Catherine SLOAN (nee RAE 1839-1933) was born in County Down, Ireland. She married John SLOAN (1827-1916) in 1858 in Balloo Presbyterian Church, Killinchy, Ireland & arrived into Lyttelton 9 May 1860 on board the Gananoque with 9 month old son William
- they were the parents of Caroline 'Carrie" Sloan who married
Drummond Anderson McMEEKAN - story at that link

the following Obituary was taken from Ellesmere Guardian, 7 April 1933
OBITUARY - Mrs CATHERINE SLOAN
To have seen the bare, unfenced plains of this district, with bad roads and unbridged rivers, develop into cultivated farms approached along up-to-date highways, smiling homesteads lighted by electricity and rejoicing in the possession of all modern conveniences and equipped with every possible domestic comfort, was the privilege of Mrs Catherine Sloan, who died at Southbridge on Wednesday at the great age of 94 years, and who had been a resident of Christchurch and Southbridge since 1860.

Mrs Sloan was married to Mr John Sloan in 1858 at the Balloo Presbyterian Church, Killinchy, County Down, Ireland, and two years later the young couple decided to come to New Zealad, where a brother, Mr William Sloan, had settled on Banks Peninsula.

They sailed in the ship "Gananoque" and landed at Lyttelton after a voyage of 84 days. After walking over the Bridle Path to Opawa the new arrivals settled in that locality for about seven years, Mr Sloan finding work in the district and also on the construction of the Lyttelton tunnel, and they were both present at the opening ceremony.

From Opawa Mr and Mrs Sloan removed to Southbridge, where Mr Charles Bridge had acquired a large estate, part of which is now known as the Homebrook Soldiers Settlement. Southbridge was so named after Mr Bridge. After working on the estate for some years, Mr Sloan took up land at "Stony Gully" about three and a half miles from Southbridge. In those days there were few bridges and not any proper fencing and occasional visits to Christchurch in order to procure stores were made in an old-fashioned dray. Later a coach ran between Christchurch and Southbridge and it was an eventful day in the lives of the settlers when the railway line to Southbridge was opened.

The difficulties and hardships of the pioneer's life were fully experienced by Mrs Sloan. Life on a farm then was often very lonely, except for the company of one's own family. Many swaggers tramped the roads and were hospitably received, often offering to help in return for the assistance given them. Little or no firewood was to be obtained in those days and gorse fences were not then known.
Bread was baked in a camp oven and Mrs Sloan often recalled the time when she heated the oven by burning straw, no other fuel being procurable just then.

During the early days the Sloan family suffered a very sad bereavement. An epidemic of diptheria broke out. The disease was not then understood and doctors were few and far away. In about four weeks they lost *six of their children, five boys and one girl.
Many neighbours throughout the district suffered similar losses in their families.

After being engaged for more than 40 years in farming, Mr and Mrs Sloan and family came to live in Southbidge, where they continued to reside ever since.
Mr Sloan passed away in 1917 at the age of 89 years.

Of high sterling character, ever ready to assist those in need, of a most generous and hospitable nature, Mrs SLoan presided over a home which for many years had offered a cheery and ready welcome to friend and stranger. No appeal for assistance was ever refused and Mrs Sloan earned the affection and highest respect of a very large circle of friends and acquaintances who will be sorry to hear of her passing away.

She is survived by two sons, Alfred (1872-1948) and Arthur (1874-1960) Sloan, of Southbridge, and four daughters, Misses E. (Emily 1874-1956) and K. (Catherine "Kitty" 1875-1974) Sloan, of Southbridge and Mrs D. McMeekan (Caroline 1882-1948), headteacher of Greenpark School

FUNERAL
A very large number of old friends attended the funeral this afternoon, the interment taking place at the Ellesmere Cemetery, Leeston. The Rev. W. G. HANNAH conducted the service and the bearers were:
Messrs D. and W. MONTGOMERY, G. HUTCHESON and J. ARMSTRONG

Floral tributes were received from the following:
* the SLOAN family
* Messrs R. & P. J. KELLEHER
* Mr & Mrs J. LAWRENCE
* Mr & Mrs BALNEAVES
* Mr F. PETERSON
* Mr & Mrs SHELLOCK and family
* Mr & Mrs RITCHIE and family
* Mrs J. MANSON and family
* Mr & Mrs P. BUCKLEY
* Mrs HUNTER
* Mr & Mrs J. C. HAMPTON
* Mr J. ROBB and family
* Mr & Mrs F. W. SCOTT
* Mr & Mrs & Miss B. COSSGROVE
* Mr & Mrs A. HANNAH and family
* Mrs E. McCLELLAND and family
* Mr & Mrs R. G. BISHOP
* Mr & Mrs McMEEKAN
* Mr R. LOW and family
* Mary E. HOWSON and family
* Mrs and Miss LEWTON
* Mr and Mrs T. J. CARTER and family
* Mr J & Miss RUSSELL
* Mr & Mrs J. MALCOLMSON
* Mr D. MALCOLMSON
* Mr & Mrs J. COLLIER
* Miss V. COSSGROVE

Ellesmere Guardian, 28 April 1933
The family of the late Mrs Catherine Sloan thank all kind friends and neighbours for wreaths, telegrams, letters and personal expressions of sympathy in their recent bereavement; also Dr Volckman for his kindly attention to their mother during her illness
___________________________________

the children of JOHN & CATHERINE
(some children found on BDM under the name Sloane)

