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John Thomas Gosper (1832–1910)

from Windsor & Richmond Gazette

After an illness of about eighteen months, Mr John T. Gosper passed away at his residence, The Terrace, Windsor, on Monday night. The deceased was an Alderman of Windsor Municipal Council, in fact he was one of the oldest of our civic fathers, and was first elected about 30 years ago. The late Mr Gosper was a man who did a great deal for the town he lived in. Much against his will – for he was a modest man and of unostentatious character – he was induced to give his time and talents to the ratepayers when Windsor was first incorporated, and though he often threatened to retire from public life, he was repeatedly urged to allow himself to be again nominated for aldermanic honors. He always acquiesced in the wishes of the people, but invariably left himself entirely in the hands of the ratepayers, and did hot ask a single person to vote for him. We have known the late Mr Gosper to stroll up town on the night after a municipal election, when he himself was a candidate, and unconcernedly ask 'Who got in?' Such was the independent character of the man. He never sought the limelight, and did his duty as an alderman because he felt it incumbent upon him to do the best he could for the town. He was the best chairman of the works committee the Council ever had, being a practical levelheaded man who would do what he considered right in spite of all opposition. The late Mr. Gosper was twice married. His first wife was a sister of Alderman S. Cox, of Pitt Town, by whom he had a family of twelve, viz., John, Thomas and David (both dead), Mrs F. Rigby (Hurstville), Alfred (railway guard, Richmond), Mrs J. Christie, Windsor), Mrs E. C. Wickham (Penrith), Cyrus (who has a saddlery business at Attunga, near Tamworth), Charles (dead), Edwin (of Singer and Co., Coonamble), Jesse (coach proprietor, Windsor), Mrs T. Jones (Penrith), and Louisa (dead). He married Sarah, daughter of the late John Pearson, of Windsor in 1879, and the issue of this marriage was one daughter and one son, Mrs W. F. Mudie (Leichhardt), and Arthur (Windsor). Besides being one of the oldest alderman he was for many years on the committee of the Hawkesbury District Agricultural Society, and a director and part owner of the Hawkesbury Steam Navigation Company's steamers. The late Mr. Gosper, who was 77 years and 9 months old, was born at Upper Colo, and for some years kept the well-known hotel there, where Mrs Hayman subsequently lived. In the early days he traded on the Colo and Hawkesbury Rivers, to Sydney, and subsequently came to Windsor, where he carried on grazing and farming. He was a wellknown breeder of famous draught stock, and owned some of the best Clydesdale stallions ever brought to the Hawkesbury district, some of them imported horses. There were few better judges of a draught horse than the late John Gosper. The funeral took place on Wednesday, and was very largely attended. Rev. N. Jenkyn conducted the last sad rites, and paid an eloquent tribute to the useful life deceased had led. Mr J. W. Chandler was the undertaker.

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Citation details

'Gosper, John Thomas (1832–1910)', Obituaries Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://oa.anu.edu.au/obituary/gosper-john-thomas-17292/text33183, accessed 7 November 2024.

© Copyright Obituaries Australia, 2010-2024

Life Summary [details]

Birth

19 April, 1832
Wilberforce, New South Wales, Australia

Death

17 January, 1910 (aged 77)
Windsor, New South Wales, Australia

Cause of Death

general debility

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.

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