SA K

AW — JL C. [Group Sheet]

RG — EE M. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Biography Notes: 1910, Danyo Vic; Jack chose land at Danyo, Victoria, in 1910 and cleared it after buying a large roller. The block was covered in mallee of varying sizes.
• Biography Notes: 1914; There was a period of widespread drought in South Australia around 1914.
• Residence: 1949, Merbein Vic; Resident in 1949 when his mother died Jack was of Merbein, Victoria.

Notes:

Biography Notes:
Married: «b»Mary Margaret Needs«/b», (born 17/1/1887) daughter of William Needs of Lameroo, SA. the wedding celebrated at the newly built Church of England, Lameroo, S.A.



Residence:
He was living in Merbein in 1949 when his mother died.

Allan married Mary Margaret NEEDS 20 Feb 1912, Lameroo SA. Mary (daughter of William NEEDS) was born 17 Jan 1887, Dalkey SA; died 30 Jun 1966. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Marriage/Wedding: 20 Feb 1912, Lameroo SA; Celebrated at the newly built Church of England, Lameroo, S.A.
• Biography Notes: 30 Jun 1966, Merbein Vic; Married: Mary Margaret Needs (born 17/1/1887) daughter of William Needs of Lameroo, SA. the wedding celebrated at the newly built Church of England, Lameroo, S.A.

Other Events:

