MARY'S GENEALOGY TREASURES

HOME

EMAIL

AB

BC

SK

MB

ON

QC

NB

NF

NT

NS

NU

PE

YN

Surname Registry

AB Pioneers

AB History

Canadian Military

Cem./Obits

Immigration

US Military

 

Bill Dougherty

Heritage of the High Country
A History of Del Bonita and Surrounding Districts
Pages 316 - 317

Bill Dougherty used to herd sheep for Herman Hillmer and I
understand he was one of the best herders around the country.
He also herded sheep for Mr. James Gagan.

One winter there was a terrible snow storm that came up and
the sheep got out of hand and he was unable to head them
for home. So he followed them for miles until the blizzard
was over. Several sheep were completely covered with snow,
and he got Lloyd Baxter to go and help him dig them out of the
snow. Their breath had made a hole in the snow drift and saved
most of them.

He also played the drums very well. He played in the Army Band
until he came to herd sheep. Mr. Andrew Spence and his son
George, also Mrs. Baxter and Mrs. Rena Spence along with Bill
Dougherty furnished the music for some of the dances in Del
Bonita. People who could play the piano or any other instrument
took turns playing. For a time Mrs. Ellen Jenks played the piano,
Victor Jenks played the violin, his wife, Irene played the guitar
and Bill Dougherty played his drums.

One night Russel Baxter brought Bill home with him from a
dance as Bill had been drinking quite heavily. It was two or
three o'clock in the morning and Bill came stumbling into
Baxter's house with his drums rolling across the floor,
scaring the living lights out of Mrs. Baxter and her daughter
Irene. He and Russel insisted on having something to eat.
All Bill wanted was cheese and raw onions and some beer
he had brought with him. He wouldn't share it with anyone
unless they played his drums, so they went without.

He passed away one bitter cold night in someone's manger,

Return to Individual Histories

Home
Copyright © 2000
Mary Tollestrup