Hamilton Spectator (Vic. : 1870 - 1918), Saturday 6 June 1914, page 4


DEATH OF A DISTRICT PIONEER.

A very old and respected resident of the Hamilton district in Mrs. Sophia Neville, relict of the late C. Neville, passed away yesterday at the residence of her son, Mr. Robert Thomson, of Pierrepoint. The de-ceased lady, who was 83 years of age, and who until a month ago had never known sickness, was a Miss

Gerdtz, the daughter of one of the pioneers of the district. A native of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, she arrived in Melbourne over 60 years ago when there were but few habit-ations in the capital, and when the family came to Hamilton there were

only two houses where the town now stands. She and her first hus-band, Mr. Robert Thomson, arrived under engagement to Captain Carr

of Lyne station, and subsequently

they were at Bochara and Park Hill the last-named property at one time being owned by Mr. Thomson and

his brothers. She was widowed ab-out fifty years ago, and some time later she married Mr. C. Neville, who also predeceased her many years ago For the past nine years she had re-sided at Pierrepoint with her sec-ond son, and it was there that she ended a long life of usefulness. By her first marriage she leaves a daugh-ter and three sons—Mrs. Garton of

Wochipooer ; James, of Western Australia; Robert, of Pierropoint. ; and Alexander, of Wochipooer. The only survivor of the second family is

the Rev. C. Neville, Presbyterian

minister, of North Fitzroy. Messrs. Fred. Gerdtz of Murtoa, and John Gerdtz, of Minyip are brothers. The funeral will take place on Sunday, moving from Mr. Thomson's resi-dence, Pierrepoint, at 2.30 o'clock for the Hamilton cemetery.