Bill Parish's History of Garfield 1921 - 1930

The Souvenir booklet for the Back to Garfield celebrations held in June 1962 included a history of Garfield for each decade, written by Bill Parish (1915-1994). This is the chapter from 1931 - 1930.
I have added the footnotes. Heather Arnold,

Garfield 1921-1930 by Bill Parish

This period was marked by a boom, during which most of the shopping centre was built and farming properties were improved.

Many local people purchased their first motor cars and trucks. Radio arrived and aerial masts sprouted like the television antennas of today; some of them reaching up to 80 feet. This prosperity would later be marred by the onset of the Depression at the end of the decade.

Horses were becoming rarer and rarer on the roads, with the ever increasing number of motor cars taking their place. The last was seen of the bullock teams and due to the lack of timber, saw milling faded out. 

One of the greatest secondary industries seen in Garfield also ceased production. This was Jefferson’s Brick and Pipe works, which had at its peak employed many men and had its own railway siding (1).

Jefferson's Clay pit at Garfield. 

Image: Settlers and Sawmillers : a history of the West Gippsland Tramways by Mike McCarthy 

(Light Railway Research Society of Australia, 1999)

Those involved in the service to the public at this stage included storekeepers A.V. Tonkin, Pedersen and Tresize, Crouch Brothers, R. Pitchers, Kerr and B. Thompson; bakers Harrington, Jack and Wall Brothers; butchers Walsh, Whitehead and Faukner; plumber F. Marsh; cafe proprietors and fruiterers Little, Trotter, Isherwood, Barnes, Harris and Hannon; Doctor McLeod; blacksmiths Parke, Edis and Hourigan; newsagent W. Wright and W. Maybury; school teacher W. Waugh and police R. Mason and D. Dale.

The Boy Scout Troop was formed in 1926 under E.G. Hill. 

After a very dry season in 1925, the following year saw one of the greatest bushfires ever endured by the district. It swept from Gembrook to Pakenham and Warragul. Not a fence was left and much trouble was experienced with cattle, horses etc (2).

Electric power was supplied firstly by the Picture Theatre. A power plant was built in 1924, and this was used until the advent of the S.E.C. The main S.E.C powerlines passed through North Garfield (3).

Reconstruction of the Princes Highway was commenced at this time, as was work on the State Rivers channel, which supplied water to the townspeople (4).  

Princes Highway  between Garfield and Tynong turn-off: maintenance of granite sand surfacing 1929

Image: Public Records Office of Victoria Country Roads Board VPRS 17684  Image 28_00100

Footnotes
(1) Joseph Jefferson established a sawmill in 1877 on the site of what was to become his clay pit, off Railway Avenue. He sent this timber out via Bunyip Station until a local siding, the Cannibal Creek Siding, was built in 1885 to accommodate the timber tramline which was constructed by William Brisbane, a contractor on behalf of Francis Stewart. This tramline run for about 8 kilometres, to the Two Mile Creek, the Garfield North road basically follows this tramway. Getting back to Joseph Jefferson, his was a very successful business, as well as producing timber products such as fence posts and rails and firewood, he also mined the sand on his property to be used in the building industry in Melbourne and when he discovered clay on his property, he began making clay bricks. The 1880s was a boom time for Victoria and Jefferson could produce over 50,000 bricks per week and fire 75,000 at a time in his kiln. The Depression of the 1890s saw a decline in the building industry which flowed onto his business and the brickworks eventually shut down in 1929.

(2) Bush fire – the fire began at 2.30pm on Thursday, December 31, 1925. It was said to have been caused by campers ‘smoking out rabbits’. The fire was subdued by rain on the Sunday night/Monday morning. It was reported that around 4,000 acres were burnt out.

(3) SEC Power arrived at the end of August 1929, in conjunction with the power supplied to the Tynong Quarry. The Quarry had been established to supply the granite for the Shrine. The tender for the construction of the Shrine was given to Vaughan & Lodge Bros., in June 1928. Their tender was for £153,886. The quarry was established around this time, but it was some months later before power was supplied to the quarry. Read more about this, here, https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2023/02/tynong-short-history.html

(4) A water supply to Garfield was established around September 1930. 

There are two interesting omissions from Bill Parish’s look at Garfield in the 1920s.
Firstly, the Garfield Picture Theatre was opened. It officially opened with a Grand Ball on Monday, December 22, 1924. The theatre was built by Martin O’Donohue. It had a power house at the rear and a 230 volt generator and was thus the first source of electricity in Garfield. One of the first films shown at the Theatre was Where the North Begins, a Rin Tin Tin movie. I have written about the Picture Theatre here

https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2014/03/garfield-picture-theatre.html

Secondly, the Garfield Railway Station burnt down on Thursday, February 21,1924. There was a short report in The Argus of 25/2/1924 - The Garfield railway station was completely destroyed by a fire which occurred about 2 o'clock on Thursday morning. The fire was first noticed by the crew of a goods train who awakened the station master. Owing to no water supply being available, the onlookers were unable to prevent the flames from spreading. A few milk cans were rescued from the goods shed. A number of parcels, including two bicycles and a perambulator, and a quantity of passengers' luggage, were destroyed, in addition to departmental records. The origin of the fire is unknown.

Other posts of Bill Parish's History of Garfield - 

1901-1910 https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2021/09/bill-parishs-history-of-garfield-1901.html

1911-1920 https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2021/09/bill-parishs-history-of-garfield-1911.html
1931-1940 https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2021/09/bill-parishs-history-of-garfield-1931.html
1941-1950 https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2021/09/bill-parishs-history-of-garfield-1941.html
1951-1960 https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2021/09/bill-parishs-history-of-garfield-1951.html

Bill Parish's History of Garfield 1911 - 1920

The Souvenir booklet for the Back to Garfield celebrations held in June 1962 included a history of Garfield for each decade, written by Bill Parish (1915-1994). This is the chapter from 1911 - 1920.

I have added the footnotes. Heather Arnold

Garfield 1911-1920 by Bill Parish

As this period included the First World War, progress slowed between 1914 and 1919, but despite this, businesses were improved and many local facilities enlarged or altered, including the recreation reserve and the new school. The old school building was moved to Garfield North (1).

With the advent of War many local young men enlisted, many never to return, including W. Leeson, A. Gunnelson, E. Beswick, E. Bullock, G. Gunnelson, A. McDonald, C. Mynard, L. Plant, T. Tower, A. Watson, F. Whiston, T. Whiston and R. Evans (2). 

Towards the end of the War, a Welcome Home Committee was formed with Mr. A. Parish as the secretary and Messrs Waugh, Hunt and Drier as committeemen. Each returned man received a medal of appreciation and welcome. These functions added greatly to the social life of the community, including many concerts and dances.

