On 22^nd April 1914, William Alexander Wallace TILLER married Mabel Christine LEIPOLD in the Protestant Hall, Kookynie. The reception was held at the Maybe Gold Mine. William was the son of William TILLER and Anne BEARDMORE (Dec) and was from Victoria. Mabel was the daughter of George Frederick LEIPOLD and Elizabeth THOMPSON and was also from Victoria.

William Alexander Wallace TILLER married Mabel Christine LEIPOLD – Kookynie 22 Apr 1914 – Photo Jenny de Lacy.

At the Protestant Hall in Kookynie a marriage was solemnised between Mabel, second daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Leipold, of the “Maybe” homestead, Niagara, and Alexander, first son of Mr. and Mrs. W. Tiller, late of Boulder. The ceremony was performed by the Rev. Herbert B. Lockyer, of the Presbyterian manse, Leonora. The bride wore a charming dress of cream satin, with guipure lace, and pearl trimmings, the usual wreath, and veil, and carried a bouquet of roses, carnations, and ferns.

It was said this was the last marriage held in Kookynie –

The bride was attended by her sisters, Misses Elizabeth, and Lillian Leipold, who wore white net lace over silk, and white ninon over satin, respectively, both wore brooches, the gifts of the bridegroom. The bridegroom was attended by Mr. George W. Leipold, as best man. The bridegroom’s present to the bride was a handsome gold chain and locket, the bride’s present to the bridegroom being gold sleeve links. A large reception was held at the “Maybe” homestead, the interior of which had been prettily arranged with flowers.

Mr. and Mrs. Leipold received the guests at the entrance, and the wedding breakfast was laid in the dining room. Mr. W. Mills proposed the health of the bride and bridegroom in a happy and well-chosen speech, to which the bridegroom ably responded and at the same time proposed the health of the bridesmaids, to which the Rev. Lockyer responded. The wedding presents were numerous and were laid out on tables for the guests’ inspection. In the evening a dance was held and kept up to a late hour.

The Children of William and Mabel

Violet Minetta born 1915 at Gwalia WA
Jack Leipold born 1915 at Gwalia WA
Edith born and died 1918 at Leonora WA age 5 days.
George William born 1920 at Kalgoorlie WA
Alexander Wallace born 1921 at Menzies WA
Ivan Gordon born 1932 at Kellerberrin WA

William died after a long life on the 23 Aug 1983 in Kellerberrin at the age of 92yrs, WA and Mabel pre deceased him on the 12 Jan 1975 also in Kellerberrin at 80yrs. All of their six children, apart from baby Edith, lived long lives. They are buried together in the Kellerberrin Cemetery as well as two of their sons, Ivan and George and Georges wife Elsie.

Just over a year after the wedding, Mabel’s father, George Frederick Leipold, was killed in a mining accident on the 27 Oct 1915 at the Niagara Gold Mine, Kookynie. He is buried in the Kookynie Cemetery. He was only 51yrs old. His wife Elizabeth re married in 1919 in Kookynie to John Stuart CAIRNS.

Grave of George Frederick Leipold – Kookynie Cemetery – Photo Ancestry.com

George Frederick LEIPOLD and Elizabeth nee THOMPSON – Parents of Mabel – Photo Ancestry.com

Reference: Niagara Kookynie – How it was by Margaret Pusey

Many of our readers will have seen this well-known wedding photograph featured in the ‘Wedding Breakfast’ room in the British Arms section of the WA Museum Kalgoorlie-Boulder in Kalgoorlie. However, you may not know about the bride and groom and the others in the image. The wedding breakfast in the photo was taken at the family home at 47 Lionel Street, Kalgoorlie (now no longer there), the home of the bride’s parents, William Henry Pearson CARDEN (Who worked at the Ivanhoe Mine Kalgoorlie) and Mary Ann ‘Minnie’ nee COLLIS. The wedding took place on the 29th June 1910 in Kalgoorlie and was conducted by the Rev Bailey.

