James Telfer (1866–1946)

Born: 18 Oct 1866, Honeysuckle Flat SA | Died: 28 Aug 1946, Glencoe West SA (age 79) | Mother: Martha Allen | Father: John Telfer (1840–1913) | Spouse: Alma Sporer (1881–1965) (m. 24 Oct 1917) | Occupation: Farmer/Newspaper agent

Family

| Relation | Name |
|---|---|
| Self | James Telfer |
| Father | John Telfer (1840–1913) |
| Mother | Martha Allen (m. 1865–1876) |
| Spouse | Alma Sporer (1881–1965) (m. 24 Oct 1917) |
| Sister | Elizabeth Telfer (1868–1950) (m. Clarke) |
| Sister | Susan Telfer (1871–1952) (m. Agnew) |
| Sister | Martha Telfer Cameron (1873–1964) |
| Daughter | Vida Templer (1919–2021) (m. Templer) |

Life Summary

James Telfer was the first child and eldest son of John Telfer (1840–1913) and his first wife Martha Allen. Born at Honeysuckle Flat, South Australia on 18 October 1866, James was the first of four children from this marriage and carried his paternal grandfather's name.

In 1895, James—then living at Tantanoola—was listed in the Border Watch Almanac as a newspaper agent for the district, suggesting he operated a local agency for the Mount Gambier newspaper. The 1894 Tantanoola Show concert featured him as a performer, and Border Watch advertisements from 1898 and 1900 confirm his newspaper agency at Tantanoola.

He married Alma Sporer (1881–1965) on 24 October 1917 at the Lutheran Church, Mount Gambier — James was 49, Alma was 37. Their only child, Vida, was born on 8 March 1919. James became a prominent community figure in Glencoe West: he was appointed a Justice of the Peace in 1924, served as District Council Auditor (re-elected 1927), and acted as Secretary of the Glencoe District Hall in 1929.

He died on 28 August 1946 at Glencoe West, South Australia, aged 79. His obituary in The Advertiser (2 Sep 1946) and The Chronicle (5 Sep 1946) described him as the beloved husband of Alma and loving father of Vida.

Timeline

| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 18 Oct 1866 | Born at Honeysuckle Flat, South Australia |
| 1871 | Birth of sister Susan at Black Heath |
| 1873 | Birth of sister Martha at Black Heath |
| 9 May 1876 | Death of mother Martha Allen at German Flat, Mount Gambier |
| 1895 | Listed as Tantanoola newspaper agent (Border Watch Almanac) |
| 24 Oct 1917 | Married Alma Sporer at Lutheran Church, Mount Gambier |
| 8 Mar 1919 | Birth of daughter Vida Telfer at Glencoe West |
| 5 Jan 1913 | Death of father John Telfer at Tantanoola |
| 27 Feb 1924 | Appointed Justice of the Peace (The News, Adelaide) |
| 18 Jun 1927 | Re-elected District Council Auditor (Border Watch) |
| 21 Nov 1929 | Secretary of Glencoe District Hall (Border Watch) |
| 20 Sep 1945 | Engagement of daughter Vida to Kenneth L. Templer announced (Border Watch) |
| 28 Aug 1946 | Died at Glencoe West, South Australia (age 79) |

Newspaper References

• "NEW JUSTICES OF THE PEACE" — The News (Adelaide), 27 Feb 1924, p.6. Lists James Telfer, Glencoe West among new SA JP appointments. [Trove Article 129855400]


• "GLENCOE" — District Council Elections — Border Watch (Mount Gambier), 18 Jun 1927, p.3. "For Auditor — James Telfer (re-elected)." [Trove Article 90093111]


• "GLENCOE" — District Hall — Border Watch (Mount Gambier), 21 Nov 1929, p.4. James Telfer acts as secretary of Glencoe District Hall. [Trove Article 90106021]


• "Family Notices — Death" — The Advertiser (Adelaide), 2 Sep 1946, p.14. Death notice: "James, dearly beloved husband of Alma Telfer, and loving father of Vida." [Trove Article 35753700]


• "Family Notices — Death" — The Chronicle (Adelaide), 5 Sep 1946, p.26. Death notice: "James, dearly beloved husband of Alma Telfer, and loving father of Vida." [Trove Article 93124272]


• "Advertising" — Border Watch (Mount Gambier), various dates 1898–1900. James Telfer listed as newspaper agent at Tantanoola. [Multiple Trove articles]

Sources

• ✅ Approved Deep Research Report: "The Descendants of John Telfer (1841–1913) of Tantanoola" (Skippy review 29 May 2026) — via WikiTree, Trove cross-referencing


• WikiTree profile Telfer-561 (SA Births Deaths & Marriages via SAGHS) — birth, marriage, and death registration details


• Source: Trove: NEW JUSTICES OF THE PEACE — The News (Adelaide), 27 Feb 1924 — accessed 04 Jun 2026


• Source: Trove: GLENCOE — District Council Elections — Border Watch, 18 Jun 1927 — accessed 04 Jun 2026


• Source: Trove: GLENCOE — District Hall — Border Watch, 21 Nov 1929 — accessed 04 Jun 2026


• Source: Trove: Death Notice — James Telfer — The Advertiser, 2 Sep 1946 — accessed 04 Jun 2026


• Source: Trove: Death Notice — James Telfer — The Chronicle, 5 Sep 1946 — accessed 04 Jun 2026


• John Telfer (1840–1913) vault profile — children table

Links

• John Telfer (1840–1913)


• Martha Allen


• Martha Telfer Cameron (1873–1964)


• Elizabeth Telfer (1868–1950)


• Susan Telfer (1871–1952)


• Vida Templer (1919–2021)