Towards the end of this decade, primary production began to boom, prices received being far ahead of any previous. Many new businesses came into being, including Barker Reidy Co., which became the present Barker, Green and Parke Pty Ltd. The Garfield Weighbridge Co. was formed with J.W. Barker, G.U. Green, E. Druir, S. Scanlon, and D. Kavanagh as shareholders. (3)

Town businessmen included H. Hourigan and G. Parke (blacksmiths); Clarke, Aspinall and Gardener (bank managers); Daly, Loutit and Waugh (school teachers); Dess, Hunt, Smith, A.V Tonkin, Harcourt (grocers and storekeepers); Stacy and Walsh (butchers); G. Scotland and R. Jack (bakers); J. Beswick and J. Betts (saddlers); Beswick, Lugton (cafes); F. Tripp (dairy); C. Louch (newsagent, on present site) 

Several fires occurred in the business area (Archer’s and Dess’s). During this period, the first motor cars appeared in the town. Those of T. Barker (T Model Ford) and H. Hourigan (Renault). This called for better road formation, including the Garfield road from the creek to the school. This work was done by H. Gee and P. Faukner (snr). 

Footnotes

(1) Cannibal Creek State School, No. 2724, opened 1886 and was located on the Princes Highway, west of North Garfield Road. It was re-named Garfield in 1887. In 1899 the School building was re-located to Garfield Road at the top of the hill, half-way between the Princes Highway and the Railway Station. In 1910 the Garfield School moved to a new building on its present site near the Railway Station. The old building was removed in 1914 to North Garfield where it became State School No.3489. North Garfield School closed in 1973. 

(2) More details on the soldiers who never returned - These men were W. Leeson, A. Gunnelson, E. Beswick, E. Bullock, G. Gunnelson, A. McDonald, C. Mynard, L. Plant, T. Tower, A. Watson, F. Whiston, T. Whiston and R. Evans

Leeson, William Herbert Charles (Service Number 1178) William, enlisted on September 26, 1914, aged 24. His next of kin was his father, Phillip. William was Killed in Action on May 2, 1915 at Gallipoli.  His grandmother, Kathleen Leeson, was the licensee of the Pig & Whistle Hotel on Cannibal Creek.   

Gunnelson, Inglebert Thomas  (SN 3160)

Gunnelson, Percy Oscar  (SN 893)  Inglebert enlisted on September 2, 1916, aged 23 and Percy enlisted August 24, 1914 aged 20.  Inglebert and Percy were the sons of James and Mary (nee Duff) Gunnelson of Garfield. James (sometimes called Inglebert) was born in Norway and was a builder. Sadly, they were both Killed in Action, Percy on May 8, 1915 at Gallipoli and Inglebert on October 4, 1917 in France.  

Thomas Gunnelson (SN3160)

Image: Australian War Memorial.

Beswick, Edwin Ezard  (SN 6725) Edwin enlisted on September 16, 1916. He was 18 years old, was born in England and his next of kin was his father, John, of Garfield.  He made a will on July 26, 1917 and left everything to his mother, Mary Elizabeth Beswick. Edwin died in France of wounds and gas poisoning on October 9, 1917. 

Bullock, Ernest (SN 6291) Ernest was nearly 21 and a farmer when he enlisted on July 7, 1916.  He was born in Murrumbeena and his next of kin was his mother, Mrs Mary Bullock, of Oakleigh. I assume that Ernest was living with his brother Thomas, who did live at Garfield, when he enlisted. Ernest was Killed in Action in France on October 4, 1918. 

McDonald, Allan Walter (SN 2474) Allan enlisted on March 3, 1916 and his next of kin was his wife, Jessie, of Garfield. He was 40 years old and a farmer. Allan Died of Wounds received whist fighting in France, on March 28, 1917

Mynard, Charles  (SN 459) Twenty one year old Charles enlisted on  August 17, 1914 and his next of kin was his father, Thomas Mynard of Garfield. Charles was Killed in Action at Gallipoli on April 25, 1915. 

Plant, Lawrence (SN 1804)  Lawrence was born in Garfield and enlisted at Tynong on  December 30, 1914 at the age of 19.   His next of kin was his father, John.  Lawrence was Killed in Action in France on May 12, 1917. 

Toner, Francis John (SN 5092)  Mr Parish has this soldier’s surname as Tower, but I believe it is Toner.  Francis enlisted at Bunyip on March 3, 1916 at the age of 33. His next of kin was his mother, Catherine Toner of Garfield.  Francis was Killed in Action in France on March 20, 1917. 

Watson, Albert  (SN 3664) Albert was 22 when he enlisted on August 25, 1915. His next of kin was his mother, Mrs Jessie Adamson of Garfield. Albert Died of Wounds, received on active service in Belgium, on March 9, 1918.  

Frederick Whiston (SN 3524)

Image: Australian War Memorial

Julian Whiston (SN 3526)

Image: Australian War Memorial

Whiston, Frederick  (SN 3524) Fred enlisted on August 2, 1915 aged 23. Fred Died of Wounds received in action in France July 21, 1916.   

Whiston, Julian Thomas (SN 3526)  Julian enlisted on August 7, 1915 aged 18. He Died of Wounds received in action in France on March 21, 1918. 

They were the sons of Frederick and Elizabeth (nee Oxenham) whose address was listed as both Garfield and Cora Lynn.  Fred was born in Garfield and Julian was listed as being born at ‘Bunyip Swamp’ on his enlistment paper, but he was actually born at Bunyip South or Iona. 

Mr Parish also lists an R. Evans, I haven’t worked out who that is. I have written about all the World War One soldiers with a connection to Garfield here

http://caseycardinia1914-1918.blogspot.com/2015/05/world-war-one-soldiers-with-connection.html

(3) Garfield  Weighbridge  was established in 1916

South Bourke and Mornington Journal, October 19, 1916

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article66190806

Other posts of Bill Parish's History of Garfield - 

1901-1910 https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2021/09/bill-parishs-history-of-garfield-1901.html
1921-1930 https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2021/09/bill-parishs-history-of-garfield-1921.html
1931-1940 https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2021/09/bill-parishs-history-of-garfield-1931.html
1941-1950 https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2021/09/bill-parishs-history-of-garfield-1941.html
1951-1960 https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2021/09/bill-parishs-history-of-garfield-1951.html

Bill Parish’s History of Garfield 1901-1910

The Souvenir booklet for the Back to Garfield celebrations held in June 1962 included a history of Garfield for each decade, written by Bill Parish (1915-1994). This is the chapter from 1901-1910.
I have added the footnotes. Heather Arnold

Garfield 1901-1910 by Bill Parish

Most of the initial work on the Swamp had been completed by this time, and, at the close of the decade, most of the properties had been selected.
The townships continued to grow, with more and more businesses being established. The London Bank was built on the north east corner of Railway Avenue and the Garfield Road (1) and early managers were Messrs Adeney, Hattersley and Clarke.
The Iona Hotel was built (and rebuilt) with W. Ellis and later T. O'Donohue as owners and M. Reidy as manager (2).

Iona Hotel, Main Street, Garfield.

The Hotel opened April 1904, burnt down April 1914, 

and this building, which is the current building, opened 1915.