• Biography Notes: Article in The Adelaide Register, 26th May 1923, page 15. Mr Donald McLean, who is the son of the late Mr John McLean, retired from farming pursuits six years ago, and now resides in Adelaide. He left home when he was 26, and first farmed and grazed at Angus Plains. After four years had elapsed he selected land in the Wimmera district, and subsequently went to New South Wales. He longed to get back to South Australia and when the Lameroo country was opened up in 1903, he was the successful applicant, out of 35 others, for a block. He settled there before the railway was constructed. When the country over the border was for allotment, he selected a block of 640 acres, which now adjoins the township of Murraywille. His application went before the board, and the Chairman asked him where he had held land before. When he stated it was situated in the Lameroo district, the official facetiously remarked that no doubt the applicant would find the air much sweeter across the wire fence. However, he explained that he did not have sufficient land at Lameroo, and he got this block. Through the help of his family he acquired eight selections, aggregating more than 3000 acres, and he farmed there until he retired. Mr McLean has two sons on the land now.
• Biography Notes: Donald Henry McLean was interviewed by JW Elliott in June 1918: 'When I was about seventeen or eighteen,' he told me, 'I was a bit of a lady fancier, but more of a nature lover, and I would rather have had a good run after a kangaroo or wallaby than dangle about among the lasses. When I got to twenty I had fixed ideas as to the woman' I should eventually marry, but one Sunday when father told me to hurry up and get ready to follow on horse-back to church (all the rest going on in the big family wagonette), I made up my mind to go and have a look at a family who had just come into the neighborhood, as I had heard that the girl was a bonny lassie. As soon as my people got out of sight, off I rode, and as I didn't know the new folk at all I had to make some kind of excuse, so I made my way to the house trusting to lack and my skill at excuses to see the object of my curiosity. It was her brother I first saw, so I asked him whether he had seen any stray horses about. What sort of horses? asked he, and I had to draw pretty largely on my imagination to satisfy all his string of enquiries. Mean while the sister came on the scene, and one glance at her bowled me and my notions right over. 'That's the girl I'm going to marry,' said I, and so I did ere long, but my happiness was short-lived, for a neglected cold led to her early death. For four years and a half I remained constant to her memory, but one day in the south-east I caught sight of a girl who resembled her so much that I said to myself again, 'That's the girl I'm going to marry,' and I did so too, and it was a fine thing for me, the best that I ever did.' 'Amongst those who came out with my people', Mr McLean told me, 'were the Cookes, Alan McFarlane, the Knights, and several others who afterwards became the wealthy men of this district, including another old colonist who wanted my father to join him in taking up land at Mount Muirhead to start sheep farming. This gentleman made a big fortune, and when he died left his widow a very wealthy woman. She was still comparatively young, and she fell in love with a still younger man, a banker who fell in love with her money, 20,000 pounds of which she settled on him by an ante nuptial settlement. He married her, but disappeared immediately after the ceremony, having previously converted the settlement deeds into hard cash, and from that hour to this he has never been heard of or seen by any who knew him in the South-east! I might add that the governess disappeared at the same time.' I asked Mr. McLean whether there were any descendants of the other branches of his family in the Common wealth still. 'Oh, yes,' he said, 'many of them, but few have done much for themselves, their Scotch blood having evidently failed to justify the claims made for it as to hoarding up of treasure on earth. As I am the only one of the lot who seems to have amassed enough to retire on, I suppose I must credit my maternal side with the strain which has enabled me to save a bit of siller, and settle my big family on land of their own, and with stock of their own, our farms last two seasons cleaning up over 26,000 bags of wheat, as well as big lots of side lines of produce.' Mr. McLean is a most interesting raconteur, with a rich fund of information to dispose of in his chatty way, and since he came over here on a visit to his old home I have enjoyed many a talk with him on old-time subjects, and gleaned from his storehouse many grains of folk lore which I shall be glad to use in this column from time to time. (From JW Elliott's Jottings in Southern Argus on 27th June 1918, p3)
