Framed Photograph of John Bovell

John Bovell was born in Bunbury, Western Australia on 20 Nov 1861 and died 7 Jun 1899 in Busselton, Western Australia. He was the second son of Joseph Bovell and Elizabeth "Jane" Burnside who came to "The Vasse" in the 1850s from Ireland.

John Bovell married Alethea Flora Knapton on 5 April 1889 at Busselton and they had three children Doris Annie, Lilla Jane Alethea and Alexander Percy John. John worked for W&J Bovell, who were shipping agents on the Busselton Jetty, and he was the Mayor of Busselton at the time of his unfortunate early demise at the age of 38. He is buried in the Busselton Pioneer Cemetery.

On June 8 1899 The Bunbury Herald reported the following story on Page 3 following the death of John Bovell.

"DEATH OF MR. JOHN BOVELL

Quite a gloom was cast over the town this morning, when if became known that Mr. John Bovell, the mayor of Busselton, who was injured by falling off the jetty on Saturday night, had died at 3.10 this morning, Dr. Flynn was summoned from Bun bury on Monday to consult with Dr. Hungerford, but despite the efforts of the doctors Mr. Bovell gradually sank. About 3 o'clock this morning a change occurred for the worse, and Mr, Bovell, feeling that he was going, sent for the members of the family and took a touching farewell of them one by one.

The deceased gentleman was the second son of Mr. Joseph Bovell, the well-known proprietor of the Ship Hotel, and was a member of the firm of W. and J. Bovell, merchants and commission agents, of this town. He was one of the best known and most popular public men in the district, he having taken a prominent part in all matters of public interest for years past. His liberality in subscribing towards public or charitable objects was proverbial. He was for many years a councillor, and during tho past 2½ years has fulfilled the duties of the mayoralty with dignity to himself and credit to the town. He was the vice-president of the Chamber of Commerce, was people's warden of St. Mary's Anglican Church, and a member of the local agricultural society and other public bodies in the district. He has been eulogised as an ideal mayor, and it is recognised that it will be a difficalt matter to replace him Mr. Bovell, who was 38 years of age, leaves a widow and three young children to mourn their loss. The immediate cause of death was pneumonia, the result of having remained in wet clothes after his immersion in the water."