Image: Berwick Pakenham Historical Society 

The bakery was built on the present theatre site by R. Pearl and rebuilt on its present site by G. Bird, with J. Russell following. The blacksmiths, in order, were: J. McGowan and G. Parke.
The butchers were S. Walker (east of the 14-mile road and where the first local sports meeting was held) and J. Stacy (Garfield Hill).
Storekeepers included Messrs Leithhead in Main Street; G. Archer (Garfield Hill) and Sadderwasser (Railway Avenue).
A newsagency was operated by C. Louch (3) at the Garfield Road and Railway Avenue corner. 
Railway employees at this stage included C. Mason, J. Thompson, E. Goulding and R. McLean (station master) School teachers were Mr Daly and Mrs Thomson.
Selections were still being made in the district by the forebears of the following well- known names: Towt, Brew, Keppel, Gillespie, Jeurs, Negus, Beuhne, Gaghin and Pitt.
Several Boer War veterans took up properties including Mr A. Towt of Garfield North.
Up until this time all means of conveyance was by horse or bullock and wagons and wagonettes were a common sight: buggies, jinkers, bullock teams and horsemen frequented the streets. As traffic increased the roads became worse and in many places corduroys and granite blocks were used to make them passable.
Farming became firmly established and many orchards were planted in the Garfield North area. Many of those no longer exist.
The Garfield Public Hall (4) was built at this time by a number of guarantors and the recreation reserve was instituted.

The original Garfield Hall, opposite the Railway Station.

The Hall opened November 1904, burnt down April 1937, rebuilt, burnt down again February 1984.

Image: Berwick Pakenham Historical Society.

Footnotes
(1) London Bank opened in July 1908. I have written about the Garfield Bank here

https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2014/04/the-es-anz-bank-at-garfield.html
(2) Iona Hotel, Garfield, opened April 1904, burnt down April 1914, current building opened 1915. I have written about the Iona Hotel here 

https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2017/08/iona-hotel-at-garfield.html
(3) Catherine Louch, wife of Albert
(4) Hall opened November 1904, burnt down April 1937, rebuilt, burnt down again February 1984. I have written about the Garfield Hall here  https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2014/06/garfield-public-hall.html

Other posts of Bill Parish's History of Garfield - 

1911-1920 https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2021/09/bill-parishs-history-of-garfield-1911.html
1921-1930 https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2021/09/bill-parishs-history-of-garfield-1921.html
1931-1940 https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2021/09/bill-parishs-history-of-garfield-1931.html
1941-1950 https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2021/09/bill-parishs-history-of-garfield-1941.html
1951-1960 https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2021/09/bill-parishs-history-of-garfield-1951.html

The Doctor’s House - 1 Main Street, Garfield

I had a query about the history of the Doctor's House at 1 Main Street Garfield (technically 1 Nar Nar Goon-Longwarry Road) and this is what I discovered after some research on Trove, the Shire of Berwick Rate Books and the Electoral Rolls.

The house when it was for sale in 2016 with Barry Plant Real Estate.

In the 1920’s Reginald James of Wahroonga Park, Garfield, was listed in the Shire of Berwick Rate Books as owning 100 acres, Lot 53A, Section C, Parish of Koo Wee Rup East. He also had another listing - a house on Part Lot 53A, Section C. When this block, 100 feet by 250 feet in size, was sold to Dr Kenneth McLeod in 1927 it had a Net Annual Value of £15. I say it was 1927, but the Rate books followed the Local Government year which ran from October 1 through to September 30, so the actual sale could have taken place anytime from October 1927 to September 1928. 

In the 1928 Rate books, the Net Annual Value of the block had increased to £34, and I believe this was when a new house was built by Dr McLeod - the existing brick house, which was used as both a residence and consulting room. Dr McLeod was appointed to the Honorary Consulting Staff at the West Gippsland Hospital in 1930 (1) and a ‘fun fact’ - he was a Cellist. The Dandenong Journal reported on a concert at the Methodist Hall in Dandenong in 1933 - The programme would not have been balanced without instrumental items, and the management were indeed fortunate in having prevailed upon Dr. McLeod of Garfield, who assisted with several 'cello numbers, with Mrs. McLeod as accompaniste. Of all instruments, the 'cello, in capable hands, is one of the most popular, and those present expressed delight at the treat given by the doctor - especially when he chose “Laargo” for his final item (2).  Dr McLeod’s wife’s name was Lesley Vera Bramwell (nee Fethers), they had married in 1920. Mrs McLeod was elected a Vice-President of the Garfield branch Country Women's Association at its inaugural meeting held in February 1931.(3)

Dr Kenneth McLeod ran the Medical Practice until 1933 when it was taken over by Dr James Patterson, who was there until 1944, although the building was still owned by Dr McLeod.  The McLeods moved from Garfield to the Caulfield area. In 1935, Dr Patterson's wife Enid, was elected President of the newly formed Baby Health Care Centre (4). Mrs Patterson was involved with the Country Women’s Association and in February 1940 was elected President of the West Gippsland Group (5). During the War she was the Commander of the Garfield First Aid Post, at the Public Hall (6). These posts had been established in case there was an Air Raid. Dr Patterson was a golfer and in 1937 was elected President of the Garfield Golf Club (7).

From 1944 until 1950, a Dr Martin owned the building and ran the Practice. Dr Martin’s first name was also Martin – Dr Martin Martin. I saw this in the Rate books, and thought surely that is a mistake, because it wouldn’t be the first mistake I have found in them when it comes to names, but I checked the Electoral Rolls and it is correct. His wife was called Rachel. They moved to 31 Murrumbeena Road, Murrumbeena after they left Garfield.

After Dr Martin, came Dr Matthew Laidlaw. He purchased the property in June 1951, according to the Rate Books. He was only there until October 1952 when Dr David Gild took over. Dr Gild had previously practiced in Healesville (8).  When Mum moved to Cora Lynn after she was married in 1956, she thought that Dr Gild was ‘old’ then, of course, she was only 21, so he may not really have been that old!

Dr Gild sold the practice around 1961/1962 to Dr Norman Stephen. Dr Gild was then listed in the Electoral Rolls at 21/226 Dandenong Road in St Kilda. Norman and Pamela Stephen had come from Lismore, in western Victoria. Dr Stephen was still at Garfield in 1972, according to the Electoral Rolls, but that’s all I can tell you. We lived at Cora Lynn and we always went to Dr Ian Hewitt at Koo Wee Rup. He delivered my two sisters and my brother; but I was delivered by his father, Dr Alan Hewitt, because Dr Ian was sick that day. We were all born at the Westernport Memorial Hospital at Koo Wee Rup, which had opened in December 1955 (9). 

