People Australia

John Linton, n.d.

Chronicle (Adelaide), 5 May 1917, p 30

John George Linton (1855-1917) engineer and trade union official

Birth: 25 January 1855 at Port Adelaide, South Australia, son of native-born John Reid Linton, (1823-1896), stevedore and labourer, and Sophia Elizabeth (Elizabeth) Wilson (1817-1907), born at Cupar, Fife, Scotland. Marriages: (1) to Mary Ann Elizabeth (1857-1887). They had three sons and three daughters, four of whom died in childhood. (2) 1916 at Parkside, Adelaide, to English-born Annie Elizabeth Sweetapple (b.1855). They had one daughter and one son. Death: 12 April 1917 in his usual residence at Clyde Street, Parkside. 

• From about 1887 to his death he was employed as chief engineer by the Adelaide Advertiser, owned by Sir Langdon Bonython. “During that period the whole of the machinery for the production of the great daily was completely revolutionised. The ordinary hand-fed machines gave place to the perfecting presses of the present day; direct-coupled electrical equipment replaced steam power; and the up-to-date linotype composing machines were substituted for hand composition with moving type. Mr Linton had a large share in solving the engineering problems in the course of the work.”
• “His advice was much sought after in all parts of the State on engineering matters, and … possessed of a genial disposition.
• Linton was a member of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers, Adelaide branch from about 1878. Sometime delegate to the Trades and Labor Council.
• Secretary to Labour Day Committee for a lengthy period.
• Member of the Eight Hours Movement, South Australia.
• Cause of death: cerebral tumour.

Sources
Amalgamated Society of Engineers, AL? Monthly Report, May 1917.