|
a.
|
Note: !SOURCE:family knowledge `Ohakune - Opening to a New World' by Merrilyn George marriage cert cemetery records & h/s 1936 NZ Post Dir 1917 Oct 2nd NZEF Res Roll `Feilding Star' IGI Oct 1995 NZ RGO Death Index #629 NZSG CD Probate Record OCCUPATION:Blacksmith, apprenticed at Eketahuna
1917 Blacksmith & Farrier 1936 farmer RESIDENCES:1906 Feilding
1914 Hukanui 1917 Hukanui 1920 to 1950 - Ohakune MILITARY:1917 - classified as "E" has 4 children
BIOGRAPHY:Took over the blacksmithing business of R McIntosh, Manchester Street, Feilding in September 1903. Fourteen months later in Nov 1904 he went into partnership with G Sauer. At the end of that year, due to increase in business they moved premises to the other side of the road, now doing all kinds of agriculture, tyreing, and general work. Also agents for R & D Duncan's Implements, Cooper's patent wheel lock, Day, Son and Hewitt's animal mediciner.
March 1906 saw the end of that partnership and the beginning with J R Perry. The following month Nelson married Naomi Patching in the Weslyan Church, Feilding. In March 1907 the house he was living in on the corner of Denbigh and Grey Streets, was destroyed by fire.
January 1908 saw the end of the partnership of Ranger & Perry. The business was later taken over in April by Mr D O'Callaghan, and Nelson moved to Levin, but was unsuccessful in paying his debt so in November of that year Nelson was decleared bankrupt. According to Muriel Ranger SHAW, he then went to Dargaville leaving his family behind. About 1910 went into partnership with J Pryde at Hanua and Konini. Acquired shop at Hukanui and moved there abt 1914. Pryde died 1918 due to a flu epidemic. Shop at Hanua closed and Konini open one day a week, due to scarce labour and long hours.
Mr Clem Parker of Tiraumea Rd, Pahiatua (1992 aged abt 75) remembers the Pryde & Ranger establishment. `I remember, when I was about 5 that it was a complete blacksmith, wheelwright, carriage works and paint shop. I remember the red hot rims being shrunk onto wagon wheels. It was opposite the railway loading yards 200 yards south of the station.'
With the incoming machinery Nelson decided to go farming. That final decision where to live was decided when he won a ballot farm on what was to later be the Rowles farm. They arrived in Ohakune in Sep 1919, arriving at midnight. Fred and Milton had arrived by horse & cart prior, also driving some milk cows. Milton's half-sister Sarah (Sis) Cooper also came to help with the children. First spent time in a rented house in Ohakune until January, while Nelson and Milton lived in a whare on the farm. The family then lived together, with Nay, Muriel & Beryl sleeping on the bunks in the whare, Mum and Dad with baby Nelson in one tent, Milton, Fred & Vince in the other. The washing was done in benzene tins in which water was boiled over the big logs. One of the great delights was eating dumplings which Nelson & Milton cooked in a billy of water on the burning stumps.
With the oncome of winter and snow, which had to swept off the tents, Nelson built a four room shack out of mill slabs. It was about 30 x 20 feet with the kitchen in the middle., a bedroom divided into two at one end, and a large bedroom at the other. The dividing walls going three quarters to the ceiling. Good for playing Hide & Seek. The roof was originally made with rubberoid which after a few years was replaced by iron. Later they moved to the
house that later belonged to the Carter's. Nelson sharemilked there with Nay and Fred helping. The machines were driven by waterwheel, often with insufficent water to power the plant. He later went milling and then went in
partnership with Sargeant to buy the farm which became the family home for another generation. With Nelson Jr and wife taking over on the death of Nelson Sr. The farm was sold about 1972 to Mr Lilburn, who still owned it in 1988.
The homestead was built about 1926, during which time the family moved back into town. DEATH:Ohakune Cemetery-burial records- James St Vincent Nelson Ranger, Tohunga Rd, farmer, buried 24 Dec 1950 a 68 yrs. Rev Mowat
Headstone - To the memory of Nelson beloved husband of Annie RANGER d 23 Dec 1950 a 68 yrs. At Rest
Probate - at Ohakune; occ farmer; court Wanganui 1859-1988; #118/51; filed 11 Jul 1951; type Will.
|
