Lone Graves

"BLUE COLOURED BUFFALO"
Musterer Reports Seeing Strange Animal
COOKTOWN August 15.
Mr. E. E. Neil, manager of Koolburra Station, reports that while George Ahlers, of Maytown, was mustering cattle he saw what he thought was a buffalo. Ahlers said that when he and drovers got near they discovered it was extremely wild and it charged them and then bolted into the mountains. It was a pretty blue colour with long horns coming over the neck to its side and it made a strange noise, resembling a goat.

"BLUE COLOURED BUFFALO" (1936, August 15). The Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld. : 1872 - 1947), p. 11. TROVE

OBITUARY
The death has occurred of one of Cape York's best respected and well known identities, Mr. George Ahlers. The late Mr. Ahlers, who had grazing interests in the Palmerville district, resided in the old abandoned town of Maytown, where he had lived for many years, following the cattle industry. Not feeling well for a few weeks, he remained in and around the camp, with the only one other white man of that once great mining centre, an elderly man named Munn. Mr. Munn had been tending the sick man for a few days until Saturday last, when Mr. Ahlers passed away. Mr. Munn despatched a native messenger down to Palmerville, another one-time famous field, where Mr. Jim Callaghan now lives as a homestead for his own grazing property, and, accompanied by Mr. Alan Petersen. also a well known cattle man of that area, they set out, taking with them the authority of the Cooktown Coroner to bury the body at Maytown. The passing of Mr. Ahlers recalls many interesting links with the early boom days of the rich fields of Maytown, Byerstown and Palmervllle, where the white and Chinese population at that period could be calculated in thousands. Today the population count can be taken on the fingers of both hands. Mr. Ahlers for some time carried out mail contracts around those fields and later acquired cattle interests. He leaves his wife and one child and two brothers to mourn his passing. One brother. Charlie, is one of the Peninsula's outstanding personalities and part-owner of Strath- burn Station, near Coen.

OBITUARY (1951, March 30). Townsville Daily Bulletin (Qld. : 1907 - 1954), p. 2. TROVE

OBITUARY
MR. GEORGE AHLERS.
COEN, Mar. 28.-A link with the early boom days of the Maytown, Byerstown and Palmerville goldfields was severed on Saturday last with the death of Mr. George Ahlers.
Mr. Ahlers was one of the only two white men still residing in the almost abandoned Maytown. For many years he was a mail contractor in the Peninsula and had also acquired some cattle interests. He is survived by his widow and one child. One of his two brothers, Mr. Charles Ahlers, is part-owner of Strathburn station, near Coen. The deceased was buried at Maytown.

OBITUARY (1951, March 29). Cairns Post (Qld. : 1909 - 1954), p. 2. TROVE

AHLERS.-In ever loving memory of George Henry Ahlers, who passed away suddenly at Maytown in March, 1951.
"My thoughts often stray to a lonely grave
On the bank of the Palmer River.
Where he sleeps in peace forever
Beneath the old fig tree."
Gone but not forgotten.
(Inserted by his loving mother, sisters and brothers, nephews and nieces.)

Family Notices (1953, March 28). Cairns Post (Qld. : 1909 - 1954), p. 5. TROVE

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An accident occurred to a man named John Ledingham, on the Walsh, last night. He was loading his gun, when the shot went off, passing through his head. He died immediately. Mr. Mowbray, Police Magistrate, held an enquiry this day.

Thornborough. (1876, October 14). The Queenslander (Brisbane, Qld. : 1866 - 1939), p. 28. TROVE

In the Supreme Court of Queensland, Bowen
In the GOODS of JOHN LEDINGHAM, late of Thornborough, Hodgkinson Goldfields, in the Colony of Queensland, Storekeeper, Deceased Intestate.
NOTICE is hereby given that, after the expiration of fourteon days from the publi- cation hereof in The Government Gazette, application will be made to the said Honorable Court that LETTERS of ADMINISTRATION of all the goods, chattels, and effects of the above named John Ledingham, deceased, who died intestate, may be granted to WILLIAM THOMSON, of Thornborough, Hodgkinson Goldfields, in the said colony, storekeeper, Uncle and next of kin and only relative of the said deceased in the said colony.
Dated this 5th day of January, A.D. 1877.
W. PRITCHARD MORGAN, Cooktown, Proctor for the said William Thomson. By his Agent, Peter Macpherson.

Classified Advertising (1877, January 20). The Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933), p. 7. TROVE

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MRS. M. A. McKEE.

TOOGOOLAWAH.
August 19.—The death of Mrs. M. A. McKee, which occurred at the home of her daughter (Mrs. L. A. Sherlock), at Toogoolawah, on Saturday evening, at the age of 84, removes one of the original pioneers of this district. She was a daughter of the late Mr. William Bowden, and was born at Colinton Station, where her father was employed. Later the family moved to Laidley, where the late Mrs. McKee married in 1877. In the year 1881 the McKee family moved by road from Laidley to Bundaberg in search of land. They travelled by dray and horse team and had with them their total herd of cattle (about 21 cows). While camped at Harlin they met Surveyor Hassall who was then engaged on the land for selection there. Mr. McKee was advised to see the Ivory's Creek portions, which he did, and decided to select there. The family lived at Ivory's Creek for many years and successfully engaged in agriculture and dairying. About 30 years ago Mr. McKee purchased a farm at Harlin, where he remained until his death in 1918. In the meantime his family also conducted the original farm. The funeral took place on Monday and was conducted by Rev. Father O'Callaghan, the interment being at Harlin beside the grave of her husband.
Five sons and four daughters remain. They are Messrs. Thomas McKee (Manly), John (Yarraman), William (Toogoolawah), Edward (Booval), James (Coorparoo), Mesdames Sherlock (Toogoolawah), J. Peters (Nanango), Hetherton (Colinton), and R. G. Roy (Peachester). There are 25 grandchildren and 22 great grand-children.

