Ellen Josephine Elena MARTIN

Father: Philip Callary was born about 1834 in Cavan, Ireland and died on 19 March 1921 in Jamestown, South Australia.  Philip was son of Thomas Callary and Margaret Ann Reilly.

Mother: Julia McAuliffe was born about 1831 in County Cork, Ireland and died on 25 January 1927 in Jamestown, South Australia.  Julia was the daughter of Humphrey McAuliffe and Mary Keeffe.

Children

Philip Laurence Martin was born on 31 December 1892 in Arkaba, South Australia.  He died at the age of four on 1 April 1897 in Marianville near Quorn, South Australia.

Myrtle Nellie Martin was born on 29 January 1895 in Farina, South Australia.  She died on 18 October 1973 at Prospect in South Australia.  She married Albert (Bert) Charles Wilson on 11 September 1913, in Farina, South Australia.  He was the son of John Wilson and Emily Caroline Beer.  Albert was born on 27 February 1891 in Gordon, South Australia and died on 5 December 1966 in Kilburn, Adelaide, South Australia.  Both are buried in the Dudley Park Cemetery in Adelaide, South Australia.

William Leslie Martin was born on 7 February 1899 in Birdsville, Queensland.  He died on 3 June 1973 in Hawker, South Australia.  He married Emily Elizabeth Chapman on 19 November 1928 in Farina, South Australia.  Emily was the daughter of Charles Kemble Chapman and Elizabeth Ann Gill.  Emily was born on 9 December 1906 in Blinman, South Australia and died on 19 February 1987 in Hawker, South Australia.  They are both buried in the Hawker Cemetery.

Thomas Benjamin MARTIN was born on 19 April 1900 in Birdsville, Queensland. He died on 27 April 1973 in Jamestown, South Australia.  He married Evelyn Mabel Reid on 19 September 1929 in Farina, South Australia.  She was the daughter of Michael Reid and Sarah Russell.  Evelyn was born on 1 October 1911 in Hawker, South Australia and died on 13 November 1980 in Jamestown, South Australia.  Both are buried in the Jamestown Cemetery.

Eileen Elsie Martin was born on 3 August 1902 in Queensland.  She never married.  Eileen died on 1 January 1950 and was buried in the Dudley Park Cemetery, South Australia.

Alice Lottie MARTIN was born on 13th July 1904 in Queensland. She never married. Alice died on 17th July 1979 in Port Pirie, South Australia and is buried in the Port Pirie Cemetery.

Siblings

Margaret Callary was born on 1 July 1865, South Australia, baptised on 16 July 1865 in Gilbert as recorded in the Catholic Church Registry for Kapunda and died on 15 September 1938 in Hoyleton, South Australia at the age of 73 years.  Margaret married James Angas Graham on 4 April 1888 in Auburn, South Australia.

Thomas Callary was born on 23 August 1867, South Australia and baptised on 8 September 1867 in Gilbert as recorded in the Catholic Church Registry for Kapunda.

Humphrey Callary was born on 19 December 1868 in South Australia, baptised on 25 December 1868 in Gilbert in the Catholic Church Registry for Kapunda and died on 16 April 1953 at Myrtle Park, South Australia at the age of 84 years.

Phillip Joseph Callary was born on 14 May 1872 at Undalya, South Australia and died on 27 August 1928 in Hawker, South Australia at the age of 56 years.

This Biography is a summary extracted from the full document which is available to view in the “Further Reading” tab.

Ellen Josephine Elena Callary was born on 8 November 1871 in Gilbert, South Australia.

Ellen married William Joseph Martin on 18 February 1892 in The Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Quorn, South Australia.  Ellen was 21 years old and William was 27 years old when they married.

Ellen travelled with William throughout the station country of South Australia and Queensland.  By following where their children were born, it would seem they were working their way north from Quorn to Farina then up the Birdsville track to Birdsville.  Most likely working at different stations along the way.  It took them seven years and three children to get there.

William was a coach driver for Cobb and Co in Queensland.  Cobb and Co were contracted by the Postmaster to deliver mail to many of the towns in western Queensland, including the Birdsville run.

The first time we find Ellen and William on an Electoral Roll was in 1903.  She was 31 years old, married and had a family of five children.  They were in located at Thundapurty Station in Queensland.  Ellen’s occupation was house duties and William was a coach driver.  They stayed on or out of Thundapurty Station for many years before moving back to Farina.  Thundapurty was on Durrie Station and it is now known as Coonyncera.

Ellen and William arrived in Farina around 1911.  William soon after became the Mail Driver for Mr McConville in January 1912.  This job entail delivering the mail to the stations along the Strzelecki Track that runs from Farina to Innamincka.  It proved to be a fateful job as he was killed a lightning strike on 4 March 1913 on Murnpeowie Station on the Strzelecki Track in South Australia while delivering the mail.

Life would have already been hard for Ellen and with the loss of William it would have become much harder.  The challenges ahead for Ellen raising a family of six in Farina must have seemed insurmountable at times.  However, Ellen was up to it and with the help of the Farina community she made a life for herself and her family.

It was touching to note that her love for William endured as evident by the newspaper memorials she placed in later years.

While life was not easy for Ellen after William’s death, it got a lot harder for her as she was diagnosed with breast cancer in December 1913.  A search of Admissions to Adelaide Hospital online, confirmed that Ellen Martin was admitted on the 29 December 1913 with breast cancer.  Ellen was 36 years old.  Ellen was discharged on the 13 January 1914.

What a year 1913 was for Ellen and her family.  In March the death of her husband, in September the marriage of daughter Myrtle and then in December Ellen had breast cancer and one breast removed.

Ellen’s world had forever changed in such a short period of time. 

Imagine how she must have felt when she returned to Farina, excited to be reunited with her children but she must have been in pain and carried much uncertainty about her future.  Reading medical papers for back then, there was no follow up services for Ellen and cancer success rates were very low.  How amazing it is that Ellen lived until she was 77.

Ellen remained in Farina raising her children and was an active member of the community.  It is understood that Ellen survived by providing catering services and by being a greengrocer, providing provisions to locals and travellers.  In 1924, Ellen is recorded in the newspapers as providing supper for a family farewell and again in 1928 she is recorded as providing the supper arrangements for the Leap Year Ball.  She was listed in the Sands and McDougall 1926 -1929 South Australian directory as a Greengrocer at Farina.

Ellen’s family grew up and eventually moved away from Farina in search of a better life until only Ellen and her daughter Alice remained.

It is told that Ellen moved to Jamestown with her youngest daughter, Alice in 1936 after a fierce storm hit Farina destroying much of the town including Ellen’s house.  The hard decision not to rebuild was made and she moved on.

Ellen’s parents and some of her Aunts and Uncles on the Callary side already lived in the Jamestown and Belalie area, so the move would have been very logical.

It is believed she initially moved in to a tin house on Gloucester Street, Jamestown before moving to a house on Vohr Street, Jamestown.  Later she and Alice lived in a flat behind the Butcher shop in Ayre Street where they stayed for many years. 

Ellen inherited a house at 21 Cockburn Road from her Aunty Catherine Callary in 1941. Ellen never actually lived in the house.  She let her son Thomas Martin and family live there.  This was a very kind gesture.  Ellen preferred to keep to herself and was not very involved with her children or grandchildren.

Ellen was a pioneer in her own right.  She lived and prospered in the harsh conditions that faced so many of the women of that time.  She raised her family in a very harsh environment, often alone while William was away working and then after his death.

There is no record of Ellen owning land at Farina.

Ellen Josephine Elena Martin comprehensive biography with documents, articles and photographs.