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LIEBELT & KUCHEL Johanna Eleonore LIEBELT  3rd child of Maria Elizabeth KUCHEL & Johann Christian LIEBELT married J.C.F. FAEHRMANN Return to: Steinborn-Liebelt  or  Liebelt-Faehrmann

Summary

Eleonore was 5 years old on the 'Zebra', with her two brothers, uncles, aunties & grandparents, Johanna Elisabeth STEINBORN & Johann Christoph LIEBELT Snr.  Eleonore married when she was 21 years old & she inherited 106 Main Rd & other allotments in Hahndorf from her parents.  The two photographs below show the two homes on the same allotment of land, 106 Main Rd, Hahndorf. where she spent her entire life.

Ossie FAEHRMANN the grandson of Eleonore said in 1975:  'No, Faehrmann. Carl Faehrmann. He came from Germany, but his wife, she came from Poland. By God she was nasty but strong like a man. Well, the old man died and she still lived but she had the key (?) and her son gave her a young bull and said, when he turns two, be careful, because they get nasty. Oooh, that didn’t worry her. So, the bull was two years and she brings him home every night, at night into the stable.   One Sunday, she went to the paddock and didn’t return home. Had a key (?) so the young son he lived there in the house, went and searched, found her and everything was out. The bull killed her, yes, and she was nearly 90. My god, she was as strong as a man.'

Eleonore is also purported to be the woman who was almost hit by a spear thrown at her &  as mentioned above she suffered an agonising death as remembered by descendants & reported by the Mount Barker Courier.  This article also looks at all the Certificate of Titles, associated with their home block of land allocated to her parents Maria Elizabeth KUCHEL & Johann Christian LIEBELT in 1839.  Eleonore's husband was the master carpenter Johann Carl Friedrich FAEHRMANN whose contributions to buildings and barns in Hahndorf are recorded on this site.

Johanne Eleanore LIEBELT is the author's GG Grandmother & she is John MUELLER's GG Grandaunt.  

106 Main Street Hahndorf.

Photo 1883, Courtesy of Hahndorf Academy 2022.  106 Main Street Hahndorf

Ossie FAEHRMANN b1883 pointing to himself as baby in his mothers arms. Thereby dating this photograph on the left very accurately.

             

The family names mentioned in this article include:

BENHAM, BUTLER, FAEHRMANN, HAEBICH,  JAENSCH, KUCHEL, LIEBELT, LUBASCH,  PAECH, POHL, RODERT, STEINBORN, WOLF,  WITTWER

Hahndorf pioneer 1839

Original photo from the LIEBELT Family Reunion Collection held by Hahndorf Academy Museum

 

Table of Contents

1.     Author's Note

2.    Johanna Eleonore LIEBELT

Where did the LIEBELT's come from?

Early Hahndorf maps with land allocations

3.   Eleonore's parents, Christian and Elizabeth LIEBELT were allocated six parcels of land in 1839

1883 Certificate of Title

4.   Comparing Reg Butlers data base details with the 1883 Certificate of Title, Vol 421  Folio 98.

Christian & Elizabeth LIEBELT's 1839 land allotments in Hahndorf.

5.    1859 Johanna Eleonore LIEBELT’s husband purchases 17 acres

6.    Anecdotes & newspaper articles about Johanna Eleonore LIEBELT

7.    Letters of Administration

8.    Hahndorf Public Cemetery

9.    References & Notes

 

1.    Author's Note

Three generations of LIEBELT/STEINBORN's came to the Province of South Australia leaving their homeland in Brandenburg Prussia in 1838. The grandparents came with their three sons, and each son bought a wife (POHL, KUCHEL & WOLF) and three children totalling 14 individuals.  Some travelled on the Prince George, and others on the Zebra.