MRS. M. A. McKEE. (1941, August 22). Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld. : 1909 - 1954), p. 3 (DAILY.). TROVE

McKEE. — The Relatives and Friends of Mr and Mrs. T. McKee and Family, of Manly, Mr. J. McKee and Family, of Yarraman, Mr. and Mrs. W. L. McKee and Family, of Biarra. Mr. and Mrs. E. McKee and Family. of Booval, Mr. and Mrs. J McKee and Family, of Coorparoo, Mr. and Mrs. B. Sherlock and Daughter, of Toogoolawah, Mr. and Mrs. J. Peters and Family, of Nanango, Mr. and Mrs. H, Hetherton and Family, of Colinton, Mr. and Mrs. M. S. Hoy and Family, of Peachester, are Invited to attend the Funeral of their beloved Mother, Mother-in-law, and Grand mother, Mary Ann McKee, late of Toogoolawah, to leave the Roman Catholic Church, Toogoolawah, This (Monday Afternoon, at I p.m., for Interment at Harlin. Family Notices (1941, August 18). The Courier-Mail (Brisbane, Qld. : 1933 - 1954), p. 10. TROVE

T00G00LAWAH TRAGEDY
Young Girl Shot Dead
TOOGOOLAWAH. Saturday. — Margaret Mary McKee (16½) was accident ally shot dead with a shotgun at her home at Harlin, 14 miles from Kilcoy this afternoon. while playing with her sister and two youths employed by her father. Mr. Edward McKee. The girl's father was visiting Toogoolawah and left his daughters, Margaret Mary and Kathleen Bridget, on the property with two of his employees.
The two girls and the youths were playing, and it is alleged the girls had been throwing water over one, and had threatened to put salt in an air rifle and shoot him.
Police have been informed that the youth picked up a shotgun, not knowing it was loaded, and pointed it through the verandah railings towards the elder girl, who was sitting on the verandah. The gun was discharged, and half the girl's head was blown off.
A post-mortem examination was held at the girl's home, and it was found that death was due to a gunshot wound in the head and cerebral laceration. The gun had been used by Mr. McKee on Friday night while shooting foxes, and he had left it in the kitchen with one barrel loaded.
Kilcoy police have investigated the fatality, and are of the opinion that death was accidental.

TOOGOOLAWAH TRAGEDY (1938, August 29). Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay and Burnett Advertiser (Qld. : 1860 - 1947), p. 2. TROVE
(Margaret Mary McKEE is the grand-daughter of Edward McKEE who is interred in this grave)

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A Long and well-known resident in the Wide Bay District, Mr. George Irwin, of the Didcot Royal Oak Hotel, Gayndah Road, died after a very short illness on Sunday, the 29th ultimo. Mrs. Irwin was on a visit to Sydney at the time.

No title (1863, April 9). Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay and Burnett Advertiser (Qld. : 1860 - 1947), p. 2. TROVE

ALL Persons indebted to the estate of the late George Irwin, Publican, Didcot, are requested to pay the same to Mrs. Margaret Irwin, to whom all claims must be made. WM. HENRY WALSH, ALEXANDER THAYNE, Executors. Degilbo, June 12, 1863.

Advertising (1863, June 18). Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay and Burnett Advertiser (Qld. : 1860 - 1947), p. 3. TROVE

GENERAL NEWS
Mrs. MARGARET IRWIN, one of our oldest and most respected residents died at 7 o'clock on Tuesday morning. She has been ailing for some time past, and on Sunday underwent a critical surgical operation, from which she never rallied.
The deceased's name must ever be associated with the early history of Maryborough and Gayndah. Her family, the Gregorys, were amongst the first settlers here in 1849, that is to say at the "Old Township" near Baddow, as the present town was not in existence then. After a year or two, with the late Mr. E. T. Aldridge's family, she opened a little shop in Adelaide street in the then newly surveyed town of Maryborough, and the wooden building is standing there we believe to this day. Mrs. Irwin was married from there, and with her husband who was a noted carrier in those days, established the Dldcot Hotel on the Gayndah road. Here for many years Mrs. Irwin resided, and by her extreme hospitality, kindheartedness, and strong free character, made herself and the hostelry famous along the road in Gayndah's palmy days.
Many charitable acts and many daring exploits for a woman, are recorded of her at that period of her life. In the seventies Mrs. Irwin returned to this town, where she leaves considerable property, and started shop-keeping again, subsequently building and latterly occupying the Australian Hotel, where for some years past she had led a very quiet unassuming life. The deceased leaves no family. She was the sister of the late Mrs Goodwin and of Mrs. Neil Blue and Mr. Chas. Gregory. The funeral will take place this afternoon.

GENERAL NEWS. (1895, December 25). Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay and Burnett Advertiser (Qld. : 1860 - 1947), p. 2. TROVE

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