ADVENTUROUS LIFE ENDS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20978, 15 September 1931, Page 10

ADVENTUROUS LIFE ENDS

DEATH AT NINETY. MR. JOHN C. PELHAM. SPELL OF THE WANDERLUST. AMERICAN CIVIL WAR. A well-known Ponsonby resident, Mr. John Charles Pelham, founder of the firm of J. C. Pelham and Sons, Victoria Street, has died at his residence, 72, College Hill, ai the age of 90 years. He enjoyed perfect health throughout his life and he is reputed never lo have had a day's illness. Mr. Pelham was a shining example of a self-made man. The only son of the late Mr. and Mrs. John Pelham, of Boughton-on-Chelsca, Maidstone, Kent, England, he was born in February, 1841, and ran away from home at the age of ten. He spent his early youth at sea, for ever under the spell of the wanderlust, and during his teens saw practically every country in the globe. On one occasion, while his ship was off the Cold Coast, the crew was stricken down by yellow fever, and the only men on board who were able to work the ship were himself and the captain. Years afterwards Mr. Pelham used to relate with relish how ho performed the combined duties of cabin boy, cook, boatswain, first mate and ship's doctor—every job on board, in fact, with the exception of that of the captain, who steadfastly refused to bo ill. He was in America when the first shot was fired in the Civil War. Ho was present at the Battle of Bull Run, when the Federal forces were routed, on July 21, 1861, and he served for some time on the American warship Kearsage. Attracted By Auckland. Although he had practically no education, Mr. Pelham was a tireless reader and gained a tremendous fund of general information. He knew the greater part of the Bible by heart and had a detailed knowledge of English history. It was significant of his unquenchable thirst for knowledge that, although he was always reading, he was never known to pick up a book of fiction. When in Australia, in 1864, Mr. Pelham joined the crew of the barque Novelty, bound for New Zealand. Arriving at Auckland, he was attracted by the young city and stayed here, finding an occupation as a brickmaker and incidentally helping to make the bricks with which the Pitt Street Methodist Church is built. In 1866 he married Miss Rebecca Hardwick, eldest daughter of the late -Mr. G. W. Hardwick, verger of "Id .St. Paul's Church, Princes Street. The ceremony was performed in the old church, since demolished, by the late Rev. J. F. Lloyd. After a visit to Tarnnaki during the Maori War, Mr. and Mrs. Pelham went to Thames during the gold rush, Mr. Pelham building his own cottage, which is still standing, on the hills. He returned to Auckland and in 1870 founded the firm which bears his name. The factory was first situated in Hobson Street, it was removed later to Victoria Street, then to Albert Street, and finally back to Victoria Street. Wide Interests. Mr. Pelham controlled the business until ho was 80 years of age, when his two sons, Mr. J. C. Pelham and Mr. G. F. Pelham. took over. He had wide interests. He was an honorary member of the Ponsonby Bowling Club, with which he was connected for many years as a player; ho was a member of the Thames Old Boys' Association, and he used to play the 'cello, double bass and violin in the old Choral Hall with the Auckland Choral Society. He was a past master of the United Service Masonic Lodge, an ex-officer of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand, and for many years a member of the Court City of Auckland of the Ancient Order of Foresters. Mrs. Pelham died some years ago. The surviving children are:—Mr. J. C. Pelham, of Royal Oak; Mr. G. F. Pelham, of Sarsfielfi Street, Ponsonby; Mrs. Arthur Ford, of Mount Albert; Mrs. C. W. White, of Palmerston North: Mrs. Alex. Wilkie, of Marton; and Mrs. 11. E. Taylor, of College Hill, Ponsonby.