DIARY,
REMINISCENCES AND
ESSAYS
ON EARLY LIFE
IN
THE COWICHAN DISTRICT
OF
JOHN
NEWELL EVANS
COWICHAN
PIONEER
(1846-1944)
x
Remisances of a life time John N Evans
Born
Lower Penthryos Beniw-Montgomeryshire ( editors note: I believe correct
spelling Penthryn Berriew) May 9th 1846 an old Farm house thatched
would say the thatched about a foot deep, one Storey with Rooms under the thach
used as bedrooms for working men and boys, some 6 rooms down stairs the floor
of all except 2 were of flagstones you had to pass from one Room into each
other no halls or passageways-bed rooms all had great four posted Bedsteads
hung with curtains all would what we today would call double beds. Never saw
any single or three quarter Beds, no stoves not even a cook stove, open fire
places some fire places had a brick oven set in behind with a sheet of steel at
back of fire place. Roast meat was cooked by hanging in front of fire by a
string from the ceiling or by a Jack; you kept both turning around all the time
with a pan underneath to catch the driping from the meat and you would have a
spoon to lift the driping to pore over the meat to keep it wet so it would not
burn: nearly every farm house had a large Brick Oven in what we usualy called
the back kitchen, and it was usaly heated with bush which came from trimming
the hedge every year; and was stacked in the yard for use in the oven, Baking
usaly once a week a open fire place in the living room burnt both wood and coal
in it, most of our light was tallow drips made at home with tin molds usaly
your mold would be four or six candles (some
farms burnt peat cut from Bogs) hung your wick in mold the bottom of your mold
would be the top of your candle for it was tapered to a point and the wick
would fill the space so the fat would not run out, then when you filled your
mold it did not take long for it to cool and set; you reversed the mold and
your candle came out, But tallow drips were not the principal light by any
means the usal light was rush light, you went into the swamps or bogy places
and gathered the green Rushes took them home peeled them leaving a piece of a
narrow strip to hold the center or pith together then you dried the striped rush;
when dried you got a pan of hot grease pretty well boiling take your dried rush
and draw it through your hot grease until it could absorb no more grease; put
them in a pan to drain then let them dry there is your light, but anything but
brilliant one, and we had a clip on a stand somewhat higher than your table,
the clip was somewhat like a clothes peg-and it took a lot of attention to move
it along in the clip. My recolections of my early boyhood, was going to school,
my first school teacher was an old widow, I do not know what fee’s were paid
but later schools was one penny a week and I do not know what her
qualifications were had to walk something over half a mile My elder Bro’s and
sisters went to Berriew some two miles further on the same Road I went to
Berriew later. Berriew was an endowed school you paid one penny per week for
the first two children of one family; the rest went free; and the school
furnished all Books, slates and every else needed free; I have seen many
schools all over the world since and have never met with any nearly its equal:
the Master and Mistress were fully qualified teachers plenty of Black Boards,
Maps, Globes, the assistants to the Principals were pupil teachers, Teachers in
training who served so long and then went to some Collage to get their
Cirtificates to teach: we had a fairly large play yard enclosed by a stone wall
some ten or twelve feet high, the Girls had also a similar play ground on the
other side of the building-I had not mentioned there both boys and Girls
attending the school, the school building was a two storey stone building the
Girls were upstairs=after attending Berriew school I was sent to a private
school taught by an old crippled man, who had been a companion of my fathers in
their boy hood he lived in the opposite direction from Berriew and his
qualifications he could teach the three R’s while his hands were all broken up
he was a fine penman, that was his only qualification to teach; he had no map
or any other equipment for teaching, I think the reason my father sent me to
him was to help the old fellow along. I don’t know how the poor old fellow
lived. I think a good deal on the left over of the children’s lunches.
My
Mother died when I was about ten years old and very soon after, the home and
nearly all the buildings were burnt down. The Land Lord would not rebuild, so
the home was broken up, some cousins of my mothers living in London, Mrs. Arber
and her youngest son Edward gave me a home; and sent me to a private school in
Lower Belgrave Place supposed to be one of the best schools in London it was
not nearly so well equiped as was the Berriew; not nearly so many maps and no
library and I have doubts it our teachers were so good, however I attended it
for a year or more; when I was sent to Shrewsbury to a cousin who owned a
Drapery business on Pride Hill, I was to have been apprenticed to him, for some
reason my father came and took me home to Wales: he was then living on a small
farm, near Llandissil, had been home sometime when I again went to London, and
got apprenticed to Wm Bunting 13 King’s Street Covent Garden in the Drapery
Business the back windows look out upon the old grave yard of St Pauls Covent
Garden and on front opposite the Garick Club; Bunting was a widower had two
unmarried daughters who kept house and also worked in the store they later got
married that up set the home arrangements and broke up the house keeping so the
old Gentleman decided to go out of Business and we sold up the stock and I was
relieved of my apprentice ship. I got employment with a Mr. Knight on the
Wallworth Road that was in 1860 I worked with him until May 1862-My two elder
Bro’s decided on coming to British Columbia; May 2 1862; so I wanted time of to
see them away from Southhampton I asked Mr. Knight for a days leave so I could accompany
them to Southhampton; he refused to grant it, so I quit the job right there;
and saw them away to B.C. I next got a job in the East End of London, in
Bishopgate St. I only worked a few weeks, when I was taken ill, and Dr. order
me to the country so I went home to Wales to my Uncle’s, when I recovered I
again went to London and got employment with the Bennetts on Brixton Hill I
staid with them until the New Year of 1864 when I decided I would join my
brothers in British Columbia the Bennetts were a family Mother Son and
daughters was very happy there.
I
went down to Wales and staid with different Relatives and friends until I left
April 2nd 1864 for B.C.
Diary of passage out to British Columbia in the
LaPlata
from
Southampton April 2nd, 1864. Left London at 8 oclock A.M. by South Western
Railway from Waterloo Station for the Southampton Dock Station where we arrived
at 10.20 A.M. Left the Docks in the tug boat for the ship at 11.40 A.M. We set
sail from Southampton waters 3.20 P.M. we started with a head breeze and
beautiful sea, we went on very lively until we went to
bed.
Sunday April 3rd the sea was very
rough with a head wind most of us was sea sick and lost all sight of land
during the night we had no service today as most of the passengers was in their
berths sea sick.
Monday, a fine morning with strong head wind,
our boat is heaving a good deal and the passengers more all sick except one or
two our mess room is in the fore peak so we feel the heaving of the ship very
much there is not many of us that can sit down to a meal without been made to
run away from the table with sea sickness we live but very middling as yet. Our
diet is for breakfast coffee bread on the French fashion by the yard. Butter, Ashed meat very tough and having very salt, some good bacon
that is for breakfast which take place at 8 oclock. Diner at one is salt
beef, salt pork and Ashed, meat; sometimes there is a sprinkling of fresh, with
potatoes and bread; Tea at five with bread and butter, that is our last meal
for the day the lights is put out in the fore peak at nine oclock.
My
cabin is shared by three Cornish men one is going to the silver mines of Mexico
with some companion on board the others are going to California with some more
Cornish companions. So most of our English Third class passengers are from
Cornwall there is two more Irish men for California one English man for
Victoria with me. There is three sargent for the 5th
West Indian native regiment now forming as passengers on board, that, is I
think all the different parties in the steage except a lot of French men.
Tuesday
the weather much clearer with a fresh south west wind, we sighted a ship 10 or
12 miles of at 9.30 A.M. home ward bound,10.30 heavy swell on sea with fog,
clear’d of at noon 2.30 P.M. a ship in ful sail about a mile on our right with
another at a great distance.
Wednesday
A beautiful morning with a nice cool breese, we spoke to a schooner home ward
bound from the Western Iles laded with fruit we had the company of a swallow
for several hours, then, he took his flight, we was then joined by a bowswain a
beautiful bird which also took its flight after remaining with us a short time.
We had some good sport of the sailors on board after Tea until dark.
Thursday
Strong head winds with heavy sea dashing against our good ship, the spray
dashing all over the fore decks.
Friday
One of the passengers came to call us about six to say the Western Islands
where in sight when I got on deck I could see them at a great distance on the
right, they look very like the Mongomeryshire Hills the highest is call the
Peak of Picha is very like Briden Hill the top of which is genaraly covered
with snow. We saw a ship at a great distance. One of the firemen met with an
accident a lump of coal fell on his head which fractured his skull the doctor gave
very little hope of his recovery.
Saturday
We have now been on the mighty deep a week today and
another week we hope to run into St. Thomas. The stoker is a little better.
Sunday.
A beautiful morning saw a sail at 930 A.M. Went to church at 10.45 saw three
more sails in the afternoon. We had preaching in the evening at 7.0 by a
minister on board the text was in the 5 chapter 16 verse
of the Epheasins.
Monday.
We have a beautiful day we are 1018 miles for St. Thomas we have run 285 miles
during the last 24 hours.
Tuesday.
We have seen two sails today and twelve porpuses and lots of flying fish, we
have had an awning over us this last three days and the sea has been as smooth
as glass.
Friday.
Everything has passed on much the same as usal the last two days; but we hope
to see land tomorrow morning when we get up.
Saturday.
I turned out of my bunk at 5 oclock to look out for the America Island. I
forget the name of it we saw it about 8 oclock it is very small a little
schooner run out of the harbor as we was passing and continued its course
before us sometime the wind took it along beautiful we passed it at last we
have ninty miles to go to St. Thomas; we expect to run in the afternoon. 6
o’clock P.M.we arrive here at St. Thomas at three oclock. I have been ashore
and over the Danish fort and barraks there is not many soldiers there their
guns are very bad, they have smooth bore muskets and very short bayonets the
large guns are very old; they have a monkey and jackal in the barraks square,
the barraks are very cool; with good beds. Most of the soldiers can speak
English they where asking us a great mony questions about the Danish war. The
town is a good size with some large stores, most of
the inhabitants are Blk. There is a good deal of shiping in the harbor there is
two Yankee merchant ships a feard to go
out because there had been a Confedrate cruser in the harbor in the morning it
left before we got in. I cant find out the name of it;
there is three ships lading out of the LaPlata. Our is
the bigest. The Tyne is the name of it. The Conway is the one for the Gulf of
Mexico and a small screw steamer for Barbadoes we expect to start tonight.
Monday.
They had a great deal of cargo to get into this ship it was 11o’clock Sunday
morning by the time we started. I like this ship better than the LaPlata we
have two separate rooms with Bunks in there is about twelve in each room the
Mess is in the same room we live a great deal better in this ship than the
other, the man that waits on us is a darkey and all the crew are Blks the fire
men are white men.
Tuesday
we are in sight of land imagine we shall run into to the Port of Jack Mal; to
land the mails. We got in Jack Mal about 10 o’clock. We stayed about an hour,
we are even of under the side of land all the time it look a very hilly country
it is worse than Wales from what I can see of it we shall run in to Kingston
Jamaica tomorrow morning.
Wednesday.
We run into Kingston town Harbour about half past ten o’clock, the Harbour is a
very fine one but very dangerous to enter as there is a great many sholes in side,
we shall stay here twenty four hours to take in four hundred ton of coal; there
is about fifty Blk women at work carring it in on their heads in Wicker baskets
such as you see apples in Covent Garden Market. I have been up in the town the
streets is all sand and in very bad repair and the houses are very large and
they too have seen better days the builder and painter seem to have been strangers to them
for some years. The inhabitans are chiefly black and creole and a few whites
carrying on business there is some good large shops here and they appear to be
doing a good trade. I went up with sargent T. Simpson
to his quarter at the camp Barraks which is about a mile and three quarters
from the wharf. They have very nice cool Barraks and the Blk look very good
solders. Simpson walk with me back to the town. I had
some leamonade which they have on shore and which they charge six pence. The
Porter on the draugh is six pence a quart; and for a small bottle
of ale and a half a pint of rum for a shilling. I bought hapenny worth oranges
I got 16 of them and 2 pineapples for sixpence.
Thurday.
The black women where carrying coal all night last night and sing they make a
woeful noise, I don’t which their faces or their clothes are the blackest. I
went to a west Indian dignity ball last night there was a lot of sailors from
the Royalist man of War the sailors had sticks some what longer than an Irish
mans shalaly and the darkey and them where dancing. We left the wharf at eleven
o’clock A.M. we are now out of sight of land again ploughing the mighty deep we
are due at Colon at 7 P.M. on Saturday some think we shall be too late for the
other boat.
Friday.
Some say one thing and others another about the California boat; I expect we
shall be in time if we are not we must do the best that we can.
Saturday
we expect to make land this afternoon about four o’clock. We saw land about
five o’clock and anchour’d at the wharf about five minutes to 7 o’clock. I saw
the poor old Avon of London ashore as coming in she was driven there on night
about twelve months ago in a storm they cannot get her of. The New York boat
arrived here this morning with 1300 passengers they crossed today about two
o’clock.
Sunday.
We came ashore at Colon about eight o’clock we where told that we should start
at ten o’clock for the other side when ten came there was a notice put up that
we should not start before two. After that one of our passengers had to go to
the Agent and Agent told him that the boat had started at four o’clock this
morning then one of the men in charge of the train said he was there when he
left so when we got here ( to Panama ) we found the
Agent was correct so we shall have to stay until the 3rd of May. All
of us Third class passengers have come to the Europa Hotel at a dollor and a
quarter per day board and lodging. Colon is a very shabby town it look better
at a distance than in it. All the shops where open’d and tailors and shoemaker
at work there is no place of worship open there is a church in the building (
Roman Catholic ) the County we past through was chiefly all swamp and small
hill there is a great deal of underbrush growing everywhere we came along the
side of a good large river. I saw an aligator just on the edge of the water we
saw some good cattle as coming along and
in good condition but the horses pigs and dogs look misrable their bones nearly
through their skins the pigs and dogs are everywhere there is also a great many
mules.
Monday.
Some of our fellow passengers are disapointed with accommodation so eight of
them have left and gone to the American side. We other four went to see their
accomadations but I don’t like them as well as our own. We have a great deal
better room since they have gone. I must say we live very well the first thing
we have in the morning is a cup of good coffee and a fresh roll we can have it
any time between 6 A.M. & 10 A.M. We have what they call Beakfast at 10
A.M., we have two corses of fresh meat, ham, potatoes
bread and a cup of tea we dine at 4.30 P.M. We have two corses and sweets and a
cup of tea we have tea again before 8 P.M. so I think the fare is pretty good
for a dollor and a quarter they have to buy the water here men go about with it
in little casks in carts and on mules Backs.
Tuesday.
We have been all around the town we say no less than 14 old world churches
& monestery they have been abandoned since 1845, the preist was used to go
on with their foolery untill the President of New Granada told them they must
either submit to the law or leave the country they chose the later they have
had splendid building the town is the same decay’d state as Kingston.
Wensday.
I have been this morning to change my ticket I cannot find out when we start.
No chance to write on this part of the trip.
