Bio: Horel, Sydney E. (1914)

Contact: crystal@wiclarkcountyhistory.org.
 

Surnames: Horel, Roberts, Halbert, Blair, Minto, Hackett, Stone, Christenson

----Source: History of Eau Claire County Wisconsin (1914) pages 735-736

Sydney E. Horel, superintendent of the Eau Claire County Insane Asylum, was born in the town of Lincoln, Eau Claire county. Wis., July 6, 1873, the son of Henry and Ann (Roberts) Horel. His paternal grandparents were Samuel and Ann (Morgan) Horel, who came from Benwell, Somersetshire, England, with their family to the United States in 1837, and first settled near Auburn, N. Y. In 1845 the family moved to Waukesha county, Wisconsin, where the grandfather cleared and improved a farm and there remained until his decease. Henry Horel, father of Sydney E., left Waukesha county and in June, 1856, came to Eau Claire county and engaged in lumbering and contracting, a business he followed until 1864, when he purchased 160 acres of land in what is now Lincoln township, to which he subsequently added 40 more acres. He cleared and improved the land and there made his home until he died, January 14, 1903, at the age of 67 years. His wife, mother of our subject, who survives, was a daughter of John and Mary Ann (Halbert) Roberts, who were raised near Manchester, England. They came to the United States and settled in Milwaukee county, Wisconsin, in 1842, after which they spent a short time in Waukesha county, thence in 1850 moved to Columbia county, where they remained until 1860, and then moved to and settled in what is now the town of Otter Creek, in Eau Claire county, where he cleared a farm of 100 acres and there established the family home and made their residence for a number of years. Later in life they retired from active labors and moved into the city of Augusta, where they spent the balance of their lives. The father died in 1891 and the mother in 1881. The children of Henry and Ann (Roberts) Horel were: George C.; Laura M., wife of C. E. Blair; Olive E., wife of A. C. Minto, and Sydney E.

Sydney E. Horel was reared on the homestead in Lincoln township, receiving his education in the district and high schools of Augusta. After attaining his majority he worked at the mason's trade for five years, and returned to the home farm two years prior to the death of his father, and until the spring of 1909 carried on the farm. He was at that time appointed superintendent of the Eau Claire County Insane Asylum, a position he still retains and which he has filled with ability and satisfaction to the community generally. Mr. Horel has been twice married; first to Nellie Hackett, daughter of John and Charlotte (Stone) Hackett, of Augusta, by whom he had three children: Ira S., Thelma L. and Elsie L. His present wife was Mary Christenson, daughter of Nels Christenson, of Seymour township, this county.

Mr. Horel is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, the A. F. & A. M., the R. A. M. and the Knights of Pythias. He has always been enterprising to an eminent degree and takes a lively interest in all matters tending to the welfare and prosperity of his town, county and state. A Democrat in his political opinion, he has served as a member of the Eau Claire county board three terms, was treasurer of the school board of the town of Lincoln for six years, succeeding his father, who held the same office many years. In the fall of 1908 he was a candidate of his party for the office of sheriff, running 1,110 votes ahead of this ticket, but failed in the election by the small margin of 73 votes.