Henry William Bidwell

  Birth Notes:

http://ancestry24.com/wp-content/uploads/pages/British%20Families%20In%20South%20Africa/page_00023.pdf

  Death Notes:

http://ancestry24.com/wp-content/uploads/pages/Men%20of%20the%20times/page_00460.pdf

And

http://www.southafricansettlers.com/?p=28283

  Sources of information or noted events in his life were:

• Web Based Info. http://ancestry24.com/wp-content/uploads/pages/Men%20of%20the%20times/page_00214.pdf

And

http://ancestry24.com/wp-content/uploads/pages/British%20Families%20In%20South%20Africa/page_00023.pdf

And

http://www.southafricansettlers.com/?p=28283

• Occupation. Lithographer, School Teacher, Journalist and Civil Servant.
http://ancestry24.com/wp-content/uploads/pages/British%20Families%20In%20South%20Africa/page_00023.pdf

And

http://ancestry24.com/wp-content/uploads/pages/Aided%20immigration%20from%20Britain%20to%20South%20Africa%201857%20to%201867/page_00082.pdf

And

http://www.esaach.org.za/index.php?title=Bidwell,_Henry_William
1830 Norwich, England -1899). Nineteenth Century newspaper journalist and author of short stories. Bidwell came to the South Africa in 1862 as sub-editor of the Graham's Town Journal, and moved to Uitenhage in 1863 to establish the Uitenhage Times. He wrote collections of short stories entitled Gustavus Green (1895?) and I.D.B.: the Great Xoso Diamond (1895?).

• Children. They had 9 children.
http://ancestry24.com/wp-content/uploads/pages/British%20Families%20In%20South%20Africa/page_00023.pdf

And

http://www.southafricansettlers.com/?p=28283

Flora m. to Heugh

Cecilia m. to Heugh

Emma m. to Eastwood

Emily m. to Solomon

Edith m. to Eastwood

Minnie Bidwell, major

Maud, major

William, major

Gordon, major

• Obituary. THE late Mr. HENRY W. BIDWELL, whose death occurred in 1899, has been well described as a "public, as well as a private, benefactor." Born in Norwich, England, in the year 1830, he early in life set out to seek his fortune in the great City of London, and there obtained employment in a printing establishment. A self-educated man, he made the study of lithography his first care, and in a brief while made some important discoveries in the production of fine art. which helped him considerably in the struggle for existence. He lived several years in London, never relaxing his studies, and in 1862 emigrated to South Africa, to take up the position of sub-editor to the " Grahamstown Journal." Two years later he changed to Uitenhage, and there founded the " Uitenage Times" (still extant, and at present edited by Mr.W.S.J.Sellick). In 1873 Mr. Bidwell was chosen as the representative of Uitenhage in the Legislative Assembly, but was some time afterwards appointed official shorthand writer to the Committees of the House of Assembly. His labours on the Commission which was appointed to deal with the Frontier War, and on other important Commissions, were of inestimable value. Mr. Bidwell was also a member of the old Uitenhage Board of Commissioners, while his services on the Uitenhage Town Council, the Divisional Council, and on the boards of management of the local public schools have been great. He edited the " Uitenhage Times " until 1892, and was not unknown to fame as a novelist who had written and published several good books. As a poet, too, he was successful, having written a book of excellent poems. Some of his finest verses were written on the occasion of the marriage of King Edward (then Prince of Wales), for which he received the personal thanks of His Majesty. As a musician Mr. Bidwell earned not a little distinction. He established, and for years conducted, the first choral society of Uitenhage. His death in the January of 1899 was universally deplored. All his varied talents had ever been at the service of every useful and philanthropic cause. The respect entertained for him by his fellow citizens was great and profound, and they will long cherish the recollection of his good deeds and good example.

http://ancestry24.com/wp-content/uploads/pages/Men%20of%20the%20times/page_00460.pdf

• General Comment. Bidwell, Henry W. [h] †17 Jan 1899 *27 Dec 1831 Born in Norwich, England, left home aged 9y, arrived S. A. 1862 as sub editor of the Grahamstown Journal. Arr. Uitenhage 1863 and started the 1876 Uitenhage times which he sold to W. S. Sellick in 1893. He trained the first Choir in 1865 and was much involved in the life of the town.
http://africangenealogy.blogspot.co.za/2013/11/begraafplaas-uitenhage-anglican-graves.htmll

Henry married Mary Elizabeth White, daughter of Unknown and Unknown. (Mary Elizabeth White was born on 4 May 1836 in Finsbury, Middlesex, England and died on 2 Apr 1909.)