The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1916-04-06
LONG Prominent In KENOSHA
Stricken With Heart Disease He Dies
Before a Physician Could Be Called
Had Been Active in Business At
fairs of City for Half Century.

R. E. Sutherland, one of the oldest
aud best known of the pioneer resi-
dents of Kenosha, died very suddenly
at his home at the corner of Park
street and Sheridan Road, on Wednes-
day afternoon. The announcement Of
| the sudden death of Mr.. Sutherland
came as a great shock to his many
friends in the city as he had been
seemingly in the best of health until
few minutes before he was called by
death. On Wednesday morning he had
been at his desk in the Office of the
Kenosha Gold Mining company in the
Scholer building and when he went
home at noon there was no Fremont
ton of the approaching end. He ate
dinner with the members Of his family
and was cheerful at the dinner table.
After dinner was over he went out in
to the yard and began raking The lawn
He seemed to tire quickly and have
feeling Of indigestion. He went into
the house, sat down in his favorite
rocking chair in the living room and
simply went to sleep. DR.. P. P.
M, Jorgensen was called but when he
reached the house Mr.. Sutherland had
already passed away,
The death Of Mr.. Sutherland marks
the passing Of man who had been
very prominent in the business and
social life of Kenosha for more than
half century.
Ralph Erskine Sutherland was born
in Barnet, Vermont, June 10th, 1888.
He was a son of George Sutherland,
of Scotch parentage and the family
was one of the oldest of the Vermont
families. Mr.. Sutherland was educat-
ed in the schools of Barnet and later
at the Academy at McIndoes Falls, vt.
Several of his boyhood companions
had come to Kenosha in the early days
and in 1854 Mr.. Sutherland followed
them. After reaching Kenosha, he
found his first employment on the
farm of Harvey Durkee in the town Of
Pleasant Prairie where he worked for
short time. Early in life he showed a
liking for commercial life and he gave
up his work on the farm and came to
Kenosha. For many years he was en-
ployed as clerk in the store Of VIM.
Ernst. In the late sixties he formed
partnership with his brother-in-law, the
late George D. Head, under the firm
name Of Head and Sutherland and this
company became one OF the most nota-
bic Of the pioneer companies Of Keno
sha. The company engaged in the
manufacture of wagons and branched
out into the hay pressing business and
built up trade which extended all
over this section of Wisconsin. Later
the company turned its attention to the
lumber business and the Head and
Sutherland company became the fore
runner Of the present Kenosha Lumber
company. Nearly thirty years ago a
disastrous fire swept the Head and
Sutherland lumber yards and after this
fire Mr.. Sutherland retired from the
business. In 1904 in company with his
son-in-law, Harry Skinkle, Mr. Suth-
erland organized the R. E. Sutherland
and company which for eleven years
was active in the dry goods business
on Main street.
Since the Sutherland company went
out Of business Mr.. Sutherland had
lived retired life, but had given a
part Of his time to, his duties as secre-
tary of the Kenosha Gold Mining Co.
In his busy life Mr. Sutherland
found time to serve the people in pub
lie affairs and for six years he filed
the position of county treasurer. He
always took a great interest in the
political life of the city and county
and he was an ardent supporter
of Republican principles and the Re
publican party.
In his social life Mr.. Sutherland
claimed the friendship of thousands of
people in Kenosha county. He was
one of the oldest members of the
Masonic lodge in Kenosha He was
member of the Blue lodge, the Chap
ter, the Council and the Commandery
and he took a most active interest in
all of these organizations. He was
teacher Of Masonry in Kenosha and he
was known as the best posted member
of the Kenosha lodges in the rituals
tic work Of the order. He took great
interest in the instruction of the young
er men in Masonry and fully half Of
the members of the Kenosha lodge had
learned their work in the order under
his tutelage. Only short time ago he
x ok q keen pleasure in the fact that
bs gave the obligation of the order to
his grandson, Ralph Skinkle.
On April IS, 1866, Mr.. Sutherland
was married to Mary E. Head at Keno /
sha. Their home life, extending over a
period Of more than fifty years. had