Born 8 April 1856 in Toodyay, Western Australia [40]
Son of Duncan MACPHERSON and Mary WILSON [40]
Resided with parents on Byeen Farm in the Newcastle-Toodyay district 1856-1867 [40] [127: pages 86, 182]
He arrived in what is now the Carnamah district with his parents and eight siblings in 1868 [120: 9-Jan-1930]
They initially resided in a three-room stone cottage near the Mulliah / Yarra Yarra Lakes and then at the large Carnamah House [P10]
Later the manager of Tibradden Station near Geraldton [45]
He was one of 53 who requested William T. LOTON run as the Member for Greenough in the Legislative Council in 1889 [383: 26-Jan-1889]
He was appointed in February 1891 as a temporary Assistant Inspector of Sheep under The Scab Act 1885 [12: 14-Feb-1891]
In August 1893 he advertised that Tibradden Station would have 4,000 ewes and 1,000 fat culls for sale in October [393: 25-Aug-1893]
Died 22 April 1896 in Geraldton; buried at the Culham Cemetery in Toodyay, Western Australia [138]
From The West Australian newspaper, Friday 24 April 1896:
Death of an old resident at Geraldton
"Geraldton, April 23. An old resident of the Victoria and Newcastle districts died at the Victoria Hospital yesterday afternoon in the person of Wm. McPherson, formerly manager of Tibradden Station. Mr. McPherson's father is the owner of Carnamah Station. The deceased caught a chill after putting out a fire at Greenough Flats."
From The Geraldton Express newspaper, Monday 27 April 1896:
"Mr. William Macpherson, son of Mr. Duncan Macpherson, of Carnamah, died in the Geraldton Hospital, on Wednesday afternoon last, of inflammation of the lungs, contracted through a severe cold. Mr Macpherson, it appears, a few weeks ago, assisted in putting out a bush fire. He over exerted himself and his body got into a heat. Subsequently he caught a chill which bought on the affection, which, ultimately caused his death. He had only been in the Hospital a few days when the end came. Dr. Elliott did all in his power for he patient, and besides the services of the hospital staff, the skill of an experienced private nurse was called to his aid. All, however, proved to no avail, as the sad sequel has proved. Mr. Macpherson gradually grew worse and, on the day already mentioned, peacefully passed away. A popular young man, a genuine sportsman, and one, too, held in respect by all classes, his untimely demise will be deeply and widely deplored. Mr. Macpherson had, from time to time, occupied with credit to himself, various positions of trust in connection with the management of sheep stations. He had also fulfilled, for some months, to the satisfaction of the public, the duties of an Inspector of Stock. During the last few years he had been prominently - and we wish to add, honourably - associated with the Turf of the colony. Winning and maintaining a reputation for running his horses "straight," the many and splendid victories of his well-known horse "Sunbeam," were always received with pleasure by that portion of the public by whom honesty is always admired. Mr. Macpherson's death, up to the day before it occurred, was unexpected, so unexpected, indeed, that his relatives, that his relatives at Carnamah could not be informed of his serious condition until it was too late to permit of their being present at his bedside previous to dissolution. Mr. Alexander Macpherson, however, was with him in his dying moments. His father, Mr. Duncan Macpherson, and brother, Mr. Donald Macpherson, reached Geraldton by train about six hours after his death. The remains of the deceased are to be buried at Newcastle, where all the departed members of the family - including his mother - are interred. With this object in view, the body, enclosed in a leaden coffin, was conveyed last night by train to Perth en route to the township named. The relatives of Mr. Macpherson, we need hardly say, have widespread sympathy in the bereavement they have sustained."
From The Daily News newspaper, Tuesday 28 April 1896
Death of an Old Resident - The Late Mr William Macpherson
"The Geraldton Telegraph says:- It is with the deepest feelings of regret that we have to record the death of Mr. William Macpherson, a well-known and much respected resident of the Victoria and Newcastle districts. Mr. Macpherson was training his horse at Greenough last Tuesday week. During the day he helped to put out a bush fire, and it is supposed that he caught a chill. He was very ill on the following day, and his friends decided to remove him to the Victoria Hospital and place him under the care of Dr. Elliott. This was done and Mr. Macpherson improved slightly. The case being a serious one, it was found necessary to have a medical consultation, and Dr. Greville was called in. On Wednesday afternoon at five o'clock Mr. Macpherson died from inflammation of the lungs. The deceased will not be buried in the Geraldton cemetery, but was taken to Newcastle, his birthplace, by Thursday night's train. The burial service was read at the hospital yesterday afternoon by Canon Louch. The funeral cortege left for the railway station at 6.30 p.m., and was attended by a number of prominent townspeople, amongst whom were the Government resident, Mr. M. Browne, Dr. Elliott, Inspector Lodge, Mr. Aitkin, Mr. Whitcombe, Mr. Craig, Mr. Hepburn, Mr. Meadowcroft, and others. The coffin was covered with some very pretty wreaths, which were presented by the following ladies and gentlemen:- Mrs. M. G. Elliott, Miss Jean Elliott, Miss Grace Elliott, Misses Redhead, Misses Morrissey, Nurse Ethel, Mr. and Mrs. Readhead, Mrs. Hosken, Mr. M. Craig, Mr. and Mrs Whitcombe, and the V.T. Club. Mr. Macpherson was formerly manager of Tibradden station, where he was a general favourite with his neighbours and the men in his employ. Deceased was forty years of age. He has one parent alive, Mr. Duncan Macpherson, of Carnamah station, and two sisters and five brothers residing in Western Australia, Mr. Lachlan Macpherson, Assistant Inspector of Stock in Victoria district, Mr. J. Macpherson, farmer on the Greenough, Messrs. Donald and George Macpherson, of Carnamah and Mr Alexander Macpherson, who was manager of Glengarry station for ten years. Deceased was a member of the Victoria Turf Club, and had three racehorses, Myra, Sunrise and Sunbeam, which were to have run at the Dongara races on Thursday. Widespread sympathy is felt for Mr. Duncan Macpherson and his children in their sad bereavement."
Reference: Carnamah Historical Society & Museum and North Midlands Project, 'William Wilson Macpherson' in Biographical Dictionary of Coorow, Carnamah and Three Springs, retrieved 11 December 2024 from www.carnamah.com.au/bio/william-wilson-macpherson [reference list] |
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