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William Midson (1849–1924)

from Methodist

The subject of this sketch was a native of Essex, England, having been born in 1849. When a lad of five, he was brought by his parents to New South Wales, and, with, the exception of a brief time spent in the Maitland district when he was a young man, he lived the rest of his life in the neighbourhood of what is now known as Epping. His father took to fruit growing in the district, and the sons followed the same pursuit. Mr. W. [William] Midson was only quite a young man when he started life for himself, and acquired the property that now constitutes a large part of the prosperous and salubrious suburb known as Epping. Having chosen his life's work, he, with characteristic energy and judgment, threw himself into the task of making it profitable, and whilst he like others similarly engaged found obstacles in his path, these only called for more careful thought and more strenuous effort. He was a successful man, not because it came to him unsought, but because he used both mental and physical powers in seeking to command success. Those who knew Central Cumberland in its palmy days of fruit growing, will not hesitate to say that William Midson was one of the most capable and prosperous of the orchardists in the district. He was a man of quick movement and perception, and while many another would be thinking what to do, and how to do it, he would be far on the way to having it done. There were few in his line of business that knew better than he what to grow, how to grow it, and how to turn the produce of his cultivation into cash. To use a homely phrase, there was not an idle bone in his body, and he toiled and planned to such good purpose in the early part of his life that when he felt ready for it he was able to rest from his active, busy life, and enjoy the comparative quiet that he had so thoroughly earned.

Naturally he was a man of high principles, with a large fund of humour and a sincere appreciation for the joys of life. In some respects he may be said to have been a typical Englishman, to whom the sense of duty was all-compelling. He was a good neighbour, a loyal friend, and was deeply interested in the welfare of his neighbourhood. For a number of years he served as an alderman of the Dundas Municipality, and was entrusted with a commission of the peace. And he was a man of strong personality; no one could twist him from what he held to be true and wise. All this may be said of his natural qualities, but what crowned his life was the converting grace of God, realised in early life, and enjoyed right to its close. He was what may be called an old-fashioned Methodist, who loved Christian fellowship. How many of the former ministers of the Ryde Circuit can recall his regular attendance at the class meeting and the week-night service! He worthily filled most of the offices of our church that are open to a laymen, and as local preacher, trustee and circuit steward representative to Conference, he played a valuable part in the work of the Methodist Church. He was a man one had to know in order to estimate his worth, but to know him was to feel assured that one could trust everything to his fidelity. For some years he was warned that the condition of his heart was admonitory. This did not alarm him, but simply made him somewhat careful. Then, as time went by, symptoms became more serious, and the signs of the approaching end unmistakenable. Suffering severely at times, he was supported by the presence of the Saviour, and ministered to by the skill of the doctor, but mostly by the loving devotion of wife and daughters; he waited the call to the rest that remaineth to the people of God, and on Wednesday, 6th March last, he exchanged mortality for life, leaving behind him his devoted wife, seven daughters, and two sons to mourn the loss of a faithful, loving and honoured husband and father.

Original publication

Other Obituaries for William Midson

Citation details

'Midson, William (1849–1924)', Obituaries Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://oa.anu.edu.au/obituary/midson-william-26582/text34327, accessed 29 March 2024.

© Copyright Obituaries Australia, 2010-2024

Life Summary [details]

Birth

9 June, 1849
Steeple Bumstead, Essex, England

Death

6 March, 1924 (aged 74)
Epping, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Cause of Death

heart disease

Cultural Heritage

Includes subject's nationality; their parents' nationality; the countries in which they spent a significant part of their childhood, and their self-identity.

Religious Influence

Includes the religion in which subjects were raised, have chosen themselves, attendance at religious schools and/or religious funeral rites; Atheism and Agnosticism have been included.

Occupation