USA > Wisconsin > Walworth County > History of Walworth county, Wisconsin, Volume II > Part 30
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WILLIAM H. TYRRELL.
Deeds are thoughts crystallized, and according to their brilliancy do we judge the worth of a man to the country which produced him, and in his works we expect to find the true index to his character. A worthy representa- tive of that type of American business men who may properly be termed "progressive," that character which promotes public good in advancing indi- vidual prosperity and conserving popular interests, is William H. Tyrrell, well-known manufacturer and merchant of Delavan, Walworth county. He has been prominently identified with the business interests of this locality for many years, and while his varied affairs have brought him success they have also advanced the general welfare by accelerating commercial activity.
Mr. Tyrrell was born at Racine, Wisconsin, November 8, 1857, the son of Henry and Jenette ( Wooster) Tyrrell. The parents came from near Fairfield, Connecticut, to Wisconsin, in 1843 and 1844 and located at Racine. The Tyrrell family may be traced back to England, where the family was one of high standing, had a coat-of-arms bearing the motto "Ventas Va Vitae." There was one of three brothers who went to Ireland and became a general. his name appearing in Irish history, and there is a place named for him. Tyrrell's Pass. Descendants of his brothers came to America in an early day and settled in the New England colonies, and some of the members of this family fought in the American Revolution.
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Jenette Wooster is descended from a family that also came from Eng- land and settled in New England before the war for independence and her ancestors were also in the Revolution, one of them being an officer in the patriot army.
After coming to Racine, Wisconsin, the father of the subject engaged for a time at his trade of tailoring, then farmed for a time, later resuming tailoring, later going into the wholesale and retail grocery business, and later in life was in the real estate, loan and insurance business, and he spent the rest of his life in Racine. He took an active interest in the affairs of the city and held some public offices, notwithstanding the fact that he was a Demo- crat, and after the Civil war the Republicans were in the majority. He was quite active in the development of Racine, bought a large tract of land adjoin- ing that city, platted and sold it under the name of Tyrrell and Palmerter's addition. Hle was one of the substantial and influential men of that section of the state, and was held in high esteem for his public spirit and exemplary life, his dealings with his fellow men having ever been above cavil.
William H. Tyrrell, of this sketch, grew to manhood at Racine, and there attended the common schools and the high school. After leaving school he worked for the People's Gas Company, finally being placed in charge of their Racine office, when only about seventeen years old. A year later, in 1876, he came to Delavan, accompanied by his mother, his father having died in 1875. Hle clerked three years in a grocery store here, for his brother-in- law. J. H. Goodrich. In 1879 he was united in marriage with Allie Bradley. daughter of William Wallace and Esther Ann ( Larnerd) Bradley, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work After his marriage he went into partnership with Mr. Bradley, who had a dry goods and clothing store here. and also one at Clinton Junction. He took charge of the store at the latter place, and remained there about eighteen months, then returned to Delavan and two stocks were consolidated. About four years later John J. Phoenix, a brother-in-law of Mr. Tyrrell, was also taken in as a partner, and that arrange- ment continued until after Mr. Bradley's death; his family still continued to hold his interest in the firm until March 2, 1906, when the partnership was changed to a corporation under the name of W. W. Bradley & Company, of which Mr. Tyrrell is president, which position he is filling in a manner that re- flects much credit upon his ability, and under his able management the business has continued to grow until this store is today one of the most popular in the county. They always carry an extensive, carefully selected and up-to-date stock of choice goods, and their hundreds of customers receive every courtesy and consideration.