The three sons of Johann Christoph LIEBELT 1775-1846 m Anna Elisabeth STEINBORN 1769-1857, were all named Johann, followed by their known names of (1st son) Gottfried, (2nd son) Christian & (3rd son) Christoph.  These lads were 40, 38 and 33 years at emigration.  At 68 years of age Anna Elisabeth STEINBORN was amongst the oldest passengers on either the 'Prince George', 'Bengalee, 'Zebra' or the 'Catharina'.  The grandchildren, 5 boys and 4 girls were aged from 14 years - 1 year of age.  The ancestory of their mothers, Anna Elisabeth POHLE, Maria Elisabeth KUCHEL and Anna Dorothea WOLF, is a work in progress.  

The second son Christian and his wife Maria Elisabeth KUCHEL [her sister was Johanna Dorothea KUCHEL who married a first cousin Gottfried Erdmann KUCHEL] & of their three children on the 'Zebra' the youngest & only daughter was five year old Johanna Eleonore LIEBELT.

 

2.    Johanna Eleonore LIEBELT

2.1  SAGHS Death Register seen 20 October 2022  District Nairne Deaths Book 6  1911-1919, No 230  

• Johanne Eleonore FAEHRMANN, October 18, 1914, aged 81 years profession
•  widow of the late Johann Carl Friedrich FAEHRMANN
• usual residence Main St, Hahndorf
• birthplace & length resident of residence in Commonwealth Nickern, Germany 76 years
• age at marriage 21 years
• has 5 male & 1 female children living and 2 male & 1 female deceased
• cause of death gored to death by her own bull
• place of death near Hahndorf
• informant was Johann Julius Card RODERT undertaker Hahndorf.  

2.2  Where the LIEBELT's came from?

See:   Were your ancestors on the 'Zebra'?

Johann Christian LIEBELT Snr 1801-1858 married Maria Elisabeth KUCHEL 1798-1879 in 1823ca when she was 25 years of age & Maria is 3 years old than Christian.    Maria is the daughter of Daniel KUCHEL came from the village of Lochow which is 4kms SW of Schönborn.  The only 3 children known to date were born in 1823, 1825 & 1833 which meant on arrival in South Australia the boys were 14 & 12 years of age, then there was Eleonore who was only 5 years.

Maria's father may have been the  '83 year old labourer of Hahndorf, died of old age in Hahndorf, in January 27, 1857, named Daniel KUCHEL'.  There is also evidence that he was on the Herjeebhoy Rustonjee Patel with his daughter Johanna Dorothea KUCHEL and her family of four children & husband Gottfried Erdmann KUCHEL in 1845 but 'Ships List' has this particular 70 year old 'Daniel KUCHEL, foreman from Lochaw, Brandenburg', as having  'died at sea'.  

The villages of Nickern & Schönborn are less than 2km apart.

(Source: Liebelt Family History by E.A. Wittwer and F.J. Liebelt, 1975)

2.2  Early Hahndorf maps with land allocations

See: Reg BUTLER ‘Hahndorf Allotments Data-Base’ 

• Christian LIEBELT and Elizabeth KUCHEL were allocated along with other Hahndorf pioneers:

• a combined total of 4  1/4 acres of land in the village.

• This allocation was divided up into several smaller portions

• and in the case of this LIEBELT family they received a total of six small parcels of land in 1839.  

• I know this because of the extensive land titles research, conducted by Reg Butler, that encompassed all of the blocks of land  in Hahndorf from 1839-1970's.

However only their 3 LIEBELT sons were allocated land, the parents did not receive their own land, they are not mentioned as early Pioneers of Hahndorf, they are not mentioned on the Pioneer Memorial gates.  It is believed they lived with the younger son Johann Christoph LIEBELT & his wife Johanna Dorothea WOLF.

This map below of Hahndorf was produced by E.A. Wittwer in his book 'Pioneers of Hahndorf 1839', in 1983.   Note sections 4002, 4003 and 4004 up the top of the page. The current Main Street of Hahndorf runs along the bottom of the page. All these numbers are on the north side of the Main Street, the South side did not get broken into house blocks until 1845. These house blocks were over an acre in size to allow for a home, garden, and some stock. They all had equal access to one of the three creeks running through the village.

