Michael REID

Father: Adam REID was born in 1825 in Lancashire, Scotland and died on 31 August 1898 in Port Augusta, South Australia. Adam is buried in the old Port Augusta Cemetery.

Mother: Mary KENNELLY was born in 1827 in Ireland and died on 23 November 1875 in Georgetown, South Australia.  Adam married Mary Kennelly on 2 September 1854 in Adelaide, South Australia.

Children

David REID (Mickey) was born on 23 October 1886 in Queensland, died on 2 July 1939 in Broken Hill, New South Wales and was buried in the Broken Hill Cemetery. He married Isabella (Minnie) Elsie Lawson on 18 September 1929 at Bourke and Will’s Dig Tree near Innamincka, Queensland.  Their wedding photo is on display in the Innamincka Hotel.  Isabella was the daughter of Thomas Lawson and Elsie Louisa Taylor.  Isabella was born in 1910 in South Australia, died in October 1986 in Camden Park, South Australia and was buried in the Centennial Park Cemetery, Adelaide on 8 October 1986.

Martha REID was born 1887 in Milparinka, New South Wales, died on 31 July 1959 in Whyalla, South Australia and is buried in Whyalla Cemetery. She married Patrick Joseph O’Reilly in Quorn, South Australia on 7 August 1905.  Patrick was the son of Patrick O’Reilly. Patrick was born about 1867 and died on 25 July 1939 in Parkside Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia.  Patrick was buried in West Terrace Cemetery, Adelaide.

John Jacob REID was born on 18 April 1889, in Thargomindah, Queensland and died on 20 May 1957 in Moorook, South Australia. He married Marcella Maud Ferguson on 24 February 1912 in Farina, South Australia.  Marcella was born 6 June 1890 in Beltana, South Australia and died on 30 October 1968 in Barmera, South Australia.  She was the daughter of Alexander Cameron Ferguson and Catherine Smedley Shaw.  They are both buried in the Old Barmera Cemetery, near Berri in South Australia.

Dolly REID was born on 27 June 1892 in Queensland, died 30 October 1971 in Toongabbie, New South Wales and was buried in the Rookwood Cemetery, Sydney, New South Wales. She married Hugh Gillies on 16 April 1913 in Queensland.  Hugh was born in 1883 in Urana, New South Wales, died on 13 February 1957 in Winton, Queensland and was buried in Winton Cemetery.  Hugh was the son of Donald Gillies and Flora Francis Nicholson.

Adam REID was born on 15 October 1894 in Thargomindah, Queensland, died on 26 June 1927 in Farina, South Australia and was buried in the Farina Cemetery. He married Maud Shaw on 24 August 1920 in Solomontown, South Australia.  Maud was born on 5 April 1897 in Stirling North, South Australia.  She was the daughter of Alfred Smedley Shaw and Amelia Jane Arnold.  Maud later married Horace Edmund Lancelot McConnal in Quorn on 10 January 1934.  Horace was born 20 October 1892 in Adelaide, South Australia and died on 31 March 1964 in Quorn, South Australia.  Horace was the son of William McConnal and Ellen Ewing.  Maud died on 7 March 1979 in Quorn, South Australia.  They are both buried in the Quorn Cemetery.

Jane Tennant REID was born on 25 February 1897 in Queensland and died on 12 March 1974 in Quorn, South Australia. She married Arthur John Hunt on 27 August 1916 in Beltana, South Australia.  He was the son of Joseph Hunt and Nancy Carn.  Arthur was born on 6 June 1896 in Farina, South Australia and died on 10 March 1973 in Quorn, South Australia.  They are both buried in the Quorn Cemetery.

Herbert (Fagon) Henry REID was born on 19 August 1899 in Farina, South Australia and died on 9 July 1951 in Whyalla, South Australia. He never married and is buried in the Whyalla Cemetery.

Mabel (May) REID was born on 29 October 1901 in Farina, South Australia and died on 29 October 1982 in Whyalla, South Australia. She married Andrew Johnston on 3 February 1921 in Farina, South Australia.  He was the son of Robert Johnston and Annie Lousa Oliveri.  Andrew Johnston was born on 5 November 1898 in Farina, South Australia and died on 3 July 1979 in Whyalla, South Australia.  Both are buried in the Whyalla Cemetery.

Annie Evelyn REID was born in 1904 in Marree, South Australia and died on 22 October 1980 in Broken Hill, New South Wales. She married George Henry (Harry) Robertson on 10 April 1924 in Copley, South Australia.  He was the son of William Robertson and Clara Jemima Somerfield.  George was born about 1902 in Tibooburra, New South Wales and died on 29 April 1976 in Broken Hill, New South Wales.  Both are buried in the Broken Hill Cemetery.

