The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1879-04-18
Dissolution OF Remarkable COpartuer-
ship In Wisconsin.


In the town of Westport. six miles
north of Madison, Wis, have lived for
many years two brothers named Domi-
nick and Martin O'Malley. These
brothers, when young men, in 1852, in
the mountains of California. while min
ing there, verbally agreed to join their
efforts and their fortunes and to be part
ners in all their business enterprises
That partnership existed until yesterday.
Shortly after it was formed Martin went
to Australia, lured there by the gold ex-
citement, and Dominick remained in
California. Each kept an account, and
the firm, with all the viciSsitudss and
varying luck Of the miners life, kept
solvent Martin returned from Austria
liza to Wisconsin, and began farming
operations, and a year or two after
Dominick returned. Every dollar Of
earnings or profits received by either Of
them went to the partnership fund, and
every loss encountered by either, no mat
ter in what hemisphere OF under what
circumstances, came out Of the firm
capital
After their return to Wisconsin Mar
. tin married The firm kept right on
the lands were all owned together; the
house. as a homestead for family use,
was built every shingle used and every
nail driven at firm expense, and house
hold supplies procured also on firm ac-
count. Dominick soon after lost an
arm. He went to France at firm eX-
pense to procure an artificial arm He
visited Ireland, and came hack bringing
a wife, imported at the expense Of the
firm Then another house was built on
the firms lands and supplied out Of the
common fund with all housekeeping re-
quisites. Since then their lands have beeu
titled they have dealt in lands, and at
present own extensive tracts in Kansas,
besides some 700 OF 500 acres in West
port. Such securities as they owned
the surplus earnings Of many years Of
thrift-were invested entirely in Domi-
nick's name. Every dollar Of expense
and earnings of each family were a part
nership account, and the accumulation
" d liENGl Wv 4NNN AAA4A4A rNoAEAlAN4eH III
fact, everything they had, but their
wives and babies, were firm property.
They lived in perfect concord. without a
single difference or discord on the part
of themselves OF families. DOminick.
10y reason of his disablement. naturally
attended TO the general business, and
Martin devoted himself most assidiously
to the cultivation Of the farms.
They were both in feeling disinclined
to disturb the existing order of things
But as the years began 10 whiten their
heads, and their children to approach
mature age. they felt 1t duty to dissolve
this complex relation. Their method Of
doing this was as novel as their previous
dealings had been. They went to their
counsel and entered into a carefully pre-
pared written agreement, arranging FOR
/ division and dissolution, to carry out
which, at whatever cost Of personal dis
appointment they bound themselves by
I-the most solemn covenants. Their re-
spective houses were unlike III value
and desirability. In dividing these and
assigning to each his part they sold the
right of choice to the highest bidder Of
the two. 1t was agreed that, should a
change of houses be cansed 10y their d
vision, the entire household effects used
by each should be left in the house he
moved from, and that only the clothing
Of the family. the family Bible and pic
lures should be taken TO the new home
The right of choice was awarded to
Dominick. and he chose the house Of
Martin, who generously yielded II, as
Dominick's family was the larger, and
needed the larger house. SO they are 10
change households. each taking his wife,
children and their clothing, Bible and
pictures, leaving everything else, and
proceed to the home Of the other and own
and occupy it henceforth. 1t cost their
wives a sigh of regret, but they cheer
fully entered into this arrangement. and
it was carried ont with perfect conf
dence and good feeling. They have eff
fected a division of all their lands except
the Kansas lands, and for the first time
since they were houSeholders. they may
be said to own spoon or knife. fork
plate OF tin dipper which is not partner
ship property.
These brothers are highly respected
They have often held Offices of trust in
/ their towns. DOminick was a member
of the Assembly in the year 1861