Footnotes
(1) West Gippsland Gazette, August 5, 1930, see here.
(2) Dandenong Journal, July 20, 1933, see here.
(3) See my history of the Garfield CWA here  https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2023/09/garfield-country-womens-association.html 
(4) The Argus, July 25, 1935, see here.
(5) Dandenong Journal, February 14, 1940, see here.
(6) Dandenong Journal, March 25, 1942, see here.
(7) The Argus, June 3, 1937, see here.
(8) Healesville Guardian, July 19, 1952, see here.
(9) http://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2014/08/medical-matters-at-koo-wee-rup.html

Jabez James and Maria Ann Goldsmith

Jabez James operated a beer house, on the south side of Cannibal Creek, in what is now North Garfield, from 1866. He had an eventful life with what appears to be little success on either a personal or financial level. This is the story of James and the mother of his children, Maria Goldsmith (some of which is fact and some of which is conjecture or educated guesses)

Jabez was born in England around 1823 and he arrived in Victoria on the Ameer in March 1852 (1). Also on the ship was a man listed as A. Goldsmith. The two men had their occupation listed as labourer. Two years later in July 1854, 20-year-old Mary Ann (also called Maria) Goldsmith and her 18-year-old sister Elizabeth arrived in Melbourne on the Ontario. Maria and her sister were born in Kent, were domestic servants and a note on the shipping record says that Maria was engaged by Mrs Woodruff of Brunswick and Elizabeth by Mrs Bathurst of Heidelberg (2).

Somehow, Maria met Jabez, perhaps through his shipmate, Mr A. Goldsmith. What we do know is that in December 1855 Maria gave birth in North Melbourne, to a baby girl whom she named Agnes Maria. Agnes’ birth certificate states that the father was John William Goldsmith, a blacksmith, born in Kent and the mother was Maria nee Richards (3). However, when Agnes married James Charles Bowden in 1873 her marriage certificate lists her surname as Janes and her father as Jabez Janes.  Her 1891 death record lists her maiden name as Janes. I suspect that Jabez was the real father and that Maria ‘created’ a husband to cover the fact that the baby was born illegitimate, a stigma in those days (4).

Six more children (5) followed -

• Clara Jane (1857-1928) Clara’s surname at birth was Goldsmith, her birth was registered in Melbourne and the father listed as unknown. Clara’s surname when she married Charles Roberts in 1874 was listed as Janes and Jabez is listed as her father on her death certificate.
• James George (born and died 1859). Registered at birth and death as Janes. Place of registration was Melbourne.
• Harry William (1861-1942) His birth was registered twice - under Goldsmith and under Janes. Place of registration was Melbourne. He married Mary Morrow in 1894. His marriage and death registrations were under Janes. His death certificate lists his birthplace as Labertouche Creek.
• Caroline (1863- death date unknown) Surname at birth was Goldsmith, birth was registered at Williamstown and the father listed as unknown. I have no other information about her.
• Alfred Walter (1865-1947) Surname at birth was Goldsmith, father listed as unknown, birth registered at Melbourne. Married Marguerite Barry in 1891. His marriage and death registrations were under Janes.
• Emily Sarah (1867-1933) Birth registered under Janes at Emerald Hill (South Melbourne). Married Johan Erik Johanneson in 1887.

Jabez and Maria never married each other which given the stigma, as I said before, of having children out of wedlock was unusual. Possible reasons are that he was already married in England or she was actually married to John William Goldsmith and they separated and she then took up with Jabez (in which case the shipping record I found belongs to another Mary Ann Goldsmith). I don’t know, but I feel that he had already married in England.

Back to Jabez. His various interactions with the legal system were reported in the newspapers.  The first we hear of him is in January 1859 when there was a report in The Argus about his insolvency. His occupation was listed as a carter and his address was North Melbourne (6). Jabez’s estate was placed under sequestration which meant a Trustee was appointed to take charge of his estate, liquidate assets, and settle any debts. In the August the court approved of the plan of distribution to settle his debts (7).   Two years later in April 1861 his estate was placed under sequestration again (8). This time his occupation was listed as mail contractor and his address was Big Hill, which was a mining town south of Bendigo. He was discharged from the second insolvency in September 1862 (9).

Jabez's application for a publican's license for his property at Labertouche Creek.

The Age December 7, 1864 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/18275719

In December 1864, Jabez Janes advertised of his intention to apply to the Dandenong Magistrates Court for a publican’s licence for a house situated at Labertouche Creek, Gippsland Road. The premises were described as being constructed of lath and plaster, containing two sitting rooms, four bedrooms exclusive of those required by my family and it was to be known as the Diggers’ Rest (10). He describes himself as a storekeeper (see above) so was he already operating a store at Labertouche Creek  and he wished to change it to a Hotel? It appears he wasn’t granted the licence as he applied again in July 1865, this time to the Berwick Magistrates court for the same licence for Diggers’ Rest (11).  Labertouche Creek is north of Longwarry and runs into the Tarago River. It is interesting that his son, William Harry, born in 1861, believed he was born at Labertouche Creek, even though the family (or at least Jabez) were at Big Hill in 1860/1861 (12).

In September 1865, Jabez was charged with careless driving in Collins Street injuring a woman named Margaret Bell (13). He was fined £10, appealed the decision, but the appeal was rejected (14).

Report of Jabez's reckless driving on August 29, 1865.

The Argus September 23, 1865 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/5785965

In January 1866, Jabez was back in the newspapers again in the reports of an Inquest on the body of a man whose name is unknown, who was found dead in the bush, near the Wombat Creek, on the Gipps Land road. Jabez James, a publican, whilst engaged looking for a horse, saw the body of the deceased lying near a waterhole.…The jury, in the absence of any direct evidence to show how the deceased met with his death, returned a verdict of found dead in the bush (15).

In December 1866 the following public notice appeared in The Argus -
I, JABEZ JANES, now residing at Cannibal Creek, do hereby give notice, that it is my Intention to apply to the justices sitting at the Court of Petty Sessions, to be holden at Berwick on the 4th day of January next, for a CERTIFICATE authorising the issue of a BEER LICENCE in my house, of five rooms finished and others partly built, situated at Cannibal Creek, and unlicensed. Dated 15th day of December 1866  (16). The location of his hotel was on the south side of Cannibal Creek, in the vicinity of Bassed Road, and was later the site of the Pig & Whistle Hotel (17). 

Jabez's application for a beer licence at his premises at Cannibal Creek.

The Argus December 21 1866 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/5781709

However, less than a year later Jabez became insolvent again. This was reported in The Argus in September 1867 - Causes of insolvency - Falling-off in business in consequence of Government changing the line of road between Cannibal and Shady Creeks, seizure of goods under execution, and losses by illness and by fire. Liabilities, £258 4s; assets, £66; deficiency, £192 4s (18). Jabez was discharged from the insolvency in February 1868. His insolvency must have resulted in his losing his licence to operate the hotel as in February 1870 he again applied to the Court at Berwick for a licence for a beer house at his property at Cannibal Creek (19).

Report of Jabez's insolvency

The Argus September 21, 1867 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/5778563

In July 1870, he was charged with rape and remanded. At a hearing in the September he was discharged, as the Crown declined to go on with the case (20).