• Biography Notes: DONALD HENRY McLEAN, born 27/8/1854, (possibly at "Waterloo" Angas Plains, as John had already purchased there). Donald probably received his education at the Angas Plains Public School, as it opened in 1861 when he was 7 years old - there is no family record of his early years. By 29/7/1876 he was advertising in the "Southern Argus" at Strathalbyn, that "Dona|d McLean and Co intended to open a butcher's shop at Milang". From an account published in Argus "Jottings" long after when visiting Strathalbyn, he recalled these days and his meeting with his first wife. Rumour had reached him that a very pretty girl had moved into the district with her family! Father John McLean, with the rest of his brood in a wagonette drove off one Sunday to attend church at St Andrew's in Strathalbyn, and young Donald was given instructions to follow on horseback. But instead, he took himself off in the direction of the newcomers at Lake Plains. A son came out to see what he wanted, so Donald in his Sunday best concocted a story of strayed cattle. Presently the sister appeared and Donald took the decision on the instant, that he would marry her and he did! MARRIAGE: to Mary Frances (Fanny) Smith (born 1855) only daughter of Frances and William Bacon-Smith of Lake Plains on 6/4/1881, at the Congregational Church, Milang. Some of the family notes, which are intertwined in research give Mr Smith the title of "Lord William Bacon-Smith" but he does not show up in Burke's peerage. He was born in 1824 and buried in Milang aged 52 years on 9/8/1876, so was deceased by the time of Donald's marriage. It was said too, that Captain John Smith of the "Titanic" which was lost in 1912 was his brother, but even if much younger, it was unlikely that he would still be at sea in 1912. A nephew perhaps, as the story persists! Donald farmed and did butchering. There was one son born, William, before Mary Frances contracted TB following a severe cold - they apparently lived at Lake Plains. DEATH NOTICE: of Mary Frances aged 29 years, at Lake Plains, on 30/11/1884 and was interred at Milang Cemetery on 3/12/84. On the 22nd March, 1922, Donald had her disinterred and reburied at Strathalbyn. The story is that those who opened the coffin when doing the work (Donald's curiosity) - found that she looked exactly as on the day of her burial. This was but briefly, as when the air touched her she shivered away to dust - despite this Donald carressed her hair in admiration! This move was not looked on favorably by a good many people! Donald left Milang in 1885, much grieved by Mary's death. By 1886 he was leasing land at Kaniva, probably at Kiata in Victoria. In 1887, he met Ellen Joanna Ford, at Kaniva, the eldest daughter of Jesse Ford from England, and his deceased wife, Wilhemema Wadell Ford, from Scotland - Ellen was caring for her 11 brothers and sisters! MARRIAGE: To Ellen Ford, on 23/12/1888, at Norwood, South Australia. The Rev. Cann officiated, Donald was aged 34 and Ellen was 17 years. Mrs McCann and James Lawson were the witnesses. One cannot but suspect, that this was a "run away" marriage as Jesse Ford was losing his housekeeper. They returned to Victoria and Kaniva - the railway had gone through from Adelaide to Melbourne in 1887. CHILDREN OF THE 2nd MARRIAGE OF DONALD HENRY MCLEAN and ELLEN JOANNA FORD. (1) Allan John (Jack) Ormiston McLean, born 5/10/1889, at Bill's Gully, Vic. (2) James Ernest Hopetoun (Jim) McLean, born 26/7/1891, at Kiata, Vic. (3) Ethel May Victoria (Ethel) McLean, born 26/7/1893, at Kiata, Vic. (4) Beatrice Blanche Adelaide (Beat) McLean, born 25/6/1894, at Kiata, Vic. (5) Colin Donald Sydney McLean, born 13/10/1895, at Kiata, Vic. Colin was killed in his 23rd year of age at Brae, in France when serving with the A.l.F. during World War l in 1918. During this period Donald Henry was farming near Kiata, between Nhill and Dimboola. By 1892 he was running a butchers cart into Nhill, as he had fat sheep and couldn't sell them. It seems he had moved away from Kaniva at this time. In 1897 a big cyclone struck this area surrounding Nhill, Donald lost nearly everything, house unroofed, paddocks swept clear and crops all gone. His grand daughter, Mrs Dulcie Cossens, recalls being told that during the height of the cyclone in 1897 Donald had been absent when it struck, but returned entering the front door of the house, to find the family sheltering in the front room of the house. He queried why they were all in the front room - opening the door to the kitchen - and he was outside - the entire back of the house had disintegrated! They were in the only room left! By 1898, Donald had transferred to Cobram on the River Murray, and at this time had returned alone to "Waterloo" at Angas Plains seeking help. His youngest brother, Ted, used to tell of him being given a stripper, 2 horses arid provisions for the return trip, and no doubt supplies for the family. Donald had been anxious to obtain two