Wedding of John ‘Jack’  Francis CUCEL to Stella Ada Annie CARDEN – Photo WA Museum

From around the table L-R:  – Linda MURFIN (Bridesmaid) – Mrs Martha MURFIN – Mr Harold MURFIN (Kalgoorlie Jeweller who made the wedding ring and was also best man) – Mary Ann CARDEN (Mother of Bride) – Frank CARDEN (Brother of Bride) – Mr Frederick CARDEN , Groom – Bride – Miss Jenkins (Bridesmaid) – William H P CARDEN (Father of Bride).

Kalgoorlie Miner  8 July 1910, page 2

Wedding of John ‘Jack’  Francis CUCEL to Stella Ada Annie CARDEN – Photo WA Museum

Jack and Stella went on to have three children, all boys: John Francis Jr CUCEL born 1911 Kalgoorlie, Allan George CUCEL born 1916 Kalgoorlie, William Leslie CUCEL born 1917 Southern Cross. Jack died in 1955 in Jarradale, WA and Stella died in Perth WA in 1964.

I was recently sent the following story and photographs from the family history of Michael WALTON, many thanks for sharing with us Michael.

George William Crawford was born on 3 July 1894 in Wallsend New South Wales. His father was a coal miner, who moved the family to Outtrim in Victoria when George was about 2 years old.  In 1903, the family passed through Kalgoorlie on their way to Gwalia, seeking their fortune.  On 24 May 1903, their Gwalia cottage burnt down probably due to “the kerosene fiend” (as Katharine Susannah Prichard called it).  The family barely escaped with their lives and moved again – this time to Collie, to the Cardiff CM, WA, where George’s father became a coal mine manager and helped build the community hall that still stands today.

George came from a long line of Scottish coal miners, but mining wasn’t for him. trains were his thing. He left home at 18 and moved to Kalgoorlie where he worked as a cleaner for the West Australian Government Railways. After about six months he was transferred to Laverton, where he lasted ten days before resigning and returning to Kalgoorlie.  George worked as a conductor for the Kalgoorlie Electric Tramways in 1915, but shortly thereafter landed his dream job as a locomotive fireman. George was also to find his dream girl in Kalgoorlie.

Hannah ‘Annie’ May Newsome was born on the 28 June 1895 in Footscray Melbourne. Her family moved to Fremantle in 1901.  She and her siblings took their new step-father’s name, so Hannah became Annie May Amess.  In 1909 her step-father was killed in a shunting accident in Fremantle and the family moved to Kalgoorlie the next year. Both Annie May and her mother were admitted to the Kalgoorlie Hospital in 1910 for several months with endocarditis – a life-threatening condition in the days before penicillin.

Wedding Photograph of George William CRAWFORD to Annie May nee AMESS – 11 Oct 1916 Kalgoorlie.

George was admitted to the Kalgoorlie Hospital in September 1916 with an injury to his right hand. (His granddaughters to this day recall that he had part of a finger missing on one hand.) George was discharged on 3 October 1916 – eight days before his wedding to Annie May Amess at the Presbyterian Church in Kalgoorlie. Eight days before the above photograph was taken. George can be seen sitting down, nursing his injured hand.

His bride, Annie May, is standing next to him. The identity of the others in the photograph are not known for certain, but these are the best guesses.  On the right, next to Annie May, is her sister Alice Maud Newsome/Amess who married Albert Victor Everett in Kalgoorlie in 1910.  The elegant lady at the end is Annie May’s mother, Esther Ann Amess nee Dixon.  Behind them is Annie May’s brother, Ernest William Amess, who served in the 11th Battalion and was wounded on 25 April 1915 as they landed at Gallipoli. On the left is seated George’s sister Ethel Maud Johnstone nee Crawford from Collie. She married Joseph Johnstone, who is standing behind George. At the end is presumed to be Annie Jane Crawford nee Whiley, George’s mother.

Certificate of Marriage of George and Annie Crawford.

After Esther Ann Amess died aged 48yrs in September 1917 (she is buried in the Kalgoorlie cemetery), George and Annie May left Kalgoorlie to live in Collie, where their son George Joseph ‘Nobby’ Crawford was born in December.  Sadly on the 5th  September 1919, Annie May became the first victim of Spanish Flu in Collie, she is buried in the Collie Cemetery. George moved to New South Wales and never returned to Western Australia.  He was a union leader in the Federated Engine Drivers and Fireman’s Association during ‘The Great Lockout’ of 1929-1930 in the Hunter Valley. He died in Newcastle on 19 December 1956.