Sarah Eileen REID was born on 28 June 1907 in Hawker, South Australia and died on 12 December 1979 in Tibooburra, New South Wales. She married Robert Henry Johnston on 30 December 1926 in Farina, South Australia. He was the son of Robert Johnston and Annie Lousa Oliveri.  Robert was born on 18 August 1891 in Farina, South Australia, died on 22 November 1957 in Tibooburra, New South Wales.  Both are buried in the Tibooburra Cemetery.

Michael REID (Mick) was born on 3 March 1909 in Hawker, South Australia and died on 3 April 1980 in Whyalla, South Australia. He married Kathleen Avon Arnold on 6 January 1938 in Beltana, South Australia. She was the daughter of William Arnold and Rose Selina (Mary) Sherry.  Kathleen was born on 13 April 1914 in Lyndhurst, South Australia and died on 27 November 1978 in Whyalla, South Australia.  Both are buried at the Whyalla Cemetery.

Evelyn Mabel REID was born 1 October 1911 in Hawker, South Australia and died on 13 November 1980 in Jamestown, South Australia.  She married Thomas Benjamin Martin on 19 September 1929 at Farina in South Australia.  Thomas’s parents were William Joseph Martin and Ellen Josephine Elena Callary.  Thomas was born on 19 April 1900 in Birdsville, Queensland and died on 27 April 1973 in Jamestown, South Australia.  Both are buried at the Jamestown Cemetery.

Siblings

Helena REID was born on 11 November 1855 in Campbelltown, South Australia and died on 17 May 1924 in Murray Town, South Australia at the age of 68 years.  Helena first married John Henry William Blight in the Prince Alfred Mine Chapel, South Australia on the 15 September 1873.  John was the son of John Blight and Elizabeth Johns.  John was born about 1846 at St Agnes, Cornwall, England and died 15 June 1896i Burra, South Australia.  John was buried in the Burra Cemetery, South Australia.  On the 16 November 1910 Helena then married Thomas Hand Davis at Bangor, South Australia.  Thomas was born in September 1844 Surrey, England and died on 22 January 1915 at Glenorchy, South Australia.  Thomas was the son of Thomas Davis and Matilda Watts.  Helena and Thomas are buried in the Melrose, Cemetery, South Australia.

Mary Jane REID was born on 6 December 1858 in Wirrabara, South Australia and died on 20 October 1908 in Port Augusta, South Australia at the age of 49 years.  Mary married James Coy in Melrose, South Australia on 14 December 1874.  James was the son of James Coy and Margaret Keane.  James was born on 5 September 1847 in County Offaly, Ireland and died on 5 March 1910 in Port Augusta, South Australia.  It is believed they are both buried in the Old Port Augusta Cemetery.

David REID was born in 1864 in South Australia and died on 22 April 1931 in Port Augusta, South Australia at the age of 67 years.  David was buried in the Port Augusta Cemetery.  David married Ellen Hobbs in Port Augusta on 4 December 1889.  Ellen was born on 11 May 1870 in Burra, South Australia and died on 9 October 1968 in Prospect, South Australia and buried in the Dudley Park Cemetery, South Australia. Ellen was the daughter of George Hobbs and Elizabeth Woodward.

Catherine Agnes REID was born on 15 April 1867 in Wirrabara, South Australia and died on 19 March 1944 in Port Pirie, South Australia at the age of 76 years.  Catherine was buried in the Port Pirie Cemetery.  Catherine married Thomas Stuart Smith in 1884 in South Australia.  Thomas was the son of Terence Smith and Cecily Connor.  Thomas was born 6 August 1861 in Truro, South Australia and died 4 May 1939 in Port Pirie, South Australia. Catherine and Thomas are buried in the Port Pirie Cemetery.

Adam Thomas Tennant REID was born on 11 November 1869 in Wirrabara, South Australia and died on 21 March 1918 in Queensland at the age of 48 years.  Adam was buried in the Belgian Gardens Cemetery, Townsville, Queensland.  Adam married Mary Agnes Wakefield in Bedourie, Queensland on the 6 September 1916.  Mary was the daughter of Henry Wakefield and Sarah Smith.  Mary was born on 13 March 1882 Lancashire, England and died on 19 June 1950 in Brisbane, Queensland and was buried in the South Brisbane Cemetery on 23 June 1950.

Annie REID was born on 13 April 1872 at the Prince Alfred Mine, near Belton in South Australia and died possibly 26 January 1891 in Adelaide, South Australia at the young age of 18 years.  Annie never married.

Sarah Ann REID was born on 3 March 1875 in Melrose, South Australia.