young horses, but had been convinced by his father, John McLean, to take an older and a younger horse - being told they would be less trouble and safer together. On the return trip to Victoria, Donald became so tired, that he stopped the horses and lay down in front of them for a quick sleep. He awoke to find they had turned the stripper around, and disappeared whilst he slept. He set off to track them, and soon found them jammed on a big mallee, having gone one each side of it! He retrieved them and eventually reached home in Victoria. By 1899 Donald, Ellen, and their young family had arrived in Mildura by wagon and buggy, the family stricken with typhoid fever, and Ellen's brother very ill - he died the following year - the only redhead in a family of 12! In 1902 there was a big drought in the Victorian mallee, the family were attending school in Mildura and probably very happy for about the first time in their lives. In 1902, Donald and his son, Jim, 13 years old, rode pushbikes to Adelaide from Mildura, thence to Lameroo, where they started clearing another scrub block! There was no railway there then, many wild dogs, and no water supply except for a reliable natural "soak" about 20 miles south of the town, over innumerable sandhills. In 1906, Donald's family left Mildura, Jack, Ethel, Beat, Colin, and mother, Ellen, travelled down river in the paddle steamer "Gem" to Murray Bridge, and then took the train to Lameroo. Some years were spent in Lameroo where son, Jack, nearly died of appendicitis. He was taken to Murray Bridge and recovered from an operation. In 1910, Donald sold his Lameroo block to Jack's future father-in-law, Albert Needs, to take up land at Murrayville in Victoria, with Clarence F Lackmann arriving in the area at this time. On 6/4/1911 Ellen and family came to Murrayville, there were very few people there at this time, and Mrs F. Tully, the white woman, who had arrived in 1909, had opened a boarding house. In 1912, Jack married Mary Needs in Lameroo, and the railway from Ouyen to Murrayville, was opened. Following the 1907 era (in which Donald Henry transferred from Lameroo to Murrayville) a young school teacher, named Oliver Looney, stationed at Murrayville in writing home to his father in Amphitheatre, Central Victoria, painted this picture- "I'm jolly glad you haven't got any land up here. I don't reckon any man over thirty ought to tackle farming up here, unless he has a small fortune to spend on it. There are miles and miles of country, nothing but sand and scrub with a sandhill now and again. Most of the holdings are 640 acre blocks and a lot of them are unfenced. They roll the mallee down, then when it is dry, they burn it off. Then those who can afford it and who have small mallee on their land, have a great big rake they drag over it to rake up the sticks. The other poor beggars have to pick the sticks up by hand. Fancy having to pick up a couple of hundred acres of sticks by hand. Then they scratch it over with a stump jump plough, and sow the crop. Before the crop is up two inches, the scrub is a foot high. I have seen some higher than that and not a sign of crop. I don't know what they do after that! Horsefood is about £5 a ton up here and the bullocks go about eating the straw, and even the paper packaging out of the cases at the grocer's. Mr Baldock asked me to come for a drive of about a mile or more to a Mrs McLean's. He was going there to get some butter. We stopped there till nearly a quarter past ten, and I've just got back. Mr McLean seems to have done pretty well, he is getting £6 a ton for his hay and he had two and a half tons to the acre. He reckons the people up here don't know much about farming! His father was the first man to put in a crop in South Australia, so I suppose he reckons he ought to know something about it. The Germans seem to do better than the others up here - they seem to be more thrifty. Some of them have bonzer teams of horses". The writer, Oliver Looney, was brought up on a farm of sheep and orchards, at Amphitheatre (32 miles east of Ararat) in the Pyrenees Range. In 1914 there was a big drought in the Murrayville area, and farmers obtained work on the railway line being built from Murrayville to Pinnaroo, in S.A. Beatrice McLean married George Harley, parents of Mrs Dulcie Cossens, of Ararat, Vic. In 1916 Ethel McLean married Clarence Lackmann, who enlisted in the A.I.F. with Colin McLean, and left for overseas. On 13th August. 