In the front of
this book you will find a diary of my trip as far as Panama from there to
Victoria there was no chance to write, the accommodation on the Boats on the
Pacific were vile= we had good cabins and good food on the British Boats, but
oh the accommodation and food on the American Boats was vile, when we got to
Aspinwall on the East side of the isthmus of Panama we arrived in the evening
the New York boat had got in a few hours ahead; and she was more than full with
passenger; in 1864 the Great American Civil war was raging people were getting
away from the Draft and the lure of Gold in California was the cause of it; the
draft was never enforced in any of the Pacific states; well the Railway
authorities told us they would take us across in the morning in time to connect
with the San Francisco boat; alas in the morning we found she had pulled out at
3 A.M. leaving us behind, we crossed to Panama in morning to wait 10 days for the
next sailing. Aspinwall in those days was a dirty port; Panama was a clean old
town with many old ruined buildings & churches but a nice clean place a few
of us found accommodation in the European Hotel, clean room and bed and board
$1.25 per day; and the food was good the best Tea; or at least in those days
and still do think it was the best Tea that I ever drank. My recollection of my
stay there are pleasant memories, but my memories of the trip up the Pacific
Coast are not so pleasant we had got abourd the San Francisco boat and settled
in our Berths before the next New York boat had arrived, the accommodation was
vile; tier upon tier of bunks end on end four or five in each tier and only a
narrow passage way between the bunks; straw mattress non e to clean; and no bed
clothes if you did not have any Blankets or Ruggs you went without; and perhaps
the food was even worse it was served on tables hung from the deck above by
Iron Rods tin plates tin cups; meat and potatoes served in great tin dishes and
if you reach your fork for a helping you may get two or three forks stuck into
your hand: having come aboard a day before the New Yorkers I had made the
acquaintance of one of the stewards so I got food all the way up the coast to
San Francisco, that was the worse travel I have ever made, we had a very smooth
pleasant trip up to San Francisco, it was well we did if anything appeared at
sea to attract the passengers attention on either side naturaly the passengers
would flock to that side to see what it was; then you would hear the officer
Roar trim the ship to keep the top heavy old tub on an even keel; well we got
safely into San Francisco but again delay as we were going into the Golden Gate
the entrance to San Francisco harbor and here we might say one of the finest
harbor in the world both land locked and hill protected; we met the boat for
Victoria direct coming out of the Golden Gate, the next one would go up the
Columbia River to Portland before she proceeded to Victoria; and a stay of ten
days in San Francisco; however it gave a chance to see the different stoping
places on the way. It was well I had enough of funds to see me through; quite a
change in San Francisco since then; and all over the Pacific Coast; No overland
Railway or Telegraph then and Fries street from Montgomery to the water front,
were all planked and oh after sundown Rats and then more Rats you could scarsly
put your foot down without steping on one and out around Market; then the old Mission and the sand
hills Fleas the sand was alive with them; but there is a bright picture of that
wonderful city which I think I should copy here by Ida D. Coolbritte.
City by the Golden Gate
Little the goodly fathers
Building their Missions rude
By the lone untraversed waters,
In the Western solitude;
Dreamed of the Wonderful City
That looks on the stately Bay
Where the bannered ships of the Nations
Float in their pride today
Dreamed of the beautiful city,
Proud on her tawney height
And strange as a flower up springing
To bloom in a single night
For lo but a moment lifting
The veil of the years away
We look on a well known picture
That seems but as yesterday
The mist rolls in the gateway
Where never a fortress stands
Oer the blooms of Saucilito
And Yerba Buena’s sands
Swathing the shores were only
The sea birds come and pass
And drift with the drifting waters
By desolate Alcatraz
We hear when the night drops down
And the bay throbs under the stars
The ocean voices blending
With the ripple of soft guitars
With chiming bells of the Missio
With passionate minors sung
Or a quaint Castilion ballad
Trilled in the Spanich tongue
Fair from thy hills O city
Look on the beautiful bay
Prouder far is the vision
Greeting our eyes today
Better the thronged waters
And busy streets astir
Purple and silken rainment
Balsam and balm and myrrh
Gems of the further Indies
Gold of they own rich mine
And the pride and boast of the people
O beautiful Queen are thee
Praise to the goodly fathers
With banners of faith unfuried
Praise to the sturdy heros
Who have won thee to the world
That was a day to dream of
That was a life weded
Bleeding the veins of the mountains
Draining the torrents bed
Scaling the dusky canon
Tracking the pathless glen
He shot the knife and the struggle
With savage beast and ???
But blasted in the mist that follows
In the thought of a labor past.
Blessed in the homes we have built
The peace and rest at last
And blessed indeed the water
That rivals the smiling spring
When hands the seed have scattered
May gather the blooming.
Certainly
a most beautiful and lovely city; well our stay came to an end and we boarded
the old tub The Pacific ( she was later lost ) for Victoria: by the way of
Portland we crossed the Columbia River bar the entrance to the Columbia River
and on up to Portland not much of a town in those days, the principal building
then was the Brewery we stayed two days discharging freight and taking freight on, she did not call into Portland on
her return from Victoria so she took on freight for San Francisco and there
were no steam Winches in those days however at last we were going down the
River and headed for Victoria after a good passage we arrived in the straits
just as the sun was rising one fine June morning it was a beautiful sight
looking at the wooded hills all clothes in Green; it was the first glimps of my
future home, we landed at Esquimalt and walked in to Victoria our baggage was
brought around to Victoria by a little old steamer named the Emily Harris after
the wife of the first Mayor of Victoria. My tow elder brothers had come to
British Columbia during the Cariboo Gold Rush in 1862 they did not get so far;
Many a disappointed Gold seeker was on their way back; so they decided to stay
and work on the old Cariboo Road at Yale, nearly every one in the Earlier days
of B.C. returned to Victoria for the winter so then many one Roomed Cabins
built all over town, most along store street and Humbolt. The
had both returned to Yale in 1863 and also to Victoria for the winter in
1863. My elder bro Jim went to Cariboo David staid on in Victoria lived in a
cabin of Store Street, working odd days around town when I arrived in June
1864; so when I had been here a few days I found there was plenty of work
building Roads around Victoria. I went out to interview Charley
???? the Craig Flower Road he had a contract
from Craigbloom to Parsons Bridge. I got work both for myself and my brother so
we moved out to the Oak Camp my first days work was just under were E&N Ry
Bridge crosses the road by the 4 mile
house, and oh my poor hand they were just raw; skin all peeled of them; some
the boys told Ashe the state they were in; so he stoped and asked me to show
them mine; so he sent me into camp for a few days,We had nearly finished the
job when that never to be forgotten Gold Rush to Leach River broke out;
Victoria went gold mad; Craigflower Road was just black with men all the Road
gang except myself and an old Scotsman joined the stamped we stuck to Charlie
until we finished up the job; well when I got to Victoria I was looking for a
job I run across Billy Tyler who owned a team of horses and was teaming around
Victoria; he had work for Ashe, so he sent me to see Rodrick Finlay at the
Hudson Bay store; wharf street then he needed a man, Finlayson Wife and the man
who working around Finlaysons had some trouble, over Finlayson Boy, but I found
when I saw Finlayson they had settled everything and the man was staying on,
but he sent me along to his mother in
Mrs Work at Hillside, I do not know if Mrs Work was a half Breed or full blood
Indian any way when I got there I hunted up old Billy Pottinger he had charge
of the outside work he took me to see the old Lady stated I wanted work and she
said she wanted a man; that were the trouble came in, I must have been a hard looking Guy; but she would not give me work until I went to Finlayson and
got a certificate of ??? which I declined to do as Mr. Finlayson was a stranger
to me, so I did not get work, when we left her Pottinger took me over the Road
to Carters who then rented Hillside farm, which belonged to the Work Estate; it
was just noon and they were all in at Grub, and it was in the middle of
harvest: Yes Carter did want a man and was one badly to bind oats, after a
cradle. I did not ask for and referances simply if I could bind oats and I said
I had bound oats, so I went in had lunch, or I think we in those days called it
dinner it was the chief meal of the day and we went to the field with the
Cradler while I bound oats and what at home and now learned to make a
bunch in the English way it as a slow
way the cradle showed me how to make it in the American way so pretty soon I
could keep up with him cradling, and its good work keep up with cradle. I staid
with Carter until we finish harvest-when Harry King of Church farm Cedar Hill
came and asked me to go and work for him, while in those days there were not
many acres of cleared land on the Church Farm which belong to Bishop Hills; Harry
was paying $500.00 per year rent and clearing land all the time which the
Bishop did not pay for; Harry was running considerable of a milk business in
Victoria; milked about 20 cows; used to buy a lot of feed principaly Brewer’s
Grains from the Brewery and California Wild Oat Hay; a lot was baled and
shipped to Victoria; it used to grow all over the California Plains today you
can only find it in Enclosed Cemeteries or some were fenced of ; I worked at
Cedar Hill away into the fall and I could see he had to many men so I quit and
went to another Milkman down on Moss Street the name of Geo. Peirce or it
should be Pear’s he had only two acres rented from Judge Permberton; run his
cows in the bush and on Beacon Hill; bought; his hay and Brewers grain and some
milk feed grew roots on the land he kept about 10 or 12 cow’s he made money and
he kept it to, I remember on the 24th of May we as usual had our Celebrations on Beacon Hill,
and we were both then a kind friend thought he had more use of a few dollar and
anything else that was laying around, walked in an helped himself to what he
could carry without been seen. I was the
principal loser I lost two watches and about $20.00 in cash. I had left home
but they overlooked an old 3 gallon rusty milk tin hanging from the rafters of
the cabin which contained $600.00 in silver, George lost but very little, the
dairy herd paid well while the dairy man bought most of his feed and then as
now he would have some bad milk bills which he could never collect, I worked some
9 or 10 months in his employ when I returned to work for Harry King, the
general pay by the month at that time was $35.00 per month and Board; Harry
King was one of the finest men I have ever worked for; and he would not think
of asking you any work he would not do himself. I worked for him up to the day
I left to go to Gold Mines in California. He drove me to see us of, we went away in the fall of 1866. My Bro Jim had gone
down some months previously and wa working steady at $3.00 per day so many
people would think that is would be a far better pay I have experienced both
but would say you would save more working at $35.00 per month; around a mining
camp or town some thing would allways be cropping up to cause you to expend
money were you would not think of it on the Ranch; and was rarly we did not get
in a full months work; however we were away to the land of sunshine Fruit and
Flowers- any it is a wonderful country within the boarders you can grow from
the Semi Tropic to temperate ??? or may say form the
Tropic to perpetual snow. I seem were we marked the trees with 20 feet of a
snow fall; yes a most wonderfull climate, yet its heat is ont oppressive you
can usualy sleep during the night; I returned there in 1866- My destination was
the Gold Mines in an around Forrest Hill a ridge running from the foothills to
the Sumit of the Sierra Navada, a lond that had produce lot of Gold= were the
miners had built many many miles of Great Ditches to carry the water which they
washed away the great Gravel Beds in which the Gold had be stored from remote
Ages; but I cannot picture to the reader of these lines the marvel of it all,
but I must try and give you the impression left upon my mind, you must remember
there was no Great Overland Railway the vision was then just dawning upon those
men who a few years later built that wonderfull band of steel that was to link
the Atlantic to the Pacific. Well
arriving in San Francisco our next move was up the muddy Sacramento River to
the City of Sacramento arriving there we took stage’s for different points.