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Mr. Tyrrell has habitually endeavored to boost the interests of Delavan and he was largely instrumental in securing for this beautiful little city a knitting factory. In order to induce it to locate here, he and Mr. Phoenix and other local enterprising citizens took stock 'in it. The concern did not seem to be a success, the original owner finally being compelled to give it up. Messers. Tyrrell and Phoenix, after much pressure, were persuaded to take hold of it. They secured a controlling interest and in November, 1904, assumed control. Mr. Phoenix is president and Mr. Tyrrell is secretary and treasurer. Since then the company has prospered, growing rapidly. They have had to build additions to the plant for the past three years, and in 1911 an addition of three stories, one hundred feet in length, was added, also a power house was built. The plant is managed under a superb system and is thorough- ly equipped with every modern appliance necessary in turning out high-grade work promptly. They now employ about three hundred people and do an annual business of nearly a million dollars. Their goods, owing to their superior quality, find a very ready market all over the world, shipments be- ing made to Johannesburg, South Africa, Constantinople, Hawaii, the Phil- ippines, and they are now arranging to cover Asia and Japan They make knit coats, jackets, caps and many other articles, one of the most popular and widely known being the "Bradley Muffler," designed and invented by the subject's son, Wallace Bradley Tyrrell, and was named for him. He is usually known as Bradley Tyrrell. He is vice-president and superintendent of the firm. The muffler is patented and was largely copied by infringers, who were finally beaten in the courts in 1911. It is admittedly the finest muffler in the world, and is sold by every representative dealer in England, in fact, may be found all over the world. This factory would be a credit to any community, and its influence on this locality has been most beneficial.
Messrs. Tyrrell and Phoenix and Bradley Tyrrell have also made sev- eral deals in Delavan real estate that are notable. In October, 1911. they put on sale a plat of seventy-five city lots known as Tyrrell's sub-division, and sold them all in two hours' time at public sale. It was not an auction. the price being previously put on the lots.
Although active in public affairs, Mr. Tyrell would not under any consid- eration take any public office, preferring to devote his attention exclusively to his large business affairs. About 1895 he and Mr. Phoenix organized the Delavan Light & Fuel Company, now the United Heat & Power Company. After operating this concern about ten years in a most successful manner. they sold out. The buyer failed and Mr. Tyrrell was appointed receiver. and ran it two years, then sold it to the present company.
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Two children. a son and a daughter, have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Tyrrell, namely: Esther Marian and Wallace Bradley Tyrrell. The former was born October 16. 1896, and the latter October 9, 1883. He attended the schools of Delavan and was graduated from Beloit College in 1906, since which time he has been actively engaged in the business with Mr. Tyrrell and Mr. Phoenix. He was married on July 25. 1907. to Kate Root. of Elgin, Illinois, and to this union one daughter has been born. Katherine Bradley Tyrrel.
Fraternally, William H. Tyrrell belongs to the Knights of Pythias and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He and his wife are members of the Episcopal church. They have a beautiful and modern home in Delavan which is known as a place of hospitality to their many friends.
Mr. Tyrrell is by nature an organizer and promoter, a man of keen business discernment, sound judgment and broad views, yet plain, unassuming and unobtrusive, a very likable gentleman in every respect.
RUSSELL BROTHERS.
The Russell Brothers. Thomas and John. of Geneva township, well known business men and agriculturists and representative citizens of Wal- worth county, are eminently entitled to conspicuous mention in a history of this locality where they have so long labored in varied fields of endeavor. Their lives and interests have been so closely interwoven, their purposes and ideals so nearly identical and their achievements of such similar character that the history of one is practically the history of both.
Their first progenitor in America, Michael Russell, was born in Tulla, county Clare, Ireland, September 25, 1816, and there he spent his early life. coming to America in 1851, the voyage requiring nine weeks on a sailing ves- sel. He arrived at New York and there spent nearly a year, then came to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, by way of the Great Lakes. Leaving that city one morning with fifty pounds of baggage, he walked all the way to Elkhorn before night, he being the second or third Irishman to locate in Elkhorn, then a straggling hamlet. At that time there were no railroads and traveling was done by teams. A stage was passing through Elkhorn twice a week. The horns of elks were nailed up on a tree in the public square. Mr. Russell found work as a hostler at the hotel and remained there seven years. After he had been here two years he began paying on a farm two and one-half
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miles south of Elkhorn in Geneva township. On March 13. 1854. he and his brother John bought eighty acres in partnership, for which they paid two hundred and seventy-five dollars, and on October 14th of the same year they bought eighty acres adjoining, for which they paid six hundred dollars, on which Michael Russell was able to pay two hundred dollars down. In 1856 he sold the first eighty to his brother. On July 4. 1860. he was married to Mrs. Ann Maloney, nee McNamara, a native of Tulla, county Clare. Ireland. who emigrated to America when seventeen years of age, having been born on May 24. 1829. and it was in 1846 that she landed at Toronto, Canada, with her parents. John and Bridget (Russell) McNamara, and the family re- mained in that city nearly a year, then came to Milwaukee, where the daugh- ter Ann worked out for a time. Learning to be a tailoress. she worked at this several years, then married John Maloney. to which union two children were born, Patrick and Catherine. Mr. Maloney's death occurred in 1854. and his widow remained in Milwaukee until 1860, when she married Mr. Russell and came to live on the farm south of Elkhorn and here they established a good home. Mr. Russell was a Democrat, but not active in politics. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Russell, namely: Sarah. Mary, Thomas. John. Frank and James. The wife and mother passed to her rest on January 27. 1905, at the age of seventy-six years. The Russell family are all Catholics.