1918, Donald Henry's youngest son, Colin Donald McLean, was killed in action at Brae, in France. Clarence Lackmann returned from active service in 1917. After the 1920's Donald Henry's fortunes improved at Murrayville, with a better sequence of seasons and prices, but by this time John McLean's eldest son was becoming an old man, and some of his family took over the farming operations for him. Further of the May 23rd 1918, "Jottings" in the "Southern Argus" Strathalbyn - "Last week the eldest born of the late John McLean of Angas Plains (the 1st son, but the 5th child) - visited this town. He left here 40 years ago for the Wimmera, in Victoria. He has settled his sons on separate farms without lessening the original homestead selection, and the original freehold land now totals close to 10,000 acres in the heart of the best country in Victoria. In the early days the McLean family owned far more than this, but except for the Angas Plains property - all of it has long since passed into other hands - the Squire of the Plains (John McLean) having alone bequeathed to his progeny the gift of holding landed estate. Mr Donald H. McLean is very much interested in the progress of Strathalbyn, and has told several little tales of the early days. When he left the Plains they were at low ebb and the call of the north was beginning to sound. There were empty farms everywhere telling of the exodus to new areas. The place was in a poor way, he says, and if buyers cared to bid property could be bought for a song! Today (1918) the town is a beautiful one, and as prosperous as it is charming. It should be noted that the soil of the plains was exhausted from heavy cropping by the late 1870's, hence the many who departed." In 1922 Donald Henry was again in Strathalbyn, and in December of that year he gave the story of the wheat grown in South Australia to the Editor of the "Argus" - and reproduced the section concerning his grandfather, Donald McLean ~ because it is the clearest and most concise of the various accounts. Further, to the 1918 visit of Donald Henry McLean to Strathalbyn, a second column of his reminiscences was published in the "Southern Argus" dated 27th June, his previous one being in May. He had been to the remains of the first mud brick house at Hilton, and spoke of the arrival of the five McLean brothers. Allan, John, Archie, Big Hugh and Little Hugh. Father Donald's section 50, formed the present south western corner block (1918) of the main South Road and Richmond Road, called Marleston after the man who had purchased from Donald, not all, but 38 acres at £12.0.0 ($24) per acre, a good price in 1840. In 1918 it had not been cut up into many blocks, but was soon to be by Mr B.A. Marles, and the remains of the McLean house would shortly vanish. Donald Henry had met this Mr Marles when he was hunting for the original section, as he was intending to purchase a piece of it. Amongst various anecdotes Donald H told the writer of the article, was that Mrs John Cheriton, a sister of the McLean brothers, drove off with "Young Lochinvar" and they married before anyone could catch up with them. (John Cheriton, was barely 20 years old, so the objection would have been on account of his youth, as he was well educated and intelligent). However it turned out a happy union for all parties, fulfilling the Old Scots adage - "best is the wooin' that's nae lang adoin'". Mr McLean also said that he had done the best of all the family, that he had settled all his own family on well stocked farms, and between them in the previous season they had cleared over 26.000 bushels of wheat, as well as a big lot of sidelines. DEATH: of Donald Henry McLean, aged 79 years on 26/9/1933 at his farm house, Murrayville, Victoria. His coffin was brought to Strathalbyn by car overnight, and it is said that it protruded on either side. Many cars were fitted only with side curtains then. The funeral took place from the Chapel Street house of his sisters, Elizabeth and Florence McLean, and he was buried beside his first wife, Mary Frances, at the Strathalbyn Cemetery on 28th November, 1933. OBITUARY: From the "Southern Argus". "Mr Donald H McLean, who at the age of 79 years, died at Murrayville, Victoria, on 26/9/1933. was buried at Strathalbyn. He was the eldest son of the late Mr John McLean. of Angas Plains, and took up land at Lameroo, and afterwards at Murrayville. His father, with his grandfather, came to South Australia in 1837 and were the first to grow a crop of wheat in this State in 1838. A widow, 2 sons and 2 daughters survive. One son, Colin, was a victim in the Great War. " DEATH: of Ellen Joanna, 2nd wife of late Donald Henry McLean, at Birdwoodton, aged 78 years on 14/4/1949 and was buried at Murrayville. Vic. Although Donald had made provision for her to be buried at Strathalbyn on his other side, she had made it clear that she had no intention of making a threesome, "the other side of the sandwich". OBITUARY: from a Victorian paper, of 30/4/1949. "Mrs E.J. McLean, a Murrayville pioneer, died on April 14th, 1949, at the age of 78 years, in her sleep on holiday at the home of her grand daughter, Mrs T.W. Povey, (Lila) of Birdwoodton, Victoria. Her sudden death was a surprise to the family, as Mrs McLean was in very good spirits when she retired for the night. She was a pioneer of the Murrayville district, having come there with her