Shep's Place Family Tree

Horace worked with his brothers farming at Monarto, according to Edward, after his education at Mt. Barker and the Hahndorf Academy was completed. From 1875 he was with Edward at Mannum, River Murray country 50 miles east from Adelaide. About the time of his marriage he joined his father-in-law Thomas Pugh, at Balhannah. Thomas had a quite famous orchard and market garden, renowned for the quality of the produce. A cottage was built for Horace and Kate with a hill intervening between it and the Pugh house. According to his sister Marion, Mrs. Lakeman, he vanished about the year 1885 or 86 when their daughter Blanch was aged about 2.

He had that day taken a wagon load of fruit and vegetables to the city market and on his return the same evening he drove the horse and wagon to the stables at the main house, and handed over the money received for the delivery and set off in the dusk for his cottage and Kate over the hill. He was never seen again. An intensive search was made of the neighbourhood by police, military and neighbours but failed give any clue of the missing man's whereabouts. He was a devoted husband and father so there was no question of his absconding. There was a rumour that two men had been seen following him from the city and they had possibly murdered him for the cash which he had carried. However, if this was so they had many opportunities on the hills roads without waiting for near nightfall and home territory.

E.M.S. spent considerable time perusing the Mt. Baker police records held by the Public Records Office for the years 1663 - 1887 inclusive, which meant every daily entry, but no mention of that search was found. Although the police frequently patrolled to Balhannah on horse back which apparently lacked its own police station and they coordinated with Nairne where Mounted Police Constable Charles Le Lievre was in charge there was not the least hint of so widespread a search. No police report, no city or local newspaper report could be found of such a nine days wonder, which is almost as mysterious as the disappearance of Horace.