The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1899-06-15
LIVES THE CENTURY.
WILLIAM LYNCH CELEBRATES HIS
TOOTH BIRTHDAY.
A LONG AND ACTIVE CAREER
Kenosha's Centenarian Looks Back Upon
a Career of Century Filled With
Active Years-May Live to
see Three Centuries.

celebrated in the history OF ken0sna
was celebrated today when William
Lynch, one of the early pioneers of the
city and county, passed the one
hundredth milestone in his life's his
tory. In honor of the event no special
celebration was held, as Mr.. Lynch has
in the last few months become sofeeble
that it is with great exertiOn that he is
able to be around the house. Many of
his friends, however, who have been
dear to him for so many years dropped
in today to express to him their con-
gratulations that he had been permitted
by an all seeing Providence to round
out full century in the voyage of life.
Mr.. Lynch is perhaps the oldest man
in the county and there are few IN the
State that have been permitted to
celebrate so notable an event, He has
Outlived many of his children and
many of the friends of his earlier years
lie sleeping in the cemeteries about the
city. While Mr.. Lynch has lived full
century, time has dealt gently with
him, and while his hair has long since
turned from black to gray and while
the wrinkles are thick upon his face be
still retains much of the activity OF his
youth. In the past few years he has
been failing rapidly and the great
vitality which was 80 noticeable in the
early aud mature years of his life has
been dimmed by the ravages of the
long years of struggle. Many in the
CITY remember when Mr.. Lynch,
although then far past the four score
allotted to mortals, was one of the most
active men in the city, and it has only
been during the last few months that
he has consented to allow his children
to bear the weight of his business
transactions.
Like many of the early pioneers of
KenOsha county Mr.. Lynch was OF
Irish birth. He was born in the
county of Longford on the 10th day of
June, 1899. His parents were among
the better people of the village and
early in life he was educated in such a
manner that he laid broad foundation
for his long years of usefulness. Ee
remained in his native land until the
early part of the present century when
he decided to come to this country to
make his future home The decision
was carried out and he landed in New
York in 1924. Here he lived for several
years and on the 22nd of July, 1928, he
was married in the old historic Cattle
dral of st. Peter to Miss Mary Camp
bell, who was also native of the
Emerald Isle. For some time after the
marriage Mr.. Lynch and his wife re-
NAMED in New York, but when the
Great West was opened up Mr.. Lynch
decided that he would be one OF the
men who would brave the hardships
and win a home for himself in what was
then a practiC "'y uneXplored land. He
decided to come to this county, and in
1912 after a long and tedious journey
overland he landed in the little village
of Southport. He did not remain in
the village, but going far cut in the
prairie he became one of the founders
of what was afterward known as the
4
ability and his superior education at
once made him a leader among the
people in the vicinity of his new home
and he was at once regarded as
sucp. He took an active part in
politics and was for years the represen-
tative of the little village in all affairs
dealing with the State and county. He
was elected to be the first Assessor of
the town of Pleasant Prairie and was
also one of the first Town Chairmen
chosen by the people of the village. He
resided in the town seven years, after
which he removed to the town of Paris.
Here he lived until 1866, when he re-
moved to the city and began to make
his home at the old Lynch homestead
on Chicago street. In Paris as in
Pleasant Prairie he took an active part
in politics and was for many years the
representative of the town on the
County Board. He was the Chairman
of the Town Board during the war and
many have reason to remember the
way in which he ruled the Board with
an iron hand. His patriotism was
always foremost. During the war sew
eral men then living in the town of
Paris were drafted for the army. They
did not go to the front, but paid the
usual bounty, and on this account then
demanded the town release them from
the payment of taxes in the same man
ner as the men were released who saw
actual service. Chairman Lynch sat
down on this grab in manner that
was only possible with an Irishman
who had mind Of his own and knew
how to use it. For his action in these
cases Mr.. Lynch was given the name of
Mr. President" and it still clings to
him among the early settlers.
tn his ool;tiool q Civilizations Nv Tvroh