Walter C Mountain

edmondsallan - Hi every one . As I dip the pen in the ink - means -
( hitting the key board ) we were last talking by journal , about the " Mountain " Family.
" Walter C Mountain " really was one hell of man ,in any one's language . My notes on " Walter " under - hold , research folder ,to me , has some fascinating reading .
As he developed from a youth to a young man from a hard -working background, he developed the hard driving , charismatic , person he became well known for . He went to The Australian Gold fields to find gold , which he did . In fact he made a small fortune in gold . Yet it was through boxing , rather than his wealth , he became well known for . While he was in an amuteur boxing fight in queensland , Aussie , trying to win a special prize , " a saddle " he was spotted by an English man , who was impressed with his boxing ability . He persuaded " Walter " that he had a future in the ring ,so this young " gold Miner " started to train . He became the " Heavy weight " Champion of Queensland " his trainer wanted him to go further into the boxing career , however " Walter" decided he had gone far enough in the Boxing world , was happy with his gold takings and decided to return home to the ' Purerua Peninsula ' . in Bay of Islands , NZ. in 1880. The population of the peninsula had grown to over 800 people working the area in many things , and was a thriving area . " Walter " took over his fathers store and canning factory , which hadn't been doing to good ,and started selling alcohol and other much needed supplies . He also bought the gum off the gum diggers ,developed the woolbuying and cannery factory into greater production . His canning factory , under the label of " Penguin " started to win medals in London , so he started up the ' Bully Beef 'side , canned it and exported it world wide . Having had great success in the manufacturing world he decided to buy more land.He finally finished buying 12,000 acres which he turned into a cattle & sheep station . When the Law then came down on alcohol sales / supplies . Walter decided to go under ground with this operation . With his distillery hidden in two coastal caves on his property, he supplied most of the east coast of northland with illegal Rum & Spirits . He was very successful with this liquor operation and was never caught .Their is talk he had " Exercise " officials on his pay roll . In his spare time , he became father to 16 children .( 15 daughters >>> ** holy cow !!! ** ) and the last was a boy , who was named " Walter Jr " who continued to live in the area until 2008. His father died in 1930. Their are many more stories about " Walter C Mountain " However I think we may need to move on to another family of our Enlarged "Family Tree " - Till we meet again - regards - edmondsallan