Oswald John Hair (1891 - 1970)

Born 12 Jan 1891 in Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth Isabella (Schmeider) Hair — married 27 Feb 1922 in Queensland, Australia

Died 14 Aug 1970 at age 79 in Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia

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Biography

Oswald John was born on 12 January 1891 at Littabella, Queensland, the son of William Hair and Elizabeth Hair formerly Chapman. His birth certificate further recorded father William was a farmer aged 40 years. He had been born in Barton, Lincolnshire, England. Mother Elizabeth was also aged 40 and had been born in Castor [Caistor], Lincolnshire, England. His parents had married on 14 March 1870 at Barrow, Lincolnshire, England. Oswald's siblings were Horance Kilburne [sic] aged 14, Oscar Jolland aged 7 and Gertrude Sarah aged 4. The informant of his birth was father William Hair, of Littabella.^[1]

From The Bundaberg Mail dated Saturday 13 July 1912, Page 4 [in part] -
LAND COMMISSIONER'S COURT.
MONTHLY SITTINGS.
The monthly sittings of the Land Commissioner's Court was held at the local Lands Office yesterday, the Land Commissioner (Mr. J. S. Bourne) presiding. The following is a resume of the business transacted:
APPLICATIONS TO SELECT. [included]
A.F.3768. - Oswald John Hair, portion 84, parish of Littabella, area 105 acres; refused (lost by ballot). ^[2]

Oswald first appeared in the electoral rolls in 1913. He was then recorded as living at Yandaran and working as a farmer. The 1919 and 1925 rolls remained the same. ^[3]

From The Bundaberg Mail dated Monday 29 December 1919, Page 2 -
Accident at Yandaran.
A serious accident befel [sic] a young man named Oswald Hair, a well-known resident of Littabella Creek, in the Yandaran district, on Friday last. He was engaged yarding horses, when the horse he was riding stumbled in a hole, and, falling upon him, inflicted nasty injuries to his head and face, and he also sustained a badly lacerated tongue. The ambulance bearers were summoned, and, after rendering first aid conveyed the sufferer to the hospital, where on inquiry last evening it was ascertained that he was doing as well as could be expected. ^[4]

Oswald John Hair married Elizabeth Isabella Schmeider on 27 February 1922 in Queensland. ^[5]

From The Bundaberg Mail dated 2 March 1922, Pg 4 -
WEDDING BELLS.
HAIR – SCHMEIDER.
A quiet but pretty wedding was celebrated at St. Mary’s Catholic Church on Tuesday afternoon last. The contracting parties were Mr. Oswald John Hair, son of Mr. William Hair of Yandaran, and Miss Elizabeth Isabel Schmeider, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C. Schmeider, of Rosedale. Rev. Father M. Baldwin, P.P. officiated. The bride, who was given away by her brother, Mr. Alfred Schmeider, wore a beautiful gown of white crepe-de-cheme, skirt tunic of georgette, bodice trimmed with hand made flowers and fancy stitchings. She was attended by her sister, Miss Amie Schmeider, who wore a pretty costume of pale pink crepe-de-cheme with a black hat. The bridegroom was supported by Mr. Stanley Johnson (nephew of the bride.) The wedding breakfast was subsequently partaken of at Mr. D. T. Cummings Burnett Tea Rooms, Mr Cumming also supplying the wedding cake. Mr. and Mrs. Hair intend making their future home at Mullett Creek. The bridal costumes were made by Miss. McAdam, Bourbon-street. ^[6]
The photograph to right includes from left: Alfred and Amie Schmeider, Oswald and Elizabeth Hair and Stanley Johnson.

This couple had six children. Their eldest child was Ronald John born in 1922. Ronald died in an accident as outlined in the following newspaper articles.

