Biography

The gravesite plate lists this man's name as Simms but it has become increasingly apparent that the deceased is one John Walker TIMMS. A week after the death and burial of Schwan (who appears in this website) at Goongarrie, Charlie Northmore brought his mate, Timms, in from Niagara. Northmore went to Coolgardie for medicine. When he returned a few days later, Timms had breathed his last. Timms was buried alongside Schwan. The graves were pegged out and the men buried opposite the Caledonian mine. Timms had been manager of the Buckalow Station in New South Wales and was out prospecting with Messrs Northmore and Doolette in country beyond the Ninety-Mile (Goongarrie). Just as their long-continued efforts were crowned with the success of striking a good reef, Timms contracted typhoid fever. At first, his friends did not know what he was suffering from, but Mr Northmore, who was with him all the time, did everything in his power to pull him through. With the utmost difficulty, being alone, Northmore managed to bring Timms to the Ninety-Mile, where he succumbed before medical assistance, which had been sent for, could arrive. All the stores at the Ninety-Mile closed and a large number of miners attended the funeral. John Walker TIMMS' sister, Amy Cecilia, was born in Victoria in 1868. It is understood another brother, William Cramer, was born in 1871, followed by Beatrice, in 1872 in Geelong, Victoria. Their parents, were married in St Thomas, Marylebone Street, London, on 21 June 1866. Henrietta Letitia was born in Ireland in 1839 and her husband was born in Geelong, Victoria, in 1842. The deceased left an estate valued at £5135 to his sister, Amy Cecilia Timms.