Obituary: Rock County, Wisconsin: Thomas EARLE

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Submitted by Ruth Ann Montgomery, <rmontgomery@cishome.com> February 2007

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Another Pioneer of Rock Co. Passed The Border Line

Died, in the Town of Porter, Jan. 2d, 1890, Thomas Earle, aged 74years.
These two short lines show the final ending of the earth-life of a friend
and neighbor.

Thomas Earle was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, Dec. 25, 1815, and died in the
Town of Porter, Jan. 2d, 1890, aged 74 years and 7 days.

At about the time of his majority he learned the trade of millwright and
machinist in Glasgow. His mind was not only disciplined in what pertained
to his trade, but he was also interested in the political history of his
times. Young and ambitious, the glowing accounts of the then new North West
offered to him a broader field for future life. He came to America in 1840,
and landed in New York at the time of the great political excitement which
elected W. H. Harrison as President of the United States.

This, to him, was a new revelation of the workings of a republican
government.

In 1844, he emigrated to Wisconsin and settled in the town of Porter, where
he entered from Government, a part of the farm which he owned at the time
of his death. During the gold excitement of California he went the overland
route to that territory remaining there three years. In 1863, he was
elected to the state legislature and represented his district for the term
of 1864. Succeeding his term in the state legislature he held the office of
Sheriff of Rock Co., and for many years served on the county board of
Supervisors of the town of Porter.

At his death, he leaves a surviving wife and five children, two sons and
three daughters; two children having died in infancy.

Mr. Earle was a great reader, and being possessed of a very retentive
memory, facts in history of his own and previous times served him well in
argument and debate.

Though not a public speaker yet when called out on questions which claimed
public attention, his thought showed a clear insight and a just sense and
clear appreciation of the line of duty; and his logic generally carried
conviction with his arguments.

Clear cut logic and sound, solid facts, were to him the realities of life.
Sophistry, shams, and double dealing he despised, consequently in argument
he spared neither men nor measures, and if he yielded a point it must be by
a well contested array of facts. If his prejudices were strong his
friendship was true and abiding and his council was always considered safe
to follow. Early imbued with the principles of temperance, he became
associated years ago with the Sons of Temperance and always, up to the time
of his death, he was an uncompromising foe to saloons and the saloon
interests.

Democratic in his views of governmental policy, he identified himself with
the Republican party in its efforts to put down slavery, and was a strong
supporter of its principles; but in late years he just as earnestly
criticised in that party what he considered a sacrifice of principle for
present policy. In his religious views, he was Liberal Unitarian and while
he was tolerant to the opinions of those who differed with him in this
repsect, he claimed to worship God according to his own reason and
conscience.

January 7, 1890, Evansville Review, p. 4, col. 4, Evansville, Wisconsin