Theodore Trage

Theodore Trage was born in Germany in October of 1835. He may have been on Salt Spring Island as early as 1860. The 1901 census notes that he came to Canada in 1860. Bishop Hills' journal refers to three Germans (Spikerman, Meinerstorff and Trage?) who were together in the mines in California, and settled near Fulford Harbour. "These industrious men are occupied in cutting shingles for roofing and staves for salmon casks from the cedar....They have no land yet under cultivation. They take their work to Victoria and bring back food--they clear 3 1/2 dollars on the 10000 shingles."

Trage seems to have had a close relationship with Henry Spikerman who registered land pre-emptions on neighbouring properties on the same dates. The witnesses to Trages' settlement on section 54, near Beaver Point, before 1868, were Henry Ruckle and Henry Spikerman "proof of settlement, upon previous to survey," May 25, 1875; a letter of Sept 30, 1868 from Patterson, who did a survey for Trage in Oct 1868 who had asked about an Indian reserve near his land (thinks there is one family on a ranch there, "of a nomade character"); and a date of 1875 is also recorded in Mr. Morley's old book.

A certificate of improvement is granted to Trage in 1877 with improvements listed as house, barn, and outbuildings equalling $1000; cleared and cultivated land $500.00; fencing $100.00; and clearing of 100 acres. In the Land Register, 53 acres in the west half of the southeast quarter section 54 is listed under this pre-emption number, PR #1066, in 1868; certificate of improvement in 1877, purchased Nov. 1880 for $53 in 4 installments; 45 acres, east half of southwest quarter section 54, fraction same pre-emption number; certificate of improvement date; crown grant 1880; 40 acres in southeast quarter north- west quarter section 54 (rest of quarter section owned by Trage and Spikerman jointly). Trage, Spikerman, or both eventually purchased most of the land in section 54, except a little held first by Joseph King (1882), that was abandoned and taken up by Leon King in 1904. All of section 53, except the Indian reserve, was purchased by Trage and Spikerman in 1884, 209 acres being purchased outright, and 160 acres being taken up by pre-emption (#84) by Trage alone in 1884. This was abandoned and purchased outright by Trage and Spikerman in 1887.

Trage married a native woman, and they had their first child in 1879, but Spikerman continued to live with Trage and his growing family until at least 1891 when Spikerman left the island. (He died?). Trage worked for the provincial government, acting as a foreman supervising road work. He was also a school trustee for a number of years. His family stated that he had received horticultural training, and it appears that he gave lectures on a variety of agricultural topics to agricultural societies on the coast.

Trage's daughter Clara married David Maxwell, who was probably Trages' cousin. Trage's wife was rumoured to be the sister of John Maxwell's wife. Trage died around 1905.