The Advocate Burnie 12 Mar 1932
DEATH OF MR. J. C.DIPROSE.
Pioneer Yolla Settler.
The death occurred at his residence, Yolla, yesterday of Mr. James Children Diprose, pioneer settler of that progressive district, and one of the best known and most-highly respected residents of the Table Cape municipality. Mr. Diprose, who was approaching his 80th year, was born at Longford in 1852, and his first experience of
toil was on his father's farm, at the age of 10. As a very young man gold digging at Mathinna attracted him, and there he was engaged with hundreds of others in the search for gold in this rich alluvial field, with varying success.
From Mathinna the young miner wandered to Mt. Bischoff, chiefly prospecting, with Messrs. Owen and George Meredith, and in his words "they found gold everywhere." While engaged in mining on the East Coast Mr. Diprose planned to build the first
house on the Briseis Mine, then known as the Brothers' Home, in honor of the discoverers, Krushka Brothers. Mr. S. F. O. Diprose, a brother of Mr.J. C. Diprose, was mine manager at the time, and is now living in retirement at Legerwood, on the North-East Coast. The late Mr. A. A. E. Diprose, of Burnie, was also a brother.
Mr. J. C. Diprose married in January, 1877, Miss Annie Reeves, eldest daughter of the late Mr. John Reeves, one of Barrington's pioneers. The couple celebrated their golden wedding 12 months before the death of Mrs. Diprose at Yolla four years ago, after that popular and energetic lady had been incapacitated for a long period.
The golden wedding was attended by scores of relatives and descendants down to the third generation. With his brother (the late Mr. A. A. E. Diprose) Mr. J. C. Diprose
was the first settler in the Yolla district, and in 1890 there was little to indicate that the spreading bush lands, covered more or less by dense myrtle forests, would develop into one of the most choicest dairying and farming centres on the North-West Coast. The general opinion was that the soil was not suitable for either agriculture, grazing or dairying, and at about that data Mr. Diprose, with his brother, transferred to new territory, crossing Camp Creek and becoming the pioneer settlers of the Yolla district. Building a home was the first necessity, the construction of which was no enviable
task. It was carried out, however, by Mr. H. Neal and Mr. Diprose, who became the occupier of Yolla's first home. During the period of construction, it was necessary for Mr. Neal and Mr. Diprose to carry the weekly supplies from Wynyard on their backs.
Then followed year after year of slowly-conquering toil, and isolation and privation unknown to the present generation. The settlement gradually began to assume an appearance of great activity. Grass-growing was very successfully carried out by Mr. Diprose and the grass not only grew splendidly, but enough to make Yolla the first-
class dairying district it is. The area of 320 acres was at first taken up but Mr. Diprose and his son were responsible for selecting, scrubbing, grassing and improving 1700 acres in the Yolla and Henrietta districts. Mr. Diprose was one of the first suppliers to the Table Cape butter factory at Wynyard, of which he was a director for many years. Later he became associated with the Yolla Dairy Company. In addition to numerous other public bodies, he took a keen interest in the affairs of the Methodist Church.
After the death of his wife, Mr. Diprose decided to leave his farm, and for several years past has resided with his daughter, Mrs. W. Badcock, of Yolla.
For some time he had been in failing health, and, declining rapidly during the past few months, he passed away yesterday. Mr. Diprose leaves family of six sons
Messrs. Percy (Stanley), Albert (Launceston), Walter and Benjamin (Yolla),
Victor (Wynyard) and Spencer (Stowport), and four daughters - Mrs. J. W. Pegus
and Mrs. L. E. Jones (Burnie), Mrs.Palmer (Western Australia) and
Mrs.W. Badcock (Yolla). Two sons predeceased him some years ago.
The funeral will take place to-morrow afternoon, leaving the deceased's late residence at 2.30 p.m. for the Yolla Methodist Church and the Henrietta cemetery.