From The Bundaberg Mail dated 15 January 1923, Pg 4 -
SAD DRIVING FATALITY.
A distressing fatality occurred at Watalgan yesterday, when the infant son of Mr. and Mrs. Hair, lost its life under sad circumstances. At the time of the accident the family were on their way to spend the day with relatives. Mrs. Hair, with her three months old son, Ronald, and younger brother were driving in a vehicle, while Mr. Hair was on horseback a little distance ahead. Passing a wagon on the roadway, the horse shied, and Mrs. Hair got out with her baby in her arms with the intention of leading the horse past the wagon, when the animal plunged, pulling mother and child over and throwing them heavily on to the ground. The child died from its injuries shortly afterwards, while Mrs. Hair received an ugly scalp wound and suffered considerably from shock. The Ambulance Bearers responded to the call, but were unable to cross the Kolan River, which is in flood. Arrangements were then made by telephone for Mrs. Hair to be brought from Mullett Creek to Moorland by railway trolley, the trip by rail a distance of 13 miles, being accomplished in quick time. At Moorland, Mr. And Mrs Hair and the body of the child were transferred into the Ambulance car and town was reached early last evening. ^[7]

And from the Bundaberg Mail dated Wednesday 17 January 1923, Pg 4 -
THE WATALGAN FATALITY.
Mr. J. A. Murray, J.P., yesterday conducted a formal inquiry into the death of the child, Ronald Hair, the victim of the driving accident at Watalgan on Sunday last. Senior Sergeant Benzies examined the witnesses. Mrs. O. J. Hair, mother of the child, stated: On Sunday, 14th instant between 7 and 8 a.m. I left home to go to my brother’s place about seven miles away. I was driving a pony and sulky and I had with me the deceased child and another child aged 7. My husband accompanied us on horseback. He went away from me to look for some cattle. I had often driven this same pony in the sulky previously and never had and [sic] trouble. When about half a mile from my mother’s place, the pony shied at a timber wagon on the road side. It belonged to my brother-in-law, John McGee. I got out of the sulky with the deceased infant on my left arm. The little boy got out of the sulky and ran away some distance. I caught hold of the pony with my right hand and endeavoured to lead it past the wagon. The pony reared up and jumped and struggled and pulled away from me and I was thrown clear off my feet and I struck the ground with my head. I was unconscious for a few seconds. When I recovered, the infant was lying on the ground alongside of me and in front of me. Its head was on the ground. The ground was fairly hard there. I was cut about the head and bruised about the body. I suffered a good deal from shock. I picked the child up immediately I recovered. I could see the child was seriously injured and was unconscious. I sang out for help. My brother Charles who lives near was the first to see me. He took the child from me. My husband arrived a few minutes after. We then went into my brother’s place. The deceased remained unconscious and died half an hour later. I am satisfied that when I got thrown, the child’s head must have struck the ground. The occurrence was purely an accident and was caused by the pony shying at the wagon. Formal evidence was also given by Mr. O. J. Hair. ^[8]

Other newspaper snippets included -
The Bundaberg Mail dated Friday 10 August 1923, Page 5 -
Lower Baffle Creek.
What might easily have been an accident of a more serious nature than it fortunately turned out to be, occurred at Watalgan one day last week. It appears that Mr. Oswald J. Hair, of Mullet Creek, who has lately been engaged in carting sleeper-blocks for Mr. N. Maclean, Watalgan, with two others was loading up, when by some mischance he slipped and fell to the ground from the top of the waggon, injuring the left side of his knee as a result of coming in contact with the wheel. Had the weighty sleeper-block rolled back instead of forward into the wagon, as it luckily happened, the' injured man might have been killed. The mishap so upset one of the other men that he forthwith declared his intention of seeking less dangerous employment. Mr. Hair has had to seek medical attention, and expects to be laid up at least a fortnight. ^[9]
The Daily Mail, Brisbane, dated Friday 6 June 1924, Page 13 [in part] -
BUNDABERG DISTRICT.
BAFFLE CREEK.
Mr. H. Bugden, of Mullet Creek, has sold one of his Watalgan properties, 800 odd acres, to Mr. Oswald J. Hair. The properly will probably be turned into a dairy farm, and sugarcane may also be grown. The latter crop is receiving a lot of attention locally, and present indications point to an effort being shortly made to revive the sugar industry in part of the district at least. ^[10]
And from The Bundaberg Mail dated Saturday 7 June 1924, Page 2 -
Lower Baffle Creek.
Mr. Oswald J. Hair, of Mullet Creek has purchased one of Mr. H. Budgen's grazing properties situated in between here and Watalagan. The property in question consists of' 800 odd acres of fair grass land and is well watered. ^[11]
The Bundaberg Mail dated Saturday 19 July 1924, Page 3 –
Our Mullett Creek correspondent writes:- Mr. Oswald Hair, we regret to hear has been ordered to the hospital for treatment of a poisoned wound. ^[12]
Then from The Daily Mail, Brisbane, dated Thursday 30 September 1926, Page 18 [in part]
BUNDABERG DISTRICT
MULLET CREEK.
Mr. F. W. Leo has disposed of the greater part of his Mullet Creek property to Mr. Oswald J. Hair, who has already taken possession. ^[13]

