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Veasey, James
1910
Ashcroft, British Columbia, Canada


Credits:
Ashcroft Museum

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Three years later Johnnie Veasey died at the Bonaparte of pneumonia, contracted while herding cattle in the Williams Lake district. Another three years later, in 1890, Mr. Veasey was killed when his horse and rig went over the bank of the Cariboo Road opposite his home. Mike had been in Clinton and had made the 16 miles home safely, but when trying to make the turn-off into his own driveway in the dark, he misjudged the distance.

By this time most of the family scattered. Two of the married daughters had left the country, but one, Mrs. Colin McDonald, lived only 3 miles down the road where "Cole" operated the 12 Mile House. Jim Veasey, in partnership with Jack McGilvary, was the proprietor of the "Ashcroft Hotel" for many years. This left Mrs. Veasey and her young daughter Celia with only some farm hands to manage the homestead. Old Mr. Robinson, "Scotty Bill", was quite a figure around there but inclined to be lazy. Kim, the faithful Chinese, was a hard worker and would go out at night to transplant his cabbages after a long day of work. Often, when unexpected visitors arrived, he was seen to grab a towel and toothbrush, hurry to the river to bathe, and later to appear immaculate in a white coat and apron to serve in the dining room. In the meantime, old Bill was stealing forty winks under the currant bushes.

Pioneer ranchers and good neighbours of the Veaseys in the Bonaparte Valley were the Walkers, the Doughertys, the Mundoffs up the road, the Parkes, the Morgans and Doc English. These folks were always friends, sharing each others sorrows and pleasures throughout the years. In the summer, they worked hard and in the winter, they relaxed and enjoyed the old-time country dances along the Cariboo Road. The guests arrived in cutters and robes to the jingling of sleigh bells. The ponies were fed and stabled as these dances usually lasted until daylight. There were many dances then, including the squares, round waltz, polka, jigs, the Highland fling, etc. The orchestra often consisted of a fiddle, accompanied by one or more musical instruments such as an accordion or mouth organ, and everyone was happy. The dance supper tables were packed with cold sliced pork, home cured hams, chicken, all kinds of pickles, relishes, jellies, delicious pies, cream, cheese, hot Johnnie cake and steaming pots of hot coffee. Quite often, distant friends remained for breakfast and were welcome to stay over for a second night of fun and frolic.

When sickness came to these ranchers, Mrs. Veasey often acted as both doctor and nurse. She had many of her own salves and herbal remedies, and always burned her needles against infection before a surgical case. She had just turned seventy years when she handled her last baby case. She travelled 60 miles in 40 below zero weather in an open cutter to attend Mrs. Thomas Darby at the Big Bar Ranch. After the child was safely delivered, Mrs. Veasey expressed a wish that she might live to attend this daughter and a fourth generation.

Unfortunately, this was not to be. After forty years at the old homestead, she sold and spent her last days in Ashcroft. Just previous to the sale, a sister, Mrs. Hubbard of Kerkimer, N.Y., came to visit her in 1909. They hadn't met for 40 years. When Mrs. Hubbard reached Ashcroft, she shouted to the conductor "Any other way of getting back but this?", and he snapped back "Not unless you walk, madam!" She only stayed for four days, swore at everything, and remarked that she never realized she had a sister crazy enough to sit on the side of the Cariboo for 40 years.

Source: Boss, M.W. "Pioneers of the Bonaparte". Northwest Digest Volume 8, January 1952.