, page 779.
Henderson’s BC Gazetteer and Directory, 1902, page 779.

 

Nelson Smith was a grocer who lived at 1202 Denman Street from 1901 to 1904.

 

Early Life

Nelson Smith was born in the United States on June 30, 1854. He was married to Nancy, who was born in the United States on July 10, 1856.

 

To Vancouver

Nelson and Nancy arrived in Canada about 1900. Nelson established a grocery store and refreshment booth at 1208 Denman Street. He and Nancy lived at 1202 Denman Street.

In the fall of 1901, the city police charged Nelson with acquiring and selling unusual numbers of street car tickets. He claimed that he was buying the tickets from children, sometimes offering candy as payment.

 

Vancouver Province, September 18, 1901, page 3, column 6.

 

Vancouver Daily World, September 18, 1901, page 4, column 6.
Vancouver Daily World, September 18, 1901, page 4, column 6.

 

When Nelson appeared in court, nobody from the street car company was there to present their case. The court dismissed the charges.

 

Vancouver Daily World, September 19, 1901, page 8, column 3.
Vancouver Daily World, September 19, 1901, page 8, column 3.

 

In 1903, Nelson was trying to buy the Crescent bathhouse on English Bay. The Crescent had opened in 1898, and it was a popular location for concerts, flower shows, and other social events.

 

Vancouver Daily World, July 16, 1898, page 7, column 2.
Vancouver Daily World, July 16, 1898, page 7, column 2.

 

The Crescent, detail from English Bay Beach, Vancouver City Archives, about 1901, Be P97.2; http://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/english-bay-beach-12.
The Crescent, detail from English Bay Beach, Vancouver City Archives, about 1901, Be P97.2; http://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/english-bay-beach-12.

 

Vancouver Daily World, Wednesday, May 27, 1903, page 4, column 3 [city council meeting].
Vancouver Daily World, Wednesday, May 27, 1903, page 4, column 3 [city council meeting].

 

No further information is available in relation to Nelson’s interest in the Crescent.

In February 1904, Nelson was selling the patent rights to a railway safety block system.

 

Vancouver Province, February 3, 1904, page 6, column 7.

 

Nelson disappeared from the Vancouver directories after 1904. No further information is available for him or for Nancy.

 

Sources

Nelson Smith

“Canada Census, 1901,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KHVN-54R : 27 April 2017), Nelson Smith, Burrard, British Columbia, Canada; citing p. 8, Library and Archives of Canada, Ottawa; http://automatedgenealogy.com/census/View.jsp?id=36133&highlight=25&desc=1901+Census+of+Canada+page+containing+Nelson+Smith.

 

Nancy E. (wife of Nelson Smith)

“Canada Census, 1901,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KHVN-54T : 27 April 2017), Nancy E Smith, Burrard, British Columbia, Canada; citing p. 8, Library and Archives of Canada, Ottawa; http://automatedgenealogy.com/census/View.jsp?id=36133&highlight=26&desc=1901+Census+of+Canada+page+containing+Nancy+E.+Smith.