Both maps are using the original ‘Old Lot' numbering’ system of original allotment numbers 1-54. This map below includes the seedling blocks spread evenly around the village.

                                                                                                       

3.    Christian LIEBELT and Elizabeth KUCHEL were allocated six parcels of land in 1839

From the ‘Hahndorf - Allotment Database’ the 4 1/4 acres are identified as 6 parcels of land.

Johann Christian LIEBELT [from Nickern, Brandenburg, farmer & shepherd] was allocated 6 parcels of land as summarised below.

Street	Street Number	New Allotment Number	Original Allotment Number	Buyer	Occupation	From
Main St	104	19	15         House	Christian LIEBELT	Farmer & Shepherd	Nickern, Brandenberg
Victoria St	20	63	25         Farm
Kaesler Rd	10	59	21          Farm
Nitschke Dr	1	63	25         Farm
Balhannah Rd	19/20	86/138	36/66   Farm

The home block of land on Main Street is the second house on the left as you enter Hahndorf from Adelaide.

 

 

We know from Reg Butler that:

Ref No 1         Orig  No  15             is New No 19                           is also104 Main Rd  &  the C of T                 1 acre  19 perches                                         

Ref No 3       Orig  No  25             is New No 63                          is also   20 Victoria St  & the C of T                 1 acre  18 perches

Ref No 2       Orig  No  21             is New No 59                           is also   10 Kaesler Rd        & the C of T                 3 roods.  rches

Ref No.          Orig  No  25            is New No 63                           is also    1 Nitschke Dr

Ref No 4      Orig  No 36              is New No 86                           is also   19 Balhannah Rd        & the C of T             1 acre  31 perches

Ref No 6      Orig No  66.             is New No 138                         is also  20 Balhannah Rd.       & the C of T              2 roods  5 perches

 

This map above used the Old Allotment numbers Ref No 1      Original No 15          Is New No 19 Ref No 3                          25                             63 Ref No 2                          21                              59 Ref No                             25                              63 Ref No 4                          36                             86 Ref No 6                          66                            138

We know from Reg Butler that: Ref No 1   Orig  No  15  is New No  19  is also104 Main Rd  &  the C of T                 1 acre  19 perches                                          Ref No 3       Orig  No  25        is New No   63     is also   20 Victoria St  & the C of T                 1 acre  18 perches Ref No 2      Orig  No  21         is New No   59     is also   10 Kaesler Rd        & the C of T                 3 roodsrches Ref No.         Orig  No  25        is New No 63                           is also    1 Nitschke Dr Ref No 4      Orig  No 36         is New No 86                           is also   19 Balhannah Rd        & the C of T             1 acre  31 perches Ref No 6      Orig No  66.        is New No 138                         is also  20 Balhannah Rd.       & the C of T              2 roods  5 perches

• The LIEBELT/KUCHEL  homestead block was originally known as number 15, and was later renumbered and became number 19.  
• This block is the second on the left as you enter Hahndorf from the northern end freeway, or that closest to Adelaide.

The Mount Barker Courier & Onkaparinga & Gumeracha Advertiser [SA:1880-1954] Friday 20 April 1883, page 3

Real Property Act, The following applications has been made to bring land under the provisions of the Read Property Act, Johanne Eleonore FAEHRMANN, Hahndorf, Lots 19, 59, 63, 86, 105, 138, (Old numbers 15, 21, 25, 36, c of 51 & c of 66), of Sections 4002, 4003, 4004, Hundred of Onkaparinga. 

1883 May 25.  Certificate of Title Vol 421 Folio 98

​'Johanne Eleonore FAEHRMANN wife of Johann Carl Friedrich FAEHRMANN of Hahndorf, Farmer, is now seized of an estate in fee simple for her separate use.....Hundred of Onkaparinga ... allotments ..... in section 4002, 4003 & 4003 in Hahndorf.