Collie Mail 6 September 1919, page 4

George was to remarry Martha Ann CASEY in NSW in 1920, they had a further two children, Robert Casey born in 1920 and Ernest William born in 1924. Martha died in 1928 aged 39yrs.

I was recently contacted by Melissa Atkinson about a photograph I had posted on the Outback Family History Facebook page of the wedding of her great aunt, Edna Howie. She told me that her gorgeous Nana was Beryl Howie, Edna’s sister,  and she told me a wonderful story about how:

The Howie girls made matrimonial history in Kalgoorlie.

The Mirror Perth – 12 July 1952, page 1

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SEVEN SISTERS LED TO THE SAME ALTAR

It is believed, that never before have 7 sisters married in one church (Kalgoorlie Wesley Church) in one town in the correct age sequence. Moreover, the wedding enabled each of the 7 sisters, now living in various parts of the State, to be reunited for the first time in 11 years.
John Storey, who married Christina Howie, comes from Tyneside, Northumberland, England, and the newlyweds will spend their honeymoon in that county, possibly staying there for 2 or 3 years. The wedding was a big affair and, apart from the bride’s sisters living on the Fields, other sisters made special trips to attend. They were Mrs C. Henson (Bunbury), Mrs. G. Davidson (Northam), and Mrs. A. Grime (Bassendean).

Wesley Church Kalgoorlie – Photo Sandy Duncan

Daughters of Peter Wilson HOWIE and Florence Myrtle nee PERRIS – The couple were to have eight daughters with one sadly dying in her first year, Myrtle Ruth, born and died Kalgoorlie 1913.

Cecil H Henson and Beryl L Howie’s wedding Kalgoorlie 1947 – Photo Melissa Atkinson (Beryl’s granddaughter)

The Howie girls in order of birth and marriage:

Florence Edna HOWIE born Coolgardie 1911 married Frank KIRKBY in 1935 – born Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, England
Gwendoline May HOWIE born Kalgoorlie 1914 married Clifford ‘Ginger’ PRESTON 1938 born Winterton, Lincolnshire, England
Hazel Jean HOWIE born Kalgoorlie 1919 married John George DAVIDSON 1938
Joan Pearl HOWIE born Kalgoorlie 1921 married Anthony Osmond ‘Bill’ GRIME 1942 – born Pingelly, WA
Barbara Iris HOWIE born Kalgoorlie 1923 married John Lindsay PIPPIN 1946
Beryl Lorraine HOWIE born Kalgoorlie 1925 married Cecil Herbert HENSON 1947 – born London England
Shirley Christina HOWIE born Kalgoorlie 1927 married John Robert STOREY 1952 – born Tynemouth, Northumberland, England

This morning’s King’s Park Wishing Well snap of newlyweds Mr and Mrs John Robert Storey

The most excited young honeymooning bride (above) in Perth this morning is the youngest of 7 sisters who have all been married in the same church and all in descending order according to their age. But the reason for her excitement is her departure by the Strathaird on Monday which means her first sight of things beyond Kalgoorlie and Perth.

 

Florence Howie & Frank Kirkby. Photo Ancestry.com

Sunday Times 11 August 1935 – The KIRKBY – HOWIE Wedding.

The bride, Mrs F Kirkby was formerly Miss Edna Florence Howie, eldest daughter of Mr & Mrs Peter Howie of Victoria St, Kalgoorlie. The bridesmaids were Miss Gwen Howie and Miss Agnes McCullock, while Mr Clif Preston was the best man and Mr George Strother, the groomsman. Sadly the quality of this photo is very poor.

Sunday Times 11 August 1935, page 8

Nutman and Faull Wedding 1902 – Western Argus 23rd Dec 1902

The wedding of the daughter of the North Kalgurli mine, Annie Nutman, was celebrated in style. This photograph shows the wedding party at the home of the bride’s parents and it looks like no expense was spared. The church where the wedding took place was St Michael and All Angels, Brownhill. The ceremony must have been one of the first few weddings held at the church as it had only been built a few months. Brownhill was not to be gazetted as a town till 1918 and sadly the church, along with the Masonic Hall was destroyed in a cyclone in November 1922. As the number of residents had dwindled it was decided not to re-build and the church and the remains were sold to the highest bidder.  The church was on lot 36.  The home of the bride was on the top of Mt Charlotte Hill. I have been told that there were several fine houses on the hill but all have now gone.

