Charles Ora Card was born November 5, 1839, in Ossian Allegany, New York. He and his family moved to Utah in 1856 and eventually settled in Logan, Cache Valley. Charles was an active member in the militia and achieved the rank of major. He and his father, Cyrus, were one of the first settlers to engage in industry by starting two saw mills. Charles became an expert sawyer. In 1886, he and three other men searched British Columbia and Alberta to find a place to start a Mormon colony. They chose a spot by Lee’s Creek, now named Cardston. Charles moved to Canada in 1887, starting another saw mill. After settling in Canada, Charles also oversaw the construction of irrigation ditches, his greatest accomplishment being the construction of the Kimball Lethbridge Canal. He died September 9, 1906. He left thirty-nine journals dating from December 11, 1871 to July 9, 1903 describing his experiences in Canada. During his travels, he met Judge Haynes from Osoyoos.
published
Full
Final
Osoyoos Museum Society
Title based on the contents of the fonds.
Fonds consists of the photocopied transcribed textual records of Charles Ora Card from 1886. Includes a biography from the oral history of his daughter, Pearl Card Sloan, transcribed diary entries from his Canadian travels in 1886, and a map outlining his travel route in Washington and British Columbia.
Donor unknown.
Original diaries possibly held by the University of Alberta