"Harry" Henry PARKIN
Born 15 February 1876 in Saint Columb Major, Cornwall, England [20] [P18]
Son of Thomas Vivien PARKIN and Mary Celina TIPPETT [20] [P18]
In 1881 was living with his parents, sister Jane and brother John at Trekenning Village, Saint Columb Major, Cornwell, England [20]
Married "Mary" Philippa Mary BILKEY [20] [21]
He was an Agricultural Labourer and living with his wife, daughter Olive and brother John in Newlyn, Cornwall, England in 1901 [20]
In 1911 he was a Bus & Carriage Proprietor living with his wife and children at Wheal Hope in Perranporth, Cornwall, England [20]
Departed London, England on the steamship Orsova and arrived in Fremantle, Western Australia on 23 January 1912 [70]
He is said to have arrived in Carnamah, which would become his home for the rest of his life, in February 1912 [7: page 142]
On his arrival what is now the Carnamah townsite consisted of the railway station and a small shop owned by J. A. WHITELAW [P10]
His wife and children Olive, Elsie, Maud, Tom and Millie departed from England on the steamship Ajana on 24 December 1912 [203]
After not seeing them for over a year, they arrived in Carnamah to join him on 13 February 1913 [7: page 142]
Initially worked in Carnamah as a Railway Fettler for the Midland Railway Company [19] [44]
His workmate Harry McCLYMANS ate a sandwich laced with strychnine when they stopped for lunch on 9 July 1913 [39: 13-Aug-1913]
The McCLYMANS family were their neighbours and gave his family a kitten, which as a cat died on the same day [39: 13-Aug-1913]
It was later discovered that Harry McCLYMANS, their cat and a dog had all suffered from strychnine poisoning [39: 5-Sep-1913]
Resided at The Gables, also known as Gable Cottage, at 4 Yarra Street, Carnamah 1914-1958 [P10]
He'd purchased 4 Yarra Street (Lot 4 of Victoria Location 1936) from the Midland Railway Company for £20 on 12 May 1914 [27]
Employed the services of Mr WESTLAKE of Moora who constructed a house on the block, known as The Gables [P10]
In 1914 he became Carnamah's Postmaster and ran the Post Office from a building that adjoined his home [P10]
In early April 1915 it was reported that he had erected a "nice cottage" alongside the Post Office in Carnamah [9: 2-Apr-1915]
He appears to have been selling copies of The West Australian newspaper in Carnamah during 1915 [P8]
The front pages of two editions with a label stuck on them were discovered in 2011 during the reupholstering of a chaise lounge [P8]
The labels revealed that "Mr H. Parkin" was sent 18 copies of the paper of 4 May 1915 and 16 copies of 8 May 1915 [P8]
It was 16 plus an extra two copies for 4 May 1915 so it is likely that his usual order was 16 copies of the newspaper [P8]
Wrote to the Midland Railway Company on 8 October 1915 stating his interest in purchasing a farm they had advertised for sale [34]
He was interested in getting it if the first instalment wasn't too high, and if cropping could initially be done with them on shares [34]
The repayments must have been too high as he never purchased the farm, which was presumably located in Carnamah [34]
For several years also ran a general store and newsagency from The Gables which was run by himself and his daughter Olive [6] [P10]
Their general store opened in March 1916 and was the second in Carnamah [9: 17-Mar-1916]
In 1916 a letter he sent reveals he was the proprietor of "The Supply Stores" in Carnamah [34]
They ran "The Supply Stores" at his home The Gables at 4 Yarra Street until at least 1921 [92]
Around November 1915, during the First World War, he forwarded £5/11/6 to the Red Cross Society [39: 9-Nov-1915]
The money was raised from locally collected subscriptions and from the raffling of a sheep donated by Donald MACPHERSON [39]
Sang two songs at the "Carnamah Concert" held in the railway goods shed in Carnamah on Friday 19 February 1915 [10: 26-Feb-1915]
For many years hosted Carnamah's monthly Presbyterian church services at The Gables prior to there being a local church [7: page 239]