Mine was along the Route to Auburn which in a very few years was the Route
adapted by the Great Central Pacific Railway, but leaving Sacramento by stage the traveler would not be very
favorable impressed by the appearance of the country for the making of future
homes a dry desolate land all Brown and dry. A few starved sheep running there
on but what a change was in the making the miner in the development of his
mines had brought water in great Ditches from the high Sierra Mountains along the
high ridges across canyons by means of high tressels and fumes to convey the
water he needed to carry on his mining, and then came a dark day for the mining
interest they could no longer send their debrish down the canyons and rivers
which was choking up the Rivers and overflowing her valley land but perhaps it
was a blessing in disguise for there was water waiting for the farmer to do his
irrigation, which as brought forth such
wonderfull crops that all the world wonders; producing crops that no other spot
on the earth can compare or compete with her, but my mission to California was
not the production of crops but to dig into her Mountains for that precious
metal Gold, while gold had been produced from her what we may call her surface
mining it had now entered another stage the drifting into old River Beds over
which the old Rivers had flowed ages and ages ago; leaving their deposits that
some future generation may dig up many of the old Bed were many hundred feet
from the earth’s surface and perhaps the same from bedrock; and when the miner
gives a thought to those things he may begin to realize what a punny thing he
is himself; but we certainly want to leave some Records of the drift Gold
mining for California; and here I would boldy assert without fear of the fact;
that there are other miners in existence who may make a claim for theirs as the
best of all; but were are they when something crops up that upsets all they had
previously learned of mining; they are generaly helpless; I have seen them; so
I know were of I speak; but the drift Goldminer is never at a loss he allway on
the lookout for trouble for it is allways at his elbow; take the difference
with a coal miner nearly allways a good roof; the Gold drift mines allways a
bad roof; need of timber from start to finish often he as to force laging a
head of his work to keep up his roof; it would not do to allow his roof to leak or it would leave a space that would
keep poring down all the time; and the miner had to carry his timber up close
to the face of his work so I certainly doff my cap to the drift Gold Miners of
California, and I made many friends during my stay in that sunny land; perhaps
the Happiest days of my life I spent there; I found good noble hearted men and
women; of whom I made friends, my return to B.C. was caused by the death of my
Bro Jim’s wife she left a little girl behind, without any one except her father
to look after her, so my wife decided we must return, I had in the mean time
married Mary Jane Davies of Nortonville and brought her to Cowichan to live but
a short stop I had to return with her to California on account of sickness, so
when Jim’s wife died we had again to reverse it, and return to B.C. we have
seen many changes all over the Pacific Coast during the many years of residence
here, when we first came you may say it was all dense Forrest, take for
instance Duncans, the east side of the Railway was carved by a heavy thick
growth of maples and alder timber; growing very thick on the Ground on the West
side a heavy growth of second growth pine but oh so thick and long; and our
tools were not such as we have today single bitted axes, saws with no lance
tooth or rackerts to draw out the saw dust, we had no stumping powder all
clearing was done by manual labor so you of the present day cannot begin to
picture what the old Pioneers had to face. The first thing he did after
establishing himself in his cabin, would decide were in the thicket he would do
his first clearing having decided that point he would start under brushing it;
by cutting all the underbrush and pile it into heaps on the ground; he would
follow up this by gradualy cutting and piling the larger and longer growth by
cutting the larger trees into log length and limbing them all up; and piling the
limbs upon the brush piles; most of the trees so cut was saving of labor later
the green tree was far easier to cut into lengths green than later when it
became dry or half dried; so the more carefull you did the first work you saved
labor later, to when you had brushed and chopped what you had estimated you
could do you would have left a free ground around your chopping to keep your
fire; when you did burn out of the green timber, to save your labor later when
you would extend your chopping you would not want to be cutting into dried
stuff, in chopping down the larger and longer trees you would chop them into
log lengths while still green for the purpose of saving time later, cutting the
trees into lengths you were looking forward to a log Bee; when you invite your
neighbours near and far to attend a loging Bee, you would have been preparing
for it for some time in advance, first you would lay in a stock of hand spikes
for many would be broken during the Bee, and you must bear in mind our Pioneers
were the Cream of the Race wherever they came from, and at an age when Manhood
was in its prime; and Muscle was well developed; so when the pioneer got his
handspike underneath a log either the log rolled or the handspike broke; you
very probably have two or three yoke of oxen to hawl the logs into piles and
you would make you Bee up into so many gangs so many men to a gang and a
Captain to every gang, and at the work go you would see the logs move into
piles, we did not burn the log piles the day we rolled them up only logs that
required two or more men were rolled up; smaller logs were left until the next
day when they would be fired and the smaller logs piled on as the fire burned
the piles; and we all were there to work and every one did his best. The
following day the owner of the land would begin to fire up the piles he would
generaly start his fire on the top of the pile by gathering up the small dry
stuff laying around; and pile it on to the fire; and then he would keep rolling
in the logs as they burned; plenty of work to keep the fires stired up and
picking the small stuff and also raking up the chips all laying around, nearly
every settler would own a Blacksmiths made Rake; with longer teeth than the
bought store Rake. Yes, the burner would find plenty of employment , and he
usualy worked a little quicker than he usualy did, to keep up with his work,
yes will say when burning he kept up his speed and then having raked over the
ground he would be able to see many of the larger roots extending from the
stumps he would cut and grub them up to burn, most of the smaller stumps he
would grub and then he would grub up and then he would try to plow between the
stumps slow heart breaking work calling for the pacience of Job, then came the
sowing ahd Harrowing with a little home made Harrow usualy make of three
triangular poles, Blacksmiths made teeth holes bored and teeth driven in tight
harvesting came next. Wheat was often reaped with syckle slow work but it was
in better state when you considered how you were going to thrash; with the
flail or more commonly called the poverty sticks, you placed your sheaves on
the thrashing floor usualy half a dozen or a dozen at a time; half of them
pointing to the center of the floor from one way the others from the other way
points slightly over laping; then your work would begin; to beat the sheaves
with your flail if the grain had not been properly harvested and was on the
tough side, you would harm your Grain; well having laid your sheaves upon the
thrashing floor you would do considerable
pounding upon them before you would move them, then you would turn them
over and go at them again next time you would untie the sheaves and pound them
until you could see no grain fly from the flail blow; then you would take your
fork and well shake the straw and throw the straw away; and shake or rake all
the longer straw left in the grain from the floor, and push back the grain to
one side of the floor and repeat your thrashing program, when the floor would
get crowded with grain you would stop your thrashing and clean up your grain,
your thrash floor usal had door’s or opening on each side, if you were
fortunate enough to own a fanning mill or could borrow one from your neighbours you would get to work and
clean up your grain and stow it away, if lacking a fanning mill you would pile
your grain on one side and with your two (2) doors open you would take a shovel
and throw your thrashed grain as high as you could up against the wall between
your two doors of the thrashing floor; the wind between the doors would carry
the chaff away and the grain been heavier would fall in a heap, you may have to
repeat according to your wind, but many was the devices adopted by Pioneer,
what changes are taking place all the time the flail was replaced, perhaps
first by spreading the grain upon the thrashing floor then driving your horses
over it to tramp out the grain, then came horse power, in ammerica the tread
power one or two horses, the tread was an endless apron you elevated it about a
pitch of 45 and placed your belt on your machine place your horse in the tread
it would be necessary for him to be shod with good toe caulks to keep his feet
on the tread, a hard ? thing on a horse, but he had far more power than on a
sweep power, they were generaly in use in the early days of America horse
power, but I don’t think they ever made
( you had a Brake on your horse power)
Any
head way in England, in the early 60’s the sweep power was in full force. I can
well remember my
father owning one which he hired out to neighbours at so much per day he sent
two men and four horses with it; those were soon followed with steam power
which cleaned the grain and then change was made by the charge of so much per
bushel of grain but looking back we cannot see any reduction in cost of
thrashing. My old friend Wm Robertson of Westholme used to go around thrashing
with his flail at 10 c/a Bushell Oats and 12 ½ c for wheat. Your big power
machines cannot reduce those figures; when you add up the costs; but we have made great progress
when we compare the syckle or the sythe with binders that most wonderfull of
inventions the Automatick Knoter that when so much grain get into the Arms
extend the string around the Bundle as ties it up automaticly and cuts the
string; and now carries the bundles and drops them in bunches to be stoked up;
to dry, then you would hawl it into the Barn to be trashed the same work year
after year, our crop yield per acre are not so favorable as in the Pioneer days
when the land was in its Virginity, today more care is required to cultivating
it; the many little fiberous roots have disappeared out of the soil leaving
more compact and not so easy to work but I also thing the trouble is with the
man and not the soil we try to cultivate to many acre’s; we want to do the work
in to easy maner, riding a sulky plow skiming the surface instead of stiring up
the soil so it could hold moisture for the growing crop and we don’t follow our
rotation crops enough.
In the foregoing no mention as been made of
churches, school or any other gatherings and they were all way to the fore
perhaps the churches should be placed before schools they came first. My old
Friend Father Roundault was the first Priest of Preacher to come to the
District in fact he was the second white man to settle in the Cowichan
District, the late Jack Humprhs was was the first , if memory serves me right
Humphys came in 1957. Roundault in 1858, that was four years before the great
Carriboo Gold Rush: but it was the year’s of the Frazer River Gold Rush, we have
had many Rushes to different spots in the Province but the three principal ones
Frazer River 1858 Carriboo 1862 and Leech River in 1864,, when Victoria went
Gold Mad the Craigflower Road was black with men, I was at that time working
for Charlie Ashe nearly finishing his contract when all his men quit except
myself and an (old Scotchman, and old Hudson Bay man) we staid with him to
finish up; after we had finished and gone into Victoria But we are now
considering churches. The Pioneer priest was that noble old man The Reverand
Father Roundault who built the old stone church over looking Cowichan Bay which stands as a
mounement to his memory. The best Christian I have ever met, and during my stay
in London during my younger days. I met through my friends the Arber’s the most
prominent Clergy of the day-allways attended the Exeter Hall Lectures every
Season and all the most eminent preachers from all over England gave lectures:
The Rev. Father was the friend of every one, he met every one with a smile and
a word of cheer, when I state that in my youth , I had been brought up to abhor
and detest Catholics, the life of that dear old man gave me a broader view of
life; and I owe much to his life and example if I have accomplish anything in
after life, and my memory of his friendship I will carry with me through life,
the Catholic stone church was not the first but there was a little wooden one
built nearer to the bridge before the Stone one, and there are many Tales and
Legends floating around that there was never any service held in the old Stone
Church the church was blessed and dedicated By Bishop Demers and service was
held in it for some ten (10) years the reason service was discontinued was when
the Sisters of St. Ann located were they at present reside; the distance was
then to great for the children to attend service in the church. You must also
bear in mind our roads in those days were mud roads not hard finished. The next
church Built was St. Peters not on the site of the present St. Peters but about
the lane leading to the Rectory barn, I think I am correct the Rev. Archdecon
Reese was its first Resident Rector, but services had been held previous to his
advent by the Rev Ganett who later left B.C. and went to Texas he used to ride
up over the old Sooke trail from Victoria once a month he was doing that
service in 1864, he also supplied Ceder Hill in 1864 were I fist met him a fine
man a good horseman, he would look aber his horse before himself. But Cowichan
District is very much in Debt to Archdeacon Reese the father of the Cowichan
Agricultural Society, at the out start of the library we could not get a
Libarian who was available at all times so we set one evening a week when we
met to exchange Books and the Rev Mr. Reece conceived the Idea of putting in an
evening by having a debate to fill out the Evening and in the early 1870’s we
spent many a pleasant evenings with profit to all and we went to our several
locations looking forward to our next meeting; for very probably we would not
see anyone until we met again mind we only got our mail once a week at the most
and sometime that failed us; and then our nearest post offices were at the
several Bays 9 or 10 miles away, but oh the neighbours were so kind if any one
went to the Bay on Steam boat days; he would carry home the mail for his
neighbours.
The
old Methodist church Maple Bay was the next church built but for years it had
not a resident Minister; Rev Bryant Nanaimo and others supplied the service; in
the early 70’s many other churches were built But we have omitted any work of
the old Log Building on the North side of Somenos Lake used before St Petes’ I
have never been able to discover weather it was built for a School or Church;
was used as both in 1870 and stood there for many years and the name of Wm Fly
Lomas who was the first school Teacher in the District taught school there all
of the Pioneer children of the District had to go there- there was no other;
and many a weary mile they had to walk through the woods to get to school and
our Roads in those days were simply tracks cut through the woods stumps cut
level with the ground, Mr. Lomas used to take his canoe across Somenos Lake to
bring his school children to school and
take them back after school, the parent paid so much fee’s per Month; and then
later the old Mission building Quamichan was built and Mr&Mrs Lomas were in
charge when I first came to the District 1870; he teaching the children and she
teaching the girls to sew; that was before there were any sewing Machines at
that time the Mission was by far the prettiest spot in the District lot of
flower Beds from the Road up,The church of England paid or made up his salary
in adition to fee’s up to $40.00 per month which was the first rate to pay,
while he was the first School Teacher in the District he was not the first
Public School teacher paid out of Public funds, the First Public school teacher
was RM Cleminson and he taught in the first Public school built on the end of
the Lakes Road at junction with Maple Bay Somenos Road, now known as the Herd
Road, Lomas shortly afterwards got the appointment to (2) two schools on the
south side of the Cowichan River namely the Bench and the Kokasilah schools, he
taught on alternate days in each school; three days one week and two days the
next. He later received the appointment as our first Indian Agent from the
Dominion Government an office he was so well fitted to fill; there have been
several Agent since fine noble men but none touched the Indian’s heart the same
as Lomas, he could say anything to them and they would take it all in good part
and do as he wished them to do; he in some way had a great influence over
them.Two men who have lived here , held the love and Respect of our Indians
namely Wm Fly Lomas, and the Rev. Father Roundalt at the funeral of Wm Fly
Lomas from Campbell corner to the Long Bridge the Road was black with Indian
came from every were to pay their last token of love and respect to their
friend. I have allway thought how very much this District are indebted to those
noble men, mind you the Cowichan tribe of Indians did not bear very good name
in the early days, in fact the war ship once up after a murder and hung him
from the limb of an Oak tree near the Rectory, I think it as since been cut
down, while it stood, no Indian would go under it. When we look back over the
years we can hardly realize what advancement as been made not alone in school
but in everthing the Pioneer children often walked five miles each way to
school through dense forest with but few settlers living on the wayside= today
a Bus you may say picks them up at their own door and returns them home after
school; then one school served all North of the Cowichan River and the old
school held all Grade and one teacher to teach all grades only one wagon and
one Team of horses in the District in 1870 owned by those noble Pioneers Wm and
Joseph Drinkwater they had brought them all the way from Ohio USA they were
Englishmen natives of Glostershire came out to Ohio then on further West to
Oregon, two staunch Englishmen Vancouver Island with the British flag afloating
was calling them, they first came to Saanich were they wintered 1861 and came
to Somenos in 1862, located on Range 3 Section 3 Somenos District at that time
they were both Batchlors, the government brought out a ship load of Brides on
the Robert Low around Cape horn and Wm slected one of them they lived very
happy, a few years later they dissolved partnership and divided the land they
originaly located on 300 acres. Wm retained the Valley farm of 100 acres Joseph
taking the west 200 acres and built up on Fawn Hill, two of our best Pioneers,
nearly all the Bachlors of the near neighborhood made their home at Fawn Hill,
two very remarkable men Wm one of the cooles men you could imagine when seting
milking a cow one morning his wife gave the alarm of fire, Wm thought what was
the trouble but thought he would finish milking his cow before going in the
meantime some of our younger people were returning home from a dance happened
along and put it out, Drinkwaters were allways early Risers, 4 A.M. was their
time; and our dancers kept up the dance until daylight so you see how they fit
in, and our dances were not a very large affair usal held in a private house;
but usaly our living Rooms were pretty large, and the music for dance was usaly
one Violin, but I would say we had more enjoyment to the square foot than you
do today with 5 or 6 instruments, we use to have two events that all attended:
Red lettered days of the year; Harvest home with a dance held in the Gleibe
Barn, St. Peters rectory and the Batchlor Ball given in some Residence, the
batchlors would invite all married people in the District and some from outside
also and of course the young ladies was well as old one were not left out, the
Batchlers provided everything and it would be a night given over to enjoyment.
Well
I have omitted any mention of living conditions in 1870 I said one one team of
horses in District and one wagon but there were several Yoke of Oxen and home
made sleds with dog wood shoes the sled was of a natural grown crook if you
found a tree with the right crook big enough to make two runners you would
wipsaw it, if not you may have to spent considerable time locating two crooks
alike and you made your sled at home the same as you did everything you needed
around the house and buildings then the living conditions no furnature except
home made-Bedsteads Tables stools etc no cook stove open fire place a few Iron
pots with adjustable bales; to hang over the fire; A Dutch oven for Baking, an
Iron pot with straight sides about a foot deep with Iron legs underneath 6 0r 8
inches long and also a dished Iron Cover; to hold your hot coals for Baking;
you Kept hot coals underneath and on top the legs underneath was to keep it of
the hearth so you keep fresh hot coals on it and under it all the time; you had
to attend it constantly, but I consider the bread baked in a Dutch oven nicer
than out of a stove; if we had Beef (fresh) or venison to roast we had the
choice of the Dutch oven or hang on a sting in front of the fire; the oven some
what the quickest we also consumed considerable Corn Beaf. Neighbours would club
together and kill a Beef in turns 4 of them and each would take a quarter and
salt it down in a barrel, some would eat it up quicker than others and would be
calling for more our Baking in the Dutch oven usaly on Sundays for most of the
Settlers were Batchlers and Sunday was their cooking and wash day usaly a full
time busy day. When if possible we would try to find time to visit our
neighbours all together we had not much spare time on our hands; but most of us
were very happy; looking forward towards the future with hopr for success and
prosperity.
