At the age of 21 in 1903, Agnes married John Dyer "Jack" Cunningham (1881-1962) (m.1903/6112). John having recently returned from South African having served with Seventh Contingent for 1 year and 87 days (Trooper: SA4511). John was discharged in June 1902 following two month hospitalisation with Enteric disease (typhoid).
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| NEW ZEALAND NOTES., Southland Times, Issue 16001, 4 April 1902 |
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| SOCIAL TO RETURNED TROOPERS, Clutha Leader, Volume XXVIII, Issue 1536, 18 July 1902 |
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| NEW YEAR'S DAY AT PORT MOLYNEUX., Clutha Leader, Volume XXXIV, Issue 2175, 7 January 1908 |
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| PORT MOLYNEUX SPORTS., Clutha Leader, Volume XXXVII, Issue 53, 6 January 1911 |
In 1911 Agnes and John are living in Port Molyneux, John's occupation is Sawyer. The following year they have a big sale of want appears to be most of the worldly processions?
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| Page 4 Advertisements Column 1, Clutha Leader, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 80, 26 April 1912 |
From 1914 - 1919 Agnes and John are living at Puerua which is not far from Romahapa.
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| FLAXMILL DESTROYED., Bruce Herald, Volume L, Issue 10, 5 February 1914 |
George Petrie and James "Jim" Cunningham, John's brother were millers for years, when Mr Petrie left the district in early 1920's John took over at the mill by 1929 the competition from the Otanomomo mill had meant the Romahapa mill had become uneconomic so it closed. But the Cunningham Bros., Jim and Jack set up a sawmill and worked cutting timber until the war years. Jim drive a solid tyre Republic truck.
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| SOUTH OTAGO., Otago Daily Times, Issue 21040, 31 May 1930 |
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| TRANSPORT LICENSING, Otago Daily Times, Issue 22043, 28 August 1933 |
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| CLUTHA NEWS ITEMS., Bruce Herald, Volume LV, Issue 35, 8 May 1919 |
Agnes and John had five children:
Irene Jeannie "Rene" was born on the 6 June 1904 (b.1904/11649). Irene was a keen hockey player and was a member of the 1922 Romahapa team which won the A grade banner and the 'Shield of Otago' in Dunedin (1).
Rene married John Frederick Magon in 1929 (m.1929/8610). John a farmer, at "Ferndale" Romahapa in 1928 (b.1903/12753).
By 1938, Irene and John are living in Warepa, John is a surfaceman working for NZR. Irene and John have moved to Waihola by 1942, John's name appears on the WWII ballot list. Still living in Waihola in 195, John is a despatch clerk and their son Trevor Henry John (1931-2014) and his wife, Margaret Amelia are also living in Waihola. In 1963, John is retired and living in Waihola with Irene. Irene and John also had a daughter Hilary Irene (1936-2012). Irene died on the 11 May 1969 aged 66 years and John followed a year later on the 17 Nov 1970 aged 66 years. Irene and John are buried together, at the East Taieri cemetery.
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| LADIES' HOCKEY., Otago Daily Times, Issue 18572, 5 June 1922 |
Rene married John Frederick Magon in 1929 (m.1929/8610). John a farmer, at "Ferndale" Romahapa in 1928 (b.1903/12753).
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| Notes for women., Otago Daily Times, Issue 20927, 17 January 1930 |
George Dyer on the 22 Jan 1907 (b.1907/5429). In 1930, aged 23 George is captain of the Romahapa Rugby team.
In 1935, 28 years George is working as a Sawmiller in Romahapa. By 1941 George is working for the South Otago freezing Company as a Slaughterman.
Sometime between 1949-1954, George married Mary (Mamie) Stiven born 19 October 1907 (b.1907/24029). In 1954 they are farming in Paretai and still in the area, in 1963 farming at Otanomomo. Between 1978 -1981 George retires and is living with Mary at 6 Ispwich Street, Balclutha. George died in 1984, aged 77 (d.1984/41251) and Mary 1997. Mary and George are buried together at the Balclutha cemetery. George and Mary did not have children.
