OBITUARY

MR. DAVID S. TODD

Gradually the older pioneers of the district are passing away, and the death of mr. David Smith Todd, removes one whose name is known throughout the near west as being one of the fathers of agriculture this side of the Blue Mountains.

In 1849, the late Mr. Todd came with his parents from his home in Northampton shire to Australia in the ship “John Bright”.  The voyage lasted eight months.  As with many other pioneers of the western districts, Mr. Todd’s parents left Sydney and crossed the Blue Mountains by bullock dray.  Bathurst, at that time a small village, was the center of the more or less settled near west.

From Bathurst the family moved to Obley, near Orange where the father became overseer of a sheep station.  Later the family became carriers bringing supplies and materials to the districts stores and farms from Sydney, over the mountains.  Their method of transport was still by bullock wagon.

From Obley, the late .Mr Todd, settled down at Mountain View, Essington, in the Oberon District, following farming and grazing pursuits.  In 1865 he was married in the Old Trinity Church at Kelso to Letitia Connelly of Sydney.  From the early days of his residence in the district, the late Mr Todd had taken an active interest in agriculture.

He was an old supporter of the early agricultural shows, which as many of the older residents will remember, were first, held at O’Connell.  Since the first show there he has attended every exhibition.

All through the Turon digging days of the fifties and sixties, Mr Todd saw many of the happenings of the time, which have since passed into the history of Bathurst.  He could vividly recall stores of the gold diggings, bushrangers and early pioneers.

His wife died some sixteen years ago, and for the past few years he has been afflicted with blindness.  During the last eighteen months he had resided with his daughter, Mrs. W.G. Gunning, of Kelso.

There were a family of nine, five sons and four daughters, but only four members of the family are now alive.  They being Mr. W.G. Todd of Rockely; Mrs J.J. Cash of Bathurst; Mrs F Twemlow, of Orange; and Mrs. W.G. Gunning, of Kelso.

Twenty-three grandchildren and sixteen great grandchildren are also alive.

The funeral which took place yesterday, moved to the Stoney Creek cemetery, where internment was made in the Methodist portion.  The Rev. R. C. Oakley officiated  at the graveside service, and two of deceased’s favorite hymns. “Rock of Ages” and   ...... Lover of My Soul” were sung.

The late Mr Todd was laid to rest by the side of his wife.