Our
locations were nearly all heavy timbered the District I think was originaly
Surveyed by Mr. Wells according to my information in 1858 our settlers came in
1862, in those days our land Laws were such you could buy the land out right
from the Government at $5.00 per acre, and you got your deed for it’s the
other mode was you could prempt it at
$1.00 per acre but you had to live so long and put so much improvement there on
before you got your deed, the Survayors furniched information to the land
speculator what Sections were fairly
cleared of heavy timber and in good locations, hence when the land was thrown
open to preemption the land grabber had the choice bits. But I do not call to
mind that any of them realized any thing on their speculation; in fact most of
them after paying Taxes thereon for many ????(missing
line) sold it for what they gave for it, and lost very considerable in interest
and Taxes; We have seen our mud Roads develop into Graveled Roads with many
light Buggies drawn by light horses to the hard finished Roads with auto
traveling 60 miles an hour quite a difference to the oxen at 3 miles; our mud
roads for our then needs were better than our hard finished road would be; with
only one Team of horses and one wagon, could not begin to fill the need for
transportation, hence our mud Roads with our woken sleigh drawn by oxen served
better than would have we had hard gravel Roads, which would have taken more
power to draw a load there on; and also after nearly every trip you would need
new shoes for your Sled, so our Roads have developed according to our needs,
the sled suited the mud Road better than wheels, what our future Roads will be
is hard to foresee, at the present rate of auto growth the Roads must be made
wider and the Police must place more control over traffic, possible and I think
very probably our aroplanes will relief the Road traffic by taking it into the
air, I myself have a dream that inside the life time of some of our children we
will all be equipped with a little machine we could carry in our pokets or
about our body with set of wings folded up like a bird set the little machine
agoing expand the wings and away you go.
In
the foregoing pages no mention as been made to public or municipal affairs and
I was allways more or less mixed in them I have not the dates at hand so will
give the facts as I remember them.
The
Government in the first place looked after and had control of our Roads things
went fairly smoothly for some years without any friction. They appointed a man
named Titus to take charge and administer our Roads, a man who lived in
Victoria. I will not say what his qualification for the job, but this he was a
self contained man, coming to the District in the Summer Months when all the
Roads were dry and hard he could not conceive what those same Roads were during
the Winter months, the settlers would point out to him the bad winter spots and
asked to have them fixed during the time he was on the job=he just went on
doing work were ever fancy led him, well the settler were pretty well fed up
with Mr. Titus and his work; and a lot were very dissatisfied. Wm C. Duncan
after whom the City of Duncan was named and myself had many a talk over it, Mr.
Duncan had live in a Municipality in Ontario before he came to British Columbia
so knew all about the way they were worked and administered there so we decided
we would take around a petition for the settlers to sign asking that North
Cowichan on the north side of the River including Chemainus be formed into a
Municipality nearly every one signed I forwarded to the Provincial Secretary
just as I was leaving B.C. for California the Petition was Granted and
Municipal Council was duly organized. First Warden was the late Thomas Skinner
of
Fairly: Warden was the title of its presiding officer in the early days; later
changed to Reeve; only one member of the first Municipal council today alive
Mr. Horace S Davie of Somenos, now of Chemainus, North Cowichan Municipal was a
success from the start for many years she lived with in her income and greatly
improved her Roads and built new ones. Then some of her leaders conceived the
Idea of borrowing to give more improvement to her Roads, and the cry they used
to get the money was "Let future generation pay for it”, oh what a mistake
the present generation must begin to pay; even before they get the money=they
don’t get 100 per cent par in the first place so they are paying the Bond
holder interest on money they never reached them, yet I believe North Cowichan
as per Capt Rate is the lowest in BC and her Roads have cost her less than any
other District, in her earlier days she did all or 99 per cent by contract and
she as allway been very fortunate in having good Road Superintendant; I have
ofter been asked by Road Engineers and othe how we had done it: and the answer
would be by Contract: and then few Districts have been blessed with the numbe
of Gravel pits available all over the District and drainage of her Roads usaly
good; all of which as been in her favor and added to all to men who have given
their time and energy to the service of the Municipality, the change from her
Mud Roads to her present hard finished one’s as been a slow gradual
development.
Well
I have only mentioned in the earlier pages of my marrage to Mary Jane Davies of
Nortonville California and I could not be so ungratefull to her memory to let
it go at that, I who owe so much to her companionship love and labor during the
63 years of married life together. I have often thought that I was a selfish
brute to ask her to come to the bush in BC to make a home out of the wilderness
you of women of today would certainly Rebel at the then conditions nearest
woman neighbor some three miles away; no Roads simply trails through the bush
the nearest place she could purchase anything wereable for herself would be in
Victoria, Steam Boast to the different Bays once a week and you perhaps living
9 or 10 miles away from the bays; and on top of all this the living conditions
were poor, the early settlers of Cowichan Valley were not wealthy by any means,
I had come $300.00 when I decided on Cowichan as my future home. I paid $150.00 to Tom Nichol
abandon his preemption Rights so that I could prempt it; there was a cabin of
logs ( all our Buildings were of logs) a barn of logs, 20X30 about 3 acres of
land cleared, all the rest heavily timbered.
Not a promising spot to bring a bride to ;
yet through all the year’s I never heard a word of complaint at our condition
and many times there were very good grounds for them, we all tried to save the
Dollar were ever we could and what we thought was an opportunity Mr. Crate
decided to build and operate a Flour Mill on the outlet of Quamichan Lake the
Mill was built just below the Trunk Road, so the settlers set to work to grow
wheat to save buying flour, well I took a Bag of wheat to be ground brought it
home, wife set the spounge that evening thinking we would have some home grown
bread to eat the following days the spounge did not look anything to promising
and the head was less so; instead of Bread it produced liver, our flour Barrel
was empty so instead of waiting to send to Victoria for a Barrel as usal I walk
to Boudon store five miles away and pack a sack home so we had the experience
of home grown bread, but I think it was a very bitter one to her, we can grow
wheat on Vancouver Island, but to soft to make Bread, well we had no stove or
any other Kitchen conveniences, a Dutch oven and all the Kitchen furnishing
were very primitive, and you would allways find two articles present a frying
pan and a tin Billy to make tea or coffee in.
We must give some notice of our
improvements, our Pioneers came in 1862 there were then no Roads, the first
thing a Pioneer did after building his cabin would be to cut a trail from any
then existing Trail or Roads to his location while we called them Roads; we
today would not use the word Roads to describe them. A more appropriate
description of them would be a blazed trail through the woods for you would be watching the trees ahead of you
for Blazes on the trees about shoulder high, good deep Blazes to keep you on
the way; for little or no work would have been done other than chopping small
trees level with the ground; and the ground leveled about 6 feet wide, was what
constituted a Road, but we were allway making some improvements there on, in
the first place many of the soft spots we had to corduroy to get over them at
all: you would lay a long tree about 9 inches to a foot through on each side of
the Road; then you get your covering either small poles or split slabs of biger
trees, you would spot or flatten your covering on your stringers so they would
not roll when you crossed it and in adition you would put guard poles on each
side and peg down to keep the covering down and from rolling out of place;
these when worn out rotted away would be replaced by first filling in the large
Rock and covered by a coat of Gravel, so our Road have been developed by
degrees from the mud Road to the hard finished one.
Then
our councilor carried on their duties of graduly improving our Roads according to the
funds at their disposal and so well have they done their duty=that today no
district have any better Roads than Cowichan and our Roads have cost us less for
some years after the Municipality was organized the Government continued to
collect all taxes, which they paid over to the Municipality later, and the
feeling between them as allways been most friendly. The Government use to
impose a two day statute labor on each individual living in the Municipality
from years of 18 to 65, when called out by the pathmaster of the District they
had to perform two days work upon the Public Roads were ever the Pathmaster
directed; and he had to furnish his own tools, then the law was changed to the
individual could pay into the Government the sum of $2.00 which exempted him
from the two days statue labor: then later it was further amended that each
Council could impose a $2.00 Road Tax instead of Statue labor, North Cowichan
was the first to make the changes to Road Tax of $2.00 instead of two days work;
and found she got far better results, to many men under statue labor just
turned out to have picnic, no intention of trying to do a days work or to
improve the Roads=mind some did a good days work and the Roads were improved
but the majority shirked the work=For many years the Councillors acted as
pathmaster without any pay=but we must not forget no one in regard to Statue
labor received any pay therefore after returning to BC from California I have
served many years upon the Municipal Council I think 14 years as Reeve and
about the same as Councillor have seen many changes and much development during
that time and the very many points at which we held our meetings, but I want to
pay a tribute to our many Councillors, I cannot call to mind any act or action
of any member there of which was done for personal gain we often did not look
at all questions in the same way, the different Councillor sent from the different
wards to represent that ward and the Councillors would make a fight for what he
considered the wards rights and during all the years we have been organize as a
Municipality there as never been a breath of scandal or of wrong doing in
connection with the member of the North Cowichan Council and this of its self
stands to the Credit of the many men who have represented the several Wards for
so many years. In the above no mention was been made of Fraternal or other
Kindred Societies my first venture was in the Sons of Temperance don’t remember
the date but in California on my first I think 1867 it was a Temperance
organization it did not live many years, it was followed by the Good Templars
which rolled up quite a membership and did good work for many years. I filled
all the offices in the Temple also in Grand Temple I joined the order of
Knights f Pythias in California as a charter member of the Black Diamond
Nortonville 1874 have served in all its subordinate Lodge offices in the Grand
Domain of California joined by card Maple No 15 of Duncan have passed through
all the Grand Lodge chairs in B.C. I have also served many years as school
Trustee of the old Somenos school on the corner of the
Trunk and Norcross roads also on the old Maple Bay school, when one school
District served all North of River. The first Public School teacher was R.M.
Cleminson he taught in the old Maple Bay school at junction of Lakes Road with
Herd Road-the second was Mr. Monk first taught in old Mission Building until
the school was built, she was the second Public School Teacher in the District
the next Public school was the old Somenos School corner of the Trunk and
Norcross Roads opposite the Methodist Church taught by Ed Stuart now of Salmon Arm
Mrs. Monk and Stuart Wort are still alive 1937;
R.M.R.
No 2, Duncan, B.C.
July 15, 1938
Dr.
Lamb
Provincial Archivist
Dear Sir
I am sending you two
papers Pioneer Women of Cowichan, and Pioneer Men I don’t know if you already
have papers upon same subject or not; mind I have not consulted any records or
individuals; they are records made from memory so mistakes may be made, but am
pleased my memory is still good after 92 years, and our early Records should be
preserved, have you made any progress towards geting feild man or woman, to
comb all our B.C. Districts for early Records, could you not spare Mrs. Cree
once in a while if you fail to get a regular employee, she would fit the Bill
better than any one I can think of she would know what you want in your
records, and aid I can give will be gladly given, but mind it must be with my
pen have not been away from the house for about two years, but in the best of
health; so it you want to use me in any way you must do it soon, and who ever
goes out I would say by car, then if they heard of any one on by Roads they
could turn of and would be independent of Bus or train. It would not cost so
very much, and the Government would be far richer in Records you I know have a
very great wealth of them yours Truly John N Evans.
Pioneer Women of Cowichan District
We
will head our list with women who are the most outstanding. Mrs. Neil Bell born
in Scotland migrated to New Zealand previous to coming to British Columbia in
1862. Sometime ago I visited the graves of her and her husband in the Somenos
grave yard; alas to late; the headstones were standing allright; but the names
have all peeled of all was Blank stone, Mrs. Bell was a trained nurse and
midwife before coming to British Columbia, and in the early days we had no
resident Dr. in the district or any nearer than Victoria so Mrs. Bell was a God
send to the District, but our Pioneer women were a healthy sturdy lot of Men
and Women. I think a Dr. would have starved to death if he had been stationed
here, if he had to depend upon his practice for a living,-so if any one got
very sick we called Mrs. Bell= then as people got more numerous and more women
came in=and don’t forget in the early days our Government imported brides by
the ship loads, the first was the Robert Low, some of that load came to
Cowichan District, so Mrs. Bell services were in more demand. A most wonderfull
woman, full on energy and endurance, she would walk from Somenos to Chemainus
wharf and back and do her regular house work; and she would go to Mrs. Chisholm
at Maple Bay the same way, and don’t forget our Roads were mud Roads, sometimes
of the year, far nicer to walk on than
gravel Roads, and at other times you would think your foot lifted a ton=at last
when she had to take to her bed, she would not have a woman in the house, her
young son Angus was the only one at home= but she needed for nothing I take of
my hat to him, for giving that noble woman every care and attention; she who
had spent all her life, aiding and ministering to the sick and ailing.
Mrs.
Archibald Keir was another of our Noble Pioneer women a fine sympathetic woman,
she mothered the Batchlors of the District and sometimes they needed it badly,
and many a one just away from the old land and mothers influences, were kept on
the straight Road, with her kind advice and sympathy,-and her door was allways
open and every one and all felt at home when they entered her door it was the
rendovos of all Batchlors on the North side of the River, the same a Bodes on
the south side, even before the Post Office was established there, we were all
indebited to her for many many kindnesses, and her home was also open to all
dissenting Ministers to hold services there in long before any church was
built= and many of our Pioneers looking to make a location were fed at her
table with a chance to rest his weary feet and given information to aid him on
his way certainly one of Natures Noble Women.
Next we would place the name of Mrs. David
Alexander Senior of Oak Bank Quamichan, she also came by the way of New Zealand
in 1862, Cowichan as all way been famed for it Butter and to Mrs. Alexander
should go the Credit of been one of its first Pioneers,=
while Mrs. Bell and Mrs. Bednall run her a close race she usaly came out a
head= while her home was not visited like the Keir home, you would all way
receive a warm welcome when you called.
Another of our Pioneer Woman I must not
omit, a woman oh how shall I try to picture her to you, Mrs. Manly who later
became Mrs. James Boal Cowichan Flatts a Noble Woman who overflowed with
friendship and a great heart full of generosity, you could not offend her more
if you refused to eat her food and she would produce it at all hours of the
day, a woman who bestowed her friendship upon all, oh what a fine lot of
Pioneers, both men and women who came and made their homes in the Cowichan
District. I feel it was a blessing when my footsteps was turned to make my home
and to mingle, meet and share the toil of pioneers of the Cowichan Valley to
have shared in their joys and sorrows for we have had both. I greatly doubt if
the world will ever produce their equal, they were the Cream of the lands who
produced them; and they came from all lands-all have gone to their rest, they
had a very hard stenirious life, the women of today cannot conceive what the
pioneer women endured, think of your nearest neighbour three miles away nearest
Dr. in Victoria and only steam Boat once a week or make the trip by canoe, she
could not buy anything she needed to wear nearer than Victoria the general
stores at the several steam boat landings stocked shirts overall and shoes for
men but not for women.
We
must not omit some mention of Elizabeth the only name I knew her by for many
years, I later discovered her name was Elizabeth Blackmore, and we must make a
record of her advent into the Cowichan District, in 1862 one of the earliest of
our Pioneers, she was I don’t know how to describe her, she was supposed to be
a servant of Dr. Davie the elder in Victoria, but she was far more than that,
she was a mother to his motherless children, and no mother gave more care and
attention to her children than Elizabeth did to the Davie family well her
advent in Cowichan District was on foot over the old Sooke trail leading a cow,
Young Alex Davie riding a poney, he later became Premier of British Columbia,
also his younger Bro. Theodore Davie, became Premier of BC and built our
Parliament building which anchored Victoria as the Capitol of B.C. Well they
arrived safely in Somenos District, then her work began, she milked the cows,
churned the Butter, fed to calves and if you wanted to get her soft side praise
her calves no mother thought more of her children than Elizabeth of her calves.
After all her service and labor for the Davie family without
any pay her last days should have had a happier ending.
