website
watertownhistory.org
ebook History of Watertown, Wisconsin
Michael
Carroll Called by Death
1839
- 1915
1884
07 19 CLARK & CARROLL
105 E Main
1902
07 19 STORE FRONT PAINTED
Our neighbor across the street, Mr. Carroll, dealer
in books, stationary and newspapers, has had his store front newly painted,
light green for panels, window and door frames, dark green on pillars and
trimmings. The effect is pleasing and
gives a sense of coolness. WR
1915
Watertown
Daily Times, 03 26 1915
Well Known Watertown Businessman
Passed Away Last Saturday.
Lived in Emmet Many Years
After
an illness of about six months caused by periods of heart failure, Michael
Carroll passed away at his home, 101 Church Street, Watertown, last Saturday
evening, March 20, 1915 at the age of 79 years.
Mr.
Carroll was born in the state of New York and came with his parents to
Wisconsin when 5 years old. The family
settled in the town of Emmet, this county, in 1844 and here the boy grew up to
manhood and became one of the best known and most prosperous farmers in
southern Dodge County.
In
1858 Mr. Carroll was united in marriage to Miss Mary Burke, who preceded him in
death in 1877. To their union three
children, two sons and one daughter, were born - Michael J. Carroll, who died
at the age of twenty-two years; Alice, Mrs. John T. Ryan, who died May 12, 1898
and John, who passed away when seven years old.
While
a resident of Emmet, Mr. Carroll was a member of St. Joseph’s congregation at
Richwood and contributed generously to the building of St. Joseph’s
Church. The beautiful main altar in that
church is the gift of Mr. Carroll.
In
1881 Mr. Carroll removed to Richwood where he remained for two years when he
again removed to Watertown in 1883, where he has since resided. For two years he was associated with Ed.
Masterson and his son in the real estate business in Grand Forks, N. D. Later he conducted a book store in Watertown
[105 E Main, in 1900] for several years.
Mr.
Carroll was a man of strong Christian character and was an active member of St.
Bernard’s Catholic Church for many years.
His honesty and integrity was never quested and was beloved and highly esteemed
by a large circle of friends. He never
aspired for political honors and was modest and unpretentious and perhaps had a
wider acquaintanceship than anyone who ever lived in that section.
His
funeral services were held in St. Bernard’s church, Watertown, last Tuesday,
Mar. 23, with interment in St. Bernard’s cemetery.
1916, St. Mary’s Hospital benefactor
1917,
Watertown library citation
Michael Carroll
Watertown Gazette, 03 25 1915
THE DEATH OF
MICHAEL CARROLL
A Pioneer and
Wealthy Resident of This Section of Wisconsin.
Leaves Most of His
Wealth For Charitable Purposes.
Saturday afternoon, March 20, 1915, Michael Carroll, a
pioneer resident of this section of Wisconsin, died at his home, 101 Church
Street, of heart trouble, with which he had been quite seriously ill for about
six months, seriously so for the past month.
His death had been expected for some time, hence when the final end came
it was no surprise to our people.
Mr. Carroll was born on February 2, 1839, in New York,
and came to Wisconsin with his parents in 1844, settling on a farm in the town
of Emmet, Dodge county, residing there till 1881, when he located at Richwood,
residing there two years and then coming to this city in 1883, where he has
made his home ever since.
Shortly after coming here he and his son associated
themselves in the real estate business with Edward F. Masterson, and retiring
from that business he conducted a book store for a number of years in Watertown
in the stand where Edw. M. O’Byrne’s ice cream parlor is on Main Street [105
[E] Main, 1899-1900 City Dir].
He was one of the stockholders and directors of the Wisconsin National Bank and was
interested in several other enterprises, but most of his wealth was invested in
lands.
In 1858 Mr. Carroll was married to Miss Mary Burke,
who died in 1877. Two sons and one
daughter were born to them, the latter being the first wife of John T. Ryan of
this city. She died on May 12,
1898. His son John died when seven years
of age, and his son Michael J. died at the age of 22 years.