husband and family from Lameroo in 1911. She was the widow of Donald Henry McLean who predeceased her over 15 years ago. They, with the family, lived for several years around Kaniva, Nhill and Mildura. Mrs McLean was laid to rest at the Murrayville Cemetery on the morning of April 16th, after a service in the Church of England, conducted by the Rev. E. T. S. Reynolds, who also officiated at the graveside. The deceased lady had five children - Allan John, Merbein; James, Clayton, Vic; Ethel, Mrs Clarence Lackmann, Murrayville; Beatrice, Mrs G. Harley, Melbourne; and Colin killed in France, during World War I, She had 32 grandchildren, 6 of whom are deceased. One of them, Colin Lackmann, was killed in Tobruk, during World War ll. There were also 2 great grandchildren. Mrs McLean was interred beside Coral Cossens who was one of them. The coffin was borne to the graveside by Kevin and Brian Lackmann (grandsons) also Gordon Cossens, Edgar Kalns with Edward and Ernest Harley. "
• Biography Notes: Donald spurred interest in the family history of Donald & Christina McLean:- * He had interviews with JW Elliott on several occasions these were published in 'Jottings' in page 3 'The Southern Argus' on 23rd May 1918, 27th June 1918 and 7th Dec 1922. And there was similar article in 'The Register' on 26th May 1923 (p15). All of these, except the first, included details about his grandfather. * Also, in May 1923, he lodged the sketch of Donald's house in Hilton and notes, in the Public Library, Adelaide, Museum and Art Gallery of SA - the sketch and notes were subsequently placed with the Mortlock Library. * With regard to the newspapers articles and the Mortlock notes:- * They summarized Donald's life in Scotland, the voyage out, getting established in Hilton, the first wheat crop in SA, and settling in the Strathalbyn district. * The newspaper articles and the Mortlock notes are similarly worded and may have been derived from a single written account. It is not known whether Donald Henry wrote these items himself or whether he had obtained it from another source. * The Mortlock notes state that "Although genealogical work is nearing completion it is too detailed to produce here. Descendants number some 4000 people and are spread through all states of Australia". Maybe Donald Henry was involved in compiling that genealogical work. The significance of this is that this note was written in the early 1920s so the this was a very early effort and we wonder if Alf McLean and the team were able to use this as a starting point for their compilation of the BRB two generations later, in 1995. * It indicates an upsurge, in the early 1920s, led by Donald Henry, of interest in the McLean family history. * This was at a time when all of the children of Donald and Christina had died (Hugh the younger died in 1921) but 44 of the grandchildren were still living. Fourteen grandchildren were born before Donald died in 1855 - most of these 14 were infants but three were 7, 8 & 9 years old. And 38 were born while Christina was still living - many of whom were in their teens or early 20s when she died in 1869. Several would have been familiar with the original homes (in Hilton and Auchanada's and the stables) which were still standing at that time. And Donald Henry was born the year before Donald died but was in his mid teens when Christina died - and 68 years old when he gave the interviews. So, in the early 1920s, many of the family would have had living memories of the early days of Strathalbyn (but not of Hilton). * This is important because the BRB relied on these accounts as, in 1995, they were still the most detailed accounts available. * See 'G65 - The Rover's sources' in Small Print, on the left of the homepage.
• Biography Notes: Extensive Farming Experience: Mr Donald McLean, who is a son of the late Mr John McLean, retired from farming pursuits six years ago, and now resides in Adelaide. He left home when he was 26, and first farmed and grazed at Angas Plains. After four years had elapsed he selected land in the Wimmera district, and subsequently went to New South Wales. He longed to get back to South Australia and when the Lameroo country was opened up in 1903, he was the successful applicant, out of 35 others, for a block. He settled there before the railway was constructed. When the country over the border was for allotment, he selected a block of 640 acres, which now adjoins the township of Murrayville. His application went before the board, and the Chairman asked him where he had held land before, and when he stated that it was situated in the Lameroo district, the official facetiously remarked that, no doubt the applicant would find the air much sweeter across the wire fence. However, he explained that he did not have sufficient land at Lameroo, and he got this block. Through the help of his family he acquired eight selections, aggregating more than 5,000 acres, and he farmed there until he retired. Mr McLean has two sons on the land now. A Message from Spirit Land: He told a pathetic story, concerning his youngest son, who insisted upon going to the war before he was 21 years of age. He was a born athlete, and was engaged in. running dispatches. He received two 'touches' by a bullet? one, on the point of the finger, and the other grazed his knee ? but he was never put out of action. However, he was subsequently killed. He was standing in the trenches, and the enemy were sending over shells one morning at 5 o'clock. One killed four men, and young McLean was among the victims. Mr and Mrs McLean received a curious premonition of disaster at the time of the soldier's son's death. Here is his story. 