• No 19 containing 1 acre & 19 perches
• No 59 containing 3 roods & 26 perches.       Transferred to her son Theodore O.C. FAEHRMANN 1899
• No 63 containing 1 acre 18 perches.               Transferred to her son Theodore O.C. FAEHRMANN 1899
• No 86 containing 1 rood & 31 perches.           Transferred to Carl A.E. STREMPEL 1899
• No 105 containing 1 rood                                 Transferred to her son Theodore O.C. FAEHRMANN 1899
• No 138 containing 2 roods & 5 perches         Transferred to Carl A.E. STREMPEL 1899

On the 3rd day of July 1840 was originally granted to William Hampton DUTTON

1899 April 19 Transfer from Johanne Eleonore FAEHRMANN to Theodor Otto Christoph FAEHRMANN, allotments 59, 63 & 105, new Certificate of Title Vol 646 Folio 24

1899 April 19 Transfer from Johanne Eleonore FAEHRMANN to Carl Adolph Edward  STREMPEL, allotments 86, & 138, new Certificate of Title Vol 646 Folio 25.

Balance of land from CoT 421/98, new CoT 646 Folio 26

1899 May 5  Certificate of Title  Vol 646  Folio 26

Johanne Eleonore FAEHRMANN of Hahndorf, Widow  is now seized of an estate in fee simple for her separate use.....Hundred of Onkaparinga ... allotments ..... in section 4002, 4003 & 4003 in Hahndorf.

• No 19 containing 1 acre & 19 perches
• 1915 March 24, Johann Friedrich Wilhelm FAEHRMANN, Hahndorf Carrier, administrator of the estate of Johanne Eleonore FAEHRMANN who died 18 October 1914, letters of administration dated 5 January 1915.
• Transfer from Johann Friedrich Wilhelm FAEHRMANN to Carl Albrecht FAEHRMANN of Hahndorf, Blacksmith.
• 1915 March 24, mortgage from Carl Albrecht FAEHRMANN to Johann Friedrich Wilhelm August PAECH produced for registration.
• 1919 April 9,  discharge of the mortgage to Johann Friedrich Wilhelm August PAECH.
• 1939  July 25, mortgage Carl Albrecht FAEHRMANN to the Bank of Australia. 
• 1953 March 18, discharge of mortgage.
• 1963 June 11, transferred to one of the administrators, Philip Cecil TAVENER of Sandergrove Rd, Strathalbyn, farmer, Will of Eli Cecil TAVENER who died 1962, October 31.
• 1963 June 11, transferred to Johanna Eileen TAVERNER of Pain Street, Harhdorf, widow.
• Mary Katherine THOMAS of Meadows, married woman, & Albert Edwin Coxan Treloar of Beaumont.
• 1955 November 28, transfer from Carl Albrecht FAEHRMANN to Eli Cecil TAVENER of Hahndorf, Out of Business.

 

1899 May 5  Certificate of Title  Vol 854 Folio 17

 

 

 

 

1883 Certificate of Title Volume 421 Folio 98

• Forty four years later when Johanna Eleonore LIEBELT inherited all of the land from her parents
• a new Certificate of Title [CoT],  Vol CCCCXXI or 421, Folio 98 was issued over all six of these parcels.  
• Christian, her father died in 1858, and  Eleonore's mother, Elizabeth, 21 years later in 1879.  
• The CoT dated 25 May 1883, specifies the amount of land on each of the parcels owned by her parents
• it uses the New Lot Numbers, to do this.  
• The first few lines say: Pursuant to Application No 19503 Johanne Eleonore Faehrmann wife of Johann Carl Friedrich FAEHRMANN is now seized of an estate in fee simple for her separate use'
• This 1883 CoT confirms the information in the ‘Hahndorf Allotment Database’
• It provides additional information in the form of sketches and measurements for each piece of land.  
• It  reveals any road abutments

I have randomly numbered each illustrated block of land from 1-6.  

Comparing the measurements of roods, & perches to acres.

4 Roods to 1 acre

1 rood is 1/4 acre

1 rood to 40 perches

160 perches is 1 acre.

