John Williams (South Australian politician)

John Williams (1824 – 4 April 1890) was a pastoralist and politician in the colony of South Australia.

History

Williams arrived in South Australia in 1839 at the age of 14[1] and worked on a farm on the River Para.[2] He purchased property at Black Rock in 1851,[1] which he developed as a sheep run, and with his brother George Sibley Williams (c. 1825 – 20 December 1902) owned a sheep run at Parnaroo, east of Peterborough, with little success, largely due to the rabbit plague.[3] Their partnership was dissolved in 1876.[4]

He was member for Barossa 1864–1865 and for Flinders 1865–1868 and 1875–1878. He retired to his home in North Adelaide. He was not a brilliant debater, and only spoke on subjects with which he was thoroughly conversant.

He made a sizeable fortune through an early investment in the Broken Hill Proprietary Company. He died at his home "Halberstadt", Jeffcott Street, North Adelaide, after a long illness.[2] Mrs. Williams, her daughter Miss Guy and at least one son retired to New Zealand.

Family

He married Isabel Barbara Howard (died 21 September 1866) on 22 December 1857.[5] Isabel was a daughter of Rev. Charles Beaumont Howard and step-daughter of Rev. James Farrell. He married again, to the widow Maria Guy (née MacDowell) on 18 June 1872;[6] they had a home "Syward Lodge", Mitcham. Maria had married Lieut. M(ichael) Stewart Guy R.N. (c. 1840 – 4 July 1869) on 13 July 1867[7] and had a daughter on 21 June 1868. Children of John and Maria include:

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 "Black Rock". Flinders Ranges Research. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
  2. 2.0 2.1 "Obituary". South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900) (Adelaide, SA: National Library of Australia). 14 April 1890. p. 2 Supplement: Supplement to the South Australian Register. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
  3. "The West and North-west of Port Augusta". The Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901 - 1929) (Adelaide, SA: National Library of Australia). 31 December 1923. p. 8. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
  4. "Advertising.". South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900) (Adelaide, SA: National Library of Australia). 2 November 1876. p. 2. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
  5. "Family Notices". South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900) (Adelaide, SA: National Library of Australia). 23 December 1857. p. 2. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
  6. "Family Notices". South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900) (Adelaide, SA: National Library of Australia). 19 June 1872. p. 4. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
  7. "Family Notices". Adelaide Observer (SA : 1843 - 1904) (SA: National Library of Australia). 3 August 1867. p. 5. Retrieved 1 April 2015.