Henry Arthur Giles

was born 1845 in Walton, Somerset, England, son of John Giles and Mary Ann (nee Chislett). He was a nephew of Henry Giles who had settled the Mount Pleasant region in 1842. Henry jnr, aged 21 years, arrived in Melbourne on ship Essex, with his brother, Thomas, aged 18 years, and travelled to Adelaide on ship Aldinga.

Henry married Eleanor Owen, daughter of James Owen, in 1868 and they had 13 children.

Henry jnr. became a partner with his uncle, trading as H. & H. A. Giles, and assisted in the daily running of the businesses of milling, general storekeeping, butchering, carrying and stock-raising established at Totness.

A progressive farm was established at Lansdowne and he was a devotee of the St John’s Church of England church, as lay reader, warden and Sunday-school superintendent. He also founded the Mount Pleasant Agricultural Bureau and had a reputation for his knowledge of stock and farming and thus was in demand as a judge at many agricultural Shows, in South Australia and interstate. He exhibited stock, including sheep, horses, cattle, pigs and poultry in the local Shows, winning many prizes.

Sheep stations north-west of Port Augusta (The Pines) and along the River Murray (Craignook) were developed by him and as a highly respected member of the district, Henry Arthur was a Justice of the Peace, and advised in personal and business matters.

Eleanor Giles died in 1897.

King Harry as he became known, died in 1921.

The Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901 – 1929) Tuesday 27 September 1921 p 4 Family Notices

GILES.— On the 25th September, 1921, at Mount Pleasant, Henry Arthur Giles, aged 76 years.

The Mount Barker Courier and Onkaparinga and Gumeracha Advertiser (SA : 1880 – 1954) Friday 21 October 1921 p 3 Article

A memorial service to the late Mr. H. A Giles was held in S. John’s “Church last Sunday morning. The rector (Rev. R. V. S. Adams) and Archdeacon Bussell officiating. The Archdeacon took for his text the words from Genesis 25: “He died in a good old age.” He spoke of the 57 years of the late Mr. Giles, which had been bound up in the life of Mount Pleasant and St John’s Church, and referred to the various positions he had occupied as lay-reader, church warden, Sunday-school superintendent, and member of synod, all of which he fulfilled with ability and devotion to duty.

Southern Argus (Port Elliot, SA : 1866 – 1954) Thursday 13 October 1921 p 4 Article

OBITUARY.

By the death of Mr. H. A. Giles, which occurred at his residence, ”Lansdowne,’ on Sunday evening, September 25, the town and district has lost one of its oldest and most highly respected residents, and one who, in the early days, had been the prime mover in all institutions and organisations for the welfare of Mount Pleasant. The deceased was born at Walton in Somersetshire, in 1845, and arrived in Melbourne in 1866, where he only remained a short time, afterwards joining his uncle, who had arrived in the State by the ‘Buffalo’ in 1836. Mr. Giles entered into the business concerns which had been established, and later became a partner with his uncle in the milling, carrying, and stock raising, which grew to large proportions, the firm being big employers of labour in Mount Pleasant. In 1878 Pine Station, north-west of Port Augusta, was purchased and stocked with sheep, and in time this station, which comprised 444 square miles of country, had 18,000 sheep on it. In 1900 this property was sold, and later Craignook was purchased, an estate of 1,800 acres on the Murray, which was leased later on to his sons. The knowledge possessed by Mr. Giles of stock and wool was considerable, bringing him into prominence as a judge at various shows in this as well as other States. He was also a great prize-winner, and was proud of the many trophies in his possession. He had the distinction of being the prize-winner for champion rams and ewes at Kapunda, Angaston, Mount Barker, and Mount Pleasant, for two consecutive years, also taking many honours for horses, cattle, pigs, and poultry. Mr. Giles was a great worker in and supporter of St. John’s Church of England from its foundation, occupying the positions of Churchwarden, lay reader, and superintendent of Sunday School, also a regular worshipper at all the services. He was also a Justice of the Peace, and his last public function before his illness was when he attended the courthouse in his official capacity. The older residents looked upon him as their guide, philosopher, and friend, and consulted him and were guided by his advice on personal as well as in public difficulties, recognising his judicial mind, and knowledge of business affairs. Mr. Giles was married in 1868 and his wife died in 1897. There, is a family alive of five sons and five daughters: Arthur (Africa), Ben and Lance (Mount Pleasant), and Gordon (West Australia), Mrs. Geddes (Port Pirie), Misses F. C. and N. B. Giles (Western Australia), Nurse Gwen (Keswick), and Alice (Mount Pleasant). There are two sisters, Misses F. and K. Giles, Mount Pleasant, surviving, also a brother, Mr. F. C. Giles, ‘Bundaleer,’ Jamestown. The coffin, which was covered in flowers, was taken into St. John’s Church, where a service was conducted by the Rector, the Rev. R. V. S. Adams. Mr. Giles’ favourite hymn, ‘A Day’s March Nearer Home,’ was sung, led by the choir, after which the interment took place in the family burial ground in St. John’s cemetery, the Service for the Dead being read by the rector. The large gathering at the grave, who came from all parts of the district, to pay their respect to the deceased, testified to the high regard in which the late Mr. Giles was held.

The Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901 – 1929) Wednesday 5 October 1921 p 6 Article Illustrated

The death of Mr. H. A. Giles, which occurred at his home, at Mount Pleasant, on September 25, makes another gap in the list of well-known old colonists. The late Mr. Giles was born at Walton, in Somerset, and came to Australia by the ship Essex, in 1866, accompanied by his late brother, Mr. T. Giles. The brothers landed at Melbourne, and later came to South Australia, where they joined in business with the late Mr. Henry Giles. The deceased gentleman had resided at Mount Pleasant ever since, trading as H. & H. A. Giles, and was a well-known figure throughout the district, in which he occupied many important positions. He was for more than 50 years a justice of the peace, and for nearly that length of time warden of St. John’s Church and lay reader. He was a life member of the Agricultural Bureau, and was well known as a successful breeder of high-class stock. In 1878 he took up the Pines Station, north west of Port Augusta, which he held until 1900, and he also held country on the River Murray (notably Craignook) as well as at Mount Pleasant. Mr. Giles had a large family, of whom Messrs. H. A. (Johannesburg), B. and F. L. (Mount Pleasant), Gordon (Toodyay), Mesdames Geddes (Port Pirie), Weaver (W.A.), and Misses F. C. (WA.), Nurse Gwen (Keswick), and A. R. (Mount Pleasant) survive.

Henry and Eleanor had 13 children…

Ross Giles was born 1886 and died aged 8 years, in 1895.

Express and Telegraph (Adelaide, SA : 1867 – 1922), Wednesday 6 February 1895, page 4

THE COUNTRY.

DROWNED IN THE MURRAY.

Mount Pleasant, February 4.—The sad news reached here to-day of the death by drowning of Ross Giles, aged eight, son of Mr. H. A. Giles, of this town. The child was with his parents at Craignook, on the Murray River, on a holiday, and had been in the habit of bathing every day with some fishermen. On Saturday at midday he went to the lagoon to bathe as usual, the men being close by. Their attention being withdrawn for a short time they afterwards missed the child, whose body was subsequently found in 4 ft., of water. Dr. Gaunt was shortly on the spot and made every effort to restore animation, but without avail.