Earley, Alice, d. 1956

Alice Northcott arrived in Quesnel on August 4, 1884, after being hired as one of the first school teachers. She taught in a small building on Front Street until 1887, and then in the newly built one room log school until 1891. Alice married John Edwards Bowron, known as Eddie, in the Anglican Church at Quesnel on February 26, 1891. Soon after she became the telegraph operator. This position required long hours and the ability to repair the line. Alice and Eddie had one son, Allen Cronk Bowron, who, it is believed, died either in infancy or early childhood. Alice went to the United States to obtain a divorce. She married Otis Earley in 1902 and moved with him to his two-room log house at Dragon Lake. There they began their family of four children. Rosair was born in 1903, Walter Marshall, known as Mick, in 1905, Kenneth W. in 1907, and J in 1909. Mick died in a work accident at the age of 21 and a heart attack quickly killed Ken while horseback riding at the age of 28. J became a school teacher and Rosair, who never married, moved to Washington State where she lived the remainder of her life. The Earleys were active members of the community and well respected. They supplied the logs to build the school at Dragon Lake and their house was the gathering place for many events. Once a month the Anglican minister, Reverend Elliott, would hold services at the Earley's with the understanding that no collection would be taken. Otis insisted on this as he did not want his neighbours to think he was making a profit from the church. A social gathering always followed the service, when Alice would serve refreshments and the minister would play her piano. The Earleys walked the nine miles to town without giving it a thought, but when in a hurry they would take a short cut that took two miles off the distance. In 1937 Quesnel's first High School was constructed, and the honour of cutting the ribbon at the opening ceremony was given to Alice. After Otis died in 1939, Alice moved to a house on Vaughan Street in Quesnel. There she continued to spend ime with friends and was surprised with a well attended 90th birthday party in 1956. Alice died later that year and was laid to rest beside her late husband, Otis, in the Pioneer Cemetery on Carson Avenue. Her boys rest a little further away, and in 1997 a plaque for Rosair completed the family plot.