Biography

William Charles Logan was born at Speargrass Flat near Arrowtown on 10th May 1882. He had a brother, Thomas Frederick Logan (born 1st January 1884) and three sisters, Jubiletta Grace (born 30th May 1887), Susan Mary Logan (born 6th July 1889) and May (born 12th May 1891). His parents were William Logan who was born in Airdens Scotland on 18th May 1856 and died in 1898 in New Plymouth, and Mary Ann Richards who died in 1891 in Lower Shotover where they had a property near the Lower Shotover School.

At the age of 12, William Charles (he seems to have been known variously as either William C. or Charles W. Logan at different times of his life) had a letter published in the Otago Witness of 26th July 1894 in the “Letters from Little Folks” section. Later his marriage to Maud M. Payton on the 9th January 1902, at the residence of the bride’s parents (her father was Thomas S. Payton, a printer) at 234 Castle Street, Dunedin, by the Rev. W. Sinclair was noted in the 12th February 1902 edition of the Witness. They had two children, Thomas Albert Ernest Logan born in 1904 and Maude Margaret Logan born in April 1906, both at Melbourne Street, South Dunedin.

William Charles Logan died suddenly at Melbourne Street on 1st July 1906, as reported in the Otago Witness of 11th July 1906. There was a subsequent appeal made in the Otago Witness of 12th September 1906 for material assistance for the widow and children of Charles W. Logan, “who died so suddenly a short time ago.” The author of the letter, J. Mortimer of Douglas Street, St Kilda goes on to say, “I knew Mr Logan to be one of the best of husbands and fathers, and as a citizen he was most industrious and exemplary in every respect. His very sudden death was a severe shock to all who knew him”.

(Additional information from the Otago Witness)