I could write reams about that Noble Band
of the Pioneer Women of the Cowichan District, but will give you a list of
names which come to my memory of the days long ago. I think they are all gone
home to rest after a hard life of it here, I will omit the names form the list
of which I have given brief sketches of and will head the list with the name of
Mrs. Thos Skinner of Fairly Maple Bay probably the earliest of all
Mrs.
John Morley Maple
Bay Mrs.Bednall Maple Bay
Mrs.
Hale Maple Bay Mrs. John Flett, Maple Bay Mrs. Edgson Maple Bay Mrs. Beaumont Maple Bay Mrs. Brobank Somenos
Mrs. Rev.Reece Rectory
Mrs.
Pat Brennan Cowichan Mrs.
Shaw ,Cowichan
Mrs.
Geo. Lilly, Crofton Mrs.
Maniner Cowichan
Mrs.James
Boal Cowichan Mrs. John Nelson Cowichan
Mrs.
Robert White Cowichan Mrs.
Mat Bottrell Cowichan
Mrs.
Geo. Askew Chemainus
Mrs. Robert McLay Koksila
Mrs.
Chisholm Maple
Bay Mrs. Alex Blythe Koksila
Mrs.
James Leask Maple
Bay Mrs. Randall Maple Bay
Mrs.
Wm Drinkwater Somenos Mrs. Ambrose Skinner Somenos
Mrs.
Tait Somenos
Mrs. Richardson Cowichan
Mrs.
John N. Evans Somenos Mrs.Harris John Bull Cowichan
Mrs.
T, Williams Cowichan
Mrs. Hollings Cobble Hill
Mrs.
Chapman Cobble
Hill Mrs.
Dougan Cobble Hill
Mrs.Bob
Mearns Koksila Mrs.
Walter Ford Koksila
Mrs.
Todd Cowichan Mrs. Rutledge Cowichan
Mrs.
Murphy Glenora Mrs. Waters Glenora
Mrs.
McKennally Glenora Mrs. Rowe Glenora
Mrs.
Mollett Glenora Mrs. Bowden
Glenora
Mrs.Merryman Glenora
Mrs. Harry Smith Cobble Hill
Mrs.
LaFortune Mill
Bay Mrs. W.R. Robertson Cowichan
Mrs.Rogers
Rogers Lake Mrs.
G.T, Cornfield Cowichan
Mrs.
Fred Maitland Dougall Cowichan Mrs. Dr. Robottom Quamichan
Mrs.
Frazer Duncans Mrs. Symonds Maple Bay
Mrs.Crate
Quamichan Mrs.Fly Fry Chemainus
Mrs.
Neil Campbell Westholme
Mrs. Hall Westholm
Mrs.
Frank Lloyd Westholme Mrs. Jame Habbord Westholme
Mrs.Porter
Chemainus Mrs. Fuller Fullers Lake
Mrs.
James Evans Duncan
Mrs. Monk
Quamichan
Mrs.
J. Menzies Quamichan
Mrs. John Blair Quamichan
Mrs.
James Auchinachie
Sathlam Mrs. Rev. D.
Holmes Duncan
Mrs.
W.C. Duncan Duncan
Mrs.David Ford Glenora
Mrs.
James Charley Somenos Mrs. Sam Gray Chemainus
The
Currie family Sathlam Mrs. Currie Mrs.Somerville Mrs. Golding Mrs.
Mary Currie
Mrs.
N. May Somenos Mrs. Wellbourn Quamichan Lake
Mrs.
Ashdown Green Somenos
Lake
Mrs.
Musgrave Somenos
Lake Mrs.Martin Somenos
Mrs.
Kingston Somenos
Lake Mrs. Barry Cobble Hill
Mrs.
Herbert Hall Westholm Mrs.
John Michell Somenos
Mrs.
Michell Smith Crofton Mrs. J. Shepland Maple Bay
Mrs.
Summer Gibbon
Road Mrs. Fremento Cowichan
Mrs.
Young Cowichan
Lake Rd Mrs. A. Drummond Maple Bay
Mrs.
Ordano Cowichan
Mrs. Pimbury Cowichan Flats
Mrs.
W.P. Jaynes Quamichan Mrs. Frazer Cowichan Lake first white woman at the Lake
Mrs.
Thomas Westholm Mrs.Maxine Allard Quamichan Lake
Mrs.
Fletcher Herd Road
Pioneers of Cowichan District
I
have written of our Pioneer Women, but not of our men and will try to place on
Record some of the names of those who Pioneered and hewed out homes for
themselves and families from the Forrests of Cowichan District, for what few
little Prarrie spots had been corralled by the Land graber or Spectilator
before the advent of most of our Pioneers, who came with the Carriboo Gold Rush
1862, the first white man to settle in Cowichan was the late Jack Humphres of
Quamichan,I think I am correct that he came and located in 1857 and he was fullfilling
Sir James Douglas’s advice, go up into the Cowichan District, settle down and
take an Indian Woman, but my observation; that those who took his advice never progressed
very far in the development of the District, but there were no other women
available until later; When our Provincial Government imported Brides by the
ship loads to supply the want the Robert Low was the first one, and some of
them came to this District to found homes-
The
second man to settle in Cowichan was that Noble old Christian the Rev Father
Rondault who labored many years amongst the Indians and Whites, he came in
1858, built his first house and church of logs
nearer the bridge than the old stone Church, he and the Indians built
the Stone Church in 1870, most of the stone was carried on hand barrows “not
wheel barrows” two Indian carrying the rock, he and the Indians built the main
portion of the Church, a Stone Mason from Victoria built the Arches of the
Windows and Doors, and he as made a claim that he built the Church, My Brother
Harry Evans did the finishing wood work the Rev Father kept quite a Herd of
cows which he milked and made Butter, indeed I fancy he told me that it was
Butter that paid for the first lumber church at the present site I have during
my life time have met a great many Divines of all Sects, but he comes the
nearest of all to what a Christian should be I feel it was a very great
privilege to have been his Friend; The great influx of Pioneers came to the
Cowichan District in 1862 the year of the Carriboo Gold rush, the Cowichan
Pioneers did not take part in the Gold Stampede, they came to settle on the
land and build Homes for themselves, I don’t think that any of the original
Pioneers of 1862 are now alive, I came to Victoria in 1864, went to California
in 1866 returned to Cowichan 1870, there are none left of the 1870 pioneers in
this District except myself, Many of our Pioneers came by the way of New
Zeland, but nearly all of British by birth and I do not know what name should
follow the names of Humphres and Rondault, perhaps the name of the Rev
Archdeacon Reese he was the first resident Church of England Minister, the Rev
Garrett had preceeded him, but he live in Victoria and came up the trail very
second Sunday-other Sundays he held service at the Cedar Hill Church, Garret
held service in the old Log Church on the West side of Somenos Lake and at the
John Bull In Cowichan Bay, have never been able to find it the old Log building
on the lake was built for a Church or school it was serving as both in 1870. Wm
Fly Lomas was holding school there in 1870 and the school was a Church of
England school, the children paid so much in fees and the church furnished the
balance, that was before the days of Public schools in Cowichan, Lomas also ?????? session ?? Quamichan at the same time. We divided the school Teacher up
in those days he would have two school to teach on alternate days one school
would get 3 days one week two the next, Lomas later taught to public school in
the same way, Cowichan Bench School and Kokasila on the south side of the
River, but to return to Archdeacon Reese he was in the forefront of every
movement for the benefit of the people, he was the father of the Cowichan
Agricultural Society, the thought came to him during a harvest home service at
St. Peter with its agricultural display, our Library and many other local
endeavours; the District is greatly in his debt he left and returned to
England; now we have the names of Humphries, Rondault and Reese and Lomas. I
would next place the names of the Drinkwater Bros. William and Joseph, while
you will find the name of William in our Public Records, he served in Municipal
work for many years and several times Reeve, yet I have very great doubt if he
gave so much service as Joe; William was slow and methodical he could not be
excited to wit one morning his wife discovered the house was on fire; William
siting under a cow milking he thought he knew what was the matter he decided he
was going to finish the cow before he would go-in the mean time some of our
young fellow were coming home from a dance chanced by and put it out; Wm was
slow in every way yet when he took a stand on what he thought was right you
could not move him. In the early days the Council Chambers were moved yearly
and sometimes more often, then the question came up in one council either to
buy or lease a piece of land across the Road from the old Maple Bay school
house William was Reeve and he refused to sign any lease, and by the next
meeting the Council found the taxpayers were behind him, no one ever called
upon Joe for help, but it would be forthcoming, one of my very dearest friends,
on of Natures Noblemen, oh it was a great privilege to have met such men as Joe
Drinkwater to have a share in their friendships their joys and sorrows to have
been a Pioneer amongst the Noblest set of men the world as ever produced the
B.C. Pioneers so we will start our list of Pioneers with the names mentioned,
and we will have to tax our memory to remember the names; nearly all in fact am
sure that none are alive who were here previous to 1870 WC Duncan should also
be to the front, after whom the City of Duncans is named a fine public spirited
man, and by the way a few words upon the Duncan location, when first I saw it,
he had a log cabin down on the East end of his location with about two acres
cleared and least choped and burnt up, but the stumps were still there, and so
thick you could not drive a wagon with a Hay rack, through them the East side
of the Railway was a very heavily timbered with maple and alder, and he named
his home Alderlea which was the name the City of Duncan first bore, on the West
of the Railway was timbered with a very heavy and very long growth of Pine
“second growth” have never such growth elsewere, you could not see the road on
a bright starlight night, WC Duncan took very great interest in Public events,
and was allways present at Loging and Building Bees, at building Bee’s he was
usaly one of our corner men, ?? four of our very best axe men one for each
corner of the building, to cut and fited the corner logs he was so good an
axeman he scarcely had any feet left all choped up-now I hear the reader think
if so good an axeman why his feet all choped up. Mr. Duncan came from Ontario
were the choping is mostly done in the winter when all timber is frozen and the
axe oft time glances from timber into the foot; When our Municipality was first
formed we kept Duncan out of the Council so as to be advailabe on the Roads:
and by the way he should be given the credit of the formation of the North
Cowichan Municipality he had lived in a Municipality if memory serves me right
Lambton and the cause of the formation was the Government in Victoria were
administering all our Roads, and they used send a Road foreman and a gang of
men, to work on our Roads in the Summer when the Roads were good and passable,
well the foreman name was Titius a head strong fellow who knew it all, and
would not listen to the Settlers; who would point out the bad soft spots in
Winter, but he did the work were ever he saw fit and many of the settler would
have been glad of a few days work which they did not get. In those days I was living
along side of Duncan and we had many a talk over the matter at last we decided
to take around a petition asking that portion of Cowichan on the North side of
the Cowichan River and including Chemainus be formed in a Municipality nearly
every one signed hence the North Cowichan Municipality then we kept Duncan out
of the Council as the Best available Road man and his services were ever in
demand he was named by the Council for Road work at ($3.00) three dollars per
day when at work, he was a good road man as well as a good axeman, our Road men
in the early days were outstanding men for the work asigned to them, they could
lay out and superintend the Road work far better than when later the Council
decided to place and Engineer in charge,
Mr. Duncan was for very many years Church Warden at the St. Peters Quamichan was
very active in the Cowichan Agricultural Society, the Library and other kindred
societies, he was altogether an outstanding man who left his impress for good
upon the District.
Wm
Fly Lomas was one of our earliest Pioneers, 1862; his first located on the west
side of Somenos Lake, “the old Log Church I fancy was on his location” and he
taught school therein, also taught in the old Mission Building as well, I think
on alternate days the schools then were carried on by the Church of England
they were the Pioneers in our schools in Cowichan District the children paid so
much in fees and the Church the Balance: so the Church of England was fore
runers of our Public School. The first Public school was the old Maple Bay school and the firs Public school Teacher was RM Clemiston,
and Lomas the second he taught two public schools on the South side of the
River also on alternate days. He later became the first Indian agent in the
District and the most popular one with the Indians we have ever had allways
present at our Loging and building bees and when a settler had got enough of trees choped
down and cut into log lengths so they could be hauled together he would call
for a bee: to pile them up into piles to be burnt.” But he had first burnt up
the Brush and small stuff”, and it a settler wanted to build a cabin, Barn or
any other building, he would do like wise; then we would pick out the four very
best axemen present and place them on the four corners of the building, the
settler would have had his logs hawled near his building site so two yoke of
oxen could keep the logs supplied as the corner men need them and the ground
men would roll them up on skids as they were call for, Duncan was usaly one of
our corner men he was one of the best axemen whoever came to the District, good
with either a choping or a broad axe. We kept him out of the Council when we
first organized to have him available for Road work.
( large
blank space, half a page on my copy)
From
all over British Columbia and some from Washington to pay their las tribute of
love and esteem for the man who had given his life and services to benefit and
uplift them, the Road from Duncan’s to the long Bridge was black with people
mostly Indians, but the white inhabitant were all out but were swamped by the
Indians.
But
to return to the Rev Archdeacon Reese he was in the forefront of every movement
for the benefit of the people, he was the father of the Cowichan Agricultural
Society, the thought came to him during a harvest Thanksgiving Service through
the decoration of the Church, with Reese to think was to act, hence our
Agricultural Society, he was also the one who started our Library we were
sometimes short of reading matter in the early days no daily paper in Country
places-only one mail a week, and I greatly doubt if we had daily mail we could
have afforded to have paid for daily papers, dollar were not plentyfull amongst
our Pioneers so the formation of a library was a blessing, many a weary lonely
hour was lightened by a book from the library and not been able to pay a
Librarian we met one a week on a certain evening to exchange Books and have a
social evening together and we started a Debating Society, Rev Reese was
generaly chairman of our meetings, so we were greatly benefited there by
often we would not see a person from our
meeting night until we met again our evening at home were often busy ones we
were nearly all Batchlors and had to do our cooking, baking and often put a
patch on over alls or shirt, socks was generly Cariboo sox.
William
Fly Lomas was one of our earliest Pioneers, his first
location was on the Westside of Somenos Lake. I think the old log Church was
upon his location; and at the time he taught school therein, and also taught
school in the old Mission building Quamichan, he was then paid fee’s by the
parents and the Church of England paid the balance-the Church of England were
the Pioneers in the school of Cowichan District he later became a Public school
teacher in two Public schools the Bench School, Cowichan, and the Kelvin Creek
school Koksilah he taught them on alternate days one school would have two days
school one week and three the next, he was the second school Public teacher in
the District; the first was R.M. Clemiston who taught the first public school
built in the District the old Maple Bay school at the junction of the Herds
Road and the Lakes Road=” in those days the Herds Road was known as the Somenos
Road “ there is no doubt but he was the first school teacher in Cowichan: he
finished up his life in a position he was so well qualified to fill, namely the
first Indian Agent in the District also the most popular one with the Indians
as such the words of Tenyon are fulfilled=what ever record leaps to light his
never will be shamed=he held the love and respect of the Indians “as no one
else as done, except that worthy old Christian the Rev Father Rondault=two men
who stand head and shoulders above any other who have worked for the uplifting
of the Indians=and speaking as a Pioneer I credit to their efforts that the
white settlers were able to live in Peace and Harmony with them, and on the
death of Lomas the Indian Villages was filled with mourning and lamentation for
their friend, for he certainly was their friend ( missing line)
For
over a mile the Road was Black with men and women to pay their respects to one
who through life had loved and had worked for them and who they loved in
return, there were many a sad heart in that assemblage.
