The dead tell tales
James Missen 1834-1908
A bootmaker could hardly have had a better advertisement (and free at that) for his wares than the ‘‘great pedestrian feat’’ achieved by Cecil Danvers in Hamilton in 1875 – Danvers, wearing a pair of Missen’s boots, walked 112 miles in 48 hours carrying 56lbs (or to put that in today’s terms, 180km carrying 25.4 kg), round and round the football ground (Martin’s paddock). The load included a rifle weighing 10lb with a bottle of water and lead weights in his pikau (backpack); he was dressed in a kilt with guernsey, hat and a blanket draped ‘‘Maori fashion’’ around his shoulders. But most importantly, it was trumpeted by the Waikato Times (October 5, 1875) that Danvers was wearing ‘‘rather a heavy pair of lace-up boots specially made for the purpose by Mr Missen, of whose skill he speaks with great satisfaction. The boots were fitted with thick soles, and nails, very loose in front of the instep and close-fitting at the heels’’. The boots performed admirably, as did Danvers who won his bet.
James Missen needed the publicity – he had just shifted to Hamilton and opened business as a boot and shoe maker in 1874, having just been declared bankrupt.
Prior to settling in Hamilton, Missen had moved around. Along with some of his siblings he came first to Christchurch: Bateman arrived in 1858, Alfred and Edwin in 1861, then James and Harriet in 1862. In 1863 James married another new immigrant, Edith Elizabeth Eayrs, from Jersey. They were to have ten children, but six died young. A baby daughter died in 1868 when they were at Kaikoura, a son in Thames in
1870, twin daughters Daisy and Lily in
1875, sons Herbert and Leonard in early
1879. James was listed on the 1870 electoral roll as a bootmaker at Shortland, Thames; in June 1874 his address was Grey St, Auckland.
Missen’s Hamilton shop, which included living quarters, was on the corner of Knox and Victoria Streets, at that time the main commercial area, and adjacent to the first Bank of New Zealand building. The 1880 ‘‘Descriptive Handbook to the Waikato’’ spoke favourably of the business: ‘‘Mr Missen, Surrey House, … has earned a very favourable reputation …, has lately added to his business that of a draper, and we have no doubt that with his usual tact and energy he will soon be as successful in one as he has been in the other’’. Missen sold drapery and clothing ‘‘at Auckland prices’’.
Missen was on the Hamilton Borough Council for 18 months in the late 1880s, but otherwise seems to have taken little part in civic affairs. He was active in the Catholic community, one example being as an official at a sports day held on Sydney Square (now Steele Park) in 1904. He played second violin for the Hamilton Orchestral and Choral Union when it gave its first concert to a ‘‘fairly well filled hall’’ in December 1893. This musical talent was evident in one of his daughters, Edith Mary, who was a certified teacher of piano, organ, viola and violin in the 1890s and early 1900s. As well as solo performances, she had a string band that played at concerts and balls.
Edwin Missen came to Hamilton as well, and ran the billiard saloon at the Commercial Hotel before he established the successful Te Aroha Hotel at Waihou in 1878 until his early death in 1882.
James Missen died in Waikato Hospital in 1908 aged 74 and was buried in Hamilton West Cemetery. Son Percy moved to Upokongaro in the Whanganui district but died in Te Waikato Sanatorium of TB in 1910. Daughter Amy married Hamilton jeweller Henry Howden, but the other daughters, May and Edith Mary, did not marry. Edith (senior) and her daughter Edith shifted to Auckland by 1914 and they and May are buried in Waikumete Cemetery.
Many thanks to Merv Aitken for allowing me access to his research files and to the library’s Heritage Team.
●➤ In last week’s History column, the name was incorrect. Lyn Mary Douglas should have read Mary Douglas. The Times apologises for the error.