BIOGRAPHIES:  Hon. George TARRANT, Durand, Pepin Co., WI

************************************************************************
USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE:  These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in
any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or
persons.  Persons or organizations desiring to use this material,
must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal
representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb
archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission
to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access.

Submitted by Nance Sampson, Pepin Co. Archives File Manager on 19 November 2004
************************************************************************

**Posted for informational purposes only - submitter is not related to the
subject of this biography and has no further information.

Hon. George Tarrant, merchant, Durand, was born at Woolhampton,
Berkshire, England, February 11, 1838, and he was the second of a
family of six children.  In 1850 he removed with his parents to
Janesville, Wis., where his father died in December of the same year.
Mr. Tarrant received but a very meager education, ending his school
days at the age of twelve, with the exception of two terms in the
Janesville high school in 1855.  He began work in a hotel in
Janesville, and followed this occupation until 1861, when he engaged
in the grocery business, in the same city.  In 1863 he came to
Durand, where he continued the same business, gradually branching
out, however, until an extensive trade in general merchandise had
been built up.  He has now one of the finest equipped stores in this
section of the state and which has been the leading institution of
its kind in this city for years.

He is also quite extensively engaged in the creamery business, he
and his son being the owners of the Durand and Bear Creek creameries,
the latter having been established in 1891.  In politics Mr. Tarrant
is a republican and a strong temperance man.  He has filled numerous
town offices, was for many years chairman of the county board of
supervisors, besides being twice mayor of the city and a member of
the state legislature in 1881.  He is a prominent member of the
Masonic lodge of Durand and of Chippewa commandery at Eau Claire.  He
was president of the Pepin County Agricultural society a number of
years and the success of its annual fairs has been due largely to his
individual efforts.

In 1860 Mr. Tarrant married Clara L., daughter of Bartlett Runey,
one of the pioneers of Dane county.  Her parents originally came from
Maryland and settled in Wisconsin as early as 1838.  Four children
are now living, as a result of this union.  The eldest, George Jr.,
is in business with his father; the second, Warren D., graduated from
the State university in 1890 and is now pursuing a course of law in
the same institution; the third, Burr R., is also attending the State
university, and the youngest, Shirley B., is a graduate of the city
high school.  Mr. Tarrant is a progressive, public-spirited citizen,
and belongs to that class of men who have been successful in this
world by force of their own energies and steadfast devotion to
business, and his success in life is a fitting example of what energy
and perseverance will accomplish.

-Transcribed from the "Historical & Biographical Album of the
Chippewa Valley Wisconsin, 1891-2," pages 472-473.


© All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm