Josiah Howell Bagster

Josiah Howell Bagster (19 February 1847 – 17 October 1893) was a land agent and politician in the colony of South Australia.

He was born in Ledbury, Herefordshire the son of stationer Josiah Shirley Bagster (c. 1811 – 6 March 1882) and his wife Shirley, who emigrated to South Australia on the Caroline, arriving in September 1849. He attended Webster's Commercial School in Grenfell Street, and was apprenticed to the Government Printing Office. He abandoned the printing trade for land dealing.^[1]

He was on the boards of several public companies and the Zoological Society and acted as Director of the Zoological Gardens during the absence of R. E. Minchin. He also sat on the Adelaide Licensing Bench and the Central Road Board.^[2]

He was mayor of Unley from 1877 to 1878.

He was member for Yatala in the House of Assembly from September 1881 to April 1890

One commentator described him as able and amiable, but devoid of ideas and lacking forcefulness in speech. He made and lost a fortune and was financially saved by a lucky draw in a Melbourne Cup sweep.^[3] He died after an operation for an ulcerated lung.

Family

J. H. Bagster married Eleanor Winzor (13 December 1849 – 7 February 1884) on 31 December 1872. Their children included:

• Winifred Bagster (19 November 1873 – )
• son Shirley Winzor Bagster (29 April 1875 – 26 August 1932) married Hannah Mabel Slatter ( – ) on 7 July 1909
• Geraldine Bagster (12 January 1878 – 16 January 1883)

He married again, to Mary Ann Harvey (1 November 1847 – 28 May 1931) on 22 April 1885 and lived at Mary Street, Unley. Mary Ann was a daughter of fellow MHA John Harvey.

• Lancelot Salisbury Bagster (9 August 1886 – )
• Mabel Gwendoline Bagster (27 March 1888 – )

References