On 22^nd April 1914 William Alexander Wallace TILLER married Mabel Christine LEIPOLD in the Protestant Hall, Kookynie. The reception was held at the Maybe Gold Mine. It was said this was the last marriage held in Kookynie – Photo Jenny de Lacy. William was the son of William TILLER and Anne nee BEARDMORE and was from Victoria. Mabel was the daughter of George Frederick LEIPOLD and Elizabeth nee THOMPSON and was also from Victoria.

William Alexander Wallace TILLER married Mabel Christine LEIPOLD – Kookynie 22 Apr 1914

On Wednesday, April 22, at the Protestant Hall, Kookynie, the marriage was solemnised of Mabel, second daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Leipold, of the “Maybe” homestead, Niagara, and Alexander, first son of Mr. and Mrs. W. Tiller, late of Boulder. The ceremony was performed by the Rev. Herbert B. Lockyer, of the Presbyterian manse, Leonora. The bride wore a charming dress of cream satin, with guipure lace, and pearl trimmings, the usual wreath, and veil, and carried a bouquet of roses, carnations, and ferns.

The bride was attended by her sisters, Misses Elizabeth, and Lillian Leipold, who wore white net lace over silk, and white ninon over satin, respectively; both wore brooches, the gifts of the bridegroom. The bridegroom was attended by Mr. George W. Leipold, as best man. The bridegroom’s present to the bride was a handsome gold chain and locket, the bride’s present to the bridegroom being gold sleeve links. A large reception was held at the “Maybe” homestead, the interior of which had been prettily arranged with flowers.

Mr. and Mrs. Leipold received the guests at the entrance, and the wedding breakfast was laid in the dining room. Mr. W. Mills proposed the health of the bride and bridegroom in a happy and well-chosen speech, to which the bridegroom ably responded and at the same time proposed the health of the bridesmaids, to which the Rev. Lockyer responded. The wedding presents were numerous and were laid out on tables for the guests’ inspection. In the evening a dance was held and kept up to a late hour.

Children of William and Mabel

Violet Minetta born 1915 at Gwalia WA
Jack Leipold born 1915 at Gwalia WA
Edith born and died 1918 at Leonora WA
George William born 1920 at Kalgoorlie WA
Alexander Wallace born 1921 at Menzies WA
Ivan Gordon born 1932 at Kellerberrin WA

Just over a year after the wedding Mabel’s father, George Frederick Leipold, was killed in a mining accident on the 27 Oct 1915 at the Niagara Gold Mine, Kookynie. He is buried in the Kookynie Cemetery. He was 51yrs old. His wife Elizabeth re married in 1919 in Kookynie to John Stuart CAIRNS.

Grave of George Frederick Leipold – Kookynie Cemetery – Photo Ancestry.com

George Frederick LEIPOLD and Elizabeth nee THOMPSON – Parents of Mabel

Reference:

Niagara Kookynie – How it was by Margaret Pusey

The Wedding of James Faul and Annie Nutman

Nutman and Faull Wedding 1902

The wedding of the daughter of the North Kalgurli mine, Annie Nutman, was celebrated in style. This photograph shows the wedding party at the home of the bride’s parents and it looks like no expense was spared. The church where the wedding took place was St Michael and All Angels, Brownhill. The ceremony must have been one of the first few weddings as the church had only been built a few months prior.  Brownhill was not to be gazetted as a town till 1918 and sadly the church along with the Masonic Hall was destroyed in a cyclone in November 1922.  As the number of residents had dwindled it was decided not to re-build and the church and the remains were sold to the highest bidder.  The church was on lot 36.  The home of the bride was on the top of Mt Charlotte Hill. I have been told that there were several fine houses on the hill but all have now gone.

