Jack and Bessie Richards

Jack and Bessie Richard

Bessie Richards was born 21 July 1884 in Topeka, Kansas. It is not clear when she came to the Cariboo although seems to have been after 1929. Her husband Jack came ahead and she was left to sell the house and bring their possessions. She came by train from Squamish and arrived to mud and rain. Jack had lost his hand in an accident in Lynn Valley. Bessie had done a little nursing although her qualifications in this area are unclear. There wasn’t much in Forest Grove other than a log house and the store. She mentions also two small log cabins. The mail came in once a week and they walked two miles to the store to pick it up. The children walked the 2 ½ miles to school.

Bessie, Herb and Jack Richards

Jack Richards built a big house with three bedrooms and a large kitchen. The house was located on the road to Ruth Lake. In winter Bessie Richards would keep a big pot of soup on the stove for company passing through from Bradley Creek.The kids all came to her place because they had lots of room and a radio powered by a battery. “We were just as happy as if we had good sense.” Their children were Ann, Polly (Pauline) and Herbert Richards. Polly married Gordon Tubbs and had two children, Sylvia and Richard.

Polly (Richards) Tubbs

They sold their first homestead and bought another but when Jack died Bessie discovered that her name was not on the title so she had to go through the homestead process all over again. They kept a big garden and raised chickens – 100 every year. One fall Bessie worked at the Forest Grove Lodge as a cook. She also worked at Minac Lodge and for Mrs. Judson for six weeks. Once she worked in Vancouver for six months. They always had lots of meat as Jack was a good provider. Bessie took Mrs. Bourgeois to Kamloops when she became ill and needed surgery. This was when Polly was ten years old. A Wilcox girl was staying with them at the time. Once when she had a growth on her jaw and needed surgery she left the kids alone.

A doctor visited the community every two weeks. Medications for the Indians were left with her or with Mrs. Auld.

They often went to dances at the community hall and danced all night.

The Great Depression was not a big problem. Potatoes could be purchased locally. A typical grocery order was $50 to $60. This would include raisins, dried apples, dried peaches and case lots of cereal. Vegetables were kept in a dugout under the house. Canned meats were essential because there was no refrigeration. They kept a big garden and raised chickens – 100 every year.

Richard and Sylvia (Griffiths) Tubbs

Vital Event Death Registration

Name: Elizabeth Belle Richards

Event Date: 1984 10 3 (Yr/Mo/Day)

Age: 100

Gender: female

Event Place: Williams LakeReg. Number: 1984-09-016092

B.C. Archives Microfilm Number: B13642

GSU Microfilm Number: 2073300