Gang Ranch
Encyclopedia
The Gang Ranch is a famous and historic Canadian ranch in the Chilcotin
region of the Central Interior of British Columbia
. It is located 28 miles (45.1 km) north of Clinton on the West bank of the Fraser River opposite the Indian Reserve
community of Dog Creek
. The ranch, near Alkali Lake was founded in 1863. For many years the largest ranch
in North America, it is now the second largest in Canada, after the Douglas Lake Ranch
. The Churn Creek Protected Area
is also nearby.
Two American brothers, Thaddeus and Jerome Harper traveled from Harpers Ferry, Virginia, via California, to BC in the Cariboo Gold Rush
. They mined in ale, British Columbia], and lived in Victoria
for a time. At one point they were accused of supporting the rebel Confederacy and plotting against the nearby North. One account suggests that they were asked to leave the border area of BC. Some miners worked their way up the Fraser River seeking gold and found the remote plateau. Unsuccessful in their search for gold, the Harpers settled on the west bank of the Fraser River
in 1863 and installed a gang plow. Thus the Gang Ranch began its long operation.
The Harpers made an agreement with the Chilcotin Indian Kalalest whereby the land at the confluence of the Chilcotin
and Fraser
rivers was divided between the First Nations
and the Harpers. The Harpers began to drive cattle from Washington or Oregon
, hundreds of miles on the hoof, northwards to feed the hungry gold miners. One drive was made from Utah
. The brothers bought and sold stock, and land, moving frequently at first. The town of Horsefly
was first called "Harper's Camp" and included a steam sawmill. From their gains with the cattle drives, the brothers expanded the Gang Ranch.
The Harpers had misfortune, including a severe winter in 1878 which killed thousands of cattle. Despite this, the brothers persevered. In 1883 they bought 8900 acres (36 km²) of Chilcotin land from the Government. The brothers also had rangeland at Hat Creek
, Cache Creek
and Kamloops, in all about 38000 acres (153.8 km²). The ranch first operated under the name "Canadian Ranching Company." The brothers ran into financial difficulty and the Western Canadian Ranching Company was sold to an English partner, Galpin, of the Cassell
publishing house in 1891.
Considerable work was needed: fencing pastures and building sawmills, bridges, bunkhouses,and roads. At the same time they had to oversee the feeding, droving, and rounding-up of thousands of head of cattle in rough terrain. With the goodwill and assistance of the Chilcotin people, the ranch grew and prospered. Families such as Gaspard, Paternaude, Farwell and Kalalest, settled in the area.
The English owners continued with the ranch for decades, into the twentieth century. A combination of absentee landowners, salaried English managers, isolation, and rough BC bush meant that the business was not always profitable. The hardscrabble way of the ranch, combined with the hard work of developing a business in raw territory, was costly. Then the Depression and the market crash took its toll. The English owners eventually sold the ranch, but not before introducing English farming practices to the area, and English housewares and furniture to the "Big House" on the premises.
In the late 1970s the ranch was bought by Alsager Holdings. This was the first time in many years that the ranch had been Canadian owned and television news crews came out several times from Vancouver, to cover the story of the ranch's Canadian ownership and subsequent fall into receivership. Dale Alsager and his wife lived on the ranch in a house they built at the headquarters. Lonnie Jones was then manager and cow boss. He rode and made camp with the cowboy crew. Bob Munsey from Paulina, Oregon was the cow boss before Lonnie Jones took over.
Chilcotin
Chilcotin, meaning "people of the red ochre river" may refer to:*The Tsilhqot'in , an Athabaskan First Nations people of British Columbia, Canada*Chilcotin language, the language spoken by the Tsilhqot’in...
region of the Central Interior of British Columbia
British Columbia Interior
The British Columbia Interior or BC Interior or Interior of British Columbia, usually referred to only as the Interior, is one of the three main regions of the Canadian province of British Columbia, the other two being the Lower Mainland, which comprises the overlapping areas of Greater Vancouver...
. It is located 28 miles (45.1 km) north of Clinton on the West bank of the Fraser River opposite the Indian Reserve
Indian reserve
In Canada, an Indian reserve is specified by the Indian Act as a "tract of land, the legal title to which is vested in Her Majesty, that has been set apart by Her Majesty for the use and benefit of a band." The Act also specifies that land reserved for the use and benefit of a band which is not...
community of Dog Creek
Dog Creek, British Columbia
Dog Creek is an unincorporated ranching settlement, located on the Fraser River, in the Cariboo region of British Columbia, Canada. Located on the northeast side of the Fraser's confluence with Dog Creek, it is opposite Gang Ranch on the west side of the river, which is connected by an old...
. The ranch, near Alkali Lake was founded in 1863. For many years the largest ranch
Ranch
A ranch is an area of landscape, including various structures, given primarily to the practice of ranching, the practice of raising grazing livestock such as cattle or sheep for meat or wool. The word most often applies to livestock-raising operations in the western United States and Canada, though...
in North America, it is now the second largest in Canada, after the Douglas Lake Ranch
Douglas Lake Cattle Company
The Douglas Lake Cattle Company is Canada's largest working cattle ranch, usually known as the Douglas Lake Ranch. Founded June 30, 1886, it has been operating continuously since...