Summary of the information from the above illustration

Ref No		New Allottment Number		Amount of Land
1		19		1 acre     19 perches
2		59		3 roods 26 perches
3		63		1 acre     18 perches
4		86		1 acre     31 perches
5		105		1 rood
6		138		2 roods  5 perches

The above CoT provides individual sketches  and measurements for each lot of land.  I have summarised these measurements below. 

1.    New lot number 19 is a rectangular long thin strip.  

• It is bordered by No's 18, 20 either side, No 17 in the rear and the Main South Eastern Road at the front.
  • It measures 152 across the front, 160 across the rear and 748 on the sides.

2.   New lot number 59 is a rectangular long thin strip.

• It is bordered by No 58 and No 60 and the front abuts an unnamed road.
  • It measures 103 at the front, 106 at the rear, 881 on the left side and 873 on the right side.

3.   New lot number 63 is a rectangular shape.

• It is bordered by No's 64 and 62 and the left hand side abuts an unnamed road and the right hand side is bordered by No 85.
  • It measures 800 on the bottom side, 724 on the top side, 150 along the road side, and 157 on the right hand end.

4.  New lot number 86 is an unequal shaped square.

• It is bordered by 61 and 85 and joins New Allottment Number 63, above, on one corner.  It abuts a Government Road and runs along side a narrower road.
  • It measurers 214 on the bottom side, 283 on the top side, 159 near the shared border with No 63 and 210 along the Government Road side.

5.  New lot number 105 is a rectangular long thin strip.

• It is bordered by No's 89 and 90 on the bottom end, No's  104 and 106 along its length and an unnamed road at the top.
  • It measures 55 at the bottom end, 53 at the top end and 468 down each long side.

6.  New lot number 138 is an 'L' shape.

• It is bordered by No's 140, 139 and 137, and the same Government Road, and immediately opposite new lot number 86 above.
  • It measures 348 along the left hand side road, 137 across the top, 280 down one side, then across by 50, down by 145 and across the bottom by 174.

 

4.    Comparing Reg BUTLER’s data base details with the 1883 Certificate of Title, Vol 421  Folio 98.

 

 

 

 

2.3   Christian & Elizabeth LIEBELT's 1839 land allotments in Hahndorf.

This section with combine the information from Reg Butler's 'Hahndorf Allotment Data Base' with the 1883 Certificate of Title to define where their parcels of land actually were situated in Hahndorf, and what is on those blocks of land today, 2021.

This map uses the Old Allottment Numbers.  

We know from Reg Butler that:

Ref No 1        Orig  No  15         is New No  19                          is also   104 Main Rd          &  the C of T                 1 acre  19 perches                                         

Ref No 3       Orig  No  25        is New No   63                        is also   20 Victoria St        & the C of T                 1 acre  18 perches

Ref No 2       Orig  No  21          is New No   59                       is also   10 Kaesler Rd        & the C of T                 3 roods  26 perches

Ref No.         Orig  No  25         is New No 63                          is also    1 Nitschke Dr

Ref No 4      Orig  No 36         is New No 86                           is also   19 Balhannah Rd        & the C of T             1 acre  31 perches

Ref No 6      Orig No  66.        is New No 138                         is also  20 Balhannah Rd.       & the C of T              2 roods  5 perches

 

Their homestead block was originally known as number 15

• and was later renumbered and became number 19.  
• This block is the second on the left as you enter Hahndorf from the northern end freeway, or that closest to Adelaide.

This is a work in progress, last updated 7 February 2021.

      

 

 

 

5.    1859 Johanna Eleonore LIEBELT’s husband purchases 17 acres.