1 1859 - 1874 William Sloan*
- William died 9 March 1874 aged 15 during the Diptheria Epidemic
Press, 20 March 1874 SLOAN - March 9, at Southbridge, of Diptheria, William, eldest son of John and Catherine Sloan, aged 15 years

2 1861 - 1874 Robert Sloan*
- born 14 April 1861, Robert died 17 March 1874 aged 12 of Diptheria
Press, 30 March 1874 SLOAN - On the 17th inst., at the Christchurch Hospital, of diptheria, Robert, second son of John and Catherine Sloan, of Southbridge, aged 13 years

3 1862 - 1908 John Sloan
- born 2 Oct 1862, John died 15 April 1908 aged 46
he is buried Plot 198, Row 5, Anglican area at Ellesmere cemetery
Press, 16 April 1908 SLOAN - On April 15th, at "The Folly" Southbridge, John, eldest surviving son of John and Catherine Sloan. Deeply regretted

4 1864 - 1874 Hamilton Sloan*
- born 1864, Hamilton died 7 March 1874 aged 10 of Diptheria
Press, 20 March 1874 SLOAN - March 7, at Southbridge, of Diptheria, Hamilton, fourth son of John and Catherine Sloan, aged 10 years

5 1866 - James Sloan
- born 3 March 1866, not mentioned in 1933

6 1866 - 1874 Walter Sloan
- *Walter died 11 March 1874 aged 8 of Diptheria
Press, 20 March 1874 SLOAN - March 11, at Southbridge, of Diptheria, Walter, fifth son of John and Catherine Sloan, aged 8 years

7 1867 - 1874 Francis Sloan
- born 9 Oct 1867, Francis died 24 March 1874 aged 6 of Diptheria
Press, 30 March 1874 SLOAN - On the 24th inst., at the Christchurch Hospital, of diptheria, Francis, sixth son of John and Catherine Sloan, of Southbridge, aged 6 years

8 1869 - 1874 Mary Elizabeth Sloan
- born 25 April 1869, Mary died 12 March aged 4 of Diptheria
Press, 20 March 1874 SLOAN - March 12, at Southbridge, of Diptheria, Mary Elizabeth, eldest daughter of John and Catherine Sloan, aged 4 years

9 1871 - 1948 Albert Sloan
- born 17 March 1871 in Southbridge, Albert died 38 March 1948 aged 76
he is buried Plot 292, Row 9, Anglican at Ellesmere cemetery

10 1872 - 1956 Emily 'Emma' Sloan
- born 18 Sept 1872 in Southbridge, Emma was a School Teacher
- Emma (as spinster) died 25 Sep 1956 aged 84 & buried Ellesmere cemetery

11 1874 - 1960 Arthur Sloan
- born 22 August 1874 in Southbridge, Arthur died 19 June 1960 aged 85
he is buried Plot 539, Row 10, Anglican, at Ellesmere cemetery

12 1875 - 1974 Catherine 'Kitty' Sloan
- born 7 Aug 1876, Kitty (a spinster) died 9 September 1974 aged 99
her next of kin was her cousin, Mrs Robinson
she is buried Plot 652, Row 12, Anglican, Ellesmere cemetery with sister Mary Elizabeth

13 1876 - 1876 Samuel Sloan
- born 1876, Samuel died 21 February 1876 aged 2 months
parents (John & Catherine?) were living at Kilmore St East, Christchurch
Samuel is buried Plot 1157 at Barbadoes cemetery

14 1877 - 1948 Caroline 'Carrie' Sloan
- born 24 Dec 1877, Carrie married Drummond Anderson McMeekan (1881-1948) in 1929 see top link
- she died 13 April 1948 aged 70 (cemetery records say 66)
she is buried Plot 241, Row 6, Anglican, Ellesmere cemetery with her father John

15 1879 - 1879 Margaret Ann Sloan
- born May 1879, Margaret died 4 July 1879 aged 5 weeks

16 Mary Elizabeth Sloan
- born 18 Dec 1880, Mary (as spinster) died 18 March 1972 aged 88
she is buried Plot 652, Row 12, Anglican, at Ellesmere cemetery with sister Catherine


John Sloan died 21 July 1916 aged 89
Press, 24 July 1916 Mr JOHN SLOAN
A very old and highly-respected resident of the Ellesmere district passed away at his home, Broad St., Southbridge on Friday morning, in the person of Mr John Sloan, in his 89th year. The deceased was born at Killinchy, County Down, Ireland, and with his wife came to New Zealand in the ship Gananoque in the year 1860 and was one of the early pioneers of Canterbury. He first lived with Mr Charles Bridge at Opawa, which was then a Maori settlement. Some years later he took up farming at Little Rakaia, in which pursuit he was engaged for over thirty years. Upon retiring from farming, he took up his residence at Southbridge, where he was well and favourably known for his kind and generous acts, and hospitality, to his fellow men. He was always cheerful and full of spirit and had a kindly word for all. Deceased leaves a widow, two sons, and four daughters to mourn their loss. The funeral, which was a large and representative one, took place on Monday afternoon, the Rev. H. G. Hawkins officiating at the graveside.
- he is buried Plot 241, Row 6 at Ellesmere cemetery with daughter Carrie
Catherine Sloan died 5 April 1933 aged 94
- she is buried Plot 240, Row 6 at Ellesmere cemetery