Daymond and Molly Morris

Muriel Margaret (Molly)Powell was born in Vancouver 28 February 1920 to Harry Powell (Wales) and Sarah Hawkes (Birmingham). Harry Powell came out to Montana and then to Sheridan Lake where he started ranching. Molly does not have many memories of him as he died when Molly was five. Her mother married a year later to Carl Nath. Molly grew up on the Nath ranch attending Sheridan Lake School, Horse Lake School and Lone Butte School. Eight children were required to keep a school open and it was not unusual to borrow kids to keep a school open.

Vital Event Death Registration

Name: Harry Powell

Event Date: 1925 6 12 (Yr/Mo/Day)

Age: 39

Gender: male

Event Place: Ashcroft

Reg. Number: 1925-09-360308

B.C. Archives Microfilm Number: B13127

GSU Microfilm Number: 1927304

Vital Event Marriage Registration

Groom Name: Carl Jacob Nath

Bride Name: Sarah Hilda Powell

Event Date: 1926 5 31 (Yr/Mo/Day)

Event Place: Lone Butte

Reg. Number: 1926-09-312378

B.C. Archives Microfilm Number: B13752

GSU Microfilm Number: 2074505

Molly met Daymond Morris when her dad went to buy cattle. Daymond cut wood with Molly’s brother and her dad liked him. Daymond had a few ponies but was not a keen rancher. He came to the Cariboo in 1922 from Riverside, WA. with his stepfather, Marion Judson, and for some years he used the Judson surname. They first settled in Forest Grove up by Charlie Collette’s place and then moved a year or so later to Bradley Creek. Daymond went to Forest Grove School and stayed with the Mauds and later the Housemans. He helped built the Bradley Creek school and went there until he was in grade 8.

When he left school he worked with the Johnsons stacking hay and in the winter trapped with Mr. Greenlee. When he was 18 Daymond got a homestead 3 miles up the valley from Judsons. The terms of the homestead were that he had to clear 5 acres and build a barn. It was inspected and he was only allowed to be off it 2 months each year.

Daymond and Molly were married in July 194? after obtaining a license in Williams Lake. Mollie’s mother and stepfather did not approve. They lived down at Bradley Creek in Daymond’s cabin. The first summer after they were married Daymond hayed for Harry Wilcox. The cabin Daymond built was chinked with mud and they obtained their water from a small creek unless it went dry. They planted a big garden but had trouble watering. Barbara was born 30 May 1941 and Carol 28 October 1944.

To make ends meet Daymond moved around to various sawmills and Molly cooked for mill crews. After 1944 the moose were back into this area and Daymond began guiding hunters. He eventually obtained an A license which allowed him to employ other guides. He guided for many years but only during hunting season. He never advertised but always had work until about 1954 when the moose became scarce.

After he gave up guiding Daymond took miners into the Timothy Mountain mine site. He was also employed to cut a trail into this area a task which took over three weeks. Timothy was called Boss Mountain by the miners but this was not accurate as Boss is one mountain over. The trail Daymond cut was 18 miles form a ranch near Eagle Lake to the top of the mountain. A helicopter pad was also established near the top of the mountain and helicopters arrive every two hours with 400 lb loads. The miners quit every year when winter came. Terry Wilcox also flew groceries, hay and supplies into Boss Lake.

For many years Daymond and Molly worked together. One summer they went up to the forestry lookout on Little Timothy Mountain and stayed all summer in a tent. There was only one fire that year. When they went into Little Timothy they usually went on horseback from behind the old Westman place.

One night when Daymond was away cougar turned up at the camp so Molly lit a gas lamp and with the kids rode down the mountain to the Westman place. It was a scary ride down the mountain in the dark carrying a gas lamp but Daymond was on the way up and met them.

Daymond also planted trees and fought fire. He also worked with his brother Louis Judson.

In 1952 they bought 40 acres and built a cabin near the forks of Bradley Creek and Eagle Creek roads. The kids need to go to school and they could ride horseback from here. There was always hay at the school for the horses. Barbara and Carol did half of their school by correspondence.

Molly and Carol cut Christmas trees for several years and shipped them through Exeter.

Barbara married in 1959 and Carol in 1965. In 1972 they sold the homestead and Daymond died in 1976.

Vital Event Death Registration

Name: Daymond Lee Morris

Event Date: 1976 3 12 (Yr/Mo/Day)

Age: 62

Gender: male

Event Place: Forest Grove

Reg. Number: 1976-09-009530

B.C. Archives Microfilm Number: B13352

GSU Microfilm Number: 2050565