Patrick Maloney, mentioned above. was educated in Milwaukee. later taught school in Seneca county and when twenty-five years of age married and soon afterward went to South Dakota, where he took up a homestead and later engaged in the drug business, then turned his attention to real estate. which he followed until his death, in January, 1900. He had a family of eight children. Catherine Maloney made her home with her mother and step- father until her death, in June, 1911. Mary Russell married Michael Duggan and they live on the east side of Delavan lake, four miles from the old home. Mr. Duggan owning a farm of his own; his family consists of five children living and two are dead.
On March 19, 1890. Thomas and John Russell formed the firm of Rus- sell Brothers and went into the hardware business at Elkhorn. in connection with which they operated a feed mill for three years, also dealt in imple- ments and farming machinery. About 1898 they took Harvey Curtis as partner, he being a harness man, and added the harness business to their other lines, but this they sold out in 1902 to Charles Pipelow and the hardware business to H. C. Norris, Thomas retaining the implement business, which he conducted until 1908. when he sold out to the Elkhorn Implement Company and returned to the farm. John Russell has been engaged in cement bridge
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construction for various railroads. He was general superintendent over four hundred men and elevated the tracks for all the railroads at Milwaukee and Racine. He was also superintendent of bridge work on the Panama canal two years. He spent one year in England, Ireland and Wales, then returned to Wisconsin and resumed erecting cement bridges for railroads. He is now putting in a bridge one hundred feet above the water, two spans, four hun- dred and two feet to a span, near Vancouver, British Columbia, on the new railroad for the Canadian government. He is an expert in his line and is widely known for his skill and industry as a builder of bridges. He has turned out many big jobs, always satisfactorily. Thomas Russell is an adept in farming implements and machinery of all kinds and is well known all over the county. He now deals in huskers and other machinery, besides his farm- ing.
The other children of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Russell are all on the home farm.
On March 3, 1903, the Russell Brothers bought the old eighty-acre farm, for which they paid the sum of five thousand dollars; this land was bought by their father and uncle John in 1854 for the sum of two hundred and seventy-five dollars. They have since been offered nearly nine thousand dollars for it. Since the pioneer days the Russells have been among the best known and most highly esteemed families in Walworth county, public spirited and progressive men of affairs.
HERBERT E. SUTHERLAND.
The scion of a worthy pioneer family of Walworth county and himself a citizen who has led a public-spirited, unselfish and useful life, Herbert E. Sutherland, of the village of Walworth, is worthy of special mention in the history of this locality.
Mr. Sutherland was born on May 8, 1852, in the western part of Wal- worth township, this county. He is the son of Charles and Frances ( Bur- dick) Sutherland. The father was born in Vermont on November 4, 1816, and he moved to Edmeston, Otsego county, New York, with his parents when very young, and there grew to manhood and was married to Frances Burdick, May 7, 1843. She was born in Rhode Island, and was the daughter of Ichabod Burdick and wife, and she came with her parents to Edmeston, New York, when young. In 1843 Charles Sutherland came here and located in the east part of Walworth township, entering land from the government
MR. AND MRS. HERBERT E. SUTHERLAND
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in section 24, on which he built a log cabin, then went back East for his wife and children, and here he located permanently and reared his family of four children : Jane, who married D. W. Hulbert, lived first in Kansas, then Michigan, and died in Florida, July 4, 1910; Ellis I. E. lives at Nashua, Iowa ; Herbert E., of this sketch; Frank lives on the old home farm in the east part of Walworth township.
