Mary Wade Family

Spelt Johnathen Broker on his baptism record.

Married according to the rites of the Church of England. Marriage witnesses were Joseph Bell and Henry Smitts. Source: copy of marriage certificate.

Death of Mr. J. Brooker.

We regret to have to record the death of an old and highly esteemed resident of Box Vale, Mr. J. Brooker. The sad event occurred at the Bowral hospital on Sunday afternoon. About the middle of May Mr. Brooker sought medical advice for a sore throat. Home treatment proving ineffective he, about three weeks ago, was admitted to the hospital, where all that medical skill could do for him was done but without avail.

Death resulted from blood poisoning supposed to have been caused either by a decayed tooth or by nicotine from a pipe, which poisoned the tongue and throat. The late Mr. Brooker was born at Wollongong 56 years ago, and he came with his father to Kangaloon over 40 years ago. He was a practical farmer, and being a good judge of cattle he had got together one of the best dairy herds in the district.

His Ayrshires were a fine lot, and he was a noted prizewinner at our shows. About 25 years ago the deceased was married to Miss Henrietta Brenning, of Kangaloon, who, together with a family of thirteen (six boys and seven girls, the youngest of whom is six years of age), are left to mourn their great loss. He also leaves two brothers and a sister, Messrs. M. and W. Brooker and Miss Brooker, all of Kangaloon, and a number of other relatives.

Sincere sympathy is extended to all in their sad bereavement. The remains were interred at Kangaloon on Tuesday afternoon. The funeral was very largely attended. The Rev. J. H. Craig officiated at the grave.

The Scrutineer and Berrima District Press (New South Wales : 1892 - 1948) Wednesday 20 June 1906 p 2 Article

Profound sorrow was expressed on all sides when it became known that Mr. Jonathan Brooker, an old and much esteemed resident of Box Vale, who had been an inmate of the Berrima District Hospital for about three weeks, suffering from an affection of the throat, had passed away on Sunday afternoon.

The deceased had been a remarkably healthy man up to the time of his last illness, which first manifested itself about the 22nd May with a sore throat. The first day this was not regarded as anything serious, and practically no notice was taken of it; the following morning, however as the throat was much swollen,

Dr. Vallack was summoned from Bowral, and treated the patient. A couple of days later, as there appeared to be no improvement in his condition, Dr Vallack was again sent for, and ordered the immediate removal of the patient to the hospital.

After admission to that institution Mr. Brooker's condition continued to be very serious, and it was for a time thought that a tube would have to be inserted in his throat to prevent suffocation. This, however, was averted by the swelling going down somewhat, and although the case had never ceased to be serious, the patient seemed to be making satisfactory progress until Saturday night, when complications set in, and terminated fatally between 4 and 5 o'clock on Sunday afternoon.

The cause of death was a form of blood poisoning in the tongue and throat, which it is thought was first caused either by poison from a decayed tooth or by nicotine from a pipe. Mrs. Brooker and family express their sincere appreciation of the unremitting attention devoted to the deceased by the medical and nursing staff of the hospital.

The late Mr. Brooker, who was 56 years of age, was a native of Wollongong, and came to this district with his father over 40 years ago. His father was one of the first to take up land in Kangaloon under the Free Selection Act of the early sixties, and after working for his father for some time the deceased eventually launched out on his own behalf.

He had been associated with farming pursuits all his life, and had succeeded in getting together one of the finest dairy herds of the district. An exceptionally good judge of cattle, he had spared no expense in introducing the very best strains into his yard, and by continual culling had weeded out anything which was not first class.

Of late years he had paid particular attention to the Ayrshire class, for which he had a great fancy, and quite recently he purchased some fine animals of this breed at Mr. Antill's sale in Picton. He had for some time figured prominently as a prize-winner for Ayrshires at our local shows, while it was always a great recommendation for cattle of this or any other class to say that they were bred by Mr. J. Brooker.

About 25 years ago the deceased was married to Miss Henrietta Brenning, of Kangaloon, who, together with a family of 13 – six boys and seven girls – the youngest of whom is six years of age, are left to mourn their great loss. One of the daughters is Mrs. Lindsay, of Mullumbimby, Brunswick River, who is the only one of the children married.

He also leaves two brothers and a sister, Messrs. M. and W. Brooker and Miss Brooker, all of Kangaloon, and a number of other relatives. Sincere sympathy is extended to all in their bereavement. His father died about 19 years ago and his mother about 5 years ago, both having lived to a ripe old age.

The funeral will move from the hospital, Bowral, at 10 o'clock this (Tuesday) morning, and the interment will take place in the East Kangaloon cemetery, where deceased's father, mother, and eldest son are also buried. The Rev. J. H. Craig will conduct the service, and Mr. J. Beavan has charge of the funeral arrangements.

Original publication: Robertson Advocate (NSW), 19 June 1906, p 2.