Obit: Barrett, William Sr. (1847 - 1939)

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Surnames: Barrett, Beck, Steele, Beachwood

----Sources: THORP COURIER (Thorp, Clark County, Wis.) 03/02/1939

Barrett, William Sr. (22 MAR 1847 - 23 FEB 1939)

Wm. Barrett Sr. passed away at the home of his son Wm. E. Barrett, with whom he made his residence here (Thorp, Clark Co., Wis.), on Thursday evening, Feb. 23, 1939, of old age. Mr. Barrett, who had always been hale and hearty, failed noticeably during the past fifteen months, but continued to be active and about until the end.

Wm. H. Barrett was born in the Province of Quebec, Canada, on March 22, 1847. He was left an orphan at the age of 18 months. At the age of fourteen years he became engaged in the occupation of cod fishing which he followed for eighteen seasons in that territory. He was united in marriage to Mary Ann Beck in 1871 and three children were born to this union, all of whom survive. He became interested in the lumbering industry and spent one season at this occupation near Saginaw, Mich. And one season near Thorp, Wis., where he moved with his family in Oct. 1883, making this his permanent residence. Lumbering and logging became Mr. Barrett’s work and each Winter found him with his crew and camp near and about Thorp, the size of which increased as the years went by. When this business became dull in this vicinity because of lack of timer, he turned to the trade of a stone mason, which pursuit he followed in latter years.

He was a man of excellent habits, fine moral character, and sturdy constitution, and he continued to be active in his accustomed pursuits till long past the age which men ordinarily drop out of the ranks of the workers. To this end there is no doubt that his optimistic disposition largely contributed. He met most of the conditions and situations of life.

Surviving relatives are one daughter, Mrs. Arthur (Anna) Steele of Greenwood, two sons, Ernest H. Barrett of Milwaukee, and Wm. E. Barrett of this village, and Frank O Beachwood, of St. Paul, who had been a member of the family from the age of three years, twelve grandchildren and nineteen great-grandchildren.