But to return to the Rev Archdeacon Reese
he was in the forefront of every movement for the benefit of the people; he was
the father of the Cowichan Agricultural Society, the thought came to him during
a harvest thanksgiving service at St Peters Church through the decorations of
the Church; with Reese to think was to act; hence our Agricultural Society, he
was also the one who started the Library, we were sometimes very short of
Reading matter in early days, no daily paper in Country places; only one mail a
week; and I greatly doubt if we had daily mail; we could have afforded to have
paid for a daily paper; Dollars were not plentifull amongst our Pioneers, so
the formation of a Library was a blessing; many a lonely hour was lightened by
a Book from the Library; and not been able to pay a Librarian, we met one a
week on a certain evening, to exchange Book and have a social evening together,
and we started a debating Society, Rev Reese was generaly Chairman of our
meetings so we were greatly benefited thereby;; often we would see no person
form our meeting night until we met again, and our meeting place was the old
Mission Building Quamichan our evening at home was often busy ones; we were
nearly batchlors often a patch on overalls or shirt, sox was generaly Cariboo
sox.
Archibald
Keir of Somenos was one of outstanding Pioneers if memory serves me right; he
had crossed plains in the early day of California, three times previous to
coming to British Columbia in 1862: a man of wonderfull experiences, what a
pity he had not left a record of them, he was one of the best read men I have
ever met, He was first appointed postmaster and Mail Carrier away from our
several Bays, he came to Somenos in 1862: During one of our Dominions election;
soon after Confederation, Sir Francis Hicks was defeated back East, he was a
member of Sir John A. McDonalds Cabinet: and Sir John appealed to B.C. to find
a Seat for Sir Francis all elections in those days were not held on the same
day and British Columbia was one of the defeated one’s it would take to long to
tell of the work done to give him the seat, of of the wires that were pulled,
however when the polls were closed Sir Francis was one member, and I never
heard he ever put his foot inside the constituency during the whole time he
represented it: But Mr. Keir became our Mail Carrier and Postmaster at Somenos
the only thing we ever got. The Keir family have walked largely in the
District, the eldest of the son’s who came to B.C. James Keir done much to help
in the development, by bring in improved Machinery such mowing Machines-Reapers
Binders and improved machinery of all kinds which he hired out.
Neil
Bell, a Scotchman who came to B.C. by the New Zealand route as of our early
settlers came that way an quite a number returned there to their first love or
choice in the early 60’s, he settled with his family in Somenos, his wife was
the most outstanding of our Pioneer women, see Pioneer women of BC. They had
several sons and daughters but today the family is nearly extinct, and none residing
in BC they built a nice home now in the hands of strangers.
The Davie family home in Somenos they
located in 1862, only Horace S Davie is the only one left he resides in
Chemainus. I think the whole of the family considered Somenos as their home while
alive, the old Dr. died years ago three of the sons who lived in Victoria have
left their mark upon B.C. history Dr. Jack Davie one of the outstanding surgeon
in Victoria, and Alex an Theodore became Premiers of B.C. and Theodore built
our Parilment Building which has anchored Victoria as the Capital of British
Columbia.
Jim Kinear first located on the North side
of Cowichan Bay on Mt. Tzolam he had a cabin there: while there was no land to
justify a man to locate, a very pretty view and lots of fish at his door, he
later moved to Cowichan landing, Jim should have made his mark in the County he
was a well educated a great book worm all together a good companion perhaps it
was the last was the cause of his down fall where the Library was first started
Jim read more book than any other of our members, most of our members had
settled on the land and after a hard days work would feel more like hiting the
Blankets than reading but I realy think we read more books in those days than
we do today, one thing we did not have daily mail or daily or daily papers in
the country places, we only had weekly mail and weekly steam boats, and our two
Victoria Newspapers publish weekly edition to me the needs of country readers,
the Victoria Colonist “ the oldest Newspaper in B.C.” and the old Victoria
Standard which later became the Victoria Times, but we are getting away from
Pioneers- when we discuss Newspapers.
The Alexander family of Oak Bank Quamichan
came from down under in 1862, David Alexander Sr. was
born in Scotland and moved to New Zealand before coming to B.C. Many of our
Pioneers came that way; and many in the 60’s returned to New Zealand, David in
his younger days was a fine upstanding man carried himself very straight and
had fine square shoulders and of Great strength he would carry two deer from Mt
Provest instead of making an extra trip, he hewed out a fine farm out of the
Forrest one of the most productive one’s in the whole District, and Mrs.
Alexander was one of the Butter makers that put Cowichan on the map many of
their decendants still live in the District. Most of our real pioneers came
here in 1862. I came to Victoria first in 1864 went to California Gold Mines in
1866. Returned to Cowichan District in 1870. There was
then only one wagon and one team of Horses then in the District and they had
come by the overland Route from Ohio U.S.A. brought by the Drinkwater Brothers
of Somenos, all the rest were oxen, and Alexander’s of Oak Bank; held to the
oxen longer than any other settlers oxen and sled, he considered cheaper and
more adapted to our needs than horses; well under the there existing condition
they likely were, consider our Roads were mud Roads, and in very many spots the
wheels would go down ??????? and with much trafic they
would soon be stuck there.
We must not omit the name of
Samuel Bednall who was located on the now Elkington place on the Maple Bay Road
perhaps one of our most energetic of our settlers, he was English; very active
and developed a fine farm and home, was the first to ship Timothy Hay to
Victoria, Native Tide Water Grass had been cut on the Cowichan Flatt and Baled
and shiped to Victoria some years previous, I had hawled it from the Schooner
to some of log Barn’s on the Fairfield Road which was then controled by Judge
Pemberton, it was sold principaly to dairymen, speaking of Bednall bring to
memory my old friend Fly Bonsall who was a stepson of Bednall, then later went
on his own, on the farm Mr. Dunlop now owns, then he got married and moved up
to Westholm, he was the first to establish a Herd of Pure Bred Holstein cattle,
the first pure Bred Herd in the District; there may have been a few individual
animals eligible for registration but no herd, I believe the old jersey
Elizabeth led from Victoria was one, and you will find more pure Bred Cattle in
the Cowichan District than any were else in B.C. in early days it was difficult
to register, any way Fly Bonsall made a name for himself and a Record for the
District.
William Beaumont of Maple Bay came to
Victoria in 1862 and started in the Express business, now don’t run away and
think he owned a horse or an express wagon, he conducted his express business
with a push cart, and he made more than a living at it, saved enough to come to
Maple Bay, and buy out Tom Windsor his Hotel and store, but neither were very
much, it was were the Maple Bay in now stands and by the way there was also a
wharf he had a small country store, but the stock of our Bay stores were
limited, and capital of the store keeper’s was also very limited, and the
capital of the store patrons more so, Beaumont made enough and saved enough to
retire and live near the Willows in Victoria.
Mathew Bottrell was in the Butcher Business
in Victoria, he bought out the Lowland farm Cowichan Bay, from its original
owner John Companion, Bottrell sent up his Younger Bro Tom to run the farm,
poor Tom got drowned in the River trying to take an animal across the River on
a rope: he got tangled up with the rope and was drowned, those were the days we
had no Bridges across River or Creeks, had to wade through, and sometimes we
would have to wait for the tide to ebb to do so, you may be able to get an
Indian to put you over in his canoe, but then you would have to pay him, and
silver coin was not plentyfull with the Settlers, so we striped of our clothes
rolled them in a bundle on your head and waded in, Resident of the present day
cannot begin to picture, what the Pioneer had to face, if your Floor Barrell it
meant you would walk eight or nine miles to the Store and pack a sack of Floor
home on you shoulder, or you would take your oxen and sled for it; and that
meant more time, and perhaps time was more valuable then than now; so much
waiting ????? are some names we must mention we could not pass up Hugh Drumond
of Maple Bay, the Pioneer list would not be compleate with his name omited, a
Scotchman by birth if there ever was one, at any Public gathering Hugh would be
present and at the steam Boat landing when ever a boat came in, living close to Maple Bay, he could
hear the Whistle and would be there to meet her, he seldom failed, he spent
very considerable time meeting the Steamers, did not do much land clearing, but
was one of the first to raise sheep, most of our settlers were shy to tackle
sheep on account of the Wolves and Panthers, both very numerous in the early
days, especialy Wolves, you would hear them howl around your Cabin during the
night; not a very pleasant sound to go to sleep with: we gathered in our pigs,
sheep, and calves, and placed them in the Barn during the night.
In the above list not a word about Thomas
Skinner of Fairly Maple Bay: who was one of our earliest settlers, and old
Hudson Bay employee, before coming to the District, I believe previously he had
been in charge of Craig Flower, and many spots still bear his or some of his
family’s names around Victoria, such as Constance Cove, name after one of his
daughters, the family left its impress upon the District. The Pimbury Brother’s
I don’t know that we may class them as Pioneers of the District of which they
later became Residents of the Lowland farm Cowichan Bay in 1864 they resided at
twin Oak Cedar Hill then went to Saltspring Island and went extensively into
sheep raising they sold out to Mr. Musgrave and moved to the Lowland farm
Cowichan Flatts, I believe that farm as changed ownership oftener than any
other in the District.
The Fletts Brothers (2) Jim came first and
if memory serves me right located on the present Dunlop place at Maple Bay for
many years he was a batchlor, but he fell for the wiles of a widow Mrs. Morley,
who had led so many men to the alter to console her for the loss of previous
husbands, I think the record was eight, they later sold and lived in Duncans.
John Flett the other brother lived were now Mrs. Peter Flett lives, he had also been an old
Hudson Bay employee, he took some interest in Public affairs, you will find his
name amongst the Councillor of Comenacken Ward.
John Morley name bulkes largely in the
early History of the Cowichan District, he was a J.P. and acted for sometimes as Government Agent,
while there were many more J.P.in the District he took most of the justice
work, many of our J.P. shirked the work they wanted the honor but not the work:
he had a nephew H.A.S. Morley who was the first Municipal Clerk in Cowichan he
later entered the Government service in Victoria in which he served many years.
William Chisolm and John Mahoney two Irishmen who located, Mahoney at Genoa Bay
Chisholm on Maple Bay, two very close friends were you would meet one you may
be sure the other was not far away= we had had two such examples of that
friendship in the District, Bill Dring and Jim Miller, they were not parted
even in Death, Dring and Miller were murdered by Indians together in both cases
they were ????? exemplified the friendship of Damon
for Pythias, so the old world is not all together selfish, we still have
friendships runing through the Ages; while many claim we are going backward at
no time in the World History can we point, to any period, were such provision;
were made that as today; for the Widows and orphans; the sick and the main to
our hospitals, to our Homes; all over the country, ministering to the needy;
Then the name of Jim Leask who settled on the Milton Edgson place at Maple Bay
he left soon after I came so I know but little of him but his name should be amongst
the Pioneers, his successor Milton Edgson, work with him we both worked for
that fine old Pioneer Harry King on the Church Farm Cedar Hill in 1864, Milton
was a remittance man used to get very considerable money from home every month
quite a number of our Pioneers were remittance men some it aided, but to the
majority it was a curse, they lived in the Barroom as long as the money held
out, when it was gone they get kicked out.
My old friend John Carr Smith who located
on what is now the Cliff property, he came from Ontario, he had left his wife
and daughter, they had some disagreement so he left and came to B.C. at one
time I had considerable correspondence with them in an effort to bring them
together, while possible there may have been fault on both sides, I think my
old friend was most to blame.
John French located near Maple Bay, were
the constantines ??? of our old Pioneer a Batchelor and
quite a chum of Hugh Drumond who’s loacations were adjoining a man of rather
quick temper and some times his stick would be flying around his head but never
heard it came down on anyone head.
Geo.
Lilly Sen.- was located near Osborne Bay now Crofton a
typical Englishman he had a family one became prominent in Business in Victoria
Lilly candy was
James Evans was born in Berriew,
Montgomeryshire North Wales on a farm, when a young man he went to Liverpool
and for a time served on the police force there when the Carriboo Gold
discovery reached the old country in 1862 he and his younger Bro David decided
they would come out to B.C., and try their luck they came by the English Route
from Southampton to St. Thomas, hence to Panama and up the coast to San
Francisco, and Victoria and on the way to Carriboo, all went well until they
got to Yale when they had to shoulder their packs of Blankets and food and
strike the Trail for Carriboo, they had not proceeded far when they met so many
disappointed one’s returning they decided to stop on the way and help to build
that wonderfull Road; the Carriboo Road, they returned to Victoria for the
Winter, they all returned to Victoria for the winter in the 1860’s he returned
to work on the Road in 1863 in 1864 he went through to Carriboo but made
nothing in 1865 he went down to California and went up into
( ends
here, apparently some missing pages)
Early School of Cowichan District
Copy
of letter from the Rev. Alex S. Garrett appointing Wm Fly Lomas first School
Teacher
Victoria March 18 th 1864
Gentlemen
I have the honor to inform you that I
submitted your Petition on the School question to the Hon. the Colonial
Secretary who is also Senior Member for the City. He desires me to acquaint
you, that the House of Assembly have voted the required sum, In pursuance of
his instructions I looked about for a suitable Teacher, Wm Fly Lomas long and
favorably known to you all applied for the appointment. I examined him in ??? of knowledge required for
the situation and have laid his written answers before the Colonial
Secretary who has signified his
approval. Mr. Lomas will therefore open school without delay.
I
have obtained from the Bishops Librarian a supply of books, which will be sold
to the children considerably under cost price in England.
I rely upon your Zeal and Gratitude as
sufficient to gravitie your most ernest cooperation did assistance in carrying
out this most important measure. To wit the speedy opening of
the School.
` I
remain Gentlemen
Very faithfully your
Alex
S. Garrett
To
messers
Bell,
Alexander
Bednall
& Kier
The
first school in Cowichan was held in the old log building on the west side of Somenos
Lake of the present Norcross Road. I have never been able to discover if it was
built for a school or a church it was used for both purposes in 1870 and was
used before St. Peters, Rev. Alex S. C. Garret use to ride up over the old
Sooke trail in 1864 when I first knew him in 1864, he also supplied St. Luke
Cedar Hill at that date.
Copy of Memo of Agreement
We
the local Board of North Cowichan School District hereby contract with and
employ Wm Fly Lomas to teach from the date hereof at the Rate of $40.00 per
month from such mon eys as may come to
our hands by virtue of the Common School Ordinance 1869 and the Common School
Amendant 1870 and we bind ourselves to employ all the powers with which we are legally invested by said
ordinance to collect and pay to the said teacher during the continuance of this
agreement, the sum of which we hereby become bound and the said W. Fly Lomas
binds himself to tach and conduct the said Common School, according to the
rules and regulations prescribed by compement authority there to, this
agreement shall continue in place for one year from the datehere of, dated the
12th day of September 1870.
