> James Everett Cooke 1889-1973

James Everett Cooke 1889-1973

James Everett Cooke or Ev as he was known, was the eldest son of Arthur Cooke and Veneta Day. One would think that he would have stuck around New Carlisle as he would have inherited the farm. This is not the case. When he reached the age of majority he headed west to British Columbia to find work. He stayed there for the rest of his life. I believe that his first position was working in a lumberyard in Kaslo on Koote
nay Lake. I have not found any proof but I have heard that the lumberyard was owned by his uncle, William Ernest Cooke who lived in Harvey, North Dakota.
downtown Kaslo, July 2002

Ev worked at the lumberyard for an unknown amount of time. He later worked as a tug boat captain moving logs from Revelstoke down the Arrow Lakes. World War I interrupted his career. He volunteered to join the army. I have not checked his military records to see where he fought. After returning to British Columbia he married Mabel Timms a local Kaslo girl. They had one son. With his experience in the marine field , Everett took a job as the chief fireman on the steamship S.S. Moyie. This was the last sternwheeler to operate on either the Kootenay or Arrow Lakes. It was only taken out of service in 1958.
The Moyie is now up on shore in Kaslo. It has been converted into a museum.
Ev must have moved west before 1915. His enlistment papers show him at Vernon, BC camp in August 1915.

S.S. Moyie 
                                                                  The Moyie on the beach beside the train station in Kaslo.

Everett eventually moved to Vancouver where he spent the rest of his life.