WILHELM FAMILY

Wilhelm

The bad years of 1889 – 90 in South Australia had prompted many of that State’s farmers to look west for greener pastures. The Wilhelm family were to be no exceptions. The Wilhelm brothers, Ted (Edward) and Ryan, born at Blumberg, a German settlement 20 miles N.E. of Adelaide in 1867 and 1872 respectively, made the move westward in 1891. Prior to this, Ted had been on his father’s (August Wilhelm) farm and deciding it had limited prospects tried his fortune on a Victorian property for a short period.

It is said that Ted Wilhelm discussed the matter with his brother-in-law W. F. (Bill) Beeck, and they decided that “Ted should come to W.A. and see what was doing along the Great Southern Railway.” Ted, having a good look around and being satisfied that the Katanning district showed possibilities of growing wheat and oats and on seeing the new Katanning Flour Mill, felt satisfied to write to his brother-in-law Bill to advise him to come to the West. Ted Wilhelm selected 400 acres to the north of Marracoonda. His enthusiasm for his new ‘Willing Vale’ selection was an incentive for many other South Australian settlers to follow in his footsteps in the next few years. His younger brother, Ryan, who was only 19 at the time, did not take up land immediately having no capital but worked on farms for the first year in the west. After this, he engaged in contract clearing for some time before returning to his home State. The news of the goldrush at Coolgardie quickly brought Ryan back to W.A.

Ted Wilhelm was a public-spirited citizen who had the misfortune of an accident when carting stone from ‘Jam Hill’ to build the Agricultural Hall in 1901. Wilhelm was one of the seven members elected to form the first Woodanilling Roads Board in 1906.

From the inHerit website which was reproduced from “Round Pool to Woodanilling by John Bird

Farmer, “Willing Vale” Farm
Woodanilling District.

Edward Hermann Wilhelm

Eduard Hermann Wilhelm

Eduard Hermann Wilhelm was a son of August Wilhelm, who immigrated to South Australia from the Fatherland when only fourteen years of age and survived to the ripe age of seventy-five. The latter ten years of his life being spent in this State. He was born at Blumberg, South Australia, on January 29, 1867, and received his education there.

Leaving school at the age of fourteen, he worked on his father’s farm for some time until subsequently taking up working as a shearer, an occupation he followed for fifteen years. In slack seasons he turned his hand to various occupations incidental to bush life. He then turned his attention to farming on his own account in Victoria, where he continued for about eighteen months. At the end of that period, he migrated to Western Australia.

Here, he formed so favourable an impression of the possibilities of the country that he lost no time in communicating with his German friends in New South Wales. Within a year, about thirty followed his example and became prosperous settlers in the same district.

Mr. Wilhelm selected his own farm of 400 acres in the year 1891, which he increased from time to time until he had over 2,000 acres of freehold property, where he carried on mixed farming operations on a fairly large scale.

He was the owner of the prize Clydesdale stallion of the district, a distinction he held for several years with different horses. He bred horses both for sale and for the work of the farm. His object was to produce a type specially suited to the needs of the district where he resided. For some time, Mr. Wilhelm served as a member of the Woodanilling Roads Board, and he was connected with various public organisations in the district, holding office in the local branch of the Independent Order of Oddfellows.

In 1898, he married Emma, daughter of Thomas Richardson, of Tenterden, in the great southern district of Western Australia, and had three sons and three daughters. Eduard died 30 Sep 1939 aged 71.

OBITUARY

MR. EDWARD. H. WILHELM.

Great Southern Herald
8 October 1938

The funeral of the late Mr. E. H. Wilhelm of “Willing Vale,” Woodanilling, who died at the Katanning Hospital on Friday last, aged 71 years, took place on Sunday afternoon. The cortège moved from the Funeral Salon of Mr. J. Squiers to the Katanning General Cemetery where the remains were laid to rest in the Baptist portion, the Rev. J. B. T. Redshaw, of Woodanilling, performing the last rites.

At the graveside, a large number of relatives and friends representing all the pioneer families of the district gathered to pay their last respects. The pallbearers were Messrs. F. B. Wilson, T. E. Haddleton, F. Gill, W. E. Richmond, F. M. Bowden and A. Prosser.

The late Mr. E. H. Wilhelm was born in 1867 at Blumberg (South Australia) where he received his education. Leaving school at the age of fourteen he worked on his father’s farm for some time, subsequently taking up shearing, which occupation he followed for fifteen years.

After a short period of farming on his own account in Victoria he migrated to Western Australia, and in 1891, selected 400 acres (162 ha) of land at Woodanilling. He carried on mixed farming operations successfully and specialised in the breeding of Clydesdale horses which for some time commanded a premium through the district. In 1913 his property comprised 2,000 acres and, at the time of his death, he held over 4,000 acres (810 ha) of freehold land including a number of blocks purchased for his sons.

