The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1913-11-20
PROMINENT IN BUSINESS LIFE.
Was One of the Founders of j. /. Case
Go. and was Identified with Growth
of This Section of Wisconsin for over
Half Century Funeral held Today.

Stephen Bull, Racine's most widely
known citizen, founder of the great j.
/. Case Threshing Machine works, man
ufacturer, banker and philanthropist,
died Saturday at his home at the adj
vanced age Of ninetyone. He was the
remaining member of the :" big FOUR
who founded the Case company, now a
$40000,000 corporation, and had been
since 1857 resident of Racine and a
leading factor in the building up OF
the city, identified for half century
with it's banking and manufacturing
growth and with the growth of this
section of the state.
He, too, has aided hundreds of per-
sons to business success, and his gifts
to charity have been large.
Stephen Bull was born March IA,
1922, in Scipio, Cayuga county, New
York, and until eighteen years of age
worked on farm and attended
country school when he had the oppor-
tunity. In 1S45 he came west and liv-
ed in Racine for year and then NOV
ed to Spring Prairie. Walworth
county, where he operated a general
store for ten years. Returning to Ra-
cine in 1857 he entered the employ Of
his brother-in-law Jerome /. Case and
in 1863 the j. /. Case Threshing Ma
chine Company was organized by Je-
rome L Case, Stephen Bull, Robert H..
Baker and M. b. Erskine. Mr.. Case
was president of the company for
many years and on his death Mr.. Bull
became president which position he
held until 1897, when he retired and
was succeeded by his son, Frank
X. Bull.
The same year the interests of the
Case, Baker and Erskine estates in the
Case company were purchased by a
syndicate, headed by Stephen Bull, who
had that year sold the Milwaukee
Harvester Company to the information
al Harvester Company Richard T..
Robinson and Frederick Robinson, sons
in law of Mr.. Bull, were elected vice
president and secretary, respectively
VI piO ONoO VIM f0Ays
Mr.. Bull was one of the founders OF
the Manufacturers National Pank of
Racine, of which he was president for
years; Bank of Burlington and banks
at Fargoe n D., and Crookston, Mimi.
He was great admirer of horse
flesh, having owned some of the best
horses ever raised in the country,
which he frequently drove at county
fairs.
He was known as a good sportsman,
being an active supporter of all kinds
of athletics before he lost his eye
sight in the $50 s. His was a familiar
figure at every baseball game, and no
more enthusiastic fan could be found.
1t was generally his custom to come ten
or fifteen minutes late and there would
always be band of youngsters around
the gate awaiting !. chance to get in
side the park.
When he arrived at the ticket win
dow Mr.. Bull would scan the band of
youngsters grouped around him, ana
then with smile would turn to the
ticket seller, and ask: /" How much for
the whole bunchg" Then he would
throw over SIS or .$10-or any price
the ticket seller might designate-and
the whole crowd of lads would go troop
ing in with MIN. Mr.. Bull never for
got the days he was boy.
A o,nanioI hobIxx a1oxr Al. H. ~
sports was roller polo. He was an en-
thusisstic supporter of the game in the
days when Racine played in the big
league, and was at every game He
was one of the philosophical citizens.
whose financial aid kept roller polo in
Racine in those days. AS at the base
ball games, he also always had q group
of youngsters as his guests at the
roller polo contests.
He had big and generous heart,
and was glad giver never letting his
right hand know what his left hand
was doing. His charitable work was
done without ostentation or show and
there is many a widow today who has
uiht W OudhA 4Ol utI uueHCumDorCO
home, and many homeless boy who
owed his upbringing to the kind heart
of Racine s 'fgrand old man.
Mr.. Bull was always interested in
agriculture, and owned several large
farms, raising blooded horses and cat
tie. At one time he was owner of the
celebrated horse, Phil Sheridan, that
had record of $50, which in those
days was considered phenomenal
speed.
lie was actively connected with the
Masonic order. He was member of
the Blue lodge, chapter and command
cry, OF Racine, and of the Mystic
Shrine and Oriental consistory of Mil
Waukee. In point of politics he was a