William Charles Elmer (1897 - 1946)

Born 14 Jun 1897 in Gapsted, Victoria, Australia

Ancestors

Husband of Olivia Maude (Jones) Elmer — married 8 Nov 1919 in Northcote, Victoria, Australia

Descendants

Died 8 Apr 1946 at age 48 in Parkville, Victoria, Australia

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Biography

William lived at 17 Flinders Street, Northcote when his daughter, Jean, was born and then later moved to 35 Pender Street, Preston about July 1925.

William was a lay preacher and a poet. In the church he was a leader of the young people, apparently. He was also a relief minister in the district when any of the ministers were unavailable.

A copy of his poem, "Miss Nancy" is attached in the scrapbook. He was noted as having an occupation of a clerk on both the birth certificate and marriage certificates of his daughter, Jean Elmer. When he died in 1946, he was an Inspector of Post Offices according to his daughter, Jean, having started after the family moved to Foster in 1911 before he was transferred to Melbourne to continue his studies. William started at the Post Office in Foster when he was 13yo.

Jean Elmer, my grandmother, remembers him as a softly spoken man who did not talk much but listened well; and who was always writing and reading. William had wanted to be a minister of religion but his parents could not afford the schooling.

A copy of William's signature is attached in the scrapbook. This signature was "lifted" from his marriage certificate.

A copy of the article appearing in "The Argus" newspaper notifying the exam results in 1916 is attached in the scrapbook. William came in at No 26. His daughter, Jean, says that he sat for his final exam in 1919 just 3 weeks after his marriage. Jean says that he also studied psychology.

William played the piano and many a Sunday night was spent singing around the pianola with family & friends

Jean remembers that her dad cut up an old broom handle and put them around the edge of the dining table to play table cricket with a table tennis ball and a small bat. William would listen to the cricket on the wireless before TV

The family used to rent a holiday house during until 1940. with many Christmas holidays taken at Black Rock and in the Dandenongs during winter. Jean also remembers that her father rode his bicycle in 1936/1937 to Shepparton for his annual holidays to visit his sister, Amy.

William never owned a car

The depression never really affected the family because of William's job.

Sources

• Death notice, The Argus, Tuesday 9 April 1946

ELMER.- On April 8, William Charles, dearly beloved husband of Olive Maud Elmer, of 35 Pender street, Preston, loving father of Jean (Mrs. Nickels), Nancy (Mrs. Turner), Jack, and Ian, loved grandfather of Margret.

• Birth certificate
• Australia Birth Index, 1788-1922
• Death certificate
• Australia Death Index, 1787-1985
• Marriage certificate
• Australia Marriage Index, 1788-1949
• Will and probate records
• Australian Electoral Rolls, 1901-1936
• Newspaper article recording death