1 Michael REID b: 24/8/1863 d: 5/4/1924
   + Sarah (RUSSELL) REID b: 13/3/1868 d: 18/12/1943
      2 David (Mickey) REID b: 23/10/1886 d: 2/7/1939
      2 Martha REID b: 1887 d: 31/7/1959
      2 John Jacob REID b: 18/4/1889 d: 2/5/1957
      2 Dolly REID b: 27/6/1892 d: 30/10/1971
      2 Adam REID b: 15/10/1894 d: 26/6/1927
         + Maud Shaw b: 5/4/1897 d: 7/3/1979
            3 Herbert Reid b: 11/7/1920 d:
            3 Thelma Maud REID b: 29/10/1921 d: 31/7/1981
            3 Kenneth Michael REID b: 11/4/1923 d: 29/8/1971
      2 Jane Tennent REID b: 25/2/1897 d: 12/3/1974
      2 Herbert Henry REID b: 19/8/1899 d: 9/7/1951
      2 Mabel REID b: 29/10/1901 d: 29/10/1982
      2 Annie Evelyn REID b: 1904 d: 22/10/1980
      2 Sarah Eileen REID b: 28/7/1907 d: 12/12/1979
      2 Michael (Mick) REID b: 3/3/1909 d: 3/4/1980
      2 Evelyn Mabel REID b: 1/10/1911 d: 13/11/1980
         + Thomas Benjamin MARTIN b: 19/4/1900 d: 27/4/1973
            3 James (Jim) Reginald MARTIN b: 11/6/1927 d: 26/9/2009
            3 Geofrey (Biff) Benjamin MARTIN b: 10/2/1930 d: 13/4/1989
            3 Daphne Fay MARTIN b: 9/3/1932 d: 27/5/1991
            3 Second daughter, still living, born 1934
            3 Third daughter, still living, born 1939
            3 Fourth daughter, still living, born 1944

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

Michael Reid was born on 24 August 1863 in Wirrabara, South Australia.  He was the third child of nine children.  Michael’s parents were Adam Reid and Mary Kennelly. 

In 1874 when Michael Reid was nine years old, he suffered a terrible accident while working at the Prince Alfred Mine.  The mine was primarily a copper mine located south east of Hawker, past Cradock.  A newspaper article reports that he was driving a whim at the Prince Alfred Mine, South Australia and dislocated his kneecap after some timber fell on him.   He was badly hurt and sent to the Adelaide Hospital on the 19 January 1874, about a week after the accident.  He must have been in excruciating pain during that time.

Michael married Sarah Russell on 29 June 1885 at Milparinka, New South Wales.  When Michael and Sarah married, they were both residents of Yalpunga in New South Wales.  Michael was employed as a “contractor” age 20 and Sarah had no occupation recorded and was 19 years old.

Family stories recall that Michael and Sarah lived a very transient life.  In the years after their marriage, they lived in a wagon and tents travelling from one job to the next.  Sarah gave birth to several of her children on a tarp on the ground next to their wagon.  Michael’s occupations included bore sinker, dam builder, carrier, boundary rider and dog fence rider.  Most of his life was spent in northern South Australia and western Queensland and New South Wales.  Records show they lived in Milparinka, Thargomindah, Hawker, Farina, Murnpeowie Station and Nappa Merri Station. 

It was also told that when their children reached working age their parents found work for them at whatever station they happened to be at and left them there when they went to the next job.  It is likely the children would have only been 14 years old or possibly younger at the time.

It would seem that Michael settled in Farina from 1899 to 1905, but then he moved from station to station in the region again.  Michael worked on Murnpeowie Station sinking artesian bores.  The Sands and McDougall Directory of 1914 and 1915 confirms he was at Murnpeowie.  While at Murnpeowie his son Adam enlisted in World War One in 1916.

Michael and Sarah had 12 children – see the Family tab for details.

Michael is recorded in the 1919 Electoral roll at Nappa Merri Station, Queensland.  It is believed his family were living in Innamincka at this time.  Michael became unwell and in 1923 he travelled to Adelaide to see a Doctor.  He found out he had cancer.  However, rather than telling his wife of his diagnosis, who was now living in Farina with some of their children, he returned to work at Nappa Merrie Station.  His condition progressively deteriorated until he was taken to Innamincka where he died on 5 April 1924 at the age of 60.  He was buried in the Innamincka Cemetery in an unmarked grave.  None of his family were able to attend his funeral.  However, family members that descend from Michael and Sarah’s eldest son David, have since placed a memorial plaque for him at the cemetery.

In the book by H M Tolcher, “Innamincka – The Town with Two Lives”, Michael’s death is recorded as Michael Regan not Reid on 5 April 1924.  He was described as an “old identity, Regan (Reid) died of an internal complaint”.  Why didn’t he tell his wife of his illness?  Why didn’t he go to Farina?  Why did he choose to die alone?  This part of the story may never be known.

There is no record of Michael owning land at Farina.

Michael REID comprehensive biography with documents, articles and photographs.

Michael REID and Sarah RUSSELL Life at Farina