===================================================================== Match: Bowles Source: AUSTRALIA-OBITS-L@rootsweb.com From: Trevor <tjwilliams@iinet.net.au> Subject: BRISTOL FAMILY Tarnagulla I am posting this 1911 obituary in case anyone is researching the BRISTOL family of Tisbury, Wilts. and might find it useful. Trevor ìDEATH OF MR HENRY C. BRISTOLî 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 ñ 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 ñ This was a man! The gold discoveries in the Fifties attracted to Australia many men of the best frame and fibre that Britain possessed ñ 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 dayís 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 Kingís Chiliean (sic Mills, on the famous Poverty Reef ñ 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 Bristolís 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, ìIíll praise my Maker while Iíve breath.î 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 manís character and reputation are gauged by the fortitude with which he looks a frowning fortune in the face ñ 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 ñ 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.î _Source_: ìThe Tarnagulla and Llanelly Courierî, Saturday July 1, 1911. [Victoria, Australia]