LATE F. J. S. KERKHAM The death of Mr. F. J. S. Kerkham, of Retreat, on the 27th. May, 1938 has removed one of the few remaining pioneers of the district. Mr. Kerkham has been one of the outstanding figures of the community for many years, and could rightly be termed the Father of the Tunnel and Retreat districts as he was the first fettler in the Tunnel district in the year 1880. Later on he selected land at Retreat and was the first resident of that district.
Mr. Kerkham was born at Cullenswood in 1854, and in 1882, two years after he settled at Tunnel he married Miss Mary Granfield of Lilydale. He took a great deal of interest in public affairs, being on the first Committee of the Lilydale Farmers' and Fruitgrowers' Association, and was also a member of the Turner's Marsh Road Trust, prior to the inception of Local Government. However, his main interest was in the work of the Methodist Church and Sunday School.
In the year 1893 a Miss Montgomery conducted a private school near the Tunnel Railway station, and Mr. Kerkham commenced the first Sunday School for the Tunnel children in this buildlng 45 years ago. He took an active part in the work of the Methodlst Church being a local preacher for 35 years, and was presented with a certificate from the Church authorities for his help in maintaining the Church services throughout the district.
There was a very large gathering of relatives and friends at the funeral which took place at the Tunnel Methodist Church cemetery on Sunday after noon. Mr. L. Darling, of Lilydale conducted the service in the Tunnel Methodist Church and also at the graveside. Only about half those present were able to gain admittance to the church.
The carriers were four grandsons, Messrs Frank and Alfred Kettle, Maurice Winter and Ronald Kerkham. The members of his family are:— Ernest F. Kerkham (Lilydale), Leslie Kerkham (Nabowla), Mrs. E. S Winter (Nietta), Mrs. E. J. Corbel (Retreat), Mrs. L. W. Groom (West Pine Road), Mrs T. Coates (Trayner's Lagoon, Victoria) , Mrs W. A. Kettle (Retreat), and Miss Ruth Kerkham and Mr. Fred Kerkham of Retreat. One son, Tas, died nine years ago. Mrs. Kerkham has received many messages of sympathy owing to the loss of her husband.
LILYDALE (1938, June 3). North-Eastern Advertiser (Scottsdale, Tas. : 1909 - 1954), p. 3. Retrieved December 6, 2016, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article152309436
Mr Frederick John Story Kerkham's grave at The Tunnel Cemetery records his age as 84 years at death in 1938. That confirms he was born in 1854 and aged 26 when he came to Tunnel in 1880. FamilySearch also states that his birth was on 9 December 1853, in Tasmania, christening: 19 July 1854, Launceston, Tasmania.
spouse: Mary Ann Grandfield LHP7-MGY
father:Richard Charles Kerkham L7GP-JXP
mother: Eleanor Storey L7GP-JFD
https://familysearch.org/tree/person/LHP7-MKY/details