Eva Florence Annabel GORDON

1888 - 1969  (80 years)

• Name	Eva Florence Annabel GORDON
  Born	21 Jul 1888	Point Sturt, SA   [1]
  	She might have been born in Strathalbyn rather then Point Sturt.
  Gender	Female
  General event	BIOGRAPHY : From page 53 in 'The Gordons' by Natalie & Colin Semmler. This book can be seen in Stories on the left side of the home page. Eva was born at Point Sturt on 21.7.1888. Her work in her younger years was mainly domestic. She was regarded as an excellent cook and in later years was renowned for her sponge cakes! When her father and brothers left "Watulunga" for the mallee district (Mantung, later called Wanbi) she went with them to work as their cook and housekeeper. It was here that she met Ivor Bruce Edwards (known as Bruce), her future husband. Bruce Edwards and his brother, Allen, went to the Mantung area about the same time as the Gordons. They started farming (which was something they knew little about) at an early age and they had to clear many acres of virgin mallee. The brothers built houses using limestone from their land. Eva and Bruce were married on 31.3.1920 at the Congregational Manse in Mount Lofty. The Reverend AW.Gordon officiated. The house in which Bruce and Eva lived was typical of many settlers cottages. It consisted of three main rooms - one large living room, a main bedroom and a "lean-to" kitchen. The house was later extended and another bedroom added. As more children arrived the front verandah was enclosed and made into a bedroom. Eva and Bruce worked very hard on this farm for very little monetary return. They had a team of Clydesdale horses to pull the farm implements as well as riding hacks and a pony to pull the sulky for school outings. Later they purchased a "T" Model Ford. On the farm they kept cows, pigs, sheep and poultry and grew wheat, oats and barley. Eva took pride in her ability to grow good vegetables, which was a battle in the mallee. This was very good country if the rains came, but they didn't. There were long droughts and as the world was in the grip of the Great Depression at the time, the prices of wheat and wool were low. During the depression Eva always cooked an extra meal for any strangers passing looking for work. Rabbits were a menace at that time, but the boys made pocket money by selling the skins. They had a tennis court and Eva used to have tennis parties with local ladies coming for a day out. Bruce also played tennis, as well as cricket for the local team. Eva and Bruce had six children who all attended Wunkar Primary SchooL (Wunkar was a small village about 25 km west of Loxton). Tragedy struck the family in 1939 when their eldest son, Peter, was killed in shooting accident. After this Eva and Bruce had little interest in the farm, so they sold it and moved to Adelaide, into a large house at 13 Wilsden, Walkerville. Eva and Bruce remained in this house until they died.
  Died	16 May 1969
  Buried	Evergreen Cemetery, Enfield, SA, Australia
  Person ID	I111	Alexander & Jessie
  Last Modified	25 Apr 2018

  
  

  Father	Alexander (jnr) GORDON,   b. 4 Apr 1852, Larbert, Stirling, Scotland, UK ,   d. 21 Apr 1925, Wxx Laurences Private Hospital, Wakefield St, Hindmarsh West, Adelaide  (Age 73 years)
  Mother	Annie SALTMARSH,   b. 28 Oct 1853, Bugle Ranges via Hahndorf, SA, Australia ,   d. 4 Nov 1932  (Age 79 years)
  Married	31 Mar 1875	Christian Chapel, Groote St, Adelaide, SA, Australia
  	They might have been married in 1876 rather than 1875.
  Children	As well as their own 11 children, they also raised Alexander Duff Gordon whose mother died in an accident soon after he was born and his father, Coningsby, went to America. Baby Alexander was Alexander's and Annie's first grandchild - he was born in 1902, just 8 years after their youngest child
  Residence	Annie and Alexander farmed around the Strathalbyn district. They lived at 'Watulunga'.
  Wedding	Wedding : Alexander and Annie were married on 31st March 1875 at the Christian Chapel in Grote St, Adelaide. The witnesses on the marriage certificate were Mary McGREGOR of Alma, Henry SALTMARSH of Lake Plains, and Robert D LAWRIE of Alma.
  Family ID	F36	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Ivor Bruce EDWARDS,   b. 19 Aug 1887,   d. 6 May 1975  (Age 87 years)
  Married	31 Mar 1920	Mount Lofty   [1]
  	The wedding was in the Congregational Manse in Mt Lofty. The celebrant was Rev AW Gordon (he might night have been a relative).
  Children	1. Peter Gordon EDWARDS,   b. 26 Feb 1921,   d. 10 Dec 1939  (Age 18 years) + 2. Janice Fay EDWARDS,   b. 7 Aug 1922,   d. 25 Oct 1989  (Age 67 years) + 3. Helen Josephine EDWARDS,   b. 17 Oct 1923,   d. 17 Nov 2013  (Age 90 years) + 4. Bryan Alexander EDWARDS,   b. 16 Jul 1925,   d. 7 Aug 2003  (Age 78 years) + 5. Ian Bruce EDWARDS,   b. 23 May 1929,   d. 22 Dec 1978  (Age 49 years) + 6. Barry Neil EDWARDS,   b. 18 Jan 1930
  Last Modified	26 Jun 2018
  Family ID	F149	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Photos » Slide Show		Eva Florence Annabel Gordon
  		Gordon - Maggie, Elva & Eva
  		Nathalie, Evelyn, Eva, Annie, young Alex, & Jessie (Albyn in tree)
  		Eva, Nathalie, Jessie, Evelyn, Annie & little Alex In the garden on the east side of the Watulunga homestead.
  		Eva, Lin & Nathalie
  		Eva, Evelyn & Nathalie (Douglas under tree)
  		Allan, Eva & Nathalie

  
  

• Sources

  [S67] 'The Gordons' by Nathalie Semmler & Colin Semmler, 1997, Page 24.