Burra Record (SA : 1878 - 1954) Wed 5 Jul 193392436

OBITUARY
The Late Mr. Thomas Henry Pearse.
'There is no death,
What seems so is transition ;
This life of mortal breath
Is but a suburb of the life elysian
Whose portals we call death
The late Mr. Thomas Henry Pearse
J.P., who died at 'Glenbower,' 'The
Gums Station,' Florieton, on 26th
June, at the age of 76 years, was born
at Holne Village, Devonshire, in
1857, being a member of a family
of nine sons and one
daughter. Several of his brothers
died in Australia, and one surviving
brother is at present a draughtsman
at Keyham Dockyard, Plymouth. The
late Mr. Pearse emigrated to Austra
lia in 1877 on the sailing vessel 'For-
farshire' (Captain Brown) being 72
days on the voyage.
He went north per train and bul
lock dray and opened a wheel
wright's business at Terowie and
later at Hallett. Mr. Pearse in 1884
in conjunction with his brother in
law, the late Mr. William Cockrum,
purchased 'The Gums Station' from
Messrs R. M. and W. J. McBride, of
Kooringa. 'The Gums Station'
when he took it over was quite a
small proposition, portions of it and
the surrounding country had been
farmed, but being outside Goyder's
Line of Rainfall, it was quite un-
suited for that purpose and eventu-
ally Mr. Pearse bought out thirty
three farmers and settlers to make
the property what it is to-day, a hold-
ing of 97,000 acres. Later on he
purchased Caroona station, east of
Mount Bryan, in conjunction with his
father-in-law, the late Mr. George
Hiles, of Petherton, Mount Bryan. A
brother of Mr. Pearse, Mr. Harry
Pearse, managed the latter place un-
til he died, and later Mr. Pearse's
eldest son, Bertram, became the own
er.
Mr. Pearse was thrice married, his
first wife being Emily, a daughter of
Mr. George Hiles; of this marriage
there were four sons and one daugh-
ter, one son died in infancy. His
second wife was Adeline, also a
daughter of Mr. Hiles, a son of this
union died in infancy. His third
wife, who survives him is Eveline
Mathilde Herminie, a daughter of the
late Mr. R. Meinck, a well-known far-
mer of Quorn. The eldest son, Ber-
tram Wellesley, died of wounds at
Gallipoli in 1915. The surviving
sons Norman Hiles and Harold Leslie
live at 'The Gums Station.'
The daughter, Ida Elizabeth
(whose husband, Mr. A. Scott Mar-
tin, of Elder, Smith and Co., was
so tragically killed in a motor smash a
few years ago) pre-deceased both her
husband and father.
With his sons Mr. Pearse founded
the firm of T. H. Pearse and Sons
Ltd. Amongst their holdings was
'Warioota Station' in the North, and
a share in 'Witchelina Station,' Far-
ina. They also hold extensive areas
in Yundamindra and Mount Celia
stations, near Leonora, Western Aus-
tralia, being among the first of many
South Australians to open up that  
part of Western Australia for sheep.
Mr. Pearse came from the good
old yeoman stock of England and he
knew how to battle against drought
and adversity during his lifetime.
The deceased gentleman was for
many years a member of the Morgan
and Apoinga District Councils, and
the Stockowners' Council of South
Australia. Keenly interested in all
matters pertaining to the pastoral in-
dustry, he, with the late Messrs. P. L
Killicoat and John Barker and other
well known pastoralists, was instru-
mental, during a period of drought,
in getting the rental on leasehold
country East of Burra reduced and
the leases placed under "the lease in
perpetuity Act. " 
Mr. Pearse with his wife did a
world tour in 1924, during which. he
visited his birthplace and placed a
memorial tablet to his soldier son in
the old parish church. He retired
from active pastoral pursuits in 1919,
spending the latter years of his life
at Brighton, but he maintained the
managing directorship of his pastoral
concerns. He was an active member
of Brighton Bowling Club. In the
boom of prosperity and during the
Great War, Mr. Pearse's generosity
was unbounded and his well known
personality on "big appeal days" in
Burra was always to be seen amongst
the band of "bidders" and many were
the patriotic funds helped by his
marked liberality.
Coming from a wrestling and box-  
ing county, as a young man he was
an able exponent of these pastimes.
He was a keen and amusing racon-
teur of yarns of the early days, and
had he so desired could have written
a most interesting autobiography.
Being recognised as one of nature's
gentlemen, of unimpeachable integ-
rity and honor and gifted with a
genial optimistic nature, he will be    
missed by a very large circle of
friends. There are eight grand
children.
The funeral took place at Kooringa
on Wednesday afternoon from St.
Mary's Church where a most impres-
sive service was conducted by Arch-
deacon Bussell of North Adelaide,
and attended by the widow, two sons
and other relatives of the deceased
gentleman. At the close, of the ser-
vice Mr. G. H. Dow, who presided at
the organ, played the 'Dead March in
Saul.' whilst the large congregation
stood with bowed heads.
Masses of beautiful floral tributes
covered the hearse and bier and the
attendance representative of all the
leading pastoralists besides other
friends. Amongst the latter was
Major Lance Lewis of Messrs Golds-
brough, Mort and Co. Ltd., Adelaide.
The bearers were Messrs John Kel-
lock, John R. Barker, Glen G.
Hawkes, Reg. Warnes, Albert G. Geb-
hardt and W. E. Hodge.