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Frederick Thomas Crowder (January 1850 – 1902), generally referred to as F. T. Crowder, was an Australian businessman and politician and member of the Western Australian Legislative Council for two terms: in 1894–1900 representing South-East Province, and 1901–1902 representing East Province. He died in office and was succeeded by William Loton.

History

Crowder was born in Franklin Street, Adelaide, the second son^[1] of William Nathaniel Crowder (c. 1818 – 2 February 1898) who arrived in South Australia in 1839 on the barque Singapore. His wife Emily (c. 1829 – December 1867) is not recorded as a passenger, and it is likely they married around 1850.^[a] W. N. Crowder ran J. H. Fisher's dairy at The Reedbeds,^[2] until the early 1850s, spent some time unprofitably at the Victorian goldfields, then in 1854 took over the insolvent George Malcolm's aerated water and cordial manufacturing business in Franklin Street^[3] which he ran successfully then sold to Charles Downer and John Henderson in 1881.^[4] They had a home "Olive Villa" in Lower Mitcham, which still stands.^[5]

Crowder was educated at J. L. Young's Adelaide Educational Institution and after leaving school joined his father's business, married in 1876, then in 1878 left Adelaide for Western Australia with William Letchford^[6] to open an aerated water and cordial business of Crowder and Letchford in Essex Street, Fremantle^[7] in 1878.^[8] They won prizes at the 1881 Exhibition.^[9] and opened a factory in Goderich Street, Perth, in 1884, whose assets were sold to Crowder and Letchford Ltd. in 1896,^[10] later purchased by the firm of Donaldson and Collins.

In 1894 he was appointed director of Mount Eva Mining company with a goldfield at Coolgardie.^[11]

His wife died and sometime later he remarried and retired from manufacturing business.

He was for twenty years chairman of directors of Perth Gas Company.^[12]

He served for some time on the Perth City Council then in 1894 entered Parliament as member for the South-East Province of Perth, and was subsequently nominated as a delegate to the Federal Convention, and had the opportunity to revisit Adelaide and meet his old schoolmates. He opposed the entrance of Western Australia into the Federation so resigned his seat, but a year later he was elected to the West Australian Legislative Council for the Central division. He was returned unopposed for the East province a fortnight before his death at his home "Abbeyfeale View" at Cottesloe Beach.^[13]

Family

Crowder married Annie Imelda Fitzpatrick (c. 1855 – 21 January 1886) on 17 March 1877.^[1] They had one daughter

Ellie May Crowder (1878–1951), proprietor Rose Hotel, North Fremantle, bankrupt 1933.^[14]

He married again, on 9 May 1886 in Perth, to Mary Ann Linto (c. 1862 – 26 December 1927). They had two sons:

William Frederick Crowder (1887 – 24 October 1953) married Dorothy, divorced 1920

Frederick Thomas "Dick" Crowder (30 December 1916 – 20 February 1942) shot while POW in Timor

Frederick Sinclair Crowder (1898 – 13 November 1953) married Marjorie Elizabeth Dethridge, of Perth on 28 November 1927

She married again, to Robert Dawson Higgs.^[15]

Notes and References

^ William Alfred Crowder (1854–1891) who married Isabella Brown McCallum on 25 July 1878 was W. N. Crowder's first child.

Black, David (1991). Legislative Council of Western Australia : membership register, electoral law and statistics, 1890-1989. Perth: Parliamentary History Project. ISBN 0-7309-3641-4.
Black, David; Bolton, Geoffrey (2001). Biographical Register of Members of the Parliament of Western Australia, Volume One, 1870–1930 (Revised ed.). Parliament House: Parliament of Western Australia. ISBN 0730738140.

^ ^a ^b "Family Notices". The Express and Telegraph. Vol. XIV, no. 3, 966. South Australia. 21 March 1877. p. 1. Retrieved 10 July 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
^ "Declaration of Confidence in Mr John Stephens". South Australian Register. Vol. XIV, no. 1062. South Australia. 7 March 1850. p. 1. Retrieved 10 July 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
^ "Advertising". South Australian Register. Vol. XIII, no. 2535. South Australia. 6 November 1854. p. 1. Retrieved 10 July 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
^ "The Late Mr W. N. Crowder". The Chronicle (Adelaide). Vol. 40, no. 2, 059. South Australia. 5 February 1898. p. 22. Retrieved 10 July 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
^ Sarah Daly (15 July 2011). "Facelift Adds New Life to a Heritage Act". The Advertiser (Adelaide). Retrieved 11 July 2020.
^ Shipping Intelligence South Australian Register 13 March 1879 p.4 accessed 12 April 2011
^ From City Of Fremantle rates records
^ Occasional Notes West Australian Tuesday 5 October 1880 p.2 accessed 11 April 2011
^ Western Australia South Australian Register 16 December 1881 p.5 accessed 12 April 2011
^ A Question of Commission The West Australian 14 December 1904 p.5 accessed 12 April 2011
^ Prospectus West Australian 31 May 1894 p.8 accessed 12 April 2011
^ Perth Gas Company The West Australian 30 June 1902 p.7 accessed 11 April 2011
^ Obituary The West Australian 3 May 1902 p.3 accessed 11 April 2011
^ "Ellie Crowder's Bankruptcy". The Western Argus. Vol. 40, no. 2240. Western Australia. 23 May 1933. p. 13. Retrieved 10 July 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
^ "Family Notices". The West Australian. Vol. XLIII, no. 7, 966. Western Australia. 27 December 1927. p. 1. Retrieved 10 July 2020 – via National Library of Australia.