Family Histories

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HARRIS John James "Jack"  

John, better known as Jack Harris, was born on 26th March 1858 and was the first child of Thomas and Elizabeth Harris, and he grew up in Albany. In his early years he was a shepherd and shearer.He also worked on the overland telegraph line.

He married his first wife Mary Ann Isobella Wellstead, on 16th August 1881 in Albany. He lived with his wife and their four children in Borden. A small front room of their residence was the Post Office. Mary was born on 10th February 1850 in Cranbrook and died on 13th December 1894 in Albany.

He married his second wife, Emma Wellstead in 1913 in Gnowangerup. There was no children from this marriage. Emma was born on 10th January 1880 at Red Gum Grove, Sandalwood Track, Western Australia, and died on 11th July 1945 at Gnowangerup.

Jack died in Albany on the 21st October 1925.

  

JACK HARRIS THE MAILMAN            #1
 

 DELIVERING MAIL  AT ONGERUP         #2
 

  DELIVERING MAIL  AT ONGERUP         #3
 

JACK HARRIS THE MAILMAN            #4
 

From 1873 until the time of his death, he acted as a mail contractor. Firstly from Albany to Chokerup, across to Woodburn to the Salt River run. He later moved to Broomehill doing a mail run round trip from Broomehill, via Telyerup, Gnowangerup, Borden, Mianelup, Sandalwood, Cambellup, Needilup, Bejinup back to Brookehill, plus a lot of other settlements  in between.He was often assisted by his daughter Maude. His happy and obliging nature was much appreciated by the people he met on his rounds.

 
 

Remembered by Spot Lamont

"As a small child I can remember going with the older children to meet the mailman who came once a week.
The mailman was Mr Jack Harris, he came from Broomehill or he collected the mail from that town and he delivered the mail to Gnowangerup, Ongerup, Borden and Salt River.
He was an elderly man and drove a heavy buggy pulled by two horses in tandem. I often wondered if he ever got out of that buggy – I certainly never saw him out of it!!
I can also remember when Mr Eddie Hassell constructed his private telephone line, from Ongerup to Jerramungup in approximately 1922. This was long before the GPO line went to Needilup.
Jack Harris the mailman who for many years delivered the mail to the Gnowangerup District, including Ongerup and Borden”

 

 

Every endeavour has been made to accurately record the details however if you would like to provide additional images and/or newer information we are pleased to update the details on this site. Please use CONTACT at the top of this page to email us. We appreciate your involvement in recording the history of our area.

 

References:                 Article:      Spot Lamont
                                                 Glen Oliver

                                  Image:   

 


Copyright : Gordon Freegard 2024