In the prime of his life he met with several misfortunes which handicapped him severely. While carting stones to build the Woodanilling Hall he suffered a compound fracture of the leg, an injury which left him with a permanent limp, prior to which he lost the sight of his right eye. In spite of his misfortunes he showed remarkable energy in the development and working of his property and continued his activities until comparatively recent years when advancing age and infirmity compelled him to hand over the management of the farm to his sons.

Earlier in his life he served as a member of the Woodanilling Road Board, held office in the local branch of the Independent Order of Oddfellows, and was a member of the Marracoonda Baptist Church.

He leaves a widow and grown up family of 5 sons and two daughters, one daughter and a son having predeceased him.

Many beautiful floral tributes and other expressions of esteem were placed on the graveside by the following relatives and friends:
Wife and Family; Elsie and Jack; Roy, Gert and Family; Loving sister Hermine and Less; Dolly Sid and Barbara; Ryan, Ethel and family; Mrs. P. A. Beeck; B. and A. Brackie; Mr. and Mrs. Edmund S. Beeck; Martha, Moritz and family; Mr. and Mrs. L. S. Bell and family; Vic Beeck and Mr. Sexton; Mrs. Gus Beeck; Mr. and Mrs. J. Butterworth; Mr. and Mrs. R. S. Bell; Mr. and Mrs. G. Edwin Beeck; Mr. and Mrs. A. H. Beeck; Mr. and Mrs. J. Cornelius and sons and Mr. F. Cronin; Mr. and Mrs. J. Dinwoodie.

Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Gwynne and family; Mr. and Mrs. Jack Green; Mr. and Mrs. T. E. Haddleton; Mr. and Mrs. N. J. Haynes, Mr. and Mrs. F. Higman; Mr. and Mrs. H. Kippin and family; Mr. and Mrs. G. T. Mader; Mr. and Mrs. L. McLeod and family; Mr. and Mrs. Meharry and family; Mr. and Mrs. Prosser and family; Directors of Richardson and Co. Ltd; Richardson and Co., Woodanilling; S. and J. Redshaw; The Schubert family; J. and V. Squiers; Mr. and Mrs. C. Severin and Mr. and Mrs. R. W. Severin; Mr. and Mrs. O. A. Terlick and family; Ted, Hetty and family; Mrs. F. L. Wood and family; Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Washington, Ern, Ken and Grace; the Woodanilling Road Board; Mr., and Mrs. F. B. Wilson and family. Funeral arrangements were in the hands of Mr. John Squiers.

Farmer, Oxley Road, Katanning.

Reinhold Gutthold Wilhelm

Reinhold Wilhelm was a son of August Wilhelm, who originally came from Germany, and died in Western Australia, having spent fifty years of his life in New South Wales.

Reinhold was born at Blumberg, South Australia, a German settlement 20 miles north-east of Adelaide, on September 18, 1872, and attended the German school there.

Concluding his studies at the age of fourteen, he spent several years in assisting his father and neighbouring farmers on their properties, as well as road construction in the district.

In 1891, he decided to launch out on his own account and came to Western Australia. After working for twelve months on a farm, he took over some clearing contracts for about a year. He next paid a visit to his native State and, returning to the West, made a trip to the goldfields, where he gained some useful experience. Finally, he again found his way to the Katanning district, and resumed contracting for about five years. During the shearing seasons Mr. Wilhelm, who was an expert in this class of work, found plenty of employment on the

pastoral properties. He ultimately took up nearly 1,000 acres of good farming land in the Katanning district, which he gradually increased this area to about 3,000 acres.

The agricultural operations included the cultivation of wheat, oats, barley, etc. He included stock-breeding with attention being given to the production of both heavy draughts and lighter types of horses.

Mr. Wilhelm was a member of the local agricultural society and was an advocate of all forms of healthy outdoor sport.

In 1904, he married Ethel Maud, daughter of Mr. H. Trye, of South Australia, and had a daughter and two sons in 1912. He died on 23 September 1946 aged 74, and is buried in Katanning cemetery.

Hilda May Wilhelm

Sad Shooting Fatality.

Tambellup Times
23 November 1912

A shooting fatality occurred near Woodanilling on Monday, when a young girl named Hilda May Wilhelm, 15 years of age, met her death through being shot with a pea rifle. The full circumstances of the case will not be known till after the date of holding of the inquest. It appears, however, that at about 6 o’clock on Monday evening Mrs. Wilhelm heard a shot and the cry “Oh! Mother,” and rushing into the girl’s room she found her laying across the bed.

Dr. Holland was summoned from Katanning and found that the unfortunate girl had been shot through the heart. She never spoke after Mrs. Wilhelm found her.

An inquest was opened at Katanning on Tuesday before Mr. F. M. Gare (acting Coroner) and Messrs. Jas. Moylan (foreman), E. Gilbert and J. Barkley. After the body had been viewed an adjournment was made till Thursday, 28th inst.

Mr. and Mrs. Wilhelm are grief stricken, and much sympathy is felt for them in their sad bereavement.

wilhelm

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