Hugo Louis Beyers

Hugo Louis Beyers
Born Ludwig Hugo Beyers
1 January 1845[1]
Posen, Westpreussen, Prussia
Died 28 May 1910 (aged 65)[1]
Mount Morgans, Western Australia, Australia
Residence Prussia, New South Wales and Western Australia
Occupation gold miner and politician
Spouse(s) Mary Emmett (1850–1883)[2]
Children Sylvia Helena Beatrice Beyers (1868–1919), Gertrude Harriet Adeline Beyers (1870–1966), Oswald Arthur Bernard Beyers (1873–1943), Letita Mary Aurora Beyers (1874–1883), Clara Victoria Matilda Beyers (1877–1949), Theodore Greville Mcculloch Beyers (1878–1940), Bellvinah Clorinda Lou Beyers (1881–1914)
Relatives Bernhardt Holtermann (husband of sister-in-law) and business partner

Ludwig Hugo (Louis) Beyers was a German Australian gold miner and politician.[3]

Biography

After his parents died in Westprussia from plague, he immigrated at age 13 to America, arriving in New York. Not permitted to proceed to the California goldfields because of his youth, he then journeyed to Australia, arriving in 1856.[3][4]

He married Mary Emmett (daughter of Edward Emmett) on 22 February 1868 at White Rock, near Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia in a double wedding. Mary's sister Harriet married his friend and mining partner Bernhardt Holtermann.

Career

On arrival in Sydney, he worked as a draper's assistant, and in 1856 moved to Hill End to mine gold. He also prospected at Rockhampton, the Snowy River, Lucknow and in New Zealand. He set up a partnership with Bernard Holtermann at Hill End and in 1870 – 1871, they struck a rich vein of gold and in 1872, they floated the Star of Hope Gold Mining Company which found the largest specimen of reef gold (Holtermann's nugget).[1][5]

He was an alderman at Hill End from 1875, and its mayor from 1876 until 1877 and again from 1885. He was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly on 12 November 1877, retiring on 23 November 1882. He was the member for Goldfields from 12 November 1877 to 9 November 1880 and Mudgee from 1 December 1880 to 23 November 1882.[1] He was a patron of the local hospital at Hill End and a member of many friendly societies.[1]

A friend, to whom he had entrusted the management of his estate, enriched himself and left Beyers bankrupted in 1894.[4] He moved to Mount Higgins, Western Australia, where he successfully resumed mining.[1]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Parliament of New South Wales Former Member: Mr Hugo Louis BEYERS (1845–1910)
  2. "Family Notices.". The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 – 1954) (NSW: National Library of Australia). 2 April 1883. p. 1. Retrieved 14 April 2013.
  3. 3.0 3.1 "PERSONAL.". Barrier Miner (Broken Hill, NSW : 1888 – 1954) (Broken Hill, NSW: National Library of Australia). 24 June 1910. p. 4. Retrieved 14 April 2013.
  4. 4.0 4.1 "MINING VICISSITUDES.". Kalgoorlie Miner (WA : 1895 – 1950) (WA: National Library of Australia). 10 June 1910. p. 8. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
  5. "MINING VICISSITUDES.". Kalgoorlie Miner (WA : 1895 – 1950) (WA: National Library of Australia). 17 June 1910. p. 3. Retrieved 15 April 2013.

Further reading

Parliament of New South Wales
Preceded by
Member for Goldfields West
1877–1880
Succeeded by
Parliament of New South Wales
Preceded by
Member for Mudgee
1880–1882
Succeeded by