The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1918-03-21
LONG IN PUBLIC SERVICE
Served in Official Positions for Nearly
Thirty-five Years and His Work Had
Been of Great Value in Development
of Kenosha-Was Oldest Mason.
(F'rom SATURDAYS Dailyl

yodlS, one OF the last OF the pioneer
manufacturers Of Kenosha and a man
who had given much of his life to
publ1c service along many lines, died
at his home on Park avenue just be-
fore eleven O'Clock this morning.
Mr.. Yule had been in feeble health
for many months and for some weeks
his condition had been such as to
cause anxiety among his relatives. He
was not, however, forced to take to
his bed until Friday. Just after three
o'clock this morning he became I'M
conscious and he did not regain
consciousness before death came just
before noon today.
The death of John T. Yule marks
the passing of a man who had contri-
buted much to the development of
Kenosha. No resident of the county
was more widely known or more uni
versally respected. His rugged hon
esty has been featured in many incl
dents in the history Of the city and
the final call to him will bring sorrow
into many homes. His long career as
a public servant featured by service
on the Common Council, the Board of
Education, and the County Board of
Supervisors made him public figure
and few men ever had a more loyal
support Of his neighbors.
Many improvements in the CITY were
the work of his brain and his vigor-
GUS work as a public servant. He gave
to the school board many years of ac-
tive service and; duplicated, this with
long service on the Common Council
In his retiring years he was member
OF the Board Of Supervisors and for
three terms he served as chairman Of
the board. He declined reelection
as chairman of the board and finally
gave up his membership when in
firm health made it impossible for
him to longer give his time to the
public service.
Mr.. Yule was a member of the party
of protest. He prided himself in his
title President of the Park Avenue
Kicker's Club but the protests that
he made were always based on his best
judgment and the men who opposed him
hardest in the working cut of his plans
always gave him credit for honestly
supporting every stand that he took
John T. Yule was native of Scot
land. He was son of the late Alex
ander and Margaret Leeds Yule and
he was born in Aberdeenshire on the
21st of January, 1881.
When lad of nine years of age he
came with his parents to this country
and settled with them in the town of
Somers. He was educated in the old
log school house in Somers and when
he was ninteen years Of age he began
learning The trade of a wagon-maker
and from that time until 1905 he was
closely associated with the great wagon
making industry Of Kenosha.
Just after he completed his appren-
ticeship he went to Chicago where he
worked for little over two years but
in the late ffties he returned to Ke-
nosha and engaged with Mitchell and
ons. Soon after this he was made
secretary of company organized to
operate quartz mill at Pike s Peak,
Col. The following year Mr.. Yule re-
turned to Kenosha where he opened
wagon factory for the late Peter
Wood. He was connected with this
enterprise until 1869 when he accept
ed a position and later was made fore
man of the wood working department
of the Balm Wagon Company, which
position he held until his retirement
from active labor in 1905.
For years John Tt. Yu1e was one of
the leaders of the Republican party in
this section of Wisconsin. He cast
his first presidential vote for John G.
Fremont. His greatest interest was
shown as member of the Board of
Education. In all he served more than
fifteen years as member Of the board
and for many years he was its chair
man. He was leader of the board
when the High School building was
erected and he had full charge of its
building. He served as member of
the Common Council for eight years, |
representing the old third ward.
In recent years he had taken the
deepest interest in the great fight
against consumption and he was lead
er on the County Board in the big
movement for the building of Willow
brook Sanatorium. His active CO.
operation in the building and manage
ment of this splendid institution bright
! ened the retiring years of his life.
Socially Mr.. Yule was a delightful