I was browsing through Facebook today and came across this picture in a genealogy group I’m part of.  Thanks to Karen for posting the photo.

This piqued my interest as a number of my ancestors moved from South Australia to Victoria, Australia and sure enough my 3x great grandfather James Heeps is in the picture.

 

James was born in Kettering, Northamptonshire, England circa 1834 and came to South Australia with his parents and siblings in 1847.  He married Tamar Bodger on 11 May 1854 and stayed in South Australia until about 1860 when he moved his family to Victoria settling in the Tylden area.  Between 1876 and 1879 James moved to the Rochester/Elmore area in Victoria.  He farmed and opened a grain merchant business in Elmore.  It doesn’t surprise me that James was involved in the early days of the Farmer’s Union as he was very active in public service.  In 1887 he was made a magistrate, in 1890 he was part of the founding of the Elmore Progress Association and stood for the Victorian General Election in 1892.  He died in 1902 and is buried in Elmore cemetery with his wife Tamar.

Here is my profile for him on Ancestry.com http://person.ancestry.com.au/tree/6037348/person/-1352220757/facts

This is the only photo we have of James.  For me it is worth being on Facebook not just for the family fun and friends but for genealogy too.