Frank Richter, Sr.

Who was Frank Richter, Sr.?

Francis Xavier Richter, commonly known as Frank Richter, was a pioneer settler, miner and rancher in 19th century Washington and British Columbia.

Born in Friedland, Bohemia, then part of Austria-Hungary, Richter was the son of a textile manufacturer. At the age of 15 he emigrated to Texas, and after a misadventure where he was wounded and captured by Indians, following the lure of the gold rushes westward, he came to Rich Bar, Washington and with the take from his placer claim opened a small store and operated a small riverboat. Hearing of good grazing land northwards in British Columbia, he sold out his holdings in Oregon and Washington and bought 40 head of cattle, and drove them to the Keremeos area of the Similkameen Country of British Columbia's Southern Interior in October 1864.

He pre-empted land six miles down the Similkameen from Keremeos and founded the "R" Ranch. He also worked for a while for the Hudson's Bay Company at Fort Similkameen. With his cattle business thriving he started a new ranch at what was to become Keremeos Centre, where he also operated a thriving store.