JAMES McARTHUR, agriculturist and grazier, "Sea View," American Beach, Hog Bay, Kangaroo Island, is the youngest son of the late Mr. Donald McArthur, of Hog Bay, who was for sixteen years lighthouse-keeper at Cape Willoughby, and subsequently resided for about twenty years in the above district, where he died at the age of ninety-seven years. The subject of this memoir was born at Port Adelaide in 1855, and received his education by private tuition. At the age of fifteen years he began to assist his father on the farm at Grassy Flat, near Hog Bay, and after continuing in this connection for about ten years in 1881 decided to remove to American Beach, where he took up about 110 acres of land, with right of purchase, and commenced operations on his own account. The greater portion of this had to be cleared, and, the initial stage accomplished, proved admirably suited for grazing and agricultural purposes. Advancing seasons brought prosperity and a continual expansion of the estate, as suitable holdings were added from time to time, and Mr. McArthur is now a landholder to the extent of 1,300 acres, a portion of which he has acquired under perpetual lease, and the remainder under right of purchase. He confines his attention chiefly to the grazing industry, his flock consisting of about 600 sheep of the merino and Lincoln types, which he has found best suited to the locality.
He interests himself in the public affairs of the district, and has served two terms as a member of the District Council of Dudley. In 1882 he married Henrietta Kate, second daughter of Mr. John Buick, of American River, Kangaroo Island, and has two sons, viz., Stanley Philmore, who has recently gone to New Zealand to begin business on his own account; and Gordon Royal, who is associated with his father in the management of the property.
- Cyclopedia of South Australia 1909, pp.1022-1023