John SHEARER

Descendants of :

John SHEARER

Generation 1

1. John SHEARER was born 09 Sep 1845 in Orkney Islands, Scotland and died 09 Aug 1932 in Kilkenny, SA, son of Peter SHEARER and Mary Ann KIRKNESS.  He married Mary Jane WATKINS 15 Jul 1871 in Mount Pleasant, SA. She was born 18 May 1857 nr Mount Torrens, SA and died 09 Feb 1942 in Kilkenny, SA, daughter of Thomas C WATKINS.

Other events in the life of John SHEARER

Immigration: 1852, Omega
Brother to: David SHEARER

Children of John SHEARER and Mary Jane WATKINS:
  i.   2.   John Albert SHEARER was born 25 Mar 1872 in Mount Barker and died 31 Jan 1935 in Kilkenny, SA
  ii.   3.   Thomas Leslie SHEARER was born 01 Nov 1873 in Mount Barker, SA and died 28 May 1944 in North Adelaide, SA
  iii.   4.   Ethel Mary SHEARER was born 10 Nov 1875 in Penfield, SA and died 26 Sep 1942 in Unley, SA
  iv.     Lionel Kirkness SHEARER was born 05 Mar 1878 in Mannum, SA and died 27 Mar 1878 in Mannum, SA
  v.   5.   Annie Isabell SHEARER was born 31 Dec 1883 in Mannum, SA and died 22 Dec 1981 in Hobart, Tasmania
  vi.   6.   Alwyn Huxley SHEARER was born 16 Dec 1885 in Mannum, SA and died 29 Nov 1980 in Adelaide Hospital, SA

Generation 2

2. John Albert SHEARER was born 25 Mar 1872 in Mount Barker and died 31 Jan 1935 in Kilkenny, SA. He married Emily LARRITT 18 Jan 1899 in Adelaide, SA. She was born ABT 1879 and died 31 Dec 1980 in St Peters, SA.

3. Thomas Leslie SHEARER was born 01 Nov 1873 in Mount Barker, SA and died 28 May 1944 in North Adelaide, SA. He married Elsie Moiselle Mary Jane HOAD 05 Jul 1906 in Kilkenny, SA. She was born 13 Feb 1889 in Mannum, SA and died 28 Feb 1954 in Mount Gambier, SA, daughter of Samuel Mundy HOAD and Harriet BANKS.

4. Ethel Mary SHEARER was born 10 Nov 1875 in Penfield, SA and died 26 Sep 1942 in Unley, SA. She married Samuel WINWOOD 07 Mar 1901 in Mannum, SA. He was born 23 Oct 1861 in Goodwood Park, SA and died 01 May 1942 in North Adelaide, SA.

5. Annie Isabell SHEARER was born 31 Dec 1883 in Mannum, SA and died 22 Dec 1981 in Hobart, Tasmania. She married Caleb James SODEN 21 Sep 1904 in Mannum, SA. He was born 26 Jul 1868 in Leitrim, Mohill, Ireland and died 28 Dec 1904 in Coolgardie, WA. She married Bertram St George LUNDON 13 Dec 1909 in Hobart, Tasmania. He was born 1882 in Tauranya, New Zealand.

Other events in the life of Annie Isabell SHEARER
Burial: Cornelian Bay (Hobart)

6. Alwyn Huxley SHEARER was born 16 Dec 1885 in Mannum, SA and died 29 Nov 1980 in Adelaide Hospital, SA. He married Rita MONTEITH 23 Apr 1912 in North Adelaide, SA. She was born 29 Aug 1889 and died 21 Sep 1971 in Henley South, SA. He married Nancy Gordon MUIRHEAD AFT 1971. She was born 01 Jan 1900 in North Adelaide, SA and died 04 Jan 1989 in Walkerville, SA.