Later in 1870, Jabez was once more before the court, this time the Williamstown court. Here is the report from The Argus of November 4, 1870. Mary Ann Goldsmith summoned Jabez Janes, a beer-seller at Cannibal's Creek, near Dandenong, for deserting his family. This was a distressing case. Both parties were advanced in life, and it appears that they had cohabited for a great number of years, and that the woman had borne him five children. The eldest was 15, and the youngest was three years old. Complainant stated that she left Cannibal's Creek on the 14th September, and brought the children to Williamstown, the defendant having left her and the children without support. Since their stay in Williamstown they had been getting relief from the Ladies' Benevolent Society. Janes admitted that the children were his, and that the complainant was their mother. He was unable to work through bad health, but he was willing to take charge of the two little boys, and a friend of his would provide for the youngest child. Their mother, however, refused to let them go. The Bench ordered the defendant to pay 20s. per week for the children's support and find one good surety in £20 for the payment of the money. As the man had neither money nor friends to assist him, he was sent to gaol (21).

The report says that there were five children, the eldest 15 which was the age of Agnes, which gives some weight to my theory that Jabez was actually her father. It also suggests that their daughter, Caroline, had also died young, as if she were still alive there would have been six children.

The final newspaper report that I can find relating to Jabez was in September 1871, in the Williamstown Chronicle -   Jabez Janes was summoned to show cause why the recognizance entered into by him on the 18th January in the sum of £20 to pay £1 weekly to the clerk of petty sessions, Williamstown, for the support of his illegitimate children, should not be adjudged forfeited and estreated. The arrears to the 2nd September amounted to £6. The Bench agreed to adjourn the case for fourteen days, to give the defendant an opportunity of paying the money in that time (22).

Jabez either could not or did not take the 'opportunity' of paying the money he owed Maria for the support of his children as in December 1871 he was charged on warrant with deserting the family. This is the last we hear of Jabez. 

Victorian Police Gazette December 5, 1871. The Victorian Police Gazette is on Ancestry.

Maria died at only 42 years of age on August 7, 1874 at the Benevolent Asylum in North Melbourne. Her death certificate lists her surname as Janes, said she was a domestic servant, widow with five children, was born in Kent and had been in Australia for 20 years. It also lists her father as Charles and her mother’s name as Maria (23). It would have been devastating for the children to lose their mother, who obviously did all she could to keep her family together in the days when employment opportunities for women with children were scare, child care was non-existent, there was no supporting parents benefit and no financial report from the father. I really hope that the children had happy lives. I have found death notices for three of the children and Clara’s death notice said that she was a loved mother; Harry was a loved husband and father and Alfred a loved husband, father, and fond uncle (24).

I cannot find a death record for Jabez, but if the statement on Maria’s death certificate is correct, he had already passed away by 1874.  

Trove List - I have created a list of articles on Jabez Janes on Trove, you can access it here.

Footnotes

(1) Shipping record in on Find My Past. His date of birth is taken from his age listed in the Victorian Police Gazette December 5, 1871. 

(2) Shipping record, which includes the information about the future employers,  is from Ancestry.

(3) This information comes from Agnes' birth certificate.

(4) Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages https://www.bdm.vic.gov.au/research-and-family-history/search-your-family-history

(5) Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages https://www.bdm.vic.gov.au/research-and-family-history/search-your-family-history

(6) The Argus January 15, 1859, see here.

(7) The Argus, August 12, 1859, see here.

(8) The Argus, April 29, 1861, see here.

(9) The Herald, September 16, 1862, see here.

(10) The Age, December 7, 1864, see here.

(11) The Argus, July 15 1865, see here.

(12) Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages 

(13) Her name is also listed as Margaret or Mrs Hill, but I think Bell is the correct surname. See my Trove list for reports on the incident.

(14) The Leader, October 14, 1865, see here.

(15) The Leader, January 20, 1866, see here. There is also a report in the South Bourke Standard, January 19, 1866, see here 

(16) The Argus December 21 1866, see here.  

(17) From Bullock Tracks to Bitumen: a brief history of the Shire of Berwick (Historical Society of Berwick Shire, 1962) p. 18.

Here's a map I drew years agao showing the location of the Pig & Whistle Inn, which was on the same site as Jabez Jane's establishment.

(18) The Argus September 21, 1867 see here. I have written about the new line of the road, here.

(19) Release from Insolvency The Age February 14, 1868, see here. Re-application for licence The Age February 26, 1870, see here. 

(20) See my Trove list, here, for reports on the rape Court cases.

(21) The Argus November 4, 1870, see here.

(22) Williamstown Chronicle, September 23, 1871, see here.

(23) Death certicate of Maria. It said she was 42 years old which means she was born in 1832, not 1834 if you take the fact she was 20 when she arrived in 1854.

(24) Clara's death notice Williamstown Chronicle,  December 1, 1928, see here. Harry's death notice The Age August 13, 1942, see here.  Alfred's death notice The Age September 25, 1947, see here.

The case of the poisoned apple pie sent from the Garfield Post Office

The town of  Garfield featured in news in 1921, because of an attempted murder, which began with a parcel sent from the Garfield Post Office.

This is the story - in September a woman from Garfield was charged with the murder of her husband. Mary Jane Phillips was a widow, with a son about thirteen years old and she was a housekeeper for Francis Phillips and they lived at Ultima near Swan Hill (1).  They married in May 1920 and Mrs Phillips was living with her new husband until the November when she decided to visit her brother who lived in Garfield. Francis sent her £2 per week to live on and when she returned to her husband in January 1921, who was by then living at Girgarre, she allegedly told him that she was tired of married life (2) and made a mistake in marrying the second time (3). She then returned to Garfield and a report said that she afterwards took a position with a man named Scanlon to whom she presented herself as a widow and she refused to return to her husband (4). However, Mary and Francis wrote to each other and on occasions she said she would return to him and he sent her money for her fare, but she never returned.

At one time he sent her a cheque for £3, which he forgot to sign, so she signed his name and altered the amount to £13 and cashed it at a local shop. When the cheque got back to his bank they recognised the signature as a fake and refused to honour it. Mary later repaid the storekeeper the money and Francis did not report the matter to the police (5).

On September 30, 1921 it was reported that apparently intended as a peace offering, she sent her husband through the post a sponge cake and an apple pie. In the parcel she put a note, in which she told him to put jam on the sponge cake, and not to take any notice of the dark color of the apples, as that was due to the custard that was on them (6). The parcel was posted at Garfield and was received on September 15 and in due time Phillips started to eat the apple pie, and on taking the first mouthful he noticed an exceedingly bitter taste and spat it out. He then became suspicious and reported the matter to Senior Constable Evans of Kyabram who informed Supt. Ivey, and the latter instructed Detective Bruce to make inquiries (7).  Detective Bruce had the food tested by the Government Analyst who discovered that the apple pie contained strychnine, even though the amount in the pie would not have been fatal.

Detective Bruce travelled to Garfield and arrested Mrs Phillips and she made a statement in which she confessed that she had put the poison in the pie with the intent to poison her husband (8).

Mary had a committal hearing at the Kyabram Police Court where she was sent for trial at the Bendigo Supreme Court. The Age reported that at the close of the case there was an affectionate meeting between accused and her husband (9).