Elizabeth Isabella Hair first appeared in the electoral rolls in 1925. Her address was recorded as Mullett Creek. Oswald's address continued simply as Yandaran until 1936 when it was changed to Oakdale Farm, Yandaran. He was a farmer. Elizabeth's address remained unchanged from Mullett Creek until 1943. At that time both Oswald and Elizabeth were recorded as living at Watalgan. Oswald was working as a labourer.
In the 1958 electoral roll Oswald and Elizabeth were both living at Mullett Creek. Oswald was working as a railway fettler and Elizabeth was a station mistress.
Thereafter they were living at 32 Brand St, Bundaberg. ^[14]

Oswald John Hair died on 14 August 1970 aged 79 years at Bundaberg. ^[15]

From The Bundaberg Daily News and Mail dated 11 August 1970 -
MR OSWALD JOHN HAIR.
The death of Mr Oswald John Hair occurred at his home at 32 Brand Street on Friday, aged 79 years 7 months. Mr Hair was the youngest son of the late Mr and Mrs William Hair, early pioneers of the Yandaran district. He was born at Littabella, and married Elizabeth Isabella Schmeider, daughter of another pioneering family. In his early days, Mr Hair worked in the timber and sugar industries. He was later employed in the Railways until his retirement 14 years ago, when he went to live at 32 Brand Street, West Bundaberg. He is survived by his wife, a daughter, four sons, 16 grandchildren and one great-grand-daughter. A son, Ronald, predeceased him. Service: St Mary’s Catholic Church. (F C Brown & Co) ^[16]

Elizabeth Isabella Hair died on 24 October 1990 aged 94 years at Bundaberg. ^[17]

Both Oswald and Elizabeth were buried at Bundaberg Cemetery [Location 2A, Grave 142]. ^[18]

Sources

1. ↑ Birth certificate of Oswald John Hair
2. ↑ http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article215523994
3. ↑ Electoral rolls can be viewed at Ancestry.com. Australia, Electoral Rolls, 1903-1980 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.
   Original data: Australian Electoral Commission, Canberra, Australia; Electoral Rolls
4. ↑ http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article217112630
5. ↑ https://www.familyhistory.bdm.qld.gov.au/
   Marriage registration: Oswald John Hair
   Marriage date: 27/02/1922
   Spouse's name: Elizabeth Isabella Schmeider
   Registration details: 1922/C/68
6. ↑ http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article217090871
7. ↑ http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article216458989
8. ↑ http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article216464106
9. ↑ http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article218247317
10. ↑ http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article219087403
11. ↑ http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article217008729
12. ↑ http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article217003397
13. ↑ http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article220607550
14. ↑ Electoral rolls can be viewed at Ancestry.com. Australia, Electoral Rolls, 1903-1980 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.
    Original data: Australian Electoral Commission, Canberra, Australia; Electoral Rolls
15. ↑ https://www.familyhistory.bdm.qld.gov.au/
    Death registration: Oswald John Hair
    Death date: 14/08/1970
    Mother's name: Elizabeth Chapman
    Father/parent's name: William Hair
    Registration details:1970/C/3831
16. ↑ Bundaberg Library's Local Obituaries
17. ↑ https://www.familyhistory.bdm.qld.gov.au/
    Death registration: Elizabeth Isabella Hair
    Birth year: 1896 Death date: 24/10/1990
    Mother's name: Marie Appolonia Zittlow
    Father/parent's name: Carl Fredrick Schmeider
    Registration details: 1990/58062
18. ↑ https://www.bundaberg.qld.gov.au/search-cemeteries and photograph of gravestone