Wehl, Louise Therese (later Mrs Matthiessen) (1860 - 1952)

Born in SA, 3 October 1860; died in Griffith, NSW,17 October 1952.

One of fifteen children, to Eduard Wehl (1823-1876), physician and settler, and CLARA CHRISTINA MARIA née MUELLER (1833-1901). The family settled at Mount Gambier, but moved to 'Ehrenbreitstein', near Millicent in 1871. Louise was appointed postmistress at Appila-Yarrowie.

Louise collected MEL specimens (as 'Louise Wehl') at Appila, 1880-1884, Rivoli Bay, Broughton River, Clare, 1882, upper end of Spencer Gulf, 1882.

In 1889, she married John Francis Matthiessen (1859-1945) of 'Hill View', Laura, and they had three children.

Louise collected MEL specimens (as 'Mrs Matthieson') at Rocky River, 1894.

Louise's parents, and her sisters MARIE and META WEHL, also collected MEL specimens.

Louise died in Griffith, NSW, in 1952, aged 92.

Eleven letters from Mueller to Louise survive.

Source: extracted from: Maroske, Sara and Vaughan, Alison (2014) 'Ferdinand Mueller's female plant collectors: a biographical register', Muelleria Vol.32 [consult for source references]