Page:Notable South Australians.djvu/265

 Robert Fotheringham, HOSE untimely and sudden death took place at Kapunda on Sept. 19, 1885, was born at Alloa, Ayrshire, Scotland, in 1831, and was first engaged under his brother, who was a banker in his native town. In 1855 he sailed for Melbourne by the "Oliver Lang," and thence came to Gawler, where he joined his brothers in the brewing business. He subsequently removed to Kapunda, where he conducted the Spring Brewery for seventeen years. He was widely known and respected for his sterling qualities, and ever ready to assist, by advice and means, the needy and helpless. Every local institution received his support, and both in Gawler and Kapunda he was "the life of the place." It will be many years ere he will be forgotten in both localities.

Edwin Sawtell, HE oldest watchmaker and optician in Adelaide, was born in Bristol. As a child he was predisposed to "making things," and his parents, allowing his natural bent of mind full play, apprenticed him to the trade in 1831. At that time nearly everything was hand-made, particularly watches and watch work; many of the tools even being constructed by the apprentice before he began his work. Mr. Sawtell says: "What is now called labour-saving machinery is considered by those experienced in the trade antagonistic to the full development of a boy's natural mechanical ability." Notwithstanding the long hours of duty, from 7 a.m. till 8 p.m., he devoted his spare time to the invention of many mechanical novelties, and one of the most successful of his endeavours was a model steamboat, which was considered a real wonder in those days. He also invented a peculiar