Wm
S Reese chairman Wm Fly Lomas teacher
Ashdown
H Green Wm F Crate
A W Rogers witness
Copy
At
a public meeting held 1869 been law full conscined after due notice. A
Resolution was unaminly adopted, voting that the School Teacher Salary should
not be less that $600.00 per annum $600.00
I
hereby declare that the agreement between the Local Board on the one part, as
expressed on the other side, was entered into on the distinct understanding,
that the additional Sum of ($120.00) one hundred and twenty dollars necessary
to carry out the Resolution of the above mentioned meeting, should by paid out
of the Sum collected by the local Rate of Two Dollar ($2.00) per head which was
also voted. It was on this understanding, Mr. Lomas
accepted the post of school teacher.
Signed Wm S. Reese
A.W. Rogers
School fees
1870=1871
Mr.
Keir=20 month @ 25 5 copy Book 121/2 75= $575
Mr.
Bell=28 “ 7 copy “
“ 87=$7.87
Mr.
Alexander 22= 6 copy “
75= $6.25
Mr.
Rogers 21= “ 4 copy
“ 50=$5.70
Mr.
Humphry 15 5 copy “ 621/2= $4.37
Mr.
Reese 4 3 copy “ 371/2= $1.37
Mr.
Shaw 20 6 copy “ 621/2=$5.60
Mr.
Brenan 2 2 copy 25=75c
Total
$37.75
It
would appear from letters from Mr. Lomas and W.C. Ward that Mr. Lomas salary
was paid by the Church of England Fund up to 1870 and while Mr. Lomas was the
first teacher who taught school in the District he was not a public school
teacher-the first Public School Teacher was Rita Cleminson who taught in the
first Public School built in Cowichan District the old Maple Bay school on what
is now known as Herd Road at the junction of Lakes Road. Mr. Lomas a few years
later taught two Public Schools on the south side of the Cowichan River, the
old Bench School Cowichan and the Koksilah at Kelvin Creek-he taught on
alternate days one school would get three days one week and two days the next
week.
Copy of letter from W.C. Ward to Mr. Lomas
Victoria April 9th
1870
Mr.
Wm Fly Lomas
Cowichan
Dear Sir
Enclosed find the cheque for quarter stipend
to 31st with as follows 3Pds $97.00 D.C.S $12.13=$109.13 this was
the utmost that the D.C.S. could make up for the last year, the S.P.G. having
further reduce the for the present year; and ???to the
D.C.S. having also fallen short of last year receipts am sorry this should
been, but every effort as been made here without avail, your Truly
C ????
Mr.
Lomas was teaching for the Church of England in the Old Mission Building
Quamichan in 1870 when I arrived here in 1870. It was the only Lumber building
in the District, shortly after the Old Maple Bay school
was built and the first Public School opened. But the credit should go to the
Church f England in Pioneering schools in Cowichan District. The Provincial
Assembly passed the first Public School Act in 1864 but no steps had been taken
to establish a Public School until the Maple Bay School if memory serves me
right it was opened in 1872. Cleminson was followed in the Maple Bay School by
Mrs Clyde who later became Mr. Ambrose Skinner.
The
third Public School was the old Somenos School at the junction of the trunk and
Norcross Roads, opened Ed Stuart Wood, which school should receive credit for
erecting the first school Flag, and she also Pioneered the first Christmas Tree
I realy think in the province, 1886-Mrs. Blair was then teacher, then our
children would walk many five miles each way a long Roads in winter were knee
deep in mud, now our Buses pick them up we may say at their doors and deliver
them back after,in those days we had oxen the old Somenos school opened first
Monday of 1885. Sleds traveling three miles per hour over mud Roads; and mud
Roads with sled was more suitable than McAdam or hard finished Roads.
Today many Rural School have disappeared
their places filled by a consolidated school with a teacher to each grade,
truly the world moves on, so Cowichan kept in step with modern improved
conditions our schools compare favorable with those of our cities perhaps we
could claim to B.C. school system one of the best in the world.
During the first years after the
Municipality the Provincial Government continued to Assess and collect our
taxes, and gave the Municipality so much to expend upon her Roads and Bridges
and we got far more than they collected during the first years, in the first
year we asked for $2082.00 we finish that year with a Balance $285.13, to give
an idea of the then conditions of Roads the following are specifications for
work widen section of Chemainus Road.
Logs
to be cut 12 feet trees, 3 inches and over to be cut out 10 feet wide, Track to
be stamped and Graded 6 feet wide, let to Jos Richards $400.00 consider the
changes from 1874 Roads 6 ft. wide to what they are at present and the
increased auto traffic and speed then width will have to be increased to meet changing
conditions.
The
first meeting of the Municipal Council of North Cowichan was held July 15,
1973. The following Gentlemen composed the first Council.
The
Warden later changed to Reeve
Thomas
Skinner
Councillors
Mr. Wm Drinkwater ?? Fay (senior) Edward Marriman,
Wm.Fly Lomas; Horace Davie;=and John Flett senior.
At
the second meeting: July 30th Mr. W.C. Duncan was appointed to go
over the Road and make an estimate of the amount of money required=Duncan’s
report $2400.00 the Council cut of the $400.00 and sent in to the Government an
estimate of $2000.00; the Warden was in those days elected by the Council you
must bear in mind in 1973 we did not have many Roads or Trails on March 25,
1874 the Richard Trail was ordered opened and we find after Mr. Duncan had made
his report on the Roads he was appointed Road Supertendant August 13th 1873. At the rate of $3.00
per day when on duty; previous to the formation of the Municipality all Road
work done by the Government had been by day labor well that was all changed for
we find on May 27, 1874 the Council sold by Public Auction, we gave tools,
tents and cooking outfit, and all Road work for the future was to be done by
contract.
The
Road Supertendant would draw up specifications to work to be done; and invite tenders
to be sent in to the Council by a certain date, those specification were posted
in many places in the Municipality and also in points on the South of the River
and compition in Tendering was very keen and they certainly got value for their
money we find July 29, 1874 a Petition was presented to them to build a wharf
at Maple Bay. Mr. Beaumont owned a wharf about were the Maple Inn now stand a
poor and unsafe one and he charged wharfage on everthing that passed over it
and the settlers though that a free wharf was as necessary as a free wharf and
also a sage wharf, the estimate to build a wharf was $1000.00 it was built by
Tender by Joseph Richards and Hugh Drumond for $740.00 and they had previously
given up their rights to the wharf lost.
We
had not many Roads in those days and it was a busy time for the Councillors to
locate new Roads and keep in repair the existing ones laying out contracts and
passing them when done. The appointment of Mr. Duncan as Road Superintendant
relieved them of a great deal of work but they generaly went with him when he
laid out work, an item of interest would be the building of the Menzies Road
from the Cowichan Lake to the Menzies location on the river side nearly three
miles lon the rule of the council was then and I think it still is not to
expend any Municipal Money unless there were two or more Residents there on,
well Mr. Menzies was the Pioneer on that Road and his location was at the
extreme end, well soon after he had built the Road many settlers located there
on, and Mr. Menzies was entitled to pay for the work done on the Road not only
the length of Road there was a very long Bridge over the big creek, far longer
then than now for there been a lot filled in the Council were so very generous
they gave him $50.00 for his work took it over and made a Public Road of it,
April 8, 1874 Mr. Archie Dodd wrote the council for a Road he was located on
Cowichan Flatts, there were no Bridges or Roads across the flats in those days
May 18, 1874 clerk instructed to call for tenders to construct Norcross Road
from the Wesleyan Church on Trunk Road to a connection with the Somenos Maple
Bay Road, Mr. James Keir tender for $398.00 including Bridge across Evans
Creek, There was a John Evans prevous to me=
In
1874 the Provincial Government took over the Trunk Road.
We
should state when; the wharf ws first built fees were charged much the same as
usal fee’s for wharf age with this exception that Boxes of butter eggs and
produce wen free; all fees were abolished January 17,1876.
June
19th 1886 Mr., John Watson and others petition the Council to
construct the May Road.
A
vote was taken in regard to building of Wharf at Maple Bay result for 127
against 27. Estimate sent to Government Roads was for $6000.00 including
$1000.00 for wharf. July 24th 1876 was change following the swamp
instead of going straight over the hill it was a very narrow grade when first
built just room for a wagon to travel if two met one would have to stay at one
end until the other got through.
March 25th
1876 Fly Fry senior was appointed Clerk and Assessor,
Harry Morley had been the first clerk. January 17, 1887 Mr. Herd introduced a
By law to indemnity the Councillors at the rate of $2.00 per day but confined
their meeting to 12 during the year, the bylaw was submitted to a vote by the
rate payers vote in favor of bylaw a request was made to C.C. of Works, to
declare Road from the Methodist Church to connect with Somenos Maple Bay Road
is known as the Norcross Road. Some actions of the council could not been
according to law, at a special meeting Feb. 8th, 1877 a resolution
was passed asking the Provincial Government legalize all acts done by the
Council since January 1875= November 3, 18877 a bylaw was passed of 50 voters
qualifican Tax the proceed of said Tax to pay a bounty of 50 c a dozen heads of
Blue Jays, the Blue Jay at that time was very troublesome destroying crops
today they are pretty nearly extinct, Council suspended payment of clearing
Roads except by order of Council, they had been receiving many bills for
clearing without any authorization, which during the year would amount to quite
a sum.
In 1878 the first Telegraph line was built
and the Council had considerable trouble with the contractors and poles left in
Road, the Council certainly kept down expenses they authorized the building of
a pile driver, but not to exceed $50.00 and the House of Assembly was petition
not to make any change in the number of Councillors in North Cowichan or to
incorporate it into a County Council.
In 1880 election
there were two running for the office of Reeve, Wm Fly Lomas and Wm Beaumont,
result Beaumont 2 Lomas 23, I petition to the council from the anti Chineses
Ass. Against Chinese, Council reply no Chinese in the
Municipality. Mr. Geo. Askew owner Chemainus Saw Mill leaving Mrs. Askew with a
large family to support. The Council donated her the
taxes from 1880, May 22nd clerks salary cut from $120.00 per year to
$75.00 Sept 4th no Councillor to let any work upon our Roads without
consulting the Council.
It may be of
interest to state in regards to Statue Labor a report.
Comenaken 22
worked 9 did not.
Somenos 10 worked
4 did not 3 paid
Quamichan all had
worked except 1
The Council often
exceeded her powers take for instance Fred Inwood living outside of the Municipal
Boundary summon for none payment of Statue Labor and he paid it, and he had sat
as Councillor but the Council spent money far over the boundry, I call to mind
they expended money up Curries Creek bridge= see next page. Council had
considerable trouble with owners of steam boats plying up the coast, Mr. Spratt
and others swing their boats upon the wharf coming in and leaving. Sutton Trail
was before the Council as a report of committee that it could not go any lower
toward water on account of Rock Bluffs. Some business houses had been opened on
Sunday. Mr. Duncan gave notice of by law with object of shuting all up.
An amendment to
Municipal Act North Cowichan may still have 7 councillors.
W.P. Jaynes in
1883 elected councilor Quamichan Ward Mr. Beaumont objected to him taking his
seat not having property qualifications he did not take his seat, R M. Millar
elected. The council were considering replacement of
our wooden culverts by use of stone a committee appointed to look for suitable
stone in the days of wooden culverts every meeting took up a certain amount of
time in ordering repair or rebuilding culverts and I mind we once had a damage
suit and had to pay for a horse.
The council of
the early 1880 had very considerable trouble in connection with the Somenos
long bridge Mr. Hugh Bell one of the best Road men the District ever had and he
conducted some of our best Road improvements, he had a contract to build the
long Bridge he spent very considerable of both time and money and appeared
before the Council stating he could not build it his crib fill toppled over
side way he got nothing for his work done May 10th, 1884. The
Council asked the Provincial Government to construct a Road to Cowichan Lake.
The clerk was
instructed to write the Superintendant of Provincial Telegraph that the poles
and wires were in a dangerous state and requested he have them placed in repair.
Instruction issued to pathmasters Bell and Davie to have bridge across Curries
Creek repaired Fev. 15th, 1885.
March 7th
1885 Statute labor by law repealed and Road Tax of $2.00 passed.
Pigs trespassing
on Roads.
Sutton allowed to spend Rd Tax collected upon his trail.
The Evening Bell’s
“Those Evening
Bell’s those evening bells
Flow many a tale
their music tell
Of youth, and
Home, and native clime
When I last heard
their smoothing chime.
“Those pleasant
hours have passed away
And many a heart
that then was gay
Within the tomb,
now darkly dwells
And heard no more
those evening bells
On visiting a scene of Childhood
Long years had
elapsed since I gazed on the scene
Which my fancy
still robed in its freshness of green
The spot where a
school boy all thoughtless I stay’d
By the side of
the stream, in the gloom of the shade.
I thought of the
friends who had roam’d with me there
When the sky was
so blue and the flowers were so fair,
All scattered all
sundered by mountain and wave
And some in the
silent embrace of the grave.
I thought of the
green banks that circled around
With wild flowers
and sweet brier & elglantine crown’d
And I thought of
the trees under which we had stayed
Of the broad
leafy boughs with their coolness of shade
And I hoped
though disfigured some token to find
Of the names and
the cawings impress’d on the wind
All eager I hastened the scene to behold
Render’d sacred
and dear by the feeling of old
And I deemed that
unaltered my eye should explore
This refuge the
haunt thie Elysium of you
Twas a dream not
a token or trace could I view
Of the names that
I loved of the trees that I knew
Like the shadows
of night at the dawning of day
Like a tale that
is told they had vanished away
And me thought the lone river that murmur’d along
Was more dull in
its motion, more sad in its song
Since the birds,
that had nested and warbled above
Had fled from its
Banks, at the fall of the grave.
The Burial of Sir John Moore
Not a drum was
heard not a funeral note
As his corse to
the ramparts we hurried
Not a soldier
discharge his farewell shot
Oer the grave
where our hero was buried.
My Mothers Voice
Though far away I
wander
From the scenes of
early youth
I shall ne’er
forget its peasures
Hours of
innocence and dtruth
Oft my spirit
hears the voices
Of the loved of
long ago
Father, Mother,
playmate Brother
Since to love
thee never no
Yet of all the
welcome voices
That my memory
longed to hear
Twas the sweet
voice of my mother
With its tones so
soft and mild
Oft in love so
gently chiding
With her wayward
thoughtless child
Yes I hear that
voice as ever
Though long years
have passed and gone
As my mind oft
wanders backward
As I journey on
alone.
My
maiden address delivered at the Cowichan debating class November 22nd
1871
Subject
Wood vers Iron which most useful
to mankind
Mr. President and Gentlemen
I
am truly pleased that the first subject which we are to have the honor to
debate is on the two substances have and are playing such very prominent parts
in this worlds history and civilization.
