Biography

Joseph Charles Genders (1827 - 1914)
Family tradition says that the 'Genders' originally came from Gendersheim in Central Europe, and that they were Polish Counts with the surname Gendz.

Joseph Charles Genders was born in Birmingham, England, on 4th February 1827, the second child of Henry Genders and Sarah, formerly Luff. He emigrated from England to South Australia, where he married Albina Louisa Perry on 30th January 1854, at St. Mary's Church, Kooringa. Albina Perry was born on 9th August, 1837.

Joseph Genders established a wholesale business in Adelaide in 1861, in saddlery and ironmongery. In 1881 he moved to Launceston, Tasmania, where he set up the firm to be called later W. & G. Genders Pty. Ltd. It was described as 'Saddlers, Ironmongers, Importers of Grindery' in Cameron Street.

In 1869 he transferred the business to two of his sons, William John- and Arthur Gilbert. A few years later a third son, Edmund Bertram, entered the partnership. Members of the family directed the firm until it was taken over by a similar firm, J. & T. Gunn Pty. Ltd., in 1978, and became "Gunns Genders".

Joseph and his family first lived at 'Greycliffe' near Franklin Village in a house built in 1830, once known as 'Magpie Hill', and later as 'Lyndhurst'. Then they lived at 49 High Street, Launceston, at the corner of Adelaide Street. They had thirteen children, all born in Adelaide - Henry Thomas, Marian Louisa, Joseph Charles, Henry James, Sarah Albina, William John, Arthur Gilbert, Albert Eustace, Laura Henrietta, Edmund Bertram, Ethel Maude, Clara Beatrice & Ada Lilian.

Albina Genders died at Launceston on 26^th July 1888, aged 51, and is buried in St. James' churchyard, Franklin Village.

Joseph Charles survived his wife by almost twenty-six years, dying in Launceston on 29^th June 1914, and is also buried in St. James' churchyard. He is commemorated by a prayer desk in St. John's Church. The inscription reads:
IN MEMORIAM
JOSEPH CHARLES GENDERS
CARVED AND PRESENTED BY HIS DAUGHTER ADA LILIAN BARRETT

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