Certificate of Title Vol IV, Folio 32

• Pursuant to Memorandum of sale No 172 dated the eighteenth day of March 1859 by Frederick William WITTWER,  Johann Carl Friedrich FAEHRMANN is now seised of an estate in fee simple.....in the Hundred of Kuitpo, County of Adelaide, northern portion of the Section numbered 4235.... seventeen acres, previous Certificate of TitLe Vol 111, folio 115. Dated eighth April 1859.  See also vol 2596 folio 121. 
• Friedrich Wilhelm WITTWER of Hahndorf Miller is the executor in the will dated 11 June 1883, for Johann are Friedrich Faehrmann who died on 12 July 1896, probate dated 24 November 1896.
• The land passed to Johanne Eleonore Faehrmann of Hahndorf widow, 2 December 1896.
• Johann Friedrich Wilhelm Faehrmann of Hahndorf, Carrier is the administrator of Johanne Eleonore Faehrmann's estate, she died on 18 October 1914, letters of administration dated 5 January 1915.
• Transfer from Johann Friedrich Wilhelm FAEHRMANN to Berthold Eduard HAEBICH of Hahndorf, Blacksmith, 24 March 1915.

 

 

 

 

 

South Australia in the Supreme Court, Testamentary causes jurisdiction.

On the 5 day of January 1915, Letters of administration of the Estate of Johanne Eleonore FAEHRMANN late of Hahndorf in the state of South Australia, widow deceased died at Hahndorf aforesaid on the eighteenth day of October 1914.  Intestate were granted by the Supreme Court of South Australia to Johann Friedrich Wilhelm FAEHRMANN of  Hahndorf aforesaid Carrier one of the natural and lawful children and next of kin of the said deceased.  Estate sworn to to exceed in value 800 pound.  Dated 5 day of January 1915.  W.L. STUART Registrar.

 

 

 

 

South Australia in the Supreme Court Testamentary Causes Jurisdiction.

This is the Last Will and Testament of me Johann Carl Friedrich FAEHRMANN Carpenter of Hahndorf Province of South Australia FIRSTLY I desire that all my just debts funeral and testamentary expenses be paid and satisfied by my Executors hereinafter named as soon as conveniently may be after my decease and SECONDLY I give devise and bequeath all and every my household furniture linen and wearing apparel books plate pictures china horses carts and carriages and also all and very sum and sums of money which may be in my house or about my person or due to me at the time of my decease and also all other my stocks, funds and securities, for money book debts money on bonds bills notes or other securities and all and every other my estate and effects whatsoever and wheresoever both real and personal whether in possession reversion remainder or expectancy unto my beloved wife Johanne Eleonore FAEHRMANN formerly LIEBELT to and for her own use and benefit absolutely AND I nominate constitute and appoint F. Wilhelm WITTWER, Miller Hahndorf to be Executor of this my last Will and hereby revoking all former or other Wills and Testaments by me at any time heretofore made I declare this to be my last Will and Testament set my hand the eleventh day of June in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty three.  Johann Carl Friedrich FAEHRMANN - signed by the Testator Johan Carl FR. FAEHRMANN and acknowledge by hi to be his Last Will and Testament in the presence of us present at the same time and subscribed by us as witnesses in the presence of the said Testator and of each other = Wilhelm EY - August THIELE -

THE ABOVE WILL of JOHANN CARL FRIEDRICH FAEHRMANN of Hahndorf in the Province of South Australia Carpenter deceased who died at Hahndorf aforesaid on the twelfth day of July 1896 WAS PROVED in the Supreme Court of South Australia on the 24 day of November 1896 by Friedrich Wilhelm WITTWER of Hahndorf aforesaid Miller the sole Executor therein named.

DATED THIS 24th day of November 1896 ESTATE won not to  exceed 400 pound.

 

 

 

4.    Anecdotes about Johanna Eleonore LIEBELT

​Germans in South Australia, Tuesday 26 October 1909, The Register [Adelaide, SA:1901-1929] TROVE.  A Page of early history.  'Only 11 of the original settlers are now represented by descendants in St. Michael's Church. They are the following:— Jaensch, Liebelt, Thiele, Renschner and Kayscher Paech, Nitschke, Lubasch, Hartmann, Boehm, and Kuchel. Of those who arrived with their parents in the Zebra there still survive in St. Michael's Church:— Jaensch and wife (nee Lubasch), Mrs. Pode (nee Jaensch), Christoph Liebelt, Mrs. Faehrmann, and Mrs. Altmann. There are no survivors in Hahndorf of the earlier ship, the Prince George, the last representative (W. Thiele) having died last April. St. Michael's Church has a present membership of a little off 500, 310 being communicant members.'

