Horsham Times (Vic. : 1882 - 1954), Friday 24 November 1905, page 3


OBITUARY. Our Nurcoung correspondent writes :-It is my sad duty to report the death of Mrs. Edwin Hiscock, a very old and respected resident of Nurcoung. The deceased lady had been in failing health for many months, and her death, which occurred on Saturday morning, 18th, at her home, did not come as a surprise to her relatives and many friends. Mrs Hiscock was 75 years of age, and a woman of sterling qualities. She possessed a kind heart and a goodly nature; her hand was ever extended to everyone in trouble, and even on her dying bed she thought about the welfare of others. She was respected and loved by all who were ac-quainted with her. Deceased was a woman of artistic tastes, and talked fluently on all topical subjects. She bore her long suffering with patience and cheerfulness, and retained her mental faculties almost to the last. Great sympathy is felt for her bereaved ones, more especially for the husband, who is well advanced on life's journey. May the Divine Being, of whom his departed wife was a faithful-servant, sustain him in his hour of trouble. The funeral took place on Monday in the Goroke cemetery, and was very largely attended. Mr Bolwell read the burial service, and Mr T. Jelbart had charge of the mortuary arrangements. Our Minimay correspondent writes:Mr Patrick Lavery, sen., one of the oldest and most highly respected residents of Minimay, passed away on Sunday afternoon, after a short illness of nine days. The deceased gentleman was born in County Armagh, Ireland, in March, 1821, and landed in Portland with his wife (who pre-deceased him some two years ago) in 1856. He first settled in Heywood, where he carried on business successfully for 27 years as blacksmith and farmer. Subsequently he removed to Minimay to join his sons, and carried on farming until his death. His family consisted of two sons, Mr Bernard Lavery, the well-known sheep dealer of "Daisy Hill," Minimay, and Mr P. J. Lavery, of "Vera Farm," Minimay, and five daughters, Mrs Jas. O'Neill (deceased), Mrs John Quinlivan, (Portland), Mrs Michael Kiely (Goroke), Mrs John Duffy (Melbourne), and Mrs John Devlin (also deceased). The late Mr Lavery, although he had not on account of his great age taken part in public life much of late years, was very well known throughout the dis-trict, and not only well known but very highly esteemed. Up to within a few days of his death he was at work as usual, for although there was not the slightest necessity for him to do so he was never happy when idle. To eulogise him in a few words I might say that he was industrious to a fault, kind, hospitable, generous and upright in all his dealings with his fellowmen and faithful to his God. Nine days before his death he was stricken down suddenly as if his system had broken up, and although he rallied at times there was little hope of his recovery during his short illness. He did not suffer much pain till the last 24 hours when it seemed to come on at intervals till about an hour before he died, when it left him and he passed peacefully away, but conscious nearly to the last. His funeral took place on Tuesday afternoon, when a very large assemblage, con-sisting of 40 buggies and 25 horsemen followed the remains to their last resting place in the Minimay cemetery. The Rev. Father Denny, of Narracoorte, was the officiating clergyman, and Mr Thomas Jelbart, of Goroke, carried out the mor-tuary arrangements efficiently. The death occurred last week at the Village Settlement, near Dimboola, of James A. McDonald, aged 73. Mr Jobn Want, K.C., a leading Sydney barrister and politician, died on Wednesday. He was Attorney-General in the Dibbs, the Jennings, and the Reid Ministries. He was born in Sydney in 1848. Mrs. Mary Callaghan, wife of Mr John Callaghan, Ararat, died on Saturday, aged 89. She had been 52 years in Victoria. Mrs E. Pratt, an old resident of' Mount Gambier, died on Saturday, aged 68. Rev. Elder Gray, B.A., D.D., who for the past 28 years has been the pastor of the Clunes Presbyterian Church, died on Tues-day at the age of 57. Mr John Blamey, blacksmith, died sud-denly at Creswick on Tuesday. Deceased was one of the first to begin business in Creswick, 50 years ago: He was the oldest member of the fire brigade, having joined that body 39 years back.