George Yule Biography
As published in
"The City of Kenosha and Kenosha County Wisconsin: A Record of Settlement,
Organization, Progress and Achievement"
by Frank H. Lyman Vol. 2, The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, 1916.
George Yule may well be termed the "grand old man" in industrial circles in
Kenosha as his identification with the Bain Wagon Company covers seventy-three
years, indeed a notable record and one which at every point has measured up to
the highest standards of efficiency in business and honor in trade transactions.
He entered the employ of the company in an humble capacity, untrained and
unskilled in mechanical lines and of course without any experience in business
management. Step by step he has advanced over the long road that has brought