Mr. Carroll possessed a mild, gentlemanly, unassuming
nature, but always took great interest in the community in which he resided,
and assisted in a quiet way its material and moral interests. He was particularly interested in educational
and benevolent institutions, and as shown below left most of his wealth to
them.
Monday morning his funeral was held from St. Bernard’s
church, and was very largely attended.
Solemn High Mass was celebrated by Rev. Father Hennessy, assisted by
Rev. Fathers Warken and Schwinn. In his
funeral sermon Rev. Father Hennessy paid an eloquent tribute to Mr. Carroll’s
memory. During the hours of his funeral
the Wisconsin National Bank was closed in his honor.
The interment was in St. Bernard’s cemetery.
The pallbearers were:
Honorary-Fred Miller, Herman G. Grube, Charles A. Feisst, Emil Tanck,
Charles A. Skinner, Roman M. Hahn, Frank McAdams.
Active pallbearers — James Burke, Michael Burke,
Patrick Solon, John Solon, James W. Moore, Joseph Leschinger, Michael Kelly,
Richard Irving.
The commendable manner in which Mr. Carroll has
disposed of his worldly goods, speaks volumes for the truly Christian spirit he
possessed.
Following is a
synopsis of Mr. Carroll’s will:
First. I will and direct that the expenses of my last
sickness and of my funeral and all my just debts, if any, be fully paid out of
my estate.
Second. That $100 be paid to St. Bernard’s congregation
located in Watertown, Wis., for the permanent care of my burial lot in St.
Bernard's cemetery.
Thirdly. That $5000 be paid to Sarah Curley, my
housekeeper, and also bequeath her my homestead and contents thereof.
Fourthly. I give and bequeath to St. Mary’s hospital, Watertown, Wis., $10,000,
for an endowment or fund to be used in permanent improvements.
Fifthly. I give and bequeath to St. Bernard’s congregation, Watertown, Wis., $5000
for permanent improvements or repairs on buildings.
Sixthly. I give and bequeath to Sacred Heart College, Watertown, Wis., $10,000 to be
used for repairing and for permanent improvements of buildings.
Seventhly. I give and bequeath to the Little Sisters
of the Poor, Milwaukee, Wis., $5000.
Eightly. I give and bequeath to Morris Schultz, son of
Edward Schultz, $500.
Ninthly. I give and bequeath to Lucile Meyers,
daughter of Alphonius Meyer, $500.
Tenthly. I give and bequeath to Rev. Father Thillmann
(formerly of Watertown and Richwood) of New Orleans, La., $500 and $500 to Rev.
Father Hennessy, pastor of St. Bernard’s church, Watertown, Wis.
Eleventhly. I give, devise and bequeath to my cousin
John Carroll of Reeseville, Wis., my undivided half interest in land in La
Moure Co., N. Dakota, known as Section 14.
Twelfthly, I bequeath to the trustees of the Watertown Public Library, $2000.
Thirteenthly. I give and bequeath to my brother-in-law
Patrick Burke, $500, and to his wife and children the sum of $3000, to be
distributed equally between them.
Fourteenthly. I give and bequeath to the local branch
of the Knights of Columbus located at Watertown, Wis., the sum of $5000.
Fifteenthly. All the above legacies shall be paid in
full and if sufficient is left the following shall be paid, $5000 to St. Mary’s
hospital at Milwaukee, Wis.; $5000 to St. Bernard’s school, Watertown, Wis.
Sixteenthly. All the rest and residue of estate, if
any, shall be divided among the legatees and devisees in proportion to the
several amounts devised and bequeathed to them.
Seventeenthly. I nominate and appoint Charles A.
Skinner executor of this my last will and testament, and give and bequeath to
him for his services as executor $2000 in addition to necessary expenses.
(Signed)
Michael Carroll.
Dated Dec. 22, 1914.
History of Watertown, Wisconsin