'My wife and I were on the home farm near Murrayville at noon on a certain Sunday morning. Our daughter and a young lady guest were at church. I was writing a letter to the lad, when I thought I heard footsteps go into his room. My wife came out and asked me who went in there. I said I thought the girls were home from church and that our visitor had gone into this room, which she was occupying. My wife looked into the room, and saw nobody, and then went outside and found that the girls were several hundred yards away from the place in the buggy on their way home from church. My wife said to me, Did you hear anyone speak when you heard the footsteps coming into the room: I replied that I did not, and Mrs McLean added, 'That is what brought me out. I heard somebody say distinctly,' 'How are you? ' and I also heard the footsteps. The reason why I came out was because you did not answer, and I wondered why you did not speak. I only heard the footsteps, I said to my wife, and then added that I thought it was a sort of message to say that my son had been killed. My wife said,. 'That is what I think. and it turned out that it was about that date, that he was killed.
• Biography Notes: JW Elliott's Jottings in Southern Argus on 23rd May 1918, p3 Often in these Jottings the name of the old pioneer family, the McLeans, has been mentioned. Of the original stock none remain but the one survivor, Mr. Hugh McLean senior, who has resided here for the whole of the years that take up the history of the town and district. Last week there came to our midst again, the eldest-born of the second generation, Mr. Donald McLean, of Victoria, (son of the late John McLean, of Angas Plains, who with his brother, Alan, took up the first land available here away back in prehistoric days). Mr. Donald, who was the first-born of the flock, left this neighborhood close on forty years ago, to take up land in the newly-opened Tatiara district in Victoria, and later in the Wimmera, doing, well from thence on, his holdings gradually increasing to such, a satisfactory extent that he now has the proud knowledge that all his big family of sons have been prosperously settled on separate farms without lessening the original homestead selection, their aggregate totalling to close on ten thousand acres of freehold in the heart of the best country in Victoria. In early days here the original family owned far more than this, but except for the Angas Plains property, all of it has long since passed into other hands, the Squire of the Plains alone having bequeathed to his progeny the gift of holding and acquiring landed estate. Mr. Donald McLean was very much interested in the progress of Strathalbyn, and he told me several little tales of the early days which I have noted for use later on. When he left here the place was at a low ebb, the call of the North just beginning to sound, empty farms everywhere telling of the exodus to the new areas. 'The place was in a poor way,' he said, 'and property could be bought for a song if buyers cared to bid for it. To-day the town is a beautiful one, and prosperous apparently as it is charming. I've seen no place to equal it for beauty, and I shall take back with me fresh convictions that my old home still challenges rivalry for natural and acquired beauty.'
• Biography Notes: Southern Argus, 16th March 1922, p3 - EXHUMATION AT MILANG CEMETERY. A correspondent says: On Thursday last, March 9th, Mr. D. H. McLean had the body of his late wife, Mary Frances McLean removed from the Milang cemetery and reburied in the Strathalbyn cemetery. She was the only daughter of the late William Bacon and Ellen Smith, of Lake Plains, and sister of WJ Smith. Strange to say, this exhumation took place just forty-seven years from the time Mr. McLean and Miss Smith first saw each other, they were then twenty and seventeen years of age, loved at first sight, and they never parted until death came. The coffin was in a fair state of preservation. Mr McLean was present, and was able to identify the form of his late wife, also the fair hair and beautiful natural teeth, which were all intact. The work was carried out very creditably by Mr FJ Siebert, of Adelaide.