The Truth 28 December 1912

Lillie TREW :- nee Elizabeth SHELLY

During this time the pair were living in South Kalgoorlie but owing to lack of employment, soon got into financial difficulties, and they decided to sell their furniture. After the sale, Mrs. Trew went to stay for a while with a friend of hers, a Mrs Lardie, living down near the Gala Hotel, and on one or two occasions Trew visited the house to see his wife. Mrs. Trew eventually took a position at the Broken Hill Hotel, as a musical barmaid, she being rather an accomplished woman, and by what appears to have been an arrangement between the pair, Trew also came to the hotel, and he and his wife occupied the same room. From the first Trew seems to have worried over his wife’s determination to go into the bar, and be was very jealous of the attention paid to her by patrons of the hotel. In fact, It is stated that during the few days that Trew was in the bar her husband several times picked a quarrel with men whom he considered were paying too much attention to her. It is further stated that Trew lately gave way to excessive drinking bouts, and when he was under the influence of drink became very reckless ,and did not care a tinkers curse what, he did.
On the day of the  tragedy he went around to several people to whom he owed money and paid the accounts. He also  told a couple of friends whom he met that be was going to blow his wife’s head off, but they only laughed  at him and told him not to be a damn fool. To others, however, he said he. was going out back to manage a station, and he wanted to settle up his accounts. The last place at which he called was the Great Boulder Hotel, and he then told the proprietor (Mr. Walsh) that he was leaving by the express that evening for the coast. His statement to some friends earlier in the day about blowing his wife’s head off, however, proved to be only too true, for immediately on leaving the Great Boulder Hotel. he walked around to the back of  the hotel in which his wife was employed, and asked a young fellow, known as “Curly” Booth, to go and tell Mrs. Trew that he wished to speak to her.

 

The Sun, 22nd Dec 1912

The message was duly delivered to the woman, who jocularly replied: ‘I have no husband,” whereupon the  bearer of the message said, “Well, there is a bloke out there wants you”, and she went out to the back, where her husband was waiting for her. Immediately two revolver shots rang out, which caused the young fellow, who had delivered the message a minute previously, to rush along to the end of the passage leading Into the yard, where he discovered both Trew and his wife lying on their backs on the ground, each with a wound in their head, from which blood was freely flowing. He at once called, out for help, and then lifted the woman’s head on to his knee, when she looked up,’ smiled, said “Hello, Curly,” and then died.

The murderer, who was, found to be alive, was attended to by Drs J Matthews and Kirkaldy, and then taken to the Government Hospital, where he lingered for an hour and a half before expiring. “Truth’s” representative was informed  that Trew was well connected in South Australia, and was once fairly well off. For some years the firm of Trevenna and Trew did a large business in the outback country, but eventually thy dissolved partnership, and the business passed into the hands of Butcher and Uhr.  Trew then took a position as drover with Forest, Emanuel and Co., which he subsequently left and came to Kalgoorlie and obtained work on one of the mines. However, being of a roving nature, he left this employment and returned to Kookynie, where he took over the management of a shop for Mr. Tom Elliott. It was in Kookynie that he met his late wife, who was a barmaid, and they were married about six years ago in Kalgoorlie. After a while, Trew and his wife came back to Kalgoorlie, where he secured a position with Allen and Co, butchers, of Hannan street. As usual he did not remain very long with this firm, for he left and took work on one of the mines. It is stated that Trew, recognising that he could do no good for himself about Kalgoorlie, wanted to go back again to the mulga, where he had a good chance of obtaining employment on a station, but his wife would not go with him, and this seems to have preyed on his mind. Being determined not to go away and leave his wife in Kalgoorlie, especially In a position as a barmaid, he bought a. revolver, shot his wife, and then took his own life.

NOTE: George and Lillie will be together always as they are buried in the same grave in the Anglican section of the Kalgoorlie Cemetery.

The Trew- Shelly Wedding – April 1907.

The following newspaper article about a local wedding was reported, as you will see, in great detail. This was very common and sometimes each wedding present received was also listed with the name of the person who gave it. , It is to remember in these days that no one had television and articles like this were a way to find out all the important  details. From the description it sounds like a riot of colours so its such a pity there isn’t a colour photograph.

Sunday Times Sunday 12 January 1936, page 7