A member of one of the earliest pioneering families of the district, one linked with Orange and its neighbourhood for many decades, Mr. William Henry Tom, passed away at the Orange District Hospital on Monday afternoon at 4.30 o’clock. He was admitted to the hospital suffering from bladder trouble and was in great pain for the whole time of his illness, some weeks. Eighteen months ago he was operated on by Sir Herbert Maitland, in the Jenner Hospital, and for eighteen months previously was treated locally. He was first attacked three years ago. He resided at Ivanhoe, near Guyong, but removed into Orange and lived in March-street, and then in Autumn-street. He was 67 years old and leaves a widow and two children, Dorothy, 14, and Wilfrid, 8 years. His father, the late William Tom, junr., was the son of the very old identity, William Tom, better known in his day as Parson Tom, who was among the first celebrants of religious services in the Guyong-Byng districts and who built the historic homestead, Springfield, with his strapping sons. The deceased at the time of his death was in possession of one of the first nuggets of gold found at the Ophir, the discovery being made at that time, 1851, when Hargraves, James and William Tom and J. H. A. Lister prospected at what was to be the first Australian goldfields. The nugget weighs about ¼oz, and is shaped like a heart. He also possessed the original cradle with which the prospectors washed the gold out. Mr. Les Tom, late of Bridge and Co., is a nephew. Three brothers are living. Messrs. A. S. Tom, of Winbar, Trundle, and Alfred and Lister Alby (Grenfell). Sisters are Mrs. E. Treweeke, of Umbercallie, Queensland, Mrs. C. L. Underwood, Cadira, Guyong, and Mrs. Mathew Tom, of Emu Swamp, and Miss Mary Tom, who resides with Mrs. Underwood. The funeral will leave the late residence, in Autumn street, this day (Thursday), at 2 o’clock, for the Methodist cemetery.    Link