[Editor: This obituary was published in The Border Watch (Mount Gambier, SA), 25 August 1931.]
Obituary.
Mr. Ernest Adolf Gerloff.
The death of Mr. E. A. Gerloff, which occurred early on Sunday morning, has removed a townsman of many years’ standing, and one who took a leading part in a number of public activities. He was Mayor of Mount Gambier from 1897 to 1898, and occupied a seat in the Town Council for a long term.
Born at Tanunda 69 years ago last February, deceased came to Mount Gambier with his parents as a boy, and completed his education here at the late Mr. Besley’s school. His first employment was with the late Mr. W. Simmons, draper and grocer, of Commercial Street East, after which he conducted a confectioner’s business on his own account, and was very successful in this enterprise. This small business led to something larger, and he opened a general store in what are now the Co-Operative Society’s premises. This was eventually disposed of to Messrs. Edwards & Goode, but the business later reverted to Mr. Gerloff, and he afterwards sold to Messrs. Milne and Poole. When the business came into his hands again it was finally sold to the Mount Gambier Co-Operative Society.
For some years after this he engaged in grazing and share farming in the Tonkey district, and also had other interests. He was Managing Director of the Cape Banks Flint Company, and a director of the Associated Oil Corporation, as well as being interested in several Melbourne mining companies. He was also engaged in forestry operations near Tonkey. A few years ago he purchased Mr. J. F. Palamountain’s general store, and later moved to premises on the opposite side of Commercial Street, which he occupied until his death. His activities had also extended to Millicent, where he had a similar business.
One of Mr. Gerloff’s chief interests was the Mount Gambier Gun Club, of which he was President for a long period of years. Although not an outstanding shot, he had many fine performances to his credit, and had a wide circle of friends among shooting men. There was no better “sport” than the genial Gun Club President.
At one time deceased was President of the Town Band, and he also occupied a number of other public positions. He was an Oddfellow for a great many years.
Mr. Gerloff married Miss Mary Hart about 46 years ago, and leaves a widow and three children, viz., Mr. E. V. Gerloff, of North Terrace; Mrs. R. Altorfer, Jane Street; and Miss Eileen Gerloff, Penola road. The funeral yesterday was attended by a large and representative gathering.
Source:
The Border Watch (Mount Gambier, SA), 25 August 1931, p. 1
Editor’s notes:
This site includes a Miner’s Right for E. V. Gerloff, of Mount Gambier, dated 10 July 1923. Ernest Victor Gerloff was the son of Ernest Adolf Gerloff. Ernest Adolf Gerloff passed away on Sunday 23 August 1931.
genial = affable, cheerful, friendly, pleasant, sociable; easy-going, friendly, good-natured, pleasant, and warm-hearted in social interactions; agreeable, amiable, congenial, cordial, good-tempered, gracious, jolly, jovial, kind, sympathetic, thoughtful
Messrs. = an abbreviation of “messieurs” (French), being the plural of “monsieur”; used in English as the plural of “Mister” (which is abbreviated as “Mr.”); the title is used in English prior to the names of two or more men (often used regarding a company, e.g. “the firm of Messrs. Bagot, Shakes, & Lewis”, “the firm of Messrs. Hogue, Davidson, & Co.”)
Oddfellow = a member of the Oddfellows (a fraternal organisation) [see: Oddfellows]
Oddfellows = an international fraternity, organised in lodges, with its origins in the 1700s; there have been various Oddfellows entities, including the Independent Order of Oddfellows (abbreviated as IOOF) and the Independent Order of Oddfellows Manchester Unity (also known as the Manchester Unity Order of Oddfellows, or Manchester Unity)
See: 1) “Odd Fellows”, Wikipedia
2) “Independent Order of Odd Fellows”, Wikipedia
3) “Independent Order of Oddfellows Manchester Unity”, Wikipedia
4) “Odd Fellows (disambiguation)”, Wikipedia
viz. = (Latin) an abbreviation of “videlicet” (a contraction of the Latin phrase “videre licet”), meaning “it is permitted to see” (the “z” derives from the z-shaped Latin shorthand symbol for “et”, as used in the Tironian shorthand style); in actual practice, “viz.” is used as a synonym for “in other words”, “namely”, “that is to say”, “to wit”, or “which is” (used when giving further details about something, or giving a list of specific examples or items)
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