Portland Guardian (Vic. : 1876 - 1953)(about) |
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Thursday 14 October 1926
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.. Obituary MR."JAMES R. KEAN. At Ararat on Monday last Death dlame another old and highly respected Portlends lii the, perenn of Mr James R. Kean. Jus seven years ago Mr Kean passed finally on ot public life, increasing ill-health corm pelling him to relinquish hie businese efte an unbroken period of 33 years, Born I Portland in February, 1858, be was educe ted in his native town, and though left an orphan at the age of 1lyeare, ambition an perseveranoe enabled him, after varied ox periencee, as a young man to start life i 1878 as a job printer. In 1880 he undertoo journalistic work, producing a newspaper calle I the " Portland Mirror." a small dam folio sheet, with a guarantee of 500 so morioersr, Io well did the venture euccee that in three months it was enlarged to double its original size,. and in 1881 it a sunned the form of an influential and p-to date journal. In AugusRt, 1885, Mr Kean purchased the " Portland Guruian "lrom the late Mr T. A. Pettit (fatheroe the pre i.ent proprietor), which, established in181, claims the' tiique :dlitinction of baton th oldest paper in Victoria.' Right on fto his youth, durinag which he had manylirel experiences in" connection with thet struction of the Hamilton-Portland tai way, Mr Kean .possessed an nsehakbl feaith in the ultimate development of Pot land as a great overseas port, and, eve through the.darkeat days of the old town history, he worked untiringly to ftoar every movement in that direction. No political, munioipal and journalistic ets must, as time goes on, appear to agits and fight for the rights of the port and di trict, and in the light of fresh events interests such men as Mr Kean and his con temporaries may become forgotten, but them and their predecessors most be give the credit of " blazing the track," The may not have seen the shipment of whet from Portland, but they gave of their bet in advocating the construction of the rail ways that now carry the grain to it natural port. Apart from his activities a.journaliest, Mr Kean was actively 5essoct ted with all the principal publicmovement in the town ard district, and was highly e teemed by all for his upright dealings an kindly dispositlon: He was a prominentt worker for the Portland Exhibition, as wel as innumerable other similar organleation whoch, in the "good old day," asseumed splendour befitting the occasion, fie w an enthusiastio lover of horses and go clean sport, and from 1888 to 1893 filledt position of secretary to the Portland Rid Club. It was during his term of office, sn to a great extent due to his untiring ern ginse, that the present grandteand w erected. Those who know him inumttel realised his true obristtan principles, as right to his life's end he maintained an neat faith and reverence for everythiog which he discerned the Creator' hand, 1 wee for a number of years a memoer of t choir of St. Stephen's Church, add waaels a brother of the Masonic Lodge early manhood. In 1892, acting upoa medi cal advice, he decided to live further froi the sea, and purchased a small farm Ot miles south of the town, and known Y Heathlands " Here, in his spare timer, found health and profitable recreation as pioneer farmerof the South Portland healt and the result of his efforts in the produo tion of potatoes, maize, mangolde, fruit 4 cereals of. all descriptions proved beyon doubt that the land would grow nythi and growait' well. ' Though approached severql ocosaions to contest on leootion municipal honors; and with largelysi requisitions to the same effect, Mr never:entered that particular sphere ofpub lie 'life,' tieing convinced that he could lo devote sufficient time to ouch a poetilt His life was one of tireless energy, mental and physical, and nature could n withstand the continual strain. Bodily ad mental capaoity became worn out, and tl greatest specialelts could not restore the In 1885 he married Miss Jane Robertso youngest daughter of Mr and Mrs AngO1 Robertson, of Struan station. The gentlemanleaoves a Widow and family o -Mrs W. A. Wilsole, ,urrayvillo; Jem West Australia; Olive and Jessio (Mrs W. Schunke), Portland, to whom is o de the sympathy of a large circle of friends, The remains were convoyed to Portle and Interred on Tuesday in the ounth tory. ' lav. Wm. Tait officiated at graveside, and Mr W A. Jrrettonarritedo the mortuary arrangements,