Lacrosse County WI Archives Biographies.....Torrance, John January 1, 1833 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Roxanne Munns rmunns@uwalumni.com April 13, 2007, 11:19 pm

Author: Unknown

JOHN TORRANCE, son of Gaven Torrance; was born in Lanarkshire, Scotland, Jan. 
1, 1833; he received his education and learned the trade of a molder in the 
city of Glasgow; here he worked at his trade until 1852, when he emigrated to 
America and located in Troy, N. Y., where he remained but six months; he then 
went to Delhi, Delaware Co. N. Y., and for six months was in the machine-shops 
at that place; he returned to Troy, N. Y., and remained two years, then went 
to Paradise, Ky., where he worked at his trade until 1858, when he came West 
and located a farm in Houston Co., Minn.; he remained on the farm but a short 
time, however, having located in La Crosse in the spring of 1859. His ability 
as a tradesman soon won for him the foremanship in the foundry of Leech & 
Paul, in which capacity he was employed until 1862; during this year he 
started a foundry at the foot of State street, having associated with him 
Archibald Gould, under the firm name of Torrance & Gould; in 1865, the shop - 
a frame structure - was burned, and the business was abandoned. He again 
entered the employment of Leech & Paul, and subsequently worked with C. C. & 
E. G. Smith, and also Thornley & James. In 1876, in company with his son, he 
established his present business, which, guided by Mr. Torrance's experience 
and business qualifications, now ranks amoung the leading foundry and machine-
shops in the city. Mr. Torrance was married, in Delhi, N. Y., Jan. 3, 1852, to 
Isabella Torrance, daughter of William and Mary (Johnston) Torrance; they had 
six children - Isabella, Mary, William, Nettie, John, Annie and May, who died 
in August, 1880. Mrs. Torrance died Nov. 14, 1866, in Evansville, Ind. In 
1876, Mr. Torrance crossed the Atlantic Ocean for the third time, and, while 
in Edinburgh, was married to Mrs. Mary Gibson, nee Patterson, in May, 1876. 
Mr. Torrance belongs to the Universalist Church, and is a Knight Templar.

Additional Comments:
From History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 801.

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