The Tumut and Adelong Times 6 Sep 1927
OBITUARY. MRS. M. A. OSBORNE It was a dark wet night when little 13-year-old Mary Ann Sheahan was awakened from sleep by her father in the year 1852, and hurriedly told to dress. Then, putting her on his shoulders, her dad carried her out of flood water reach, and she was destined to live for another 75 years. The sudden rise of the Murrumbidgee in that fateful year caught Jugiongites unexpectedly, just as it did Gundagai folk, and Mr. John P. Sheahan for his great rescue work that night of terror was given a grant of land by the Government, and thereon he built a hotel, and, as the Jugiong Hotel, it has been in the possession of the family ever since. A long line of pioneers of the second generation ended on Monday week, when Mrs. M. A. Osborne died at the Jugiong Hotel. Deceased was the eldest daughter of the late Mr. J. P. Sheahan, and was born at Appin 88 years ago. When but a toddler her parents came on to the Murrumbidgee and outspanned at Jugiong. Educated at the Subiaco Convent, Mrs. Osborne returned to the home-fires as a young woman, and in early years married Mr. Walsh, a solicitor, of Yass. But death stepped in early in the newly wedded pair's married life. Some years later deceased married the late Mr. James Osborne, uncle of the Bundarbo, Widgeongully and Redbank pastoralists. A great figure in the life of Jugiong was the late James Osborne, and his name will ever be associated with the place. For years he had sole control of all the Osborne pastoral property — a holding of over 60,000 acres. He died about 23 years ago. For over 70 years Mrs. Osborne lived in the vicinity of Jugiong, and for the last quarter of a century was a notable figure in the social and religious life of the village. A cultivated, well-read woman she was a delightful companion for those whose thoughts rose above mundane things, and she was a repository of early history of the Murrumbidgee. During the last 12 months her health had been failing, and since Christinas time she had been bedridden. The end came very peacefully on Monday afternoon of last week. Fully fortified by the last rites of her church she passed away — the last of the family of the late Mr J. P. Sheahan. Among her most treasured possessions are articles of antique furniture, rescued from the '52 flood — they are still in a state of good preservation. The funeral on Tuesday was representative of all the old pioneering families. The remains were interred in the Sheahan family plot in the 90-year old cemetery at Jugiong, the coffin being lowered into the grave where deceased's mother's remains were. Messrs Robert, James and Will Sheahan (nephews) and Mr. Tom O'Mara (Sydney) were the pall-bearers, and the last prayers were read by Rev. Father P. Treacy, assisted by Rev. Father B. McDonnel. Printed and Published by A. Wilkie Watson, Sole Proprietor, at his printing office, Wynyard-street, Tumut, in the State of New South Wales. |