 

The Australian Lutheran Almanac 1928 page 54  'A few pages from the life of the Fathers.'  "Tho' much is taken, much abides"  by Pastor A. BRAUER.

'An amusing episode'

Pastor Brauer first wrote a description of an early amusing encounter between a white woman & the First Nations people living on the creek. He then went on to say:  "But it is also reported that a native, on one occasion, threw a spear at one of the white women, presumably because she had declined, a few days previously to give food to a number of natives who had come begging."

Beryl BENHAM nee Rose b1933 repeated this story to the author a number of times including 22 October 2022.

I remember that Mum told me and pointed out to me about and where the aboriginal spear was thrown at my great grandmother Eleonore FAEHRMANN.. At no 106 Main St Hahndorf, there was a cowshed and next to that closer to the creek was a cellar under a loft, there were swallows under the doorway.  Blacks were camped near the creek, not close to the house but nearer the driveway to Nitschke's place.  My mother pointed to the damage in the door a bit over half way up where a spear had come entered the timber.   She did not get gored at this property but across the road, up behind William's, where Bill and Kevin lived.

Jean Eleonore REDDY, nee Faehrmann, 1913-2000, mother of Alan & Wayne Reddy wrote this, kindly provided by Alan.

Great grandmother FAEHRMANN, [Eleonora] lived in a cottage behind our home in the Main Street, Hahndorf.  As she was shutting the door of the cottage an aboriginal threw a spear.  It just missed her and stuck in the door.  She lost her life being gored by a bull she fed from her apron.  A neighbour found her body out in the paddock.  This old place was removed by Mr .........., he took it all cross the road and buried midway along Hereford Avenue  in a big hole.

A narrow escape from being speared.

Adelaide Observer Saturday 11 June 1904, page 36. A notable anniversary, early Hahndorf  [By our Special Reporter]. .... "Of those who came in the 'Zebra' there still survive in Hahndorf Messrs. Christian, Gottlob and George PAECH (of Frderickstadt), Christian JAENSCH and his wife (nee LUBASCH), Mrs Wittwer, August LIEBELT, and his sister (Mrs FAEHRMANN)........ the blacks did not give much trouble. The Mount Barker tribe used to pay periodical visits, as many as 250 having been encamped in the paddock behind the jam factory.  But they could be troublesome if they did not get the food they demanded, and Mrs FAEHR-MANN tells how her mother had a narrow escape from being speared."

An Awful Death gored by a bull, Woman killed in Hahndorf.

The Mount Barker Courier and Onkaparinga and Gumeracha Advertiser Friday 23 October 1914, page 2.  Late on Sunday the resident of Hahndorf were shocked to learn the Mrs Johanne Eleanore FAEHRMANN, aged 81 years, had met a fearful death that afternoon.  Mrs FAEHRMANN has been visited by a lady relative early in the afternoon and the same lady called again later, but Mrs FAEHRMANN was not about.  A search was made.  It was known that the old lady was greatly attached to her cattle, and especially to a Jersy bull, which was about four years old, and had been given to her as a calf by her son.  She was in the habit of grooming the animal, and it is said that his coat was a beautiful one, the attention he had received in his stall had rendered his hair to resemble silk; she had, however, even cautioned against taking too great a liberty with him.  Knowing the fondness the old lady had for her herd, attention was at once directed to the paddock where the animals were.  It was not long before some pieces of clothing scattered about were found, and suspicions were aroused.

