Jean Baptiste Lolo

JEAN BAPTISTE LOLO

(aka ST. PAUL, PAUL LOLO, SAINT SOL, CHIEF ST. PAUL, OR CHIEF LOLO)

Hudson's Bay Company Emloyee at Fort Kamloops, 1828-68

The name of his father and mother is unknown. According to Mary Balf's entry for him in the Canadian Dictionary of Biography, Jean Baptiste LoLo is probably of French and Iroquois parents Dictionary of Canadian Biography: Jean-Baptiste LoLo

The Fur Trade

He entered the fur trade as an interpreter, perhaps with the North West Company. He was stationed at Fort St. James when he is first noticed in the service of the Hudson's Bay Company. He was later to serve at other New Caledonia posts. In 1825 he visited York Factory, probably as an Hudson's Bay Company employee on a transport brigade from the western posts. From 1828 onwards until his death he worked for the Hudson's Bay Company at the Thompson's River Post (Fort Kamloops), on the east bank of the North Thompson River, and became influential throughout the district. In 1832 Samuel Black, the trader in charge, admitted that the fort would be "lame without him." Mayne says this of him: "His face was a very fine one, although sickness and pain had worn it away terribly. His eyes were black, piercing and restless; his cheekbones high, and the lips, naturally thin and close, had that white, compressed look which tells so surely of constant suffering." Wikipedia: Jean Baptiste LoLo

When Mayne remarked that Lolo, in his decayed health, must find it hard to rule over his people, "...he heard me with a grim smile, and for answer turned back his pillow, where a loaded gun and a naked sword lay ready to his hand." The invalid Lolo showed, in fact, unexpected reserves of strength. Rising from his bed, he mounted his horse, and accompanied Mayne on a ride to see the view from the top of a neighbouring mountain, which was forthwith named Mt. St. Paul in honour of the old chief. Moreover, Lolo insisted on accompanying Mayne on the next lap of his journey, that from Kamloops to Pavilion." Wikipedia: Jean Baptiste LoLo

Jean Baptiste Lolo served as interpreter, tripman, and postmaster, but his real importance was as an unofficial liaison officer between the company and the Indians of all the interior Salish tribes. Respected by both, Lolo helped maintain the balance of power between them with remarkable dexterity. In 1841 the company accorded Lolo the courtesy title of chief, apparently as a measure of appeasement after he had been flogged by William Thew, the violent-tempered trader in charge of the post at Fraser Lake, and Indian retaliation seemed imminent. When the company moved its post across the river in 1843 Chief Trader John Tod left Lolo on the old site, even building him a house. Here he traded independently with the Indians and bred horses on a tract of pasture extending northeast. By the 1850's HBC traders were acknowledging his enterprise by adding to his mission nickname St Paul, "Mr." and "Capt.," titles he relished. He achieved transient prosperity as a miner and trader during the brief Tranquille gold rush of 1859-60 but quickly fell into debt with the company. Travellers through the area have left personal impressions of Lolo. Dr. Walter Butler Cheadle reports in 1863 that Lolo spoke "a curious mixture of French, English & Indian," and called himself "un Canadien." Weary from his arduous trip across western Canada with trying companions. Cheadle also found Lolo grasping and self-important. Lieutenant Richard Charles Mayne, however, on a visit to Kamloops in 1859 he had been more favourably impressed. He admired Lolo's courage in crossing a turbulent river with a crippled knee, "swearing in a French jargon peculiar to himself," and rejoiced in this vivid character. St. Paul's domain was on part of land designated an Indian reserve in 1862 by William George Cox, despite protests from the HBC. He lived on it in reduced circumstances doing a little trading in loose association with the company until his death. "Mr. Capt. St. Paul" left a large family of at least seven sons and four daughters, but they did not stay in the area, and his land became part of the general property of the Kamloops Indian band. His restored house still survives as part of the Kamloops Museum. Dictionary of Canadian Biography: Jean-Baptiste LoLo

Death

According to Mary Balf, Jean Baptiste LoLo died on 15 May 1868, at Kamloops in British Columbia, Canada.Canadian Dictionary of Biography: Jean-Baptiste LoLo

Marriage Record

"This is to certify that Paul Lolo, major Indian of Kamloops on one part, and Marie, major Indian of Kamloops, were lawfully united in the holy bonds of matrimony on the 25th of October 1866, according to the Rite of the Roman Catholic Church, the Rev. P. Richard, OMI officiating in the presence of Denis and Little Louis, witnesses who do not know how to sign"

Comment: Interesting to note that this certificate indicates that Lolo is a major Indian on one part. Does this mean that his mother was from Kamloops? Lolo and Marie were married and baptized on the same day. The witness named Little Louis is probably Chief Louis.

Baptismal Record

"The 25th of October, 1866 was baptized by me, Oblate priest of Mary Immaculate, in Kamloops conditionally, Paul Lolo, age 55 years, Indian of Kamloops; Marie, age 40 years, Indian of Kamloops. P. Richard, OMI"

Namesakes

Mount Lolo, to the northeast of Kamloops near Heffley Lake in British Columbia, is named after Jean-Baptiste LoLo [Wikipedia: Mount Lolo] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Lolo As is Paul Lake in the same vicinity. Wikipedia: Paul Lake Provincial Park Another Mount Lolo, on Quadra Island is also believed to be named after him. Wikipedia: Mount LoLo

Biographical Accounts

1. Canadian Dictionary of Biography: Jean-Baptiste LoLo
2. Wikipedia: Jean-Baptiste LoLo
3. Parks Canada: National Historic Person Designations in British Columbia
4. Geocaching: Jean Baptiste LoLo
5. Nancy Marguerite Anderson: Fur Trade Family History