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- VICTORIA ILLUSTRATED. 87
to 150 dozen per week, of a quality recognized as having no superior. Much of the success is due to Mr. Pearson's extended knowledge
of his business and his ability as a buyer and manager. Their two travellers are constantly on the road, and their goods have been sent
as far East as Winnipeg.
HENRY SAUNDERS.
Mr. Saunders is a native of London, England, leaving that place for Victoria, coming direct, and reached here in 1862. He engaged in the
grocery trade, and has now one of the largest and best appointed establishments of this kind in the city. For twenty-five years he has
supplied the citizens of Victoria with groceries, wines, liquors, cigars, etc., importing nearly altogether. Last year he built the store
and warehouse which he now occupies. The building is an exceedingly handsome one, consisting of two stories and two basements, 40 x 124
feet, light, airy and attractive. Mr. Saunders has the contract for supplying Her Majesty's Navy at Esquimalt, besides which several
delivery wagons are kept constantly busy. His business has experienced a steady, healthy growth ever since it was first established.
LENZ AND LEISER
Are the largest importers and manufacturers of dry goods in British Columbia. They carry an immense stock of clothing here, and their
present spacious three-story building on Yates street, corner of Commercial alley, is not any too large for their requirements. Both
members of the firm received their training in the dry goods business in one of the chief dry goods houses in Germany, and their business
methods are characterized by an admirable thoroughness which speaks well for their early training in the business. Mr. Lenz spends the
major portion of his time in England, Germany and France, purchasing goods for their business here.
E. B. MARVIN AND CO.
The founder of this house, Mr. E. B. Marvin, was born at Halifax, Nova Scotia ; in 1852 he left New York and arrived in San Francisco,
via Cape Horn, on November 30th, 1852 ; he remained there several years, during which time occurred all the excitement attendant upon the
actions of the vigilance committee, and left in January, 1857, for Australia, arriving at Sydney in March of the same year. From Sydney
he proceeded to Melbourne and thence to the mines, where he remained until September, 1858, when, hearing of the discoveries of gold on
the Fraser river, he left for British Columbia and landed at Esquimalt, January 13th, 1859, by sailing vessel, having been detained en
route for six weeks at the Sandwich Islands on account of the vessel losing one of her masts in a storm. After making a trip to San
Francisco and return Mr. Marvin left in March, 186o, for the Fraser river, and took the steamer Eliza Anderson (still in use on the
Sound) as far as Fort Hope, whence he canoed it all the way up to the Mouth Quesnelle, on the Fraser ; he, however, remained only until
June, when he returned to Victoria, and the following month opened what was the nucleus of his present handsome business, namely, that of
ship-chandlery and sail-making. The business has now grown to very large proportions, and on the first of January, 1890, Mr. Marvin
associated with him, as partners, Captain J. G. Cox and Mr. F. W. Adams. Mr. Marvin is largely interested in the sealing industries and is
part owner in the sealing schooners Sapphire, Triumph, G. Cox and E. B. Marvin. He has been largely identified with the city's interests,
and is a member of the British Columbia Board of Trade.
P. MCQUADE AND SON.
This house was founded in 1858 by Mr. P. McQuade, who came here from Albany, New York ; he was followed two years later by his son, Mr.
E. A. McQuade, and subsequently by his other son, Mr. L. G. McQuade. In 1858 Mr. McQuade, senior, took his sons into partnership under
the firm name of P. McQuade & Sons, and since his death they have had entire charge of affairs. The firm does a general ship-chandlery
business, which is especially lucrative where there is such a large amount of shipping and ship-building as at Victoria ; they furnish,
also, cannery supplies, and thus,in the course of years, the volume of trade done has constantly increased until it now reaches about
$40,000 a year. All steamers and sailing vessels from this port require constant supplies, while the fitting out of the sealers each year
is a very large item. The sons have ably managed the business and stand exceedingly well in commercial circles.
JOSEPH SEARS.
Mr. Sears was born in Rio Janeiro, of American parentage, and is one of the pioneers of Victoria, having been here since 1862. He learned
his trade in the city, and entered the business himself in March, 1876. He has been somewhat of a traveller, having covered a large amount
of territory before going into business for himself. He sells painters' supplies and paper hangings, furnishes plate and stained glass
and brushes, and does sign-writing and decorating generally, and his business is at the head of the Victoria firms in this line.
CARNE AND MUNSIE.
F. Carne, Jr., who is a native of England, and came to Victoria twenty-six years ago ; has been twenty years in the grocery business,
thirteen of which was with one house and the balance of the time with the present concern. William Munsie, of the house, is a native of
Pictou, Nova Scotia, and has been fourteen years in Victoria, coming to the city to start the stove manufacturing branch of work for
the Albion Iron works. He remained there until the present concern was started. The firm do a general trade in groceries and are very
popular, and run a business of about $10,000 a month. They are owners of the sealers Pathfinder, Viva and Mary Taylor, and have been
very successful in all their outside operations. The senior member of the firm is also the principal owner of the Shawnigan Lake Lumber
Company. Their hand-some residences will be seen in our pages.
A. B. GRAY AND COMPANY.
Mr. A. B. Gray was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, and came to Victoria in June, 1863, by the steamer Southampton, via Panama. In 1864 he
occupied a position as salesman for John Wilkie & Co. in the premises now occupied by himself. Three years later he engaged in the dry
goods business on his own account at New Westminster, B. C., which was then the capital of the Mainland. The following year he purchased
the retail dry goods business on Government street, Victoria, and remained there until 1883, when he entered the wholesale trade, adding
liquors and cigars to hi s line of stock. A. B. Gray & Co. are at present relinquishing their dry goods line and devoting themselves
more extensively to their other lines of business. They are general agents for the British Empire Mutual Life Insurance Agency ; for the
celebrated Chappell Pianoforte ; for the celebrated champagnes of Chas. Heidsick, of Reims ; the B. & E. Perrier, of Chalons, and a number
of the finest brands of Scotch and Irish Whisky, Brandy, Rum ; English Ale and Stout ; Red and Green Gin ; Belfast Ginger Ale, Ports,
Sherries, liquors, assorted bitters and imported cigars. Mr. Gray is one of the prominent members of the Board of Trade, having been
elected to the council of their body.
LANGLEY AND COMPANY.
This firm, which is the oldest wholesale and retail drug house in Victoria, is composed of A. J. Langley, J. N. Henderson and T. M.
Henderson. The Henderson brothers are from Montreal, Canada, and have been here about five years. Mr. Langley, who is a native of
Richfield, Staffordshire, England, came here in 1858, and established the present house, which has grown to its present immense size
through very careful management. The business of the firm extends as far East as Illecillewaet, B. C., and North far beyond the mark
of civilization.
D. E. CAMPBELL.
Mr. Campbell, who is a native of Canada, came to Victoria fourteen years ago, and entered the drug business, which he has built up to
its present size. Since opening the business he has put up over 77,000 prescriptions, always keeping on hand the finest and rarest
chemicals in
H. SAUNDERS GROCERIES, ETC.,
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