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    By: Craig Banks26th Oct 2024 9:52PMHi Guys, John & Martha were my Great-Great Grandparents, I am the Grandson of George & Marion Banks of Stillwater. Nanna began our families tree in the 1970’s and here is the Olderog history for your interest.

    OLDEROG STORY

    A Prelude to the Olderog Story:

    Prior to 1864, Femein Peterstof was in the State of Slesvig (the Danish spelling of Schleswig), and was ruled by the King of Denmark.

    This area of Slesvig, comprising the southern part of the Jutland Peninsula linking Denmark and Prussia, was know as part of the “Duchies”. Until 1864, the Danish King ruled this area, and was know here as the “Duke of the Duchies”.

    The inhabitants were all Danes. The State of Holstein of Prussia (before 1815 of Denmark) bordered it in the south. The inhabitants were a mixture of Danes and Prussians (Germans).

    In 1864, after a brief war with Prussia, the Danes were defeated, and Slesvis (Schleswig) ceded to the German States. After the German defeat of World War I, the northern zone of Schleswig was returned to Denmark, and again became know as Slesvig, whilst the southern zone was annexed to Holstein, and became known as Schleswig-Holstein of Germany.

    It is in the Southern Zone, prior to 1864, where John Olderog was born, grew to adulthood, and emigrated to the colonies, about the time the Germans took over his Homeland.

    Much research has been done regarding the name of Olderog. The outcome is that it is of Danish origin – thus John Olderog is a Dane, not a German as originally thought.

    He always stoutly declared he was not a German, although his birthplace is now in Germany.

    JOHN OLDEROG ; MARTHA SMITH

    John Olderog, a miner, or Femein Peterstof, Schleswig Holstein, Germany, who firstly emigrated to Australia, met Martha Smith of Buckinghamshire, England (a schoolteacher) on the boat on the journey from England.

    They married on arrival in Australia, and spent the next few years there, supposedly following the gold rushes, before coming to New Zealand, to Blue Spur, out of Hokitika.

    Here John worked on the gold-fields. They had a family of eleven – five boys and six girls.

    John and Martha lived under canvas for many years when they first arrived in New Zealand. Their eldest son, William, was born in Australia. The older children, possible 5 or 6 of them, had no education whatsoever, and could neither read nor write. (Bill, Dick, Molly, Anne and Jack). The younger ones attended school at Humphries, traveling five or six miles on horseback to same. At this stage, they lived in the bush many miles beyond Humphries.

    In the early days, John and Martha lived mainly on native pigeons and greyling, a fish found in abundance in all streams and rivers before the introduction of trout, which in turn cleaned them out.

    When their second child Mary (Molly) was about eight years old, they shifted to Kokatahi, and went farming, but this did not work out. A year or two later, they shifted again, miles away up the Arahura Valley, once again seeking gold. Gold was proving very hard to find, so money was scarce – hence food was in desperately short supply. The tale is told of Martha, in desperation, digging up the potatoes only recently planted, to feed the hungry family.

    Another story told within the family is of John Olderog’s love of pancakes. Whenever he was hungry, whether it be day or night, he would demand them - sometimes it would be 2 or 3am. His daughters would have to get up and make them, so they would draw lots by pulling straws, and it usually fell to Molly to have to cook them. How they hated it!!

    John and Martha lived apart in the latter years of their lives – John living in a hut which he built onto, converting it into a livable house. This was on the left-hand side of the road up the Arahura Valley, near German Road. This branched off and crossed the bridge (now gone) which served the Arahura Dredge in its day, and also extended on up into the Kaiwaka area. Whilst there, John dug out a huge fish pond between the road and the Arahura River, and this was fed by a half-mile water race, which he built. There he bred and grew fish in quite a big way. He also built a “Winery” and made wines in season, from fruit and blackberries. These he sold, and became quite wellknown as a winemaker.

    He was about 86 years old when he died – a lonely old man on his own – so he wasn’t found until several days after his death. Hence, the authorities conducted a post mortem to find the cause of death.

    Martha lived about three miles further up the Valley, with her son Bill, and Jenny. This we believe was the old Olderog home. Jenny, being accepted as the youngest daughter, looked after Martha in her old age. Martha died sometime during the First World War.


    ​============

    Marriage Certificate dated 29 December 1864 at The Manse, Beechworth, Victoria AUST.

    John Olderog​Martha Smith
    35 years​23 years
    Carter​Housekeeper
    Bachelor​Spinster
    Birthplace:
    Peterstof, Denmark​New Port Pagnell, England
    Present Residence:
    Stanley, Victoria​Stanley Victoria​(South of Albury)
    Father : Melgeuir Olderog​Charles Smith
    Shoemaker​Cooper
    Mother: Margaret Moss​Dorothy Farne

    ​=============

    William Olderog​Bachelor

    Lived to an old age. Bill lived most of his life on his parents’ farm - later his own.

    Farmed 35 acres up the Arahura Valley. He also owned land up the Kaiwaka. He had a passion for buying land, but none of it was good for pasture. Great bush stands were on the Kaiwaka block. This land was passed onto his brother Dick and nephew Robert Dalglish on his death, the Arahura block being passed to the latter. Bill had quite a few horses, breeding from them, and also stood a stallion for many years, so there were always horses (mares) coming and going. Bill wne tot Australia and worked there for about two years, but it is not know exactly when.