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| BALCLUTHA DISTRICT NEWS., Otago Daily Times, Issue 21161, 20 October 1930 |
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| ARMED FORCES, Otago Daily Times, Issue 24733, 9 October 1941 |
Sometime between 1949-1954, George married Mary (Mamie) Stiven born 19 October 1907 (b.1907/24029). In 1954 they are farming in Paretai and still in the area, in 1963 farming at Otanomomo. Between 1978 -1981 George retires and is living with Mary at 6 Ispwich Street, Balclutha. George died in 1984, aged 77 (d.1984/41251) and Mary 1997. Mary and George are buried together at the Balclutha cemetery. George and Mary did not have children.
Allan James (Snowy) was born on the 13 September 1908 (b.1908/25155). In 1929 Allan James and Vera Clark Fletcher had a child Allan (Lex) James, I think this must be the Allan James, John Dyer Cunningham refers to in his will, leaving him his car. In 1962 Allan James Jr. would have been 33 years old. John Dyer refers to Allan as his adopted son in his will. In 1939 aged 31 years Allan, married Elizabeth "Bessie" Jane Webster Milne (1915-2011) they had five children.
(1908-1976)
Colin Murray was born on the 20 December 1913, Agnes and John's fourth child. (b.1914/132533).
A Romahapa farmer in 1938, Colin married Elizabeth Mabel Wright (b. 4 Jan 1921) on the 5 Nov 1941.
Colin served in the 2nd NZEF Pte NZ Ordnance Corps, for a period during WWII 1942. By 1946 Colin has returned and is farming with Elizabeth at Glenomaru. Sometime before 1949 Colin and Elizabeth move to East Winton, Colin occupation is Apiarist. Colin has retired by 1981, 8 years later still living in Winton aged 75 years Colin dies and is buried at the Winton Cemetery with Elizabeth who lived till 2015 passing at 94 years young. Colin and Elizabeth had ??? children.
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| ENGAGEMENTS, Otago Daily Times, Issue 24492, 28 December 1940 |
Colin served in the 2nd NZEF Pte NZ Ordnance Corps, for a period during WWII 1942. By 1946 Colin has returned and is farming with Elizabeth at Glenomaru. Sometime before 1949 Colin and Elizabeth move to East Winton, Colin occupation is Apiarist. Colin has retired by 1981, 8 years later still living in Winton aged 75 years Colin dies and is buried at the Winton Cemetery with Elizabeth who lived till 2015 passing at 94 years young. Colin and Elizabeth had ??? children.
Agnes Elizabeth (Edna) was born on the 26th December 1916 (b.1917/13367).
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| Notes for Women, Otago Daily Times, Issue 21772, 11 October 1932 |
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| WEDDINGS, Otago Daily Times, Issue 24381, 20 August 1940 |
In 1946 Edna and Kenneth are living at Paretai, Kenneth is a cheese-maker. By 1972, Edna and Kenneth are farming and living at River Bank Road, Paretai. Kenneth died 1980 aged 63 years (d.1980/34701). Edna lived a another 32 years passing aged 96 years young (d.2012/5933). Edna and Kenneth are buried together at the Balclutha cemetery. They had four children.
In 1919 John build a large house for his family, a builder by trade, not long after in 1925 his wife Agnes, died at the very young age of 42 years. Edna would have only been 8 years old. John cared for his six children and helped run the flax and saw mills. My family believe that Agnes's younger brother John Murray, youngest Violet (b.1912) came to live with the Cunningham family when she was a baby after her mother died.
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| DEATHS., Otago Daily Times, Issue 19672, 26 December 1925 |
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| IN MEMORIAM, Otago Daily Times, Issue 22453, 24 December 1934 |
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| IN MEMORIAM, Otago Daily Times, Issue 22762, 24 December 1935 |
In 1929 John, aged 48 years, is active in the community and is a member of the Romahapa school committee.
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| SCHOOL COMMITTEES., Otago Daily Times, Issue 20700, 24 April 1929 |
The Mist of Time : The Story of Romahapa by Ethel U. McLean (1989)
Balclutha Genealogy Society
paperspast.natlib.govt.nz
New Zealand Electoral roll
bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz
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