AUSTRALIA-OBITS-L Archives

From: Trevor <>
Subject: BRISTOL FAMILY Tarnagulla
Date: Tue, 01 Feb 2005 08:12:24 +1100

I am posting this 1911 obituary in case anyone is researching the
BRISTOL family of Tisbury, Wilts. and might find it useful.
Trevor

“DEATH OF MR HENRY C. BRISTOL”

AN IDEAL TOWN CLERK

The lamented death of Mr Henry Charles Bristol, at his residence,
Tarnagulla, takes from us a splendid citizen, an ideal father – and
breaks another well-worn link in the golden chain binding the past
history of this town with the present.

His life was gentle; and the elements
admixed in him that Nature might stand up
And say to all the world – This was a man!

The gold discoveries in the Fifties attracted to Australia many men of
the best frame and fibre that Britain possessed – and Mr Bristol was one
of them. Like many of the pioneers, he was blessed with a remarkably
robust constitution, which he never abused and, though in his eightieth
year, he had scarcely ever known a day’s sickness until stricken with
severe illness three months ago. Skilful medical care and nursing caused
him to rally for a time and hope was entertained that his vigorous
nature would so assert itself that he might be spared a few years
longer, but a kindly Providence ruled otherwise. His work was done, and
surrounded by the members of his devoted family he peacefully passed
into his rest and reward.

Mr Bristol, who was often looked on as a typical English gentleman, was
a native of Tisbury, Wiltshire, and arrived in Victoria at twenty years
of age. After following the varying fortunes of the early goldfields at
Maryborough, Castlemaine, Ararat &c, he eventually came to Tarnagulla,
(then Sandy Creek), to manage King’s Chiliean (sic Mills, on the famous
Poverty Reef – a position of great responsibility owing to the richness
of the stone being treated. Besides being keenly interested in the
development of the mining industry of the district, he also established
the local flour mill.

Perhaps one of the noblest monuments of his energy and self sacrifice is
to be seen in the beautiful brick Methodist Church of which property he
has been for over half a century a trustee, his early fellow-workers
being Messrs Bowles, Davis Bros. J Falder, and the gifted Thomas Pybus.

Mr Bristol’s musical gifts enabled him to render good service in the
choir, of which he was a valuable member, and never, or seldom, was his
place vacant. In the palmy days of Tarnagulla the Church choir attained
an unusually high standard of efficiency, and included in its ranks,
many members of rare musical gifts. Men might come; men might go, but Mr
Bristol remained, his motto being, “I’ll praise my Maker while I’ve
breath.” His greatest work was undoubtedly in the Sunday School, where
for two generations he sought to train the thoughts and mould the
characters of a large number of young people who were fortunate to come
under his influence. There are people occupying high and honourable
positions in our land today, who date much of their success in life to
the grand moral grounding they received from Mr Bristol, to whom they
gratefully look back as their guide, philosopher and friend.

Prior to his acceptance of the town clerkship of the borough, a position
he has held for 28 years, he, from its inception, was a member of the
Borough Council and occupied the chair as Mayor; he was also a
correspondent for the Board of Advice during its tenure.

Of trials and sorrows he had a full share, but if a man’s character and
reputation are gauged by the fortitude with which he looks a frowning
fortune in the face – then the name of H C Bristol must have a high and
honourable place on the roll of heroes. Not merely did he act the part
of a dutiful father, but, as his wife predeceased him by some thirty
years the care and training of the family during early childhood drew
from him the solicitude of a mother and, how well he did his work!

The sportmanlike side of his life expressed itself in a devoted interest
to those noble animals, the horse and dog, while his gun brought the
game with unerring precision. A few days before his end came, the
present by a friendly sportsman of a few quail seemed to light up the
memories of hunting pleasure of the past.

Though past the allotted span of life, he possessed an alertness of
intellect and an elasticity of step, combined with an erectness of
carriage that were the envy of younger men.

While his habitual cheerfulness, his breezy humour, his cheery
salutation, and his tender sympathy will be missed by many – yet these
are the qualities that others may, with much profit, imitate.

The funeral took place on Tuesday afternoon, and the cortege presented
an impressive spectacle when passing the Town Hall, where the flag
floated half-mast high. The pall-bearers were Cr Stafford, Cr Nicholls,
Messrs P Renshaw, M Robinson, C Falder and ex-Cr Williams (Acting Town
Clerk). In the procession were the mayor (Cr Jennings), Crs Laidlaw,
Ison, Duggan, Toole and Ramsay, with the principal residents of the town
and district. The Rev James Smith impressively conducted the service at
the graveside, and the mortuary arrangements were creditably carried out
by Mr T Roper of Tarnagulla.”

_Source_: “The Tarnagulla and Llanelly Courier”, Saturday July 1, 1911.
[Victoria, Australia]

This thread:

• BRISTOL FAMILY Tarnagulla by Trevor <>