The trial at Bendigo was held on October 15, 1921. Mary was charged with having attempted to administer poison to her husband, Francis William Phillips, with intent to murder (10).  Mary was described as being 47 years old and Francis as being 34. After hearing all the evidence, the jury returned a verdict of not guilty on the ground of insanity. The judge ordered that she be detained in gaol until the pleasure of the Governor be known (11).

I bought their marriage certificate and some of the information on it is inconsistent with the information reported in the newspapers. Mary and Francis were married on May 1, 1920 at St Pauls Church of England in Bendigo. Her age was listed as 40 and his as 30 and her birthplace was Rheola. Mary was listed as widow, her husband having died on April 25, 1911, she had two living children and her married name was Reeves. Mary’s parents were listed as John Thomas Smith and Jane Alice Millstead. I cannot find a marriage between her and a Mr Reeves which doesn’t mean that Mary was not telling the truth, but I believe she was a bit ‘creative’ in her information. 

The Index of the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages (BDMs) list the birth, in Rheola, of a Thomas William Smith in 1890 to Mary Jane Smith, father unknown. There is also a listing for the birth of George Reeves Smith in 1909 in Bendigo. The mother is Mary Jane Smith and the father is unknown. I am fairly certain that these are 'our' Mary’s children and she said she was a widow to hide the fact that her children were born out of wedlock, which was a shameful thing in those days. She may well have lived with Mr Reeves, the mother of her second child as ‘man and wife’ especially as she used his surname, but because they weren’t married she could not put his name on the birth certificate as the father.

According to the BDMs, Mary was actually born in 1876 so she was 44 when she married Francis. Mary had eight siblings - John Thomas (born 1871), Josiah (1873), Susannah (1874), Alice Agnes (1880), William Edward (1883) and Robert Frederick (1885) Margaret Emma (1887) and Elizabeth Ellen Frances (1892). I haven’t worked out which of her brothers was living in Garfield in 1921, but it wasn’t Robert as he was wounded in action whilst fighting in Belgium and died of wounds on October 2, 1916 (12).

Francis was born in Palmerston, also known as Port Darwin, in what is now the Northern Territory in December 1888 to Francis William and Kate Winifred (nee Farrell) Phillips. He died at Warrandyte in 1969 at the age of 80 (13).

What happened to Mary after the trial? I don't know how long she was detained in gaol at the pleasure of the Governor. However, a Mary Jane Phillips died on April 17, 1965 at Fitzroy.  I bought the death certificate and it says she was 86, thus born around 1879.  She had a son named George Harold Reeves, aged 57, so born circa 1908. They lived at the same address, 1 Alexander Parade, Collingwood. Her first husband was listed as George Reeves and her second husband as Frank Phillips. I am sure this is 'our' Mary.  As for her two sons - the BDMs have a George Harold Reeves who died in 1981, aged 71 at Heidelberg - the father is listed as George Reeves, a mother as Mary Jane Phillips and birth place as Bendigo. Having found this I discovered that George served in the Army from 1936 until 1942. His 1936 enlistment paper has his address as Church Street, Werribee at the Metropolitan Farm, which was the sewerage treatment plant. His next of kin was his mother, Mrs M. J. Reeves, of the same address, so she was obviously no longer detained in either gaol or any other facility (14).  I don’t know anything else about her eldest son, Thomas William Smith. 

I know she tried to poison her husband, Francis, but I do hope that in the end she had some happiness in her life.

Trove list I have created a list on Trove on articles relating to Mary Jane and the trial, access it here.

Footnotes

(1) Benalla Standard, September 30, 1921, see here.

(2) The Age, October 7, 1921, see here.

(3) The Age, October 7, 1921, see here.

(4) Benalla Standard, September 30, 1921, see here.

(5) Benalla Standard, September 30, 1921, see here.

(6) Benalla Standard, September 30, 1921, see here.

(7) Benalla Standard, September 30, 1921, see here.

(8) Benalla Standard, September 30, 1921, see here.

(9) The Age, October 7, 1921, see here.

(10) Ballarat Star, October 19, 1921, see here.

(11) Weekly Times, October 22, 1921, see here.

(12) Robert Frederick Smith - Service number 747 - see file here at the National Archives https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=1788351

(13) South Australian birth certificate and Index to Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages.

(14) George is listed on the World War Two Nominal Roll, https://nominal-rolls.dva.gov.au/home and his record at the National Archives is here https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=9310307

Towns named Garfield

This is nothing to do with the history of the Koo Wee Rup Swamp, but I wrote this for the Garfield Spectator so I thought I would put it up here as well. You can read about the the history of  Garfield on this blog. The Garfield Spectator website has photos of Garfield today http://www.garfieldspectator.com.au/ 

Garfield in Victoria, just on the north eastern edge of the Koo Wee Rup Swamp, was originally called Cannibal Creek. In May 1886 the Cannibal Creek Post Office was established at the Railway Station. There was community agitation to change the name and eventually Garfield was selected, and the Post Office became known as the Garfield Railway Post Office on May 16, 1887 and around the same time the School also changed its name from Cannibal Creek. So who was Garfield, the man who gave the town its name?  James Abram Garfield was the 20th President of the United States of America. During the Civil War (which lasted from April 1861 to May 1865) he also served on the Union side and became a Brigadier General and two years later a Major General of volunteers.  He was an abolitionist and supported the end of slavery. While he was serving in the Union Army, he stood for election for the Federal House of Representatives and was elected in October 1862. Garfield then went on to win another eight elections. He began his Presidency on March 4, 1881. Garfield’s presidency, noted for his attack on political corruption, was short lived as on July 2, 1881 he was shot by Charles Guiteau at the Baltimore and Potomac Railway Station in Washington. Sadly, for President Garfield he had a very slow death and this was exacerbated by the medical procedures of the time and he finally died on September 19, 1881.  

There are 23 other places in the world also called Garfield, according to this website https://geotargit.com/  – all in the United States. I have included an interesting fact about each of these town.  If you had the time and the money a visit to each town named Garfield in the USA would make an interesting holiday. According to the 2016 Census Garfield, Victoria had a population of 1, 786, which makes it a bigger town than most of the American Garfields. 

Garfield, Arkansas.  Near Beaver Lake which has 487 miles of natural shoreline and 31,700 surface acres. Beaver Lake is the largest supplier of water for Northwest Arkansas, serving more than 450,000 customers. One out of 7 people in Arkansas get their drinking water from Beaver Lake.   https://www.arkansas.com/garfield  and https://www.swl.usace.army.mil/Missions/Recreation/Lakes/Beaver-Lake/

Garfield, Arkansas is near Beaver Lake.

Image: https://www.swl.usace.army.mil/Missions/Recreation/Lakes/Beaver-Lake/

Garfield, Georgia. Population in the 2010 Census was 210. The town was incorporated in 1905. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garfield,_Georgia

Garfield, Idaho. The community is situated on Garfield Bay, an inlet of Lake Pend Oreille, which is the largest lake in Idaho and the 38th largest lake in the US.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garfield,_Bonner_County,_Idaho 

Garfield, Illinois. Garfield Township is a farming district. The Chicago & Alton Railroad, which passes almost through its centre from a north-easterly to a south-westerly direction; and the K. & D., owned by the Big Four System, passing through the north-western part, carry its products to Chicago. Garfield was created in 1902.   https://grundy.illinoisgenweb.org/history/garfieldtwp.php

Garfield, Indiana. I can’t find much about the town but the creator of the Garfield comic strip, Jim Davis, grew up on a farm in Fairmount, Indiana.

