Eliza TOOP [13760]

  General Notes:

1866 SA Birth TOOP Eliza, Abner TOOP Jane LANGDON Morphett Vale 44/244
1936 SA Death 581/2956 KELLEY Eliza, John KELLEY [DH] Frome

Orroroo Cemetery: KELLEY Eliza 70y 1936; Nee TOOP, wife of John Edward

Australian Christian Commonwealth (SA : 1901 - 1940) Fri 21 Aug 1936
In Memoriam:
MR WILLIAM TOOP AND
MRS. ELIZA KELLEY
Mr. Toop and Mrs. Kelley were brother and sister, and both of them were called to higher service within five weeks of one another. By their passing the Orroroo Circuit and the Orroroo Church has lost two faithful servants of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Mrs Eliza Kelly, who passed away on June 30 last, had been an active and faithful worker in the Methodist Church, and Sunday school for very many years, until ill-health forced her to give up her duties about five years ago. Her life was a life of service, and her interests were widespread. Her husband pre-deceased her by many years.
Mr. William Toop was born at Kangarilla on May 20, 1861, and so was 75 years of age at the time of his death. At the age of 16 years his parents, with their family, came North and took up land in the Hundred of Pekina. Orroroo was; then in its infancy. The early pioneer days were difficult; wheat had to be carted by bullock-dray to Port Augusta or Caltowie. When 19 years of age his father died and he was left to look after his mother and six sisters. This he did, and carried on the home farm until June, 1919, when he retired to live in Orroroo. He married in 1884 Eliza Jane (Ida), the second daughter of Elijah Branford, of Kangarilla. Both Mrs. Kelley and Mr. Toop were worthy children of worthy parents, for their father laid the foundations of our Church life in the Morchard district. For a period of four months, when no preacher had been sent by the Conference, the father (Abner Toop) carried on the services at Morchard and went all over the North preaching the Word. Mr. Toop helped to cart the stone for the first church at Morchard, about 1878, and was instrumental in getting the second church built, which building is called the old church, since the present very fine building was erected. At Orroroo, Mr. Toop and Mr. Kelley laid the foundation-stones of the fine church there in 1911. Mr. Toop was the leader in having the present excellent manse erected. He also took a keen interest in the last venture of three years ago, when a commodious school hall was erected. For all these buildings he was a trustee. Our brother was the pattern of what every Christian ought to be - he was a Christian citizen. In addition to his unceasing interest in the Church he loved, he often was representative at Synods and Conferences. He was for ten years chairman of the District Council, and instrumental in having erected the excellent public hospital, also the electric light and waterworks schemes were the outcome of his activities. For many years he was a member of the Volunteer Militia Forces, and was awarded the Long Service Medal. In 1900 he represented South Australia in Sydney on the opening of the Commonwealth Parliament. He was one of the Mounted Escort when H.R.H. Duke of York, later King George V, visited Adelaide. He was a Past Master of the Orroroo Free Masons' Lodge. Truly, a noble Christian citizen has left us. The members of the family that remain are four sisters and Mrs. Toop (widow), and three sons and threedaughters-Horatio (Glenunga), William (Knoxville), Lewis (Orroroo), Mrs. Jolly (Croydon), Mrs. Avery (Morchard), Mrs. Churcher (Orroroo). There are 19 grandchildren.

Eliza married John Edward KELLEY [13765] [MRIN: 5096], son of William KELLEY [13766] and Frances MOYLE [13812], on 2 Jun 1908 in Methodist Church, Orroroo, South Australia. (John Edward KELLEY [13765] was born on 5 Jun 1864 in Allendale, South Australia, died on 23 Apr 1912 in Orroroo, South Australia and was buried in Orroroo Cemetery, South Australia.)

  Marriage Notes:

1908 SA Marriage 235/533 KELLEY John Edward TOOP Eliza, Frome