But
still it appears to me to be all put in the space of a nut shell by John Sooke
who truly observes that. Were the use of Iron lost among us we should in a few
ages be unavoidably reduced to the wants and ignorance of the Ancient Savage Americans. So that he who first made known the use of that Contemptible mineral, may truly be styled the Father of
Arts, and the Author of plenty. Without Iron we should not have any houses
which is the germ of civilization, or Cities which are the centers of Industry
Learning and Civilization.
With
only the common crude tools which necessity would sugest if there where no Iron
in use we should not be met here this evening as the pioneers of this province,
for to chop down a tree would be the work of a season with a stone hatchet such
as where uses by the Ancient and uncivilized of our own race.
We should not be housed clothed or have any of the Benefits
which we now enjoy, such as Museums Librarys Maggizens and Newspapers sowing
knowledge and pleasure broad cast over the civilized world which I conceive to
be the greatest blessing of this the 19 century.
We should not enjoy the bond of friendship with
distant far friends by letters or quicker still the Magnetic Telegraph, which
is the bond designed to draw Nations together in the bonds of friendship and
peace.
Without the aid of Iron we should not be able to
delve in the bowels of the earth to the depth of 1100 and 1200 feet after what
is termed the precious metals Iron; or deeper still after coal, tin and salt.
Nor should we have any Banks with their fireproof
vaults and fireproof Iron safes with their Patent, Bramah locks for safe
keeping of our valuables Gold, silver and gems.
Again
where would our manufactures and commerce be without Iron, we should not have
the bright of our own history. Ilumed by the Bright names of Arkwights, Watts Stephenson’s
Maudslays, Nasmyth, Huntsman and a host of others who’s names burn brighter
that any warrior hero’s. G. Stephenson said of Iron at the opening of the North
Wales Railway (at Bangor) We are daily producing from the bowels of the earth a
raw material in its crude state apparently of no worth but which when bridges
of the same material with a speed exceeding that of a bird: advancing wealth
and comfort throughout the country. Such Gentlemen are the powers of that all
civilizing instrument Iron. Without the steam engine our manufactures and
commerce would be at a standstill and we should not advance our national
wealth, it is due to her Iron and steel that England still continues to hold
the first Rank among nations of the earth. And still more to her workers in
Iron and steel to her Armstrongs, Withworths and Fairbaines.
Le pays the French Professor speaks of the invented
of cast steel by Benyn Huntsman as a memorable discovery made and applied with
admirable perseverance, and he claims for the inventor the distinguished merit
of advancing the steel manufactures of Yorkshire to the first rank, and
powerfuly contributing to the establishment on a firm foundation of the
industrial and commercial supremacy of Great Britain.
It is to
the superiority of English Iron and Machinery for the manufactory of the same,
that she does the carrying trade on the world. The American press years ago may
rail about the Alabama and other confederate cruisers destroying their carrying
trade, but their shipbuilders admit in their report to the U.S. Senate that it
is owing to Iron Vessels superceeding wooden ones that they cannot compete with
the English ship builders. The Americans with all their enterprise have not a
single line of steamship running Eastward from New York and their home lines of
Ocean steamships have not a single screw vessel in the Pasenger trade.
If any
one had told our Grand parent that Iron vessels would float and run from
Queenstown to New York in eight and nine days they would have thought them fit
subjects for a Lunitic Asylum or that we would make steam and Iron plough our
land, reap our grain thash it carry it to market grind it into flour and become
the drudge of man in everything.
I would tell the last speaker that we are not even
dependant on coal for smelting, Iron; as the Black Band Iron ore is fuseable in
its self.
Again the vast amount of labour Iron gives
employment to mankind Scotland produces 1000,000 tons yearly,
at a cost of L 1,800,000 giving employment to 50,000 in her furnaces of which
she employs 125 on cost principal (the above is the cost of smelting in the
furnaces which don’t include the mining. England produces upward of 4,000,000
tons yearly.
In our debates we were not allowed use manuscript
only note. J.N. Evans
Art more attractive than Nature
Affirmative W. Duncan Negative J.N E.
Mr.
President
The
subject which is to engage our attention this evening
is the Arts is more attractive than Nature. In taking up this Negative I would
much rather seem someone more able and gifted than myself open on the subject
which is one of deep interest. But I will try and do my best to show that
Nature is more attractive than Arts, if I fail on me the blame and not on
Nature.
By arts
we understand something to be created out of the Brain of the artist, or the
more common occurance the copying of something from Nature such as the painting
of a landscape picture by the painter of the chisling of a statue by the
sculptor in the shape of a human model which we all admire when the Master mind
of the Artist as well copied his model from Nature; but which is it we admire
the copy or the original we praise the Artist for the ingenuity of his
execution but after all the artist is only portraying Nature, his copy however
well executed is only a poor copy of the real, it is the attraction of Nature
which draws him to his art.
Again with the photograph of friends we love to
look on a Mother, sisters or Brothers but it is our love for the original which
cause’s us to value them, the photograph of a perfect stranger would not
interest is except for the moment, so with paintings if it was not for Nature.
We should not value them more than we do a Barbers pole painted red and white.
The
landscape painter is a slave to nature how he toils at his easel, striving to
portray nature in all her loveliness which throws its enchantment around him,
still nature is more lovely and sublime than anything he can form or deleniate
on canvas. Emerson in his essay on Nature says, Indeed it is the Magical light
of the horizon and the Blue sky for a back ground which saves all our works of
art which where otherwise Baubles.
Even Sir
Edwins Landscer’s sporting pictures would not have so much attraction for my
worthy oponent as the sport of a good day hunt, it is not many week since he
was facing a foot or two on snow on Mount Provest after noble game deer, and the
next day after the ignoble game swine. I can speak of the latter day and the
game which I helped him to bring to bay and also to drag about half a mile
through the bush and I can assure you Mr. President that he entered on the
sport with a spirit which showed he enjoyed it, now I do not think he would
travel two days through snow to see the whole collection of Sir Edwins Landscers
work of Arts which I think is well worth seeing which shows nature as a strong
hold upon him.
Again
pictures of fruits are very nice to look upon but my eye does not relish them
as much as my palate does a peach or a bunch of grapes I am quite willing for
my worth friend to have all the arts if he will leave me the fruits of Nature,
they are much more to my taste than picture or wines.
What
painter or what language can portray the loveliness of a waterfall or a dewdrop
sparkling so brightly in the Gorgous morning Sun, or a gushing spring bursting
from the virgin earth. Paul Denton came nearer to it than anything I have met
with in his aprostate to Water.
There is
liquor which God the eternal brews for his children not in the simmering still
over smoky fires choked with poisonous gases and surrounded by the stench of
sickening odors and rank corruptions doth your Father in heaven prepare the
precious essence of life the pure cold water but in the green glade and grassey
dell where the red deer wanders and the child loves to play, there God himself
brews it and down down in the deep valleys where the fountains murmur and the
rills sing and high on the tall mountain tops where the naked granite glitters
like gold in the sun where the storm cloud hoods and the thunder tones crash;
and far out on the wide wide sea where the hurricane houls music and the big
waves roar the chorus, sweeping the march of God there he brews it that
beverage of life health giving water and
everywhere it is a thing of beauty Gleaming in the dew drop singing in the
summer rain shining in the ice gem till the trees all seem turned to living
jewells spreading a golden veil over the setting sun or a which gauge around
the midnight moon sporting in the cataract sleeping in the glacier dancing in
the hail shower folding it bright snow curtains softly around the wintery world
weaving the many colour’d iris that seraph love of the sky whose roof is the
sunbeams of heaven all checked over with celestial flowers by the mystic hand
of refraction still allways it is beautiful that blessed
What artist can draw the bursting volcano or the
sublime lightning flash we have toiled until it is brought into subjection to
man will and bears his thoughts to the extreme ends of the earth this Mr.
President is the great discovery of this nineteenth centuary and is entirely
owing to Nature and the attraction which it had for Franklin and others before
him which as given us the Telegraph, the most dreded of Natures Agents become
harmless when we know Natures Law’s.
Nature is the great artist which all try to copy
she makes no mistakes in her pictures the colouring is perfect even to the
shade all blend in harmony together.
The
sculptor however well he creates marble into statues and models he with all his striving and toil cannot equal much more
excell the original his is a slave to Nature. Nature is his schoolmaster and a
very had one at that, with the toil of ages and the cultivation of the refined
senses our own sculptors cannot excel those of ancient Greece after a toil of
nearly 3000 years, even models in wax fall very far short of the human frame no
art or skill of hands or brains can produce anything near equal to it: the
sleeping beauty of madam Tusards does not draw so much attraction as the
beauties of flesh or blood; to wit marrage proves that living beauties carry
the day by their personal attractions and stronger attraction of natural maners
and actions.
Poets of
all ages and counties have attracted to nature and have sung natures praise
from Homer to Tenyson and in none more sweet than in
the verse to Nature which I think is by Cowper.
Nature
is a temple worthy thee that learns with light love and whose flowers sweetly
bloom below whose stars rejoice above whose altars are the mountain cliffs that
rise along the shore whose anthems the sublime accord of storm and ocean were
speaking of Poets remind me of what one immortal poet as said of another what
Dryden said of Shakspeare was the man who of all modern and perhaps ancient
poets had the largest and most comprehensive soul. All the images of Nature
were still present to him and he drew them not laboriously but luckily: when he
describes anything you more than see it you feel it too. Those who accuse him
of wanting learning give him the greater commendation he was naturally learned
he needed not the spectacles of books to read, Nature he looked inwards and
found her there.
Not only
Poets but all other writers either give the record of natures events or draw
their substance from nature even the romancer as to go to nature for the ground
work of his novels and the novels which draw the truest pictures of nature are
most valued such as Charles Dickens and a host of other writers and books on
travels are pictures of nature in different climes from Capt Cooks voyages to
Capt McClintock artic sea and north west passage and Doctor Livingstons Africa
to Stuarts the Astralatia travels they are all hunters after different features
of nature and are attracted by nature to explore unknown land and sea.
Machanical
Arts are copies of human hands in the weaving of cloths of different kinds it
was through seeing of his wife knitting
which caused the Rev W. Lee to invent the stocking frame for the machine
knitting of hose; and to reduce the labours of his wife: such Mr. President is
the foundation of all Machinical Art, they either originate through a demand
for Machinary; or to lift a load of some ones shoulders are ease the burden of
their labour and not so much attraction for the Art as to supply a want, the
steam ??? was invented by Nasmyth to supply a want; at the time of the building
of the Great Britain steamship when it was found that no firm in England was
capable of forageing the shaft for her paddle wheels when Nasmyth was applyed
to, he set to work and invented his steamhamer although no used on the Great
Britain shaft as the design was changed and she supplyed with a screw instead
of a paddle wheels.
Astromony
is one of the most sublime of all sciences in everything else man can cope with
what comes before him but in Astromony he learn what a poor feeble worm he is
when compared with his maker and all astronomers are attracted to nature in
watching the movements of the different heavenly bodies they have watched
nature so close that they are able to tell of many things before they appear
such as comets and eclipses of the sun and moon.
Geologists
are also attracted to nature in working out the formation of the earth. Nature
is his teacher and Nature laws guide him to work out the problem of the
different stratas of which the earth is formed and to fix the dates of the
different formations; Hugh Miller the Geologist speak of toil and Nature Save
for thee and thy lessons man in society would everywhere sink in the sad compound of ??
and wild beast and this fallen world would certainly a moral and natural
wilderness, but I little thought of the excellence of thy character and of thy
teachings when with a heavy heart I set out about this time of a morning of
early spring to take my first lesson from thee in the stone quarry. Nessesity
which made him a quarry man taught him to be a Geologist speaking of his
discovery in the Scotish Lias
Lying athwart some of the pages thus strangley
inscribed we occasinaly find like the dark Hawthorn Leaf in Bewicks well known
Vignette, slim shaped leave coloured in deep umber and Branches of extinct
pines and fragments of strangely fashioned ferns from their ordinary garnishing
page after page repeat the same wonderful story
The
great Alexandrian Library with its tomes of Ancient literature the
accumliations of long ages was but a meagre collection not less puny in bulk
than recent in date compared with this marvelous library of the Scotch Lias.
The
Zoologist is attracted to nature in his research after different animals and
the collections of Museums and Zoological gardens are indebted to the
Zoologist, we who have spent any portion of our lives in large cities know how
they are crowded with visitors if a new specimen be added to the collection. I
well remember when the Gorilla was first shown in London and large number of
visitors who flocked to see it showing what an attraction there is in nature
for the human mind.
The
Botonist is also attracted to nature in his research of different plants, the number of useful plants is stated by a German to
be 12,000 with other parts of the world to be examined even this as been an
enormous amount of labour to have even 12,000 plants classed and different uses
found for each seprate plant.
Public
Parks in large towns and private Gentlemens Parks are copies of nature in miniture
they are to a certain extent artificial which tend all the more to show how
much nature is prized by mankind. Even the Yankees of Maine been said they
could not see anything good or beautiful unless there was a dollar in it; are
expending an enormous amount of dollars to have a piece of nature in New York
in their central park.
My worth
oponents as never been shut up in a large town, where arts are plentiful and
Nature other wise; or he would know what a pleasure it is to get out into the
country of a fresh morning and be with Nature; I have therefore I can better
appreciate Nature in all is lovelyness and freshness many times have I longed
for the country with its hedgerows of ever green, for
Sweet
it the breath of a fair dewy morn
Sweet
is the spring when the roses are born
Tourist
from large cities are attracted to Nature how the London tourist travel after
the beautiful in Nature as soon as the spring sets in some rush of to the
seaside some to the Westmoreland lakes some to the highland some to the alps
and else where, all attracted by nature to leave their counters desks and tools
behind them and be with nature.
Now
Gentlemen I will close with one remark that all love flowers which is one of
Natures Gems. Even my worthy opponent cultivates some of them which show he is
attracted to Nature not only in cultivating flowers but all farm produce he
certainly would not plant if nature did not
We hear
when the night drops downward
And the
bay throbs under the stars
The ocean-voices blending.
With the
ripple of soft guitars
With
chiming bells of the Mission
With passionate
Minors sung
Or a
quaint Castilion ballad
Trilled
in the Spanish tongue
Fair
from thy hills O city
Look on
the beautiful bay
Prouder
far is the vision
Greeting
our eye’s today
Better
the thronged waters
And busy
streets astir
Purple
and silken rainment
Balsam
and balm and myrrh
Gem’s of
the further Indies
Gold of
thy own rich mine
And the
pride and boast or the people
O
beautiful Queen are thine
Praise
of the goodly fathers
With banners of faith unfurled
Praise to the sturdy heros
Who have won thee to the world
That was a day to dream of
That was a life we led
Bleeding the veins of the mountains
Draining the torrents bed
Searching the dusk canon
Transcribed in 2016 from the hand
written record by Dr. Donald Martin from a photo copy made in 1965 by Gerald
Auchinachie. Copy made by
kind permission of his daughter, Mrs. Lilian Savage.