Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley
Marion Jamieson Miller was born about 1834 in Glasgow – the daughter of John Miller.
She married, iron turner, William Chisholm on 31 December 1855 and they had nine children, four who died in infancy.
In 1875 the family emigrated to Otago on the “Invercargill” - they settled in Opoho, Dunedin where their last child was born.
In 1879 William died suddenly at work of heart disease. Marion remained in Opoho where she signed the suffrage petition.
She died on 17 July 1931 and is buried with William in the family grave in the Northern Cemetery.
Her obituary said “she was well known for her cheerful and kindly disposition. Her memory was exceptionally good, and she could tell many vivid stories of the early days of the settlement”.
“She was always ready to help those in distress, and she helped in many cases of sickness”.
Sources:
BDM online NZ https://bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/
DCC Cemetery Records http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/facilities/cemeteries/cemeteries-search
Family Search https://www.familysearch.org
Otago Nominal Index http://marvin.otago.ac.nz
Papers Past https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz
Scotlands People https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk