John McKINNON [8947]

  General Notes:

John reportedly served in the Boar War though I have currently not found a matching military record to substantiate that. He also em;osted in WW1. He enlisted at Cootamundra 28 April 1916 and medically discharged in 6 Feb 1917
McKinnon John : SERN DEPOT N23690 : POB Geelong VIC : POE Cootamundra NSW : NOK Wife McKinnon Elizabeth.

The Riverine Grazier (Hay, NSW : 1873 - 1954) Tue 14 Feb 1939 Page 2 OBITUARY.
OBITUARY.
Mr. John McKinnon.
During the past six weeks death has removed more well known residents of the district from our midst than during any similar period of time in memory, the latest victim being Mr. John McKinnon, of Benduck Back Station, who died in the Hay Hospital on Friday evening, after three days' illness.
Jack McKinnon was born at Werribee Park, Victoria, 59 years ago, and was the younger son of the late Donald and Mrs. McKinnon, of West Hay. He came to the Hay district with the family at an early age, and as he grew up followed the calling of his father, that of station work. As a young man he entered the employ of the late Mr. Gordon Ayre, and later became an employee of Messrs. Stevenson, and Ayre.

Being a good horseman he had no difficulty in qualifying for inclusion in the Bushmen's Contingent, which took part in the South African War of 1900-2, and he served 12 months at the front. He came through unscathed, but his horse was shot dead under him in one skirmish with the Boers. He continued with the same pastoral firm and went to Moangul, in the Ivanhoe district, and later to Adavale, near Booligal. ; From there he enlisted for the Great' War, and went into camp, where he stayed for some months, but was unable to pass the medical test. To his chagrin he was compelled to return to civilian life and found a berth with his old employers, going to Kaine, in the Western district of Victoria, to look after that property, which was then owned by the late Mr. A. G. Stevenson. About 1920, he returned to Benduck to take charge of the back station, and he has remained there ever since. He was very highly esteemed by his employers, and he had over many years proved his efficiency and his painstaking care for the welfare of the interests of the firm which employed him.

For some time past he had not enjoyed good health, but he did not complain, and carried on with his work. On Tuesday he had been working at a well, but in the evening appeared as well as usual. About 10 p.m., Mrs. McKinnon heard him searching for mentholated spirits, which blend he wished to rub into an old injury to his knee. As he did not return to bed she went to see what had happened, and found him kneeling on the floor. He said he was unable to get back to bed, and she tried to make him comfortable where he was while she rang for help. She could not raise anybody on the telephone, and as she was alone with her husband, other members of the family being in Hay, she went to catch a horse to put in the sulky. She succeeded in doing this. Her husband by this time was in a state of collapse, but she placed him in the sulky, and then she drove the vehicle over three miles to Mr. S. Milliken's Yarrawa. where the son was employed. Here Mr. McKinnon was quickly transferred to a motor car and driven to Dr. Thompson's, the doctor being informed beforehand on the telephone. The patient reached Hay about' 3a.m., and was at once taken to the Hospital, where it was found that he was suffering from a bad paralytic seizure. He revived slightly next day, but complications setting in he relapsed, and died on Friday evening.
Mr. McKinnon was married at Hay over 30 years ago to Miss Lizzie Mitchell, daughter of the late Mr and Mrs J. Mitchell. She and a family of one son and nine daughters survive. They are Mr. John L. McKinnon, Mary (Mrs. Reid, Cooinbil); Sarah (Mrs. F. C. Johnson of Greenvale) ; Victoria (Mrs. H. A. Keys); Flora; Minnie (Mrs. T. Cameron, Benduck) ; Jean, Matilda, Margaret and Ethel, the youngest girl being about 12 years old. General regret is expressed with the sorely bereaved family.

The funeral took place on Saturday afternoon, the body being buried in the Presbyterian portion of the cemetery, after a service had been held at the Church. Both the services were conducted by the Rev. H. D. Mackie. There was a good attendance of town and district residents, who took the last opportunity to show their regard for a man who was widely known and highly respected by all who came in contact with him. At the close of the graveside service, 'The Last Post' was sounded by Mr. W. J. Wilkins.

The Riverine Grazier (Hay, NSW : 1873 - 1954) Tue 16 Jan 1940 Page 2 Family Notices
DEATH
McKlNNON. - At the Hay Hospital on 25th December, Flora Elsie, beloved daughter of Mrs. John McKinnon and the late John McKinnon, of Benduck, Hay and loving granddaughter of Mrs. Sarah McKinnon, of West Hay. Age 23 years. At Rest.

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Alt. Birth, 2 Dec 1880, Werribee Park, Vic. ⁶⁹⁸⁴

John married Elizabeth MITCHELL [8956] [MRIN: 2909], daughter of Joseph MITCHELL [8984] and Matilda HURLE [8985], in 1908 in Hay, NSW, Australia.⁶⁹⁸² (Elizabeth MITCHELL [8956] was born in 1885 in Maude, NSW, Australia ⁶⁹⁸⁵ and died in 1955 in Hay, NSW, Australia ^6985,6986.)