HISTORY: Families and People: H | HOCKEY

James (Jack) Clifford Hockey was a Canadian soldier in World War I and served with the T. Eaton Machine Gun Battery. He was wounded in the abdomen. When he had recovered he returned to duty, but as a motorcycle dispatch rider. In England, he married. He and his wife, Dorothy Alice remained there for a few years. Iris, their first child was born in London. Dorothy was a severe diabetic.

1914 James Hockey

When Iris married a German, Wilfred Uppenborn, Jack Hockey found it hard to overcome his anti-German prejudice which had developed during his war experiences. However, he eventually learned to appreciate his son-in-law and realize that he was a good man.

In 1951, he and his family bought the Bailey House from the McKenzies for $10,000 (now owned by the Weddell’s and called the Brewer House by them) from the McKenzies. They lived there with their four children: Iris, who became Mrs. Uppenborn, Marion, who was Mrs. Rogers and later, Mrs. Karran, Thelma, who married Mike Feniak, and Nathan, who was a great guitar player. Jack Hockey raised cattle and sold Christmas trees; 5,000 of them one year.

The Hockeys were devout Seventh Day Adventists. They were part of a little group of Joe Rich Adventists to whom they were very close. This group included their two daughters, Iris and Thelma and their families and the Harders.

Hockeys had a small herd of about 30 beef cattle. They had a very good bull which Jim Weddell wanted to use once. He asked Mr. Hockey if he could come over and get it on Saturday and Mr. Hockey said, “Not Saturday”. Jim’s answer was, “What’s wrong? Doesn’t your bull work on Saturday either?”

 

1958 The bull that wouldn't work on Saturdays

Jack Hockey also grew turnips and to irrigate these, he set up the first sprinkler system in Joe Rich using water out of Joe Rich Creek.

   

1964 Hockey girls, Iris, Marion & Thelma

The Hockeys sold their place to the Brewers. They obtained DL5110 at the end of Schram Road as a Crown Grant in 1961. There, they built a house which they moved into. They sold it to Elwyn and Annabelle Ritchey in 1967. It was then sold to Elmer James Goerlitz. Probably Fritz Wirtz was the real estate agent. Roy Harold Gordon Mortenson then bought it in 1968. He sold to Brian Lovig in 1990, who sold to Joe Steinklaebl who now owns it.

When Hockeys sold out in Joe Rich in 1958, they bought 30 acres in what is now the Toovey Road area. Many homes have now been built on the property which they bought there and which they sold to Mr. Toovey. James Hockey died in Cottonwoods, six months past his one hundredth birthday, nursed by his daughter, Mrs. Uppenborn.

Iris and Wilfred Uppenborn lived most of their married life in Joe Rich. Mike and Thelma Feniak bought the Nicholas place (High Lonesome Ranch) and lived in Joe Rich after they were married. They sold out in 1966 and bought a small farm in Beaverdell where they now live.

The Hockey girls, especially Iris and Thelma, were great singers.