John Disher (1790 - 1878)

Born 16 Nov 1790 in Whitehill, Hamilton, Lanarkshire, Scotland [uncertain]

Husband of Elizabeth Steele — married 5 Jan 1816 in Liberton, Midlothian, Scotland

Descendants

Died 6 Nov 1878 at age 87 in Woodside, South Australia, Australia

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Geoff Raven [send private message] and Kathryne Allen [send private message]

Biography

John Disher was born in 1790 at Whitehill (or White Hill) in Scotland. In 1816 at Liberton, Scotland, he married Elizabeth Steele, who was a sister of Mary Steele, wife of John Clezy.

The Disher family migrated to South Australia in 1839 aboard the ship "Palmyra" and settled at what later became the town of Woodside. John Disher died at Woodside in 1878 and was buried at Nairne, South Australia.

The geographical terms can cause confusion. Woodside is a town in the Native Valley, which in turn is located in the Adelaide Hills. Woodside is some 37 km / 23 miles from Adelaide, the capital of South Australia.

According to "The Manning Index of South Australian History", Native Valley was so called because it was "the site of a permanent Aboriginal encampment set amongst trees, with an assured water supply."

Sources

• The Old Partnership, by Peter Steele Clezy (Sydney, 2002)

• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/215423503/john-disher

Biography

John Disher, Pioneer of South Australia

Source: Cockburn, R. 1925, Pastoral Pioneers Of South Australia, Publishers Limited, Printers, 110 Franklin Street. Note: John Dunn's "Memories of Eighty Years," published 1886 are not entirely correct. William Milne (born 1822) would have been 17 years of age when he arrived in Australia 1839, and was therefore most likely not the small boy. The boy may have been John Disher’s youngest son, Alexander (born 1828) who was 11 years on arrival to Australia. .

“ The interests of these two pioneers of the Mount Lofty Ranges were not identical in a partnership sense, but no amount of perseverance in research seems to yield sufficient data for separate notices, and two really notable men would have to be ignored in this series but for the opportunity which a biographical bracket offers. “ John Disher was born at Liberton, Scotland, in 1790, and with his wife and young family, made the voyage to South Australia in the barque "Palmyra," 464 tons, which arrived on November 11, 1839. William Milne, who was afterwards knighted, and chosen President of the Legislative Council, came out under Mr. Disher's wing in the same vessel, and married one of his daughters. Other notable fellow passengers were George Melrose, founder of Rosebank, Mount Pleasant, and John B. and his sister, Catherine Helen Spence, the apostle of effective voting. John Disher did not allow fresh grass to grow under his feet before entering upon vigorous grazing and farming operations. He immediately took up land at Nairne, and within 12 months after landing was the proprietor of 800 sheep. Despite considerable trouble experienced from the depredations of the blacks and the ravages of wild dogs, Mr. Disher persevered, and the South Australian Directory for 1844 shows that in the year intentioned his stock had increased to 1,000 ewes, 800 wethers, 150 lambs, and 50 cattle-quite a big holding for those remote days. There is evidence also that in later years he extended his enterprise to the breeding of cattle on the River Murray, as revealed by testimony given before a Select Committee in 1860. The best picture of John Disher's early days is to be found in John Dunn's "Memories of Eighty Years," published by the 228 Mount Barker "Courier" in 1886. The writer says: "When I first saw it there were only four persons settled where the town of Nairne now stands. My brother Charles, who was a blacksmith, was one. Mr. Hilman, a Cornish carpenter, was another. Mr. Disher, father-in-law of Sir William Milne, was a third. The fourth was a widow, who kept a wayside public house where the District Hotel now stands. Mr. Disher put in the first patch of wheat on this side of Mount Lofty. William Milne, the small boy living with him, had been sent out - so we were told - to learn agriculture. My brother has told me that he has often seen them gathering in the harvests. The team consisted of Mr. and Mrs. Disher and young Milne. They made one band for the three, and laid it flat on the ground. Then each one would cut a handful of the wheat, and carry it perhaps two or three yards to put it on the band. When enough had been gathered the sheaf was tied up in orthodox style. My brother, who was an excellent reaper with the round hewing hook, told me he was sure the three could not cut half an acre a day in this fashion. I have said Mr. Disher was the first farmer on this side of the Hills, but it is just possible a German at Hahndorf might have had a few rods of wheat or rye in the same year." John Clezy afterwards had the Nairne country turned to such good account by John Disher, who finally retired to Woodside, where he died in 1878 at the age of 88 years. The family consisted of six sons and two daughters. Five of the children were surviving in 1878 -together with 65 grand children 'and 129 great grand children, or a total of 199 direct descendants of this grand old pioneer. James Johnston, of Oakbank, was another son-in-law. An excellent marble bust of Sir William Milne has a place in the precincts of the Legislative Council, over which his son-in-law, Sir Lancelot Stirling, has resided for so many years with credit to himself and the State.”

John Disher ... ^[1]

BURIAL. Nairne Cemetery, South Australia

Surname Disher

Given Names James [sic, John]

Cemetery Nairne

Plot/Grave/Niche 132

Last Residence Woodside

Date of Death 06/11/1878

Age at Death 88

Date of Interment 9/11/1878

Right of Interment Number 42

Burial/Order Number 129

https://www.mountbarker.sa.gov.au/page.aspx?c=4155

FUNERAL OF THE LATE MR. DISHER.—The remains of the late Mr. John Disher were conveyed from his late residence, near Woodside, on Saturday, November 9, and interred in the Nairne Cemetery. Mr. Disher was a colonist of about forty years' standing, and as might have been expected he was followed to the grave by a large number of the oldest settlers. Round the grave besides the immediate relatives were noticed Sir William Milne, President of the Legislative Council, Mr. James Johnston, J.P., of Oakbanks, sons-in-law; Hon. W. H. Bundey, Attorney-General; Messrs. John Dunn, sen., J.P., Richard Perkins, J.P., Dr. Esau, J.P., Mr. J. T. Lauterbach, J.P., Dr. Weld, J.P., A. W. Richardson, J.P., Messrs. C. Dunn, sen., W. Dunn, sen., C. Dunn, jun., W. G. Dunn, jun., of Charleston, A. G. Johnston, C. Fowler, B. M. Steele, James Steele, T. Hutchins, W. Tucker, W. Hughes, W. F. Wicksteed, John Clezy, J. Parr, and a number of other old colonists. The Rev. J. Macbean officiated at the grave. Evening Journal (Adelaide, SA : 1869 - 1912) Tue 12 Nov 1878, Page 2: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/197718928

Sources

• Geoff Raven, firsthand knowledge. Click the Changes tab for the details of edits by Geoff and others.

1. ↑ Entered by Geoff Raven, Dec 17, 2011