John Henry SECOMBE [2758]

  General Notes:

1857 SA Birth SECOMB John Henry Josiah SECOMB Mary EDWARDS Adelaide 7/382
1931 SA Death 529/71 SECOMBE John Henry undefined Adelaide

Monday 15 Jun 1931
Death of Mr. J. H. Secombe, of Grange
By the death of Mr. John Henry Secombe, of Beach road, Grange, the State has lost one of its pioneer chemists. Mr. Secombe, who was 74 years of age, was the second man registered in South Australia as a pharmaceutical chemist. Be began business in Norwood. Afterward he transferred to Mitcham, but subsequently returned to Blackwood. Later he went to Port Pirie, where he managed a business for Mr. R. T. Trezona. From there he went to Port Lincoln as the pioneer chemist of Eyre's Peninsula. While he was at Port Lincoln he took an active part in local government affairs. For some years he was a member of the council. After about 10 years at Port Lincoln he took over the management of a business in Lower North Adelaide for the late Mr. A. B. Cowling. Subsequently he bought a business in Rundle street, Kent Town. He retired from business some time ago, but in March he came out of his retirement and opened a chemist shop at Grange. He has left a widow, one son, Mr. Clarence J. Secombe, and three daughters, Mesdames T. L. Gillespie, of Barmera, and W. C. Gillespie, of Pinnaroo, and Miss L. Secombe, of Grange.

Port Lincoln Times Friday 19 Jun 1931
Death of Mr. J. H. Secombe
FIRST CHEMIST ON EYRE PENINSULA. ONE-TIME MEMBER OF PORT LINCOLN COUNCIL.
Mr. John Henry Secombe, who died at his home, Beach road, Grange, on Saturday last, at the age of 74, was one of the pioneer pharmaceutical chemists of the State. Starting business in Norwood, he was second pharmaceutical chemist registered in South Australia. He was the first chemist on Eyre Peninsula, and had a shop in Tasman terrace, Port Lincoln. For several years he was a member of the Port Lincoln Town Council. Later, he returned to Adelaide and managed the business of the late Mr. A. B. Cowling, at Lower North Adelaide. Subsequently he purchased a pharmacy at Rundle street, Kent Town, and retired a few years ago. In March last, however, he returned to business, and opened a chemist chop at Grange. He left a widow, one son, Mr. Clarence J. Secombe, and three daughters, Mesdames T. L. Gillespie (Barmera), W. C. Gillespie (Pinnaroo), and Miss L. Secombe (Grange).

John married Susanna BROADBENT [1962] [MRIN: 926], daughter of John BROADBENT [851] and Eliza LEWIS [825], on 22 Apr 1878 in Res of John Broadbent, Glanville, Port Adelaide, South Australia. (Susanna BROADBENT [1962] was born on 11 May 1856 in Adelaide, South Australia and died on 19 Jun 1935 in Grange, Adelaide, South Australia.)

  Marriage Notes:

1878 SA Marriage 115/326 SECOMBE John Henry BROADBENT Susanna Port Adelaide

South Australian Register (Adelaide) Thu 16 May 1878
Marriage Notice:
SECOMBE'97 BROADBENT.'97 On the 22nd April, by the Rev. Jas. Haslam, at the residence of the bride's father, John Henry Secombe, of Kadina, to Susannah, second daughter of Mr. John Broadbent, of Semaphore-road, Glanville.

Chronicle Saturday 28 Apr 1928
A GOLDEN WEDDING.
Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Secombe, of George-street, Norwood, who were married at Glanville, on April 22, 1878, by the Rev. James Haslam, celebrated their golden wedding on Sunday. Mrs. Secombe, who was born at Cherry Gardens, on May 11, 1856, was the daughter of Mr. John Broadbent who arrived in South Australia with his parents on board the Buffalo in 1836, and stood, at the age of 7, under the gum tree at Glenelg at the proclamation of the colony by Governor Hindmarsh. Mr. Broadbent was a pioneer of the Cherry Gardens district, and Mrs. Secombe recalls the arduous journeys which had to be made on foot to Adelaide, where the streets were marked by posts and chains. Provisions had to be carried back on one's shoulders for 11 miles. Mr. Secombe was a native of Adelaide, but lived as a young man at Kadina. He returned there after his marriage for over a year. Later he settled in Norwood, eventually becoming a qualified pharmacist. He was the pioneer chemist of the Port Lincoln district, in which place he spent ten years of his life, gaining a wide knowledge of the West Coast. He possesses a unique and comprehensive collection of photographs taken all over the district. One of these portrays a Church of England some miles from Port Lincoln, which was built at the time when natives were savage and treacherous. No windows were built on one side, as the minister, who lived in the upper storey (the church had a chimney) could only protect the building from one side. Returning to Adelaide from Port Lincoln Mr. and Mrs. Secombe lived at North Croydon for three years, and then at Norwood. Mr. Secombe bought Mr. J. White's business at Kent Town, but about six years ago the chemist's shop, was destroyed by fire. Since then he has lived in retirement. The four surviving children are: - Mr. C. J. Secombe, of Linden Park; Mrs. T. L. Gillespie, of Barmera; Mrs. W. C. Gillespie, of Cummins, and Miss L. Secombe of Norwood, who has distinguished herself in pharmacy examinations There are 12 grandchildren.