In 1917 his daughter wrote the name of the family home as "The Gables" however on letters he wrote "Gable Cottage" [92]
When he enrolled to go on the Legislative Council electoral roll he gave his address as "Gable Cottage, Carnamah" [61]
Applied to purchase ten acres of land adjoining the Carnamah townsite from the Midland Railway Company in October 1917 [34]
The Midland Railway Company refused to sell him the land as they were concerned it would devalue adjacent townsite blocks [34]
Member of the Carnamah Peace Celebrations Committee in 1919 [10: 11-Jul-1919]
Member of the Carnamah Hall Committee in 1919 [10: 29-Aug-1919]
He may still have been working for the Midland Railway Company as a Fettler in 1919, as they paid him wages in August 1919 [34]
On 27 July 1920 purchased another two townsite blocks - 5 & 7 Caron Street (Lots 37 and 38 of Victoria Location 1936) [27]
In 1920 himself and John A. GRANT dismantled and re-erected a house in Carnamah from Lot M952 to Victoria Location 7180 [P300]
Attended the wedding of Robert CALDOW and May BYRNE at the Three Springs Hall on Wednesday 5 October 1921 [9: 21-Oct-1921]
Around 1922 purchased 3 Yarra Street, Carnamah (Lot 3 of Victoria Location 1936) from Mrs E. DUFFY [44]
Established a Blacksmith and Wheelwright business on his land on Yarra Street in Carnamah [7: page 142] in 1923 [9: 29-Jun-1923]
"A much needed want in the district is a blacksmith shop and Mr H. Parkin is starting a business of that description" [9: 29-Jun-1923]
Later expanded the business to include repairs to carts, wagons, tractors and farm machinery [4: 23-Dec-1933] [53]
Advertised "Battery Charging and General Repairs" in The Irwin Index newspaper in 1926 [4: 7-Aug-1926]
Entered into partnership with his son "Tom" Thomas Henry PARKIN and together they traded as "Henry Parkin & Son" [P18]
Together they ran a Blacksmith, Wheelright and Motor Mechanic business in Yarra Street, Carnamah [53]
They were also local agents for H. V. McKay agricultural machinery and spare parts in the 1920s [53]
Himself and his son established a Power Station and were licensees to supply power to Carnamah from 1924 to 1953 [P18]
Henry Parkin & Son were also Carnamah's local undertakers from 1927 to 1947 [1]
See Henry PARKIN & Son for further details on their partnership [--]
Signed the petition in February 1923 for the Irwin Licensing Court to grant a hotel license for Carnamah [10: 9-Mar-1923]
Had the telephone connected to The Gables in 1924 - was telephone number Carnamah-6 [60]
Held the registered horse and cattle firebrand of 0PN for use on Donald MACPHERSON's property in Carnamah in 1924 [486]
In 1924 secured contract work by tender with the Carnamah District Road Board [10: 1-May-1924]
He was paid £26 for shifting the "Carnamah windmill" to a new well, and 7/6 per foot to timber the new well [10: 1-May-1924]
In April 1925 the polling place for the Prohibition Poll in Carnamah was his home in Yarra Street [10: 2-Apr-1925]
As early as 1925 acted as an undertaker, having done so for the burial of George SHARP at the Three Springs General Cemetery [24]
In 1926 their home The Gables also contained a small tearoom, referred to as "Parkin's Refreshment Room" [9: 28-May-1926]
He was among those who helped raise funds for the construction of the Presbyterian Church in Carnamah [7: page 239]
Made cement bricks and constructed a rough house of two bedrooms and a kitchen in Carnamah for Cecil F. TAYLOR [P7]
Made a donation to the Carnamah Football Club to aid them in raising funds to send a team to Geraldton in 1928 [4: 22-Sep-1928]
In February 1929 put a bore down next to his premises in Carnamah and obtained a good supply of water at 68 feet [4: 16-Feb-1929]
Caught a ride to Perth with Andrew SMART on Wednesday 14 February 1934 to receive medical attention to his back [5: 16-Feb-1934]