Charles Sutherland lived on the home farm until his two older children had grown to maturity, then he bought a house in the village of Sharon and there he lived a number of years. In later life he sold his home there and returned to his farm, where his death occurred on April 12, 1895. He and his wife endured many of the hardships here in the early days. At first their cabin had no chimney and they did not have enough stove-pipe to reach to the roof. Later he drove to Chicago and got additional pipe, the trip re- quiring two weeks. After a time he built a stone chimney, the subject now having two of the stones from the chimney in his possession, on one of which is painted a picture of the cabin as it looked in 1843, and the other as it was in 1896. Charles Sutherland was a great hunter and he loved all kinds of outdoor sports. On January 2, 1861, he and others went on a big hunt, after which they had planned an oyster supper at the village hotel. During the hunt a bullet glancing from a rail struck Mr. Sutherland, putting out an eye. What he deplored more than anything else about it was that it prevented further hunting. He was a good natured man, an excellent neigh- bor, kind, obliging and of genial disposition, and he was always firm in his convictions of justice and right-a typical Wisconsin pioneer and a worthy old . settler. His wife, also a fine character, was a fit companion of such a ster- ling first settler and she bore her hardships uncomplainingly. She was jolly and charitable, one of the best of women. It is well remembered of her that often after a hard day's washing she would put on her Shaker bonnet, light her pipe, take her knitting and walk and knit all the way to Bell's Corners. three and one-half miles and back after the mail. Although their cabin had only one big room and a pantry and a loft above, it was always big enough to extend a welcome hospitality to all comers and travelers of the early days. She was a small woman, but had much endurance and she lived to be eighty years old. She and her husband had innumerable friends throughout the county, and no enemies.
Herbert E. Sutherland lived with his parents until he was twenty-one years of age, then went to Racine and learned harness making, remaining there eighteen months, when the factory in which he was employed went out
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of business. He then farmed two years, after which he went to New York and engaged in butter and cheese making at Edmeston, Otsego county, remaining there most of the time for eight years, also spent eight months in Pennsyl- vania. He then returned to the home farm, and operated the homestead until his marriage, on February 13, 1890, to Olive L. Maxson, daughter of Clark P. and Lucy Ann ( Kinney ) Maxson. Her father was born in Plainfield, Otsego county, New York, and lived there until his marriage. He was the son of Deacon Alfred and Polly (Clark) Maxson. Deacon Alfred Maxson was born June 27. 1785, and he and Mary Clark were married on January 1, 1808. She was the daughter of Peckham Clark, and was born June 29, 1789. They came here about 1843 from Plainfield, New York, where he had been active in the Seventh-Day Baptist church and was one of its first deacons at Leonardsville, Madison county, and after coming here he was prominent in this church from its beginning. His son, Clark P. Maxson, married Lucy Ann Kinney, March 3, 1839. She was born in New Berlin, New York, about 1821 and when eighteen years of age taught school there. She was the daughter of Samuel and Olive Kinney. In 1844 Clark P. Maxson and wife came to Walworth county and located in the west part of Linn township. His father, Deacon Maxson, and his entire family came at the same time. Deacon Maxson was one of the organizers of the Seventh-Day Baptist church of Walworth. He was a man of strong convictions, outspoken against any- thing he deemed to be wrong. He was one of the strong men of his com- munity, and was a deacon for many years of the church he helped organize. . His wife was baptized into the church in her old age. Clark P. Maxson lived first in Linn township, but later moved to Walworth. Mrs. Sutherland was born in Linn township. Her only sister, Lucy Jane, was born in New York, prior to the family's removal to Wisconsin. She married Theodore Hull and lived in Walworth until her death in 1861. They had two children, Lucy Jane, called Janey, and Clark P. Hull. The mother died when the daughter was only three days old and the son was but sixteen months old. Their father died six months later and the little ones were taken by their grandparents. Mr. and Mrs. Clark P. Maxson, and reared to maturity. Janey married Clarence Pierce, of Walworth, brother of Delos Pierce, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. In 1891 Clarence Pierce and wife moved to Chicago, where he was in the employ of the street railway company for about eighteen years. He went South on business and while there con- tracted Southern typhoid fever, and returned to Chicago and on a visit to his brother in Walworth, Wisconsin, his death occurred July 24, 1902. His wife had shown herself a woman of strong determination and foresight and
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stability of character, and she has made her own way, rearing her children in respectability. Her brother, Clark P. Hull, lives with Mr. Sutherland in Walworth. .
