Camperdown Chronicle (Vic. : 1877 - 1954)(about) |
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Tuesday 28 May 1940
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OBITUARY
MRS. MARY NELSON (Contributed)
The great host of friends throughout the Camperdown, Cob den and Cowley's Creek districts were grieved to learn of the death, on May 5 of one of the earliest pioneers in the person of Mrs. Nel son at "?????? Villa", Manifold ???????, Camperdown, after an ill ness of seven weeks due to a fall at her home. With her family she was ???? ???? from the very early days of Cobden and Cowley's Creek when there were no roads and the only means of transport was the bullock wagons and only bush tracks. Mrs. Nelson was born in England in the year 1845 and arrived in Australia with her parents at the age of three years, with her elder brother, Clement, and a younger sister, Elizabeth. Their mother died six months later and was buried in the old Melbourne cemetery. Her father, Clement Mumford, who was a surveyor, left Melbourne for South Aus tralia and was not heard of after wards. Mrs. Nelson's mother's maiden name was Mary Perry, and she was a sister to Bishop Perry of the Anglican Church, Melbourne, at this time. Mrs. Nelson married Frederick Till at Geelong in the year 1863 and went to reside in Cobden. There were four children, one son and three daughters. She only en joyed eight years of married life when her first husband was acci dentally killed, leaving her with a young family. She later married John Peter and there were five girls in the second family. Mrs. Nelson left Cobden in the year 1886 to settle at Cowley's Creek, where she resided for about 25 years. She married Mr. Nelson very late in life; he, also was one of the early pioneers of Cowley's Creek. She had been living retired for the past 30 years in the home from which she was laid to rest. Mrs. Nelson leaves behind her one son and six daughters, forty four grand-children, 55 great grand children and one great great-grand child. The whole of her descendants are a fine type of Australians and some of the grand children are following in her footsteps on the land, others are holding respon sible positions in banks and the Government in all parts of Aus tralia. Her only son, Mr. Will Till, of Princetown, was associated with the rescue of the only two surviv ors of the "Loch Ard." It was difficult to characterise Mrs. Nelson. She possessed an in dividuality that made her one of the truly colourful women of her time. She had the courage of her convictions and made a sharp working distinction between right and wrong. Her sound business judgment not only resulted in success in her personal affairs, but caused her counsel to be sought by all who knew her. To those who knew and loved her, she was above all else a very real and very true friend whose passing will leave a void that can not be filled.