Charles Austin Piesse
Charles Austin Piesse
Married (1): 18 June 1882, Court House, Williams River Bridge to Martha Amelia Ellen Chipper (born 5 April 1864), daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Maley.
Children: three sons and six daughters
Widowed: 5 December 1901
Married (2): 14 May 1910, St Peter’s Church, Petersburg, South Australia to Flora Elizabeth Leonora Hickson (born circa October 1886), daughter of John and Hannah Wheelwright Read
Children: one son and two daughters
Occupation: Farmer, miller, businessman
Died: 13 July 1914
Place: St George’s Terrace, Perth, Western Australia
Cemetery: Wagin cemetery, Western Australia
Occupations:
Pearler – Shark Bay 1872–1874
Farmer – Williams district 1874–1880
With brother Frederick founded F. and C. Piesse, storekeepers, 124 mile peg, Albany Road until 1882, then at Wagin and Katanning, merchants and millers until 1903
Subsequently in business as C.A. Piesse and Sons
Founded farming and grazing property, Tillellan, Arthur River
Local Government
Arthur River and Wagin Road Board chairman 1887–1890
First Mayor of Wagin 1906–1907
State Government
Elected to the Legislative Council to represent the South-east Province 1894 – 1914
.
Charles Austin (Charlie) Piesse
(1855–1914)
Official Parliamentary Photo
From the Obituaries Australia Website
Mr. Charles Austin Piesse, a member in the Legislative Council for the South-east Province of Western Australia, died in Perth in July, 1914 after five weeks’ illness.
Mr. Piesse was Western Australian born, and he has left his mark in the history of his native land. Born at Northam on 11th November 1855, he was the second son of the late Mr. William Roper Piesse, of Toodyay.
He was educated at Guildford and Northam, and subsequently proceeded to the pearling grounds at Shark Bay, where he was engaged during 1872-3. However, he soon returned to the south, and turned his energies in the direction of agricultural pursuits until 1880, when, in conjunction with his brother, the late Mr. F. H. Piesse, C.M.G., he established at Williams the mercantile firm of Messrs. F. and C. Piesse, which was successfully carried on for twenty-four years.
In 1903 the late Mr. Piesse severed his connection with the firm, but continued in business at Wagin with his sons, combining with mercantile enterprise the work of agricultural development. He was successful in founding the fine agricultural and pastoral estates of Arthur River, now owned and managed by his three sons, and Tillellan.
In June 1894, he was elected to the Legislative Council to represent the South-east Province, and sat continuously in that capacity up to the time of his death. He was untiring in his advocacy of agricultural potentialities of the State, and the requirements of the farming community. He was twice married. His first wife was Martha Amelia Ellen CHIPPER, a daughter of Thomas Chipper, of Kojonup and, when Martha died in 1901 aged 37 years, he married Flora Elizabeth Leonora Hickson, a daughter of John Hickson, of Port Pirie, South Australia.
Cintramia, the Wagin home of C.A. Piesse c1910.
(WA State Library collection)
His first home was the nearby Tillellan. When he remarried after the death of his first wife Martha, he decided to build another home. Whilst on his honeymoon in 1910, Piesse asked his sons to select a place for him where he could see both Tillellan, his first home, and Wagin.
His sons did as he asked and the new house, situated on a hill, was begun. The location was changed to overcome the initial site’s problem of shifting sand. Until the new home was ready, Piesse and his wife Flora lived at Tillellan.
.
OBITUARY
West Australian
16 July, 1914
LATE MR. C. A. PIESSE.
DISTRICT IN MOURNING.
FUNERAL AT WAGIN.
Wagin, July 15.
At Wagin today was laid to rest one of the Great Southern district’s greatest sons in the person of Mr. Charles Austin Piesse, who was for twenty years a representative of the South-East province in the Legislative Council. He has left the best of all monuments in the hearts of the people of the Great Southern amongst whom, and especially the older residents, he was universally loved for his sterling worth and cheery character. The news of his death on Monday plunged the whole town into mourning and today every business house was closed by universal consent. Continue reading
.
FAMILY
Charles married Martha Amelia Ellen CHIPPER (born 1864 in Kojonup, Western Australia and died 5 December, 1901, aged 37 years) in 1882 at William’s Bridge. The couple had seven children; May Ellen PIESSE, b. 1884, Arthur River; Gerald Austin William PIESSE, b. 1885; Arthur River, d. 5 Jun 1956, Wagin aged 71 years; Eva Elizabeth PIESSE, b. 1887, Arthur River; Vernon Frederick PIESSE, b. 1890, Wagin, d. 7 Aug 1915, The Nek, Gallipoli, Turkey, age 25 years; Charles Oxley PIESSE, b. 1891, Arthur River, d. 7 Dec 1917, aged 26 years; Geraldine Mary PIESSE, b. 1892, Mount Pleasant, d. 1930, aged 38 years; and Ina Bertha PIESSE, b. 1896, Wagin.
