By Mark McMillan
William “Bill” Cunningham - July 28, 1932 to Nov. 1, 2016
When we moved here about 20 years ago one of the first families we met was the Cunningham family. I remember meeting Bill and thinking now there’s a true old-time cowboy ... not just in his looks and speech, but in the way he was so hospitable and neighbourly. He truly made us feel like we were welcome in the area.
From that day on, I jumped at any chance I got to sit down with Bill and listen to the stories from by-gone days ... and I still remember most of them.
Stories, like when he used to chase wild horses, catch up to them, grab their tail, and dally the tail to the saddle horn so his partner could rope the front feet ... now that’s cowboying.
Many a story came from Bill’s days breaking horses at the Flying U Guest Ranch in 1952, too, and it was there that he met Olga Rust who he married in 1954.
I learned a lot about the area and its history from Bill, and a lot of names of the cowboys who lived and worked around the Cariboo.
What better guy to meet and learn from than a guy who was born and raised here – Bill was about 64 when we met him and he was the third-generation Cunningham at the 74 (the original Cunningham stage coach stopping place).
It was 1891 when Bill’s grandfather, Jack, moved from Scotland and pre-empted land at Loch Lomond about four miles north of 70 Mile House. He married Margaret and together they built a 14-room house and opened the 74 Mile Roadhouse where freight teams and the BX Stage passengers often stayed overnight on their way to the Barkerville.
This house burned down in 1923, but with the help of friends and neighbours was rebuilt within the year.
One of their kids, Norman, and his wife, Mary (Molly), took over the running of the ranch in the late ’40s and one of their kids, William (Bill) took over in 1975 when his dad passed away.
Bill and Olga had six children: Bryan, David, Lee, Keith, Ross and Heather. Their house at the 74 burned down in 2010 and a new house was built the following year.
The grandkids are the fifth generation of the Cunningham family, and some are still involved with the ranch.
The Cunningham family was inducted, as a family, into the BC Cowboy Hall of Fame in 2011.
Bill loved his Horned Hereford bloodlines and their commercial herd always looked well cared for and in good shape, the stack yard always had hay in it, and the range land was well cared for.
Bill rode every year up until the year he got a bad case of pneumonia and couldn’t. He did ride again after that, but not as much.
We met and worked with his son, Lee, quite a bit over the years and my introduction, in our first year here, was when I helped Lee move cows from our place to the 74. It was about 25 below and a good half day ride.
Lee showed up in a ball cap and I think he probably had a pair of gloves and a coat ... I thought wow ... he takes after his dad ... another tough old cowboy (although he was younger than me).
The best part of that day (other than the ride) was when we arrived at the 74 and Lee’s mom, Olga, had a hot rum ready on the table in their cozy wood-heated kitchen. The second best part was when Bill said I didn’t have to ride home and that he’d give me and my horse a ride home in the pickup!
Sadly Bill left us on Nov. 1 at the age of 84. I’m sure he left us as a proud cowboy knowing that he raised a family that were all good hands ... all six of his kids raise cattle today and one of his grandkids is carrying on the family tradition, too.
Rest in peace Bill!