Notes:

Birth:
born 'Waterloo' Angas Plains SA

Donald married Ellen Johannah FORD 23 Feb 1889, Norwood SA. Ellen (daughter of Jessie FORD and Wilhemema WEDDELL) was born 1871, Gilberton SA; died 14 Apr 1949, Birdwoodton Vic; was buried 16 Apr 1949, Murrayville Vic. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Biography Notes:
• Military Service: 1904-1918, WWII; Place of enlistment

Notes:

Married:
Married at 18yoa Wesleyan Parsonage Norwood (source SAGHS) Husband was 34yoa. First born that year and four other children.

Other Events:

• Residence: Lameroo SA

Other Events:

• Biography Notes: Father's Will - see Donald McLean's profile for details in Donald's Will in which John was a beneficiary.
• Biography Notes: For inheritance of part of 57 Hindley St - see E51 in Small Print.
• Biography Notes: 1800's, Strathalbyn SA; John and Allan;typical Highlanders-in old age when they excited they lapsed into Gaelic. John, a great reader,an adherent of the Auld Kirk and strong on doctrine and strict in its observances.
• Biography Notes: Milang SA; P 76 "Belvidere" publicaton by Lance C Wakefield. "A deceased Indian worker of John McLean during his funeral procession was sat astride the hearse during its procession to the cemetery were two of the deceased's children. "
• Biography Notes: c1800s, Belvidere SA; P76 "Belvidere" publicaton by Lance C Wakefield. "Sheep Stealers Camp. In the section 511 Hundred of Bremer there is a large gum tree which has gone by the name of he sheep stealers camp. A group of 2men and a woman named Kangaroo Mary, were the culpits and this tree marked the campsite. Old John Mclean leased most of the surrounding area and had sheepyards to house the sheep overnight near this gum tree. Although close to the sheep stealers, Mr Mclean would not worry about an odd missing sheep. However a local a Mr Richard Jones went to Victoria he left his property unattended...as a result these sheep stealers decided they would like to make more profit by selling his wheat to the Bridgewater flour mill. Unfortunately their horses were very weak, and the wagons were unloaded to continue their journey. The police staked out the location and nabbed them in the process of delivery to the mill after the sale. The belongings of the stealers were sold under that tree by auctioneers. "
• Biography Notes: The biography of John, Mary and Elizabeth can be found through the stories link on the left side of the home page.
• Cause of death: Senile decay
• Biography Notes: 00 Oct 1855, Homepage menu-SMALL PRINT; Extensive,evidence,persuasive narrative in SMALL PRINT MENU on HOME PAGE MENU Homepage menu-SMALL PRINT
• Biography Notes: 19 Dec 1903, Angas Plains SA; Obituary: "On Monday morning Mr John McLean, of Angas Plains, died in his eighty-ninth year. Deceased arrived in the colony early in 1837, and settled on what was then known as the Adelaide Plains. He remained there only a short time before removing to Angas Bank, Strathalbyn, where he successfully opened up a large tract of country. Receiving a remunerative offer from the late Mr John Stark for the property, he sold, and took up the land at Angas Bank upon which he resided until his death. The deceased gentleman was a grand type of Highlander. He hailed from Lochaber, and never forgot his mother tongue (Gaelic). A staunch Presbyterian, he attended the church service regularly until within a year or so ago, when his hearing failed him. He has left a widow (his second wife), three sons and seven daughters." (source: Adelaide Observer, 19th Dec 2017, p44) Note that:- * Age: He died in his 86th year - not 89th year. * Migration: He arrived in late 1837 - not early 1837. * Children: With his first wife, he had 13 children (9 girls, & 4 boys) - of these, 4 girls (Agnes, Eliza and 2 Margarets) and 1 boy (John) had died before John's own death. With his second wife, he had 3 children (2 girls & 1 boy) - of these, 1 boy (Hartley) had died before John. Thus, altogether 3 sons and 7 daughters survived him - so the obituary is correct.
• Biography Notes: 23 May 1918, Strathalbyn SA; Often in these Jottings the name of the old pioneer family, the McLeans, has been mentioned. Of the original stock none remain but the one survivor, Mr Hugh McLean senior, who has resided here for the whole of the years that make up the history of the town and district. Last week there came to our midst again, the eldest-born of the second generation, Mr Donald McLean, of Victoria, (son of the late John McLean, of Angas Plains, who with his brother, Alan, took up the first land available here away back in prehistoric days). Mr Donald, who was the first-born of the flock, left this neighborhood close on forty years ago, to take up land in the newly-opened Tatiara district in Victoria, and later in the Wimmera, doing, well from thence on, his holdings gradually increasing to such, a satisfactory extent that he now has the proud knowledge that all his big family of sons have been prosperously settled on separate farms without lessening the original homestead selection, their aggregate totalling to close on ten thousand acres of freehold in the heart of the best country in Victoria. In early days here, the original family owned far more than this, but except for the Angas Plains property, all of it has long since passed into other hands, the Squire of the Plains alone having bequeathed to his progeny the gift of holding and acquiring landed estate. Mr Donald McLean was very much interested in the progress of Strathalbyn, and he told me several little tales of the early days which I have noted for use later on. When he left here the place was at a low ebb, the call of the North just beginning to sound, empty farms everywhere telling of the exodus to the new areas. 'The place was in a poor way,' he said, 'and property could be bought for a song if buyers cared to bid for it. To-day the town is a beautiful one, and prosperous apparently as it is charming. I've seen no place to equal it for beauty, and I shall take back with me fresh convictions that my old home still challenges rivalry for natural and acquired beauty.' (From JWE?s Jottings in Southern Argus, 23rd May 1918, p3)

Notes:

Name:
On BRB p294) John was referred to as 'Squire of the Plains' (Jottings in Southern Argus, 23rd May 1918).

Died:
death 'Waterloo', Angas Plains SA

John married Mary b1829 STACEY 29 May 1845, Macclesfield SA. Mary (daughter of James STACEY and Mary FISHER) was born 00 Jul 1829, Somersetshire UK; was christened 21 Jul 1829, Stogursey UK; died 15 Nov 1872, Angas Plains SA; was buried , Strathalbyn SA. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Emigration: 20 Jun 1840, London UK; Arrived on ship CHARLES KERR from London to South Australia on 20th June 1840. Father James, Mary nee Fisher, Sarah, Mary, James, John, Harriet, Henry listed
• Cause of death: 15 Nov 1872, Milang SA; Mary's death certificate has her cause of death as "heart disease". The BRB (p265) states that she died from "pueperal fever then called milk fever - she was breast feeding up to the time of her death".

Other Events:

• Residence: UK

Notes:

Residence:
From England

Jessie — Wilhemema WEDDELL. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Residence: Stockport UK

Notes:

Residence:
From Stockport (near Manchester) UK