After his marriage and before and up to the time of his father's death Herbert E. Sutherland continued farming east of the village of Walworth in the locality where he was born, remaining there until February 15, 1910. then he was on the Ayers farm a short time successfully engaged in general farming and stock raising, and then moved to Walworth, where he has since resided, having sold his farm and retired from active life: however, being a man of action and in his prime, he contemplates returning to agricultural pur- suits.
Fraternally, Mr. Sutherland is a member of the Modern Woodmen. He is known by all to be upright and generous, industrious by nature, and he is well thought of by all who have met him.
WILLIAM WALLACE BRADLEY.
In looking over the list of business men of a past generation in Walworth county whose many public-spirited acts contributed to the general good of the locality, the name of William Wallace Bradley stands out conspicuously, and although he has taken up his march with the innumerable phantom army to Shakespeare's "undiscovered bourne," his memory is enshrined in the hearts of his many friends and will long linger there.
Mr. Bradley, who was for years one of the leading merchants of Dela- van, was born in the town of Groton, Tompkins county, New York, May 20, 1826. He was a son of Dr. Enos and Adah Bradley, who were Connecticut people, moving to New York in an early day, and when the subject was about six years old the family moved to Darien, Genesee county, New York, where they remained until 1845. in which year they emigrated to the state of Wis- consin, locating at Southport, known at present as Kenosha. When a young man Mr. Bradley learned tailoring, and in 1848 he located in Delavan, en- gaging in this business. Later he began dealing in ready-made clothing, being the first one in the county in that business. Later he added dry goods and built up the business that is now the W. W. Bradley & Company's store. He started in a small way and built well, his trade increasing with the years until he enjoyed a lucrative business. With the exception of one year, 1865, he was in business continuously until his death. During the greater part of that time he dealt in both dry goods and clothing and was one of the best known merchants in this section of the state.
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Mr. Bradley was first married to Cynthia Keeler, daughter of Peter M. Keeler. Her death occurred on December 31, 1853, leaving a daughter who died when twelve years old. On April 21, 1855, Mr. Bradley was married to Esther Larnard, daughter of Elisha and Nancy (Wilson) Larnard. She was born in Tioga county, New York, in 1826, and is still living at Delavan, now nearly eighty-six years old. She came here about 1857 with her brother, Ira P. Larnard, who is still a resident of Delavan, having been one of the first settlers there, and he is now ninety years of age. Two daughters were born to Mr. Bradley's second union, Allie and Eva. The former is the wife of William H. Tyrrell, of Delavan, and the latter married John J. Phoenix.
Mr. Bradley was a man who took much more than passing interest in public affairs. He served as treasurer of Delavan during the years of 1851 and 1852, and he was a member of the village board of trustees for four years. In 1854 and 1855 he was town treasurer and was village trustee in 1873, 1875, 1880 and 1886. He was never an office seeker, what public honors he received coming unsought. He was in business in Delavan over fifty years, during which time he did much for the upbuilding of the place, and when he was called to his reward on January 1, 1900, the community felt a keen loss. He was a very likable man, honest, obliging, kind-hearted, strict integrity being a cardinal principle of his business. He was modest and unassuming, yet always friendly and sociable, thus made and retained friends easily.
WILLIAM CLARENCE NORTON.
The life of William Clarence Norton, well known attorney of Elkhorn, has been one of hard study and research from his youth and since maturity of laborious professional duty, and the high position which he has attained in the affairs of Walworth county is evidence that the qualities which he possesses afford the means of distinction under a system of government in which places of honor and usefulness are open to all who may be worthy of them.
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