James Pearce (South Australian politician)

James Pearce (1825 – 5 November 1904) was a South Australian businessman and politician based in Kapunda.

For the Queensland politician, see Jim Pearce (politician). For others with similar names, see Jim Pearce (disambiguation).

History

Pearce was born in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, England, in 1825. He arrived in South Australia in August 1849 and went to work with his brother William Pearce (c. 1815 – 19 November 1878), who had a business at the Beehive Corner, then went to Burra. He later ran a timber and hardware business, Pearce Wincey, & Co., in Kapunda for 36 years,[1] was involved with administration of Kapunda Hospital, Dutton Park, and the town council, serving 1867–1868 as its second mayor.[lower-alpha 1] He retired to Kenilworth Avenue, Norwood around 1887.[3]

Politics

He represented Light in the South Australian House of Assembly from April 1870 to February 1875. In 1875, he was elected at the top of the list for Wooroora. He was elected to the South Australian Legislative Council in April 1877 and retired in April 1885.[4]

Family

James Pearce married Harrietta Edmonds (ca.1825 – 10 July 1909) on 7 September 1843 at Saint Mary, Aylesbury[5] He lived at Kapunda and later Kenilworth Avenue, Norwood. Their children included:

  • Samuel William Pearce (31 March 1848 – 1 January 1932 ) married Mary Williams on 8 July 1867[6][7]
  • Henry Edmonds "Harry" Pearce (1 January 1858 – 18 May 1881), a policeman, died of stab wounds inflicted while arresting a grog runner.[8]
  • James Smith Pearce (22 August 1859 – 20 September 1929 ) married Bessie Sheogh Fotheringham (died 1893) on 10 February 1880. He married again, to Lizzie Moyle on 18 May 1896
  • Emma Jane Pearce (15 September 1855 – 10 October 1935 ) married John Bradford Scott on 7 December 1876
  • Agnes Harriet Pearce (16 December 1863 – 1958) married H. B. Kiddell on 13 July 1889
  • Ada Caroline Pearce (24 April 1869 – 3 December 1901) married John Gould Kelly on 20 September 1887

Notes
  1. He donated his mayoral allowance in "bounty fund", which was used 60 years for unemployment relief.[2]

References
  1. "Concerning People". The Register. Adelaide. 7 November 1904. p. 4. Retrieved 16 September 2014 – via Trove.
  2. "Windfall for workless". The Register News-pictorial. 5 November 1930. p. 4. Retrieved 13 November 2020 – via Trove.
  3. "Death of Mr. James Pearce". Kapunda Herald. SA. 11 November 1904. p. 5. Retrieved 24 June 2015 – via Trove.
  4. "James Pearce". Former members of the Parliament of South Australia. Retrieved 8 December 2022.
  5. "England Marriages, 1538–1973," database, FamilySearch (10 December 2014), James Pearce and Harriett Edmonds, 07 Sep 1843; citing Saint Mary,Aylesbury,Buckingham,England, reference ; FHL microfilm 919,221.
  6. "Death of Famous Prospctor". The Advertiser (Adelaide). 2 January 1932. p. 10. Retrieved 20 June 2017 – via Trove.
  7. Warburton, Elizabeth (1988). "Pearce, Samuel William (1848–1932)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISSN 1833-7538. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
  8. "Fifty Years Ago". Kapunda Herald. 12 June 1931. p. 2. Retrieved 15 July 2015 – via Trove.
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