John was an ambitious man, receiving his first piece of land in 1830. He married Mary Ann ONUS and moved to land at Bulga. With his brother Daniel, John pastured cattle on the edge of the then-known country in the Namoi River area. After some time, John established a large property, 'Roseberry', on the Richmond River.

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Around 1856, the family trecked their cattle to the Wide Bay area in Queensland. Here he became a man of wealth and influence, owning large tracts of land and pioneering many industries and ventures in the Maryborough area. In 1861 he was elected the second Mayor of Maryborough. The substantial two storey home John built in Maryborough is still standing and occupied today.

John and Mary Ann are buried on their former property ‘Teebar’ at Brooweena Queensland.