Attended the funeral of Mrs Christina B. D. FORRESTER of Carnamah at the Winchester Cemetery on 31 August 1934 [4: 8-Sep-1934]
Sent a floral tribute for the grave of Miss "May" Mary L. LANG at the Winchester Cemetery on 26 November 1935 [5: 29-Nov-1935]
Attended the funeral of Carnamah agent William B. SHERIDAN at the Winchester Cemetery on 27 January 1936 [5: 31-Jan-1936]
With the forthcoming introduction of local bulk wheat handling he designed bag fasteners to easily tie and untie bags of wheat [5]
Prior to bulk wheat handling at railway sidings wheat was put into bags in paddocks which were then sewn up for transport [5]
Following the introduction of bulk handling the wheat was initially transported in bags, which were then emptied at the siding [5]
As there was no need to permanently sew up the bags, his fasteners quickly and effectively fastened the bags for transport [5]
The North Midland Times newspaper described him as a "local genius" and predicted his fasteners would become common [5]
He applied for a patent around September 1936, which had been issued as Patent No. 15890 by November 1936 [5: 4-Sep-1936]
Began advertising his "Parkin's Patent Fastener" in The North Midland Times on Friday 13 November 1936 [5: 13-Nov-1936]
"Don't Waste Wheat - Use Parkin's Patent Fastener" "The Most Effective Bag Fastener on the Market" [5]
Sold his "easy in application" and "effective in use" bag fasteners through all commission agents for 3/6 for dozen [5]
Attended the funeral of Mrs Florence PRICE of Carnamah at the Winchester Cemetery on Tuesday 1 September 1936 [5: 4-Sep-1936]
He spent several days staying with his daughter Olive and son-in-law Jack GRANT in Perenjori in early January 1938 [5: 7-Jan-1938]
Financial Member of the Carnamah District Agricultural Society 1946-1948 [13]
In 1953 sold the Power Station, which was situated at 3 Caron Street, to SALEEBA's of Moora [0: image 04712]
Resided at The Gables, 4 Yarra Street Carnamah in retirement from 1953 to 1958 [4: 2-May-1958] [P18]
Passed away at the age of 82 years at the North Midlands District Hospital in Three Springs [1]
Father of Olive, Elsie, Maud, Tom and Millie [P18]
Died 27 April 1958; buried at the Winchester Cemetery in Carnamah, Western Australia (Row C, Plot 12) [1]
From The Irwin Index newspaper, Friday 2 May 1958:
Death Of An Octogenarian
"Following somewhat abnormal health conditions extending over a period of about five years, a pioneer of Carnamah in the person of Mr. Henry Parkin passed away in the North Midlands District Hospital at Three Springs early on Sunday morning last. The deceased gentleman, who was eighty two years of age, was born at Trekenning (Cornwall) and settled at Carnamah shortly after his arrival in Australia in 1912, being followed during the following year by his wife and family. For about eight years he worked at his trade as a blacksmith and wheelwright, and he then established a power station at Carnamah and worked this enterprise in conjunction with his only son (Mr. Thomas Parkin). Some years ago, however, he disposed of this interest and since then he had lived in enforced retirement through ill-health. He was predeceased by his wife late in 1942 and is survived by one son (Mr. Thomas Parkin) and four daughters (Olive, Elsie, Maud and Millie). In the presence of a large gathering of relatives and friends, the funeral took place in the Methodist Cemetery at Winchester on Tuesday last, the officiating minister being the Rev. Threlfell, of Moora. The pall-bearers were Messrs. T. Perry, L. Schier, G. Ferguson, C. Robertson, E. Wells and R. Niven and the casket was borne from the hearse to the grave by Messrs. B. Green, I. Forrester, P. Rowland and A. Rowland."
| Reference: Carnamah Historical Society & Museum and North Midlands Project, 'Henry Parkin' in Biographical Dictionary of Coorow, Carnamah and Three Springs, retrieved 23 April 2024 from www.carnamah.com.au/bio/henry-parkin [reference list] |
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