After his first wife Martha died, he married Flora Elizabeth Leonora Hickson.
WW1 Nurse Geraldine Mary Piesse
.
Death of Martha Amelia Ellen Piesse.
Great Southern Herald
7 December, 1901
Profound regret was expressed on Thursday afternoon when news of the death of Mrs. C. A. Piesse reached Katanning, and as the sad intelligence spread to the outlying districts the expressions of sorrow were universal.
That the beloved lady had passed away was the sole topic, and the large circle of friends who had known her in life were most sincere in their expressions of sorrow at the sad news of her death. The deceased, Martha Amelia Ellen, was the wife of Mr. C. A. Piesse, M.L.C., of Wagin.
For some years the Mrs Piesse had suffered from an internal complaint, which had caused her almost unbearable pain. The attacks became more frequent of late, and last week so alarming had the symptoms become that Dr Wilson, of Katanning, and Dr Roughan of Williams, were sent for. After consultation the two medical gentlemen recommended the patient’s removal to Perth, where every convenience would be available for the operation which they recognised could no longer be delayed.
Therefore, the journey from Wagin to Perth was undertaken on Friday, 29th ult. The sad result is already known. It is supposed that the immediate cause of death was weakness of the heart’s action, as about two years ago Mrs. Piesse almost collapsed while under chloroform during a dental operation.
The Mrs Piesse was born at Kojonup, and was the second daughter of Mr Thomas Chipper, her eldest sister Mary Jane being the wife of Mr F. H. Piesse, M.L.A. The deceased was beloved and esteemed by relatives and friends from one end of this district to the other, her kindliness of heart to rich and poor alike endearing her to all. A good daughter, wife, mother, and friend; her loss will be sorely felt.
As a zealous worker on behalf of the Anglican Church, her efforts have been appreciated for many years. All in need found her a ready helper, and for everyone a kind word was always her greeting. For her sorrowing husband and his eight motherless children, who have been plunged into the deepest sorrow, the utmost sympathy is felt.
Her remains were brought from Perth to Wagin by train yesterday afternoon, accompanied by a large number of relatives and friends. On the arrival of the train at Wagin the mournful cortege was formed and proceeded to her late residence at Thistle Hill, where a solemn and impressive service was conducted by the Rev. J. A. Howes, assisted by Mr. Bowen, The service over, the procession was reformed, and a move made towards the cemetery.
The chief mourners were the husband and family of Mrs Piesse, Mr. T. Chipper (father); Mr J.T. Chipper and Mrs F. H. Piesse (brother and sister); Messrs F. H., G. A., A. E., Alfred, G., Wm.; and F. Piesse, and Mrs. Chipper (sister-in-law), the bearers being Messrs H. Boddington, Jas. Spratt; R. Gell; J. A. Richards, R. Sinclair, and H. S. Ranford.
Preceding the hearse were upwards of sixty school children and following the mourning coaches were forty vehicles containing sorrowing friends. The coffin, composed of polished jarrah with massive silver mountings, was covered with floral wreaths.
Arriving at the cemetery, the large concourse of people was added to by an immense crowd already congregated in the sacred area. The Rev. Jas. Howes officiated at the grave and delivered a most impressive address, referring in pathetic terms to irretrievable loss Sustained by the bereaved family of the deceased, and also by the district, at the termination of such a useful life. Daring the service almost all of these congregated around the grave were moved to tears.
.
Flora Elizabeth Leonora Piesse (nee Hickson)
After the death of his first wife Martha, Charles married Flora Elizabeth Leonora Hickson (born in 1886 in Port Pirie, South Australia and died in 1967) on 14 May 1910, Peterborough, South Australia. The couple had three children; Vera Hope Piesse (Johnston); Ayleen Flora Piesse (Forbes), b 1911; and Mervyn Charles Piesse, b 1912.
.
Does anyone have any further information on Flora Piesse that they could provide to share on this page?
Information can be sent by CLICKING HERE
.
CHARLES PIESSE’S SONS
PIESSE BROTHERS
Arthur River.
Gerald Austin William Piesse, Vernon Frederick Piesse, and Charles Oxley Piesse.
Charles Austin Piesse handed over the running of his farming properties in Arthur River to his three sons, Gerald, Vernon and Charles. Read the Piesse Brothers’ Story here
FURTHER READING:
The original obituary document from the “Pastoral Review” 15 August 1914: Click HERE
The FAMILY TREE of Charles Austin Piesse – Click HERE
Charles Frederick Piesse (Wikipedia) Click HERE
Biographical Register of Members of the Parliament of Western Australia. Click HERE
Charles Austin Piesse. Charles Austin Piesse. Charles Austin Piesse. Charles Austin Piesse. Charles Austin Piesse.