Garfield, Iowa. Located in the south central portion of Mahaska County, lying just west of the county seat of Oskaloosa. The most notable communities that lie within this township include; Beacon and Evans. At one time, Bolton and Coal City also existed in the township, but disappeared when the coal mining presence left the scene in the early 20th Century.  https://www.iowaheritage.org/items/show/78623

Garfield, Kansas. Garfield is a sleepy, drive-by hamlet in Pawnee County on the U.S. 56 highway, built on part of the legendary Santa Fe Trail. Passing through, a few tourists may stop and rest for a bit in the city park and perhaps peek into the Wayside Chapel, but there is not much in the town to detain a visitor.  Garfield was never a metropolis, but in the late 19th century and first half of the 20th, it was a robust agricultural community with a thriving small-town economy. It was typical of the many towns that sprang up throughout the Great Plains as settlers poured in to break up the hard prairie sod and plant wheat. It’s population today is 190 and it is nearly a ghost town.       https://readthespirit.com/feed-the-spirit/apple-cake-garfield/

Garfield, Kansas - City Hall and Post Office.

Image: https://readthespirit.com/feed-the-spirit/apple-cake-garfield/

Garfield, Kentucky. A Post Office was established in 1880, a small town.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garfield,_Kentucky 

Garfield, Maryland. One of the few structures in Garfield is the Garfield United Methodist Church. It is relatively small and is located on Stottlemeyer Road. The town has an elevation of 1,453 feet (443 m). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garfield,_Maryland

Garfield, Michigan. The township has a variety of inland lakes including Perch, Crooked Lake and Eight Point Lake.     http://www.garfieldtownship.net/pictures.htm

Garfield, Minnesota.  Located on the Central Lakes Trail. This is a 14 foot wide, 55 mile long, nearly level, paved trail built on a former railroad line stretching between Fergus Falls and Osakis. It additionally passes through the communities of Dalton, Ashby, Melby, Evansville, Brandon, Garfield, Alexandria, and Nelson. The trail traverses through, or next to, a scenic mixture of woodlands, grasslands, lakes, wetlands, and farm country.  http://www.garfieldmn.com/ and https://www.centrallakestrail.com/ 

Garfield, Minnesota - City Hall and Community Centre -

Back row: Paulynn Terhark (City Clerk), Joyce Kvilhaug (Council-member), John Nienaber Jr. (Mayor), Jason Uhde (Council-member) Front Row: Troy Mills (Council-member) and Trent Ziegelman (Council-member)

Image: http://www.garfieldmn.com

 Garfield, Missouri. A little village and post-office in Oak Grove Township. The village was earlier known at Sittonville for a captain of the Confederate army, John J. Sitton, who kept a store on his farm. When the post-office was established, in his store, Thomas Hays, an old army chum of his, suggested the name for President James A. Garfield.. All has disappeared but the school and church.

https://thelibrary.org/lochist/moser/oregonpl.html

Garfield, New Jersey. Originally called East Passaic when the town was developed in 1873 and the name was later changed to honour President Garfield.  There is an interesting history of the area here https://www.garfieldnj.org/

Garfield, New Mexico. It’s on the Rio Grande River. Elevation is 4,104.3 ft (1,251 meters) and the population in 2010 was 137.      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garfield,_New_Mexico

Garfield, New York. Rural locality; has a cemetery and a Church. South of Cherry Plain State Park. I found this out from Google maps.

Garfield, Ohio. Garfield is a tiny community of about twenty homes and a busy feed mill along Ohio State Route 534, right along the Norfolk Southern railroad a mile north of Damascus. When the railroad was built through Salem to Alliance and beyond in 1852, Garfield became an important stop on the line. The railroad brought businesses to Garfield, including the Spear fruit packing house, the Quaker Valley Fruit Canning House, the Garfield Creamery Company, a brick yard and Tillman Hall’s steam-powered feed mill. https://www.farmanddairy.com/columns/rusty-iron/garfield-ohio-home-to-macdonald/15356.html

Garfield, Pennyslvania. A suburb of Pittsburgh – described as ‘squeezed between Lawrenceville and Bloomfield, is the up and coming neighborhood of Garfield!  Receiving its namesake from being established the day US President James Garfield was buried, Garfield Pennsylvania is quickly becoming Pittsburgh's most lively community.  This neighborhood emphasizes the arts, Eco-friendly habits, and community togetherness’ https://www.thedustinnulfteam.com/garfield.html Another interesting website here https://pittsburghneighborhoodproject.blog/2019/03/01/garfield-a-neighborhood-profile

Garfield, Pennyslvania - A colorful assortment of row homes off of Dearborn Street 

on the south-western edge of Garfield.

Image: https://pittsburghneighborhoodproject.blog/2019/03/01/garfield-a-neighborhood-profile/

Garfield, Texas. Garfield, on State Highway 71 twelve miles southeast of Austin in eastern Travis County, was formed around 1880. In 1884 the settlement reported fifteen residents, a church, a school, a steam gristmill, a cotton gin, and a general store. By the early 1890s its population was estimated at 100. The Garfield post office was discontinued in 1902, and mail for the community was sent to Del Valle. During the 1980s, however, when developments on the Colorado River began attracting new residents, Garfield began to grow. In 1985 its residents voted to incorporate the community to avoid annexation with Austin. The population was reported at 745 in 1988, 1,336 by the early 1990s, and 1,660 in 2000.     https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/garfield-tx-travis-county

Garfield, Texas - Water Tower

Image and more information can be found here http://www.worldstallestwatersphere.com/?p=819

Garfield, Utah. The town of Garfield was a mining town built by Utah Copper in 1905-1906 to house the workers and their families who worked at the Smelter, Refinery, Arthur and Magna Mills. At one time there were over 2,000 people in Garfield.     https://onlineutah.us/garfieldhistory.shtml

Garfield, Vermont. The Town of Garfield was one of seven towns granted in 1779 by the State of Vermont. It was organized in 1798. Nearly all of the early settlers belonged to the Society of Friends (Quakers) and for many years that was "the only society that sustained regular religious worship" in the town. This is from a 1927 report Lessons From a Eugenical Survey of Vermont, so it makes for some 'interesting' reading     http://www.uvm.edu/~eugenics/primarydocs/00-temp-results-throwout/3rdannual.html

Garfield, Washington. It has a population of 600, is situated in the Palouse Hills region, surrounded by awe-inspiring scenery and golden wheat fields. ‘A more attractive and friendly town would be hard to find’. https://www.garfieldwa.com/

