Page:History of Adelaide and vicinity.djvu/607

 ADELAIDE AND VICINITY 581 Mr. George Wilcox THE standing and importance of a city is best judged from the dignity and integrity of its commercial men, and according to their wealth and inlluenc(will that city flourish. Mr. George Wilcox for many years conducted an extensive intercolonial business, and brought much wealth to Adelaide. He was born at St. Neots, Huntingdonshire, England, in 1838, and came to .South Australia in 1857. Under the nami! of J. & G. Wilcox he and his father launched a drapery and general merchandise business in (iawler in 1858, and during the succeeding 17 years were successful in obtaining an important and lucrative connection. In 1875 Mr. George Wilcox removed to Adelaide and established himself as a wool and produce merchant, [)aying particular attention to the hide and skin trade. While originally the business transacted was small, it quickly grew as the public recognised the integrity and acumen of Mr. Wilcox, and thus from year to year it expanded until at present it is one of the largest houses of its kind in Australia. In course of time branches were opened in Melbourne, Victoria, and in Albany, Western Australia. In 1886 a brancli was established in Young Street, Sydney. The last assumed large and remunerative proportions, and in order to devote himself more thoroughly to his int(?rests in the mother colony and South Australia Mr. Wilcox closed the Victorian and W'estern Australian branches. Mr. Sidney W^ilcox, a son, and Mr. G. G. Legoe, were taken into partnership, in 1889, and in 1894 Mr. George Wilcox sought retirement, whereupon two other sons, Mr. G. S. and Mr. M. Wilcox, joined the remaining partners. Mr. Wilcox has long been recogni.sed as among the shrewdest of Adelaide's commercial men. He lias been for years a director of the Hamley Copper Mine, and was one of the liquidators of the Town and Country Bank. He erected the Apollo Soap Works at Hindmarsh which, after a successful run of 3}^ years, were purchased by Messrs. Burford & Sons. I-ately, Mr. Wilcox has pursued a quiet career. He resides at Eynesbur', Mitcham Road, in a charming house situated in 14 acres of ground. His straightforwardness and unassuming nature make him a popular citizen. Rev David Paton, D.D. DUNEERMLINE, Eifeshire, Scotland, was the birthplace of the Rev. David Paton, D.D. In 1864 he graduated M.A. at the University of Glasgow, and four years later he look the B.D. degree. Eor a time he was in charge of the Garelochhead Eree Church in Dumbartonshire. He was ordained at Dalton Eree Church, in Dumfriesshire, in 1873. He resigned his pulpit in Scotland on receiving a call to Chalmers Church, Adelaide, and just prior to leaving for South Australia in September, 1877, he was married. In 1886 he was elected to a seat on the Council of the Adelaide University, and in 1894, he was made a Governor of the Public Library, Museum, and Art Gallery.