    Very early on, Bill had a small sawmill, which he worked mainly by himself. He cut the timer for his sister Molly’s home when she was married. This was situated in Toker’s paddock, at the foot of the hill just opposite where German Road started. The tramline to the bush went up the hill, opposite the bridge on German Road.

    Later, Robert Dalglish (son of Molly) shifted and rebuilt his home on the brow of this hill, and used the tramway as the roadway to his house. He and his family had been living in Bill Olderog’s old home, but the big flood of the Arahura River in 1935 went through it to a depth of 4-5 feet. Most of the surrounding land was washed away, leaving the house perched on the extreme edge, only feet away from the river, hence the shift.

    Mary Olderog​Married Robert Dalglish

    Lived into her 90th year. Molly lived on her parents’ farm until her marriage to Robert Dalglish, who owned a farm in the Arahura Valley. While living at home, she spent most of her time goldpanning in the Arahura River. Made a good living this way.

    John Olderog:​Bachelor

    A twin of Anne. Died at 52 years of age. Worked in the Kaiwaka area at whatever job was available, mainly in the bush. Later worked in the goldfields at Moonlight. Whilst working on the Moonlight Goldfields, he found a quartz reef in the bed of the Moonlight Creek. Next day he went to investigate further, but could not find it. Gravel had completely covered it, and as he wasn’t absolutely sure of the site, he never ever found it again.

    Anne Olderog:​Spinster

    A twin of John. Died at 18 years of age. Lived at home. She fell down a mineshaft and was killed.

    Henry Richard Olderog:​Bachelor

    Dick lived to an old age. Worked at Monlight on the goldfields in his youth. He was the road-man for most of his life in the Arahura area. Bought land up the Arahura Valley, on the North Bank, near the Kaiwaka area. He and his brother Jack worked for a while at a Quartz Mine. “Kerwin’s Reward”, near Reefton.

    George Olderog:​Bachelor

    Died at 21 years of age. Worked at jobs in the Arahura area. The reason for George’s death is unclear. It is believed to have been the resuslt of either diptheria or tuberculosis (TB).

    Margaret Olderog:​Married Andrew Barnhill

    Lived to old age. Maggie went to work at a hotel in Blackball. There she met and married Andrew Barnhill, who worked as a clerk in the Mines Office. Their three boys were born there, and while they were still young, the family moved to Christchurch.

    Elizabeth Olderog:​Married John Banks​23 October 1906

    Born 9 May 1876, at Blue Spur. Died in her 40th year.

    Lizzie worked in Christchurch as a barmaid, where she met her husband. When married, lived with her husband on an orchard in Langdon’s Road, Papanui, Christchurch. When son George was four years old, she died – we believe from the ‘flu epidemic which raged throughout New Zealand – on 20 April 1917. She is buried in the Cemetery at St Pauls Church, Papanui.



    Ellen Olderog​Married Charles Guthberlet

    Died in her early 30;s. Nellie married Charles Guthberlet, a baker, who llived at Kumara, later living at Ross, following the same trade. Died in childbirth, when her daughter Mary was born. Her sister, Minnie, took the child, finally adopting her.

    Charles Olderog:​Bachelor

    Died in his 60’s. Charles worked in many places in NZ, and was classed as a “Wandering Jew”. For years he worked in a quarry in the North Island, and held a Quarryman’s Ticket.

    When the First World War broke out in 1914, he and his mates from the Arahura Valley were the first to enlist as volunteers. They went into camp for training, but as Charlie’s name was so unusual, and his father was born in Schleswig, Germany, he missed out on going overseas with his cobbers. Instead, he was treated as an alien, a prisoner in a military camp. Meanwhile, the Army were looking into his background, and, after missing the next three sailings, the authorities found out he was of Danish origin, and was now a loyal New Zealand, so he was given final leave. He was so embittered with the Army that he deserted, and took to the bush.

    After three months, his brother Bill Olderog told the Military Police where he was, so they went into the bush and arrested him. He did not resist arrest, but, if he could have got near his brother, he would have murdered him. He was escorted back to Camp, and put on the next boat sailing for overseas, under military escort. He fought in France and Italy for the next three years, with much distinction, being mentioned in several dispatches.

    On his return to New Zealand, he started his wandering around New Zealand again, and did not return to the Arahura Valley until after the death of his brother Bill. He stayed there until his own death.


    Minnie Olderog:​Married George Dalzell

    Lived into her eighties. Minnie worked as a housekeeper at Runanga for Mr DalzellSenior, later married his son, George , who was a butcher in Brunner. Later lived in Runanga, where she spent most of her married life.

    Margaret Jean Olderog:​Married Robert Adamson, a widower.

    Died at 82 years of age, in 1975. Jenny is believed to be a natural daughter of Mary.

    Jenny first lived in Whataroa on her marriage to Robert Adamson, a widower with an adult family. He was a farmer. Later, they retired to Christchurch, where he became a horse trainer-owner of several successful racehorses. On his death, Jenny carried on the stables for many years. She had one child who died when very young.

    Stanley Olderog:​Bachelor

    Believed to be a natural son of Minnie. Lived most of his life with Minnie Dalzell at Runanga. Worked in the mines at Runanga all his life.


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    Old hunters bivvy up Jade (Waitaiki) Creek a tributary of Olderog Creek which in turn is a tributary of the Arahura River.

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