Garfield, West Virginia. The home of the Garfield Christian Church Cemetery. Here’s how to get there.  It is located near the Wirt-Jackson county line. Traveling up Turkey Fork road toward Palestine, turn right on Leroy road. Cemetery is about 1/4 mile on right at top of hill in a wooded area, not visible from road. It is a V-shaped lot between the Somerville-Davis and Wilkinson farms, with wide part toward the road.    https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/2481219/garfield-christian-church-cemetery

Garfield, Wisconsin. The town owns Lake Wapogasset Park. The park was deeded to the Town of Garfield on November 13, 1926. The rules for the park included the fact that ‘no public dancing, use of intoxicating liquors or disorderly conduct of any kind shall be permitted on said premises’. Has a website http://www.townofgarfield.com/

Garfield, Wisconsin - Town Hall

Image:  http://www.townofgarfield.com/

Letters to Aunt Patsy in the Advocate newspaper

The Advocate was Catholic newspaper which reported on and promoted Catholic interests. It was published from 1868 until 1990. The paper had a children’s column run by Aunt Patsy, which published letters and poems from school children. They had a club called the Magic Fairy Boat Club which the children could join. Aunt Patsy referred to all the children as her nieces and nephews, they called her aunty and referred to all the other children in the Club as their cousins.  The children were also encouraged to collect money for the Fund for Destitute Children, Surrey Hills, an orphanage. Many letters included donations and best wishes to the little orphans. There was also a library that the children could subscribe to. The library stocked Catholic books and magazines.

The start of the Aunt Patsy column.

The Advocate January 6, 1900 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article169863947

Here are some local letters to Aunty Patsy which describe life in Garfield, other local towns and what it was like being a child 100 or so years ago.

This is from 12 year old Mary Goulding, published June 2, 1906.  I live near Garfield, a railway station on the main line from Melbourne to Bairnsdale. The township consists of two grocers' shops, two blacksmiths' shops, one bootmaker's shop, one baker's shop, one coffee palace, one bank, two butchers' shops, and a hotel. We live a mile from St. Joseph's Catholic Church. The Rev. Fr. Byrne is our parish priest. He lives in the presbytery…. My little brother, aged ten, can milk for the last four years. We have fourteen cows, and one horse.

Catholic Church, Hall and Presbytery at Iona.

 Image from 100 years of a faith community: St Joseph’s Iona 1905 -2005 by Damian Smith (The Author, 2005)

Mary Goulding was published a few times and on July 14, 1906, she talked about her school. She attended Garfield State School where Mr. Daly is our head teacher. He is very kind to us. She also had an interesting description of a family trip to Ballarat. On September 8, 1906, Mary had another letter published the weather is becoming gradually milder now and the farmers up here are very busy ploughing their land, and getting ready to sow their crops This land is becoming more valuable lately. Some of it had attained the high price of £40 per acre, and some building allotments were sold at £150 per acre. I saw a motor car passing by a few days ago. It belongs to Captain A'Beckett of Bunyip. We have got some nice sand roads here now, heading to Garfield and Bunyip. On November 17, 1906, Mary wrote I have another little brother, three years old, and he is always watching an opportunity to kill the young turkeys and chickens. This sounds a bit alarming, but perhaps that was normal behaviour for young children in those days!

Mary’s brother Cornelius also wrote to Aunt Patsy, he had an interesting description of the Iona Catholic Church - We have a very nice altar in our church. The statue of the Blessed Virgin is in a little altar at the left-hand side, and all around the church are the Stations of the Cross. Cornelius then goes on to say I had nice little curls when I started to go to school, however he was only six and half so we can forgive him this non sequitur. 

On October 6, 1906, Ellen May Elizabeth Fitzpatrick wrote to Aunt Patsy and described Iona I am going to tell you about Iona. There are three stores, one Catholic church and presbytery; a new Hibernian Hall is getting built, one school (there's a new school nearly finished), one mechanics' institute, a new bank, a cream depot, and a post-office. Ellen wrote again on October 5, 1907, this time about Cora Lynn - There will be a township at Cora Lynn soon. Mr Murdoch is building a store there, and there are a lot of houses going up, too. On September 26, 1908, Ellen wrote about additions to the Church - We have a new organ and two statues, one of Jesus and Joseph, and one of our Blessed Lady. Ellen also wrote on December 19,1908 -   We saw a hawk take lizards and little birds into a hollow tree, so I climbed to see what was in it. When I got up to it there were five young ones in it. We brought them home, but mother would not let me keep them; she said the old hawks would kill the chickens.  In reply Aunt Patsy said I hope you put the young birds back in the nest. Even a mother hawk has feelings, Ellen!

Bridget Quigley of Cora Lynn wrote October 27, 1907, I go to a State school, and am in the fourth class. Our teacher's name is Mr. M'Gibbon. We are milking five cows, and have five little calves. We have about two and a half miles to walk to school.

This letter is from Elsie McKendry of Bunyip and shows the reality of farm life - I had a pet Iamb, but dadda sold it to the butcher; he came and took it away one day I was at school. I called it Daisy. Aunt Patsy wrote - Am sorry you lost your pet lamb. They grow to be sheep too soon (May 22, 1909).

More girls than boys wrote to Aunt Pasty, but here is another from one of her ‘nephews’, nine year old Robert Stanley Jeffers, who had this short description of the Swamp - It is a reclaimed swamp, and farmers all over it grow potatoes, onions, and oats. (July 31, 1909)

Katie Negus wrote from Garfield and enclosed a poem for publication. One of Katie’s poems had been published before, but Aunt Patsy did not like this one and told her You ought to make up your mind to study the best poetry, and it would help you to do better work (January 29, 1910). However, Katie was not deterred by this and wrote a few times more to Aunt Patsy telling about the recent confirmation of herself and her sister Eileen. Katie took the name Agnes as her confirmation name and Eileen that of Anne and then she added I hope with God's help, that we will imitate their lives. Katie also wrote that she successfully passed her exams and was awarded the Merit certificate and Katie praised her teacher, Mr Daly, of the Garfield State School but I think most praise is due to our good teacher, Mr. Daly, who tries very hard for our welfare. (December 17, 1910)

January 20, 1912, Joseph Finnigan from Cora Lynn wrote to Aunt Patsy I have lately taken an interest in reading books, as I am now eleven year of age. We have a children's library at the State school, but I do not care for them very much. Will you kindly send me "How They Made a Man of Johnny," or another suitable book. Aunt Patsy replied Have sent you two boys books. Yes, stick to your own Catholic library.

We will end with this letter from Mary Scanlon which was published on August 22, 1914 - I am learning music, and I go to my lesson every Saturday with my aunty. We have to drive about three miles, and the drive is lovely now, as all the wattles are in bloom; so, if you will let me know where to send some blossom for Wattle Day, aunty and I will send along some. My aunty (N. Cunningham) used to be one of your nieces one time…..Cora Lynn is, a small town ship. It consists of one store, hall, bank, school, factory, and several dwellings, also a very big canal, which sometimes overflows, and does a lot of harm to the residents.

All the letters quoted here are on this Trove list which I compiled, see it here.