Then the searchers learned of the tragedy by finding the body.  They got a gun to destroy the bull, but were driven from the large paddock by the brute, he was infuriated, he was quite made.  An attempt was made to shoot him by means of shot cartridges, but these only caused him irritation. At last he broke the fence and made for his stall in the style, and from an opening in the side of that building a rifle bullet despatched him.  The body of the unfortunate victim was found in the paddock stripped of all clothing, except stockings and portions of a blouse around the neck.  The investigation which followed led to the assumptions that Mrs FAEHRMANN had left home somewhere abut three o'clock and had walked into the paddock where the cows and the bull were feeding.  She seems to have sat on the stump of a tree, for there her slippers were found, as though they had fall off, and was charged by the bull from the rear.  Having recovered herself she sought the shelter of a sapling, only a few yards away.  Around  the tree she seems to have dodged the bull, the bark on the tree .... been broken all the way, indicating clearly that the animal tried for a long time to get at his victim.  It would appear that Mrs Faehrmann became exhausted and unable to longer contend against the onslaught of the beast, he then rushed at her, and from the appearance of the body, one horn entered the thigh and the other the lower bowels, with the result that ...old lady was disemboweld, the thigh was ripped from the knee upwards, and afterwards the body was .... thrust until it  came in such a condition as to be scarcely recognisable.  

The horn had entered the skull near the temple making a hold large enough for the insertion of two or three fingers, and the bruising and knocking about the body had received indicated that the bull had done its worst. The relatives at once rang up the Mounted Constable BIRT at Mount Barker and he immediately proceeded to Hahndorf.  At 7pm he had made the necessary enquiries and reported to Mr J. Black Stevenson, J.P> who deemed an inquest unnecessary.  A peculiar feature of the case is that the bull had always been hobbled by having a strap around his horns attached to a chain fastened to the hoof but he broke the chain

. 

Reference:  'Hahndorf Sketchbook Drawings' by Anni LUUR FOX, Text by Lena L.WADE.  Published 1976

'Old Bill FAEHRMANN's Home'

'There are several small buildings that make up this old home.  The snug one-room pioneer cottage is still in use.  The kitchen and dining-room are across a paved yard from the main house, and behind the kitchen is the brick baker's oven with the smoke-house near by. 

All are held together by the grea green umbrella of wisteria [parasol would be a better word for the seasonal display of mauve blossom].  This wisteria creeper is about 125 years old, and is thought to be the oldest in South Australia.  It has a butt that measures more than thirty inches across.

​Bill FAEHRMANN died in 1974, aged eighty-nine.  He had vivid memories of the old days when they all worked so hard, especially his mother.  She rose at 4.30 a.m. to milk the cows and then baked bread and cooked for her large family and for the men - some of them runaway sailors - who worked in her husband's quarry or at road making, for which he had a contract.  One year she took one ton of honey from her hives.  She used to make so much jam that it had to be stored in four-gallon tins.  She also sold vegetables from her big garden.  Yet she took the time to teach two Englishwomen, Mrs Wilson and Mrs McKenzie, to speak German so that they could make themselves understood in the shops.

Bill's grandmother worked even harder.  She was a very tough old lady who worked as hard as a man until she was eighty-six, when she was gored by a bull.  the foundations of her two-roomed cottage can still be seen behind number 106 at the southern end of the town .  On one occasion she had just closed the front door of this cottage behind her when an Aboriginal's spear thudded into it - the only instance of Aboriginal violence against the settlers that has been recorded.'

Authors Note:  'Bill's grandmother' is Johanne Eleonore FAEHRMANN.  Bill FAEHRMANN's mother is Auguste Martha WIETH.

 

7.    Johanne Eleonore FAEHRMANN letters of Administration granted to eldest son 5 January 1915

   23224  South Australia in the Supreme Court Testamentary Causes Jurisdiction.  On the fifth day of January 1915 Letters of Administration of the Estate of Johanne Eleonore FAEHRMANN late of Hahndorf, in the state of South Australia widow deceased who died at Hahndorf, aforesaid on the eighteenth day of October 1914, Intestate were granted by the Supreme Court of South Australia to Johann Friedrich Wilhelm FAEHRMANN of Hahndorf aforesaid carrier one of the natural and lawful children and next of kin of the said deceased.  Estate sworn not to exceed in value 800 pound.  Dated this 5th day of January 1915.  W.L.Stuart Registrar.

      

 

8.    Hahndorf Public Cemetery

 

9.    References & Notes