Eli Lequime (1811–1898)[1] was born in France and began traveling the world in 1825 at the age of fourteen.
He returned to San Francisco by 1856 and with his new wife, Marie Louise (née Altabagoethe) he caught a boat to Victoria, British Columbia.
During Eli's time at Rock Creek, his son Gaston fell into a miner's sluice box and drowned at two years of age.
Eli, Marie Louise and Bernard headed for the Cariboo with the hopes of striking it rich.
Father Pandosy met the family on the trail and convinced them to come to Okanagan Mission with him.