. The Churn Creek Protected Area
Churn Creek Protected Area
The Churn Creek Protected Area, is a provincial protected area in British Columbia, Canada. It is a mix of dryland canyon and steppe and adjoining rangeland flanking the canyon of Churn Creek and that stream's confluence with the Fraser River at the northern apex of the Camelsfoot Range. The...
is also nearby.
Two American brothers, Thaddeus and Jerome Harper traveled from Harpers Ferry, Virginia, via California, to BC in the Cariboo Gold Rush
Cariboo Gold Rush
The Cariboo Gold Rush was a gold rush in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Although the first gold discovery was made in 1859 at Horsefly Creek, followed by more strikes at Keithley Creek and Antler Horns lake in 1860, the actual rush did not begin until 1861, when these discoveries were...
. They mined in ale, British Columbia], and lived in Victoria
Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...
for a time. At one point they were accused of supporting the rebel Confederacy and plotting against the nearby North. One account suggests that they were asked to leave the border area of BC. Some miners worked their way up the Fraser River seeking gold and found the remote plateau. Unsuccessful in their search for gold, the Harpers settled on the west bank of the Fraser River
Fraser River
The Fraser River is the longest river within British Columbia, Canada, rising at Fraser Pass near Mount Robson in the Rocky Mountains and flowing for , into the Strait of Georgia at the city of Vancouver. It is the tenth longest river in Canada...
in 1863 and installed a gang plow. Thus the Gang Ranch began its long operation.
The Harpers made an agreement with the Chilcotin Indian Kalalest whereby the land at the confluence of the Chilcotin
Chilcotin River
The Chilcotin River is a long tributary of the Fraser River in southern British Columbia, Canada. It drains the Chilcotin Plateau, which lies between the Fraser River and the Coast Mountains...
and Fraser
Fraser River
The Fraser River is the longest river within British Columbia, Canada, rising at Fraser Pass near Mount Robson in the Rocky Mountains and flowing for , into the Strait of Georgia at the city of Vancouver. It is the tenth longest river in Canada...
rivers was divided between the First Nations
First Nations
First Nations is a term that collectively refers to various Aboriginal peoples in Canada who are neither Inuit nor Métis. There are currently over 630 recognised First Nations governments or bands spread across Canada, roughly half of which are in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. The...
and the Harpers. The Harpers began to drive cattle from Washington or Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, hundreds of miles on the hoof, northwards to feed the hungry gold miners. One drive was made from Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
. The brothers bought and sold stock, and land, moving frequently at first. The town of Horsefly
Horsefly, British Columbia
Horsefly, formerly known as Harper's Camp, is an unincorporated community in the Cariboo region of British Columbia, Canada. It is located between the Cariboo Mountains and Quesnel Lake and borders Wells Gray Provincial Park....
was first called "Harper's Camp" and included a steam sawmill. From their gains with the cattle drives, the brothers expanded the Gang Ranch.
The Harpers had misfortune, including a severe winter in 1878 which killed thousands of cattle. Despite this, the brothers persevered. In 1883 they bought 8900 acres (36 km²) of Chilcotin land from the Government. The brothers also had rangeland at Hat Creek
Hat Creek (British Columbia)
Hat Creek is a tributary of the Bonaparte River in British Columbia, Canada, joining that stream at Carquile, which is also known as Lower Hat Creek and is the site of the Hat Creek Ranch heritage museum and visitor centre...
, Cache Creek
Cache Creek, British Columbia
Cache Creek is a junction community northeast of Vancouver in British Columbia, Canada. It is on the Trans-Canada Highway in the province of British Columbia at its junction with northbound Highway 97...
and Kamloops, in all about 38000 acres (153.8 km²). The ranch first operated under the name "Canadian Ranching Company." The brothers ran into financial difficulty and the Western Canadian Ranching Company was sold to an English partner, Galpin, of the Cassell
Orion Publishing Group
Orion Publishing Group Ltd. is a UK-based book publisher. It is owned by Hachette Livre. In 1998 Orion bought Cassell.-History:Full history of the group can be found on Orion Publishing Group is owned by -Imprints:...
publishing house in 1891.
Considerable work was needed: fencing pastures and building sawmills, bridges, bunkhouses,and roads. At the same time they had to oversee the feeding, droving, and rounding-up of thousands of head of cattle in rough terrain. With the goodwill and assistance of the Chilcotin people, the ranch grew and prospered. Families such as Gaspard, Paternaude, Farwell and Kalalest, settled in the area.
The English owners continued with the ranch for decades, into the twentieth century. A combination of absentee landowners, salaried English managers, isolation, and rough BC bush meant that the business was not always profitable. The hardscrabble way of the ranch, combined with the hard work of developing a business in raw territory, was costly. Then the Depression and the market crash took its toll. The English owners eventually sold the ranch, but not before introducing English farming practices to the area, and English housewares and furniture to the "Big House" on the premises.
In the late 1970s the ranch was bought by Alsager Holdings. This was the first time in many years that the ranch had been Canadian owned and television news crews came out several times from Vancouver, to cover the story of the ranch's Canadian ownership and subsequent fall into receivership. Dale Alsager and his wife lived on the ranch in a house they built at the headquarters. Lonnie Jones was then manager and cow boss. He rode and made camp with the cowboy crew. Bob Munsey from Paulina, Oregon was the cow boss before Lonnie Jones took over.