Children of Alwyn Huxley SHEARER and Rita MONTEITH:
  i.     Alwyn Monteith SHEARER was born 12 Jan 1914 in North Adelaide, SA and died 26 Nov 1983 in Adelaide Hospital, SA. He married Elizabeth HOOPER 23 Sep 1939 in Hackney, SA. She was born 05 Sep 1918 in Toorak, SA and died 07 Feb 2016, daughter of John HOOPER.
  ii.     Barbara Monteith SHEARER was born 02 Apr 1918 in North Adelaide, SA and died 30 Sep 2006. She married John Burbury CRAVEN 02 Nov 1940 in North Adelaide, SA. He was born 21 Apr 1915 in North Adelaide, SA and died 13 Mar 1965 in Adelaide, SA.

Last updated: 18 Feb 2025

[1932] Obituary. 

THE LATE MR. JOHN SHEARER.

Mr. John Shearer, who died at his residence, Kilkenny, on Tuesday, August 9, was one of Mannum's grand old men. With his brother David he established and built up the important and well-known implement factory in the town, now known as David Shearer, Ltd., and thus was largely responsible for the development of the town as an industrial centre, and by the machinery produced and distributed throughout the Commonwealth took a no small part in the development of the wheat lands. Flags in the town were at the half-mast on Wednesday in respect for the deceased townsman. 

Born in the Orkney Isles on September 9, 1845, Mr. Shearer came with his family to South Australia in 1852 in the "Omega." He was educated privately and at night schools, and at an early age was apprenticed to the blacksmithing trade with a Hamilton firm. Later on he started in business for himself at Mount Torrens, and in 1878 removed to Mannum, where he was shortly joined by his brother David, and a business for the manufacture of ploughs, strippers, scarifiers, grubbing machines, etc., was established. Within three years the firm had gained a name for the quality of its implements and was well established, and the manufacture of stump-jump ploughs was undertaken. About this time the now famous Shearer wrought steel ploughshare was invented. Farmers were troubled on account of the shares then in use not being strong enough to stand up to the work in the mallee country, and "One morning," said Mr. David Shearer, "John brought a pattern share, cut from sheet iron, with a deep lip on it. This was patented in South Australia, Victoria, and New South Wales, and the manufacture of the wrought steel share was commenced." Agencies were established throughout the States, and so popular did the share become that in a few years' time the firm had the largest plough share factory in Australia. The firm also improved the stripper, with the result that a machine was put on the market which was lighter and stronger, and prevented much of the loss of grain which had hitherto attended the operation of these machines. Scarifier and paring plough shares on a new principle were patented and manufactured. 

The advance of the business by 1895 necessitated a largely increased plant and premises. In 1904, a branch of the business was established at Kilkenny where the manufacture of ploughs was undertaken which relieved the pressure on the Mannum business, and six years later the firm dissolved so far as manufacturing was concerned, John with his sons, taking over the Kilkenny business and carrying on the manufacture of ploughs, drills, scarifiers, etc., while David and his sons continued the manufacture of harvesting implements and plough shares at Mannum.

During his long residence at Mannum, the late Mr. Shearer took a keen interest in the affairs of the town. He served several terms on the district council, and, also, filled the office of chairman. He served on the Institute committee and other public bodies, and was a committeeman of the S.A. Chamber of Manufacturers.

in 1871, Mr. Shearer married Miss Watkins, of Mount Torrens, who still survives. There are also three sons, J. A., A. H., and T. L., who are directors of the Kilkenny firm, and four daughters—Mrs. S. Winwood (Unley), Mrs. G. Mildred (Kingswood), Mrs. B. McChristie (Hobart), Mrs. A. Sowden (Kilkenny).  There are also 16 grandchildren and six great grandchildren. 

Mr. David Shearer, in speaking of his brother said, "Right through life I respected my brother, and this respect increased the longer I knew him. He was the elder by five years, and as youngsters took me with him wherever he went and looked after me. My first clear recollection of him is being with him fishing from a rock at Robe. John had speared a crayfish and landed it on the rock when the arm of an octopus came on the rock. John picked me up and waded to the shore, and then went back to fight the intruder, but it had disappeared. When John was at Mount Torrens, I worked for him as an improver, and when he went to Mannum was not long in following him. As a boy he was devoted to duty and a stickler for the truth, and right through his long life his great forte was straightforwardness."