Page:History of Adelaide and vicinity.djvu/373

 ADKLAIDI' AND VICINr|-V 347 Hon. Charles Willcox, M.L.C. MANY features of the career of this successful colonist are known to South Australians. Appreciated as these points are for the underlying principles they reflect, they would be much more generally recognised in the light of Mr. Willcox's whole course of actions since first he set foot on the shores of the Province. For long he toiled in different rustic spheres far from the hub of city life, with his eye on progress and his heart fastened to his work. He had the grit and endurance of a true colonist. In the parish of Horough- bridge, Somersetshire, situated on the Parreth, a tributary of the majestic .Severn, Mr. Willcox was born in i<S45, and was educated at a [)rivate school in the neigh- borhood. At the age of i8 he sailed for South Australia, where he arrived in the course of the year 1863. The advice given to those about to emigrate — "that they should fit themselves for any sort of employment"— though per- haps unwelcome, nevertheless had to be followed in most cases. Mr. Willcox was young, strong, and full of pluck and vigor. Into the bush he plunged, for he could not afford a choice of avocation. After 18 months in the -South-P'ast, he came to the capital. Like many Hammer & Co., PHato ,^^pre who Can diviue the secret keys and springs of success, he thought a city presented greater facilities for those who had the capabilities of taking advantage of their knovvkxlge. In Adelaide he engaged with the firm of Goode Brothers, wholesale merchants, and remained in their employ for a space of three years. He then decided to take a trip to the old country. In 1867, therefore, he was back once more in England ; but the restless spirit of colonial actiity did not suffer him to remain longer than twelve months in the homeland. On his return to Adelaide with .some capital he purchased a few blocks of land in North Adelaide, and on these he built several houses. At this time the agricultural industry of the Province was developing with considerable rapidity, and in 1873 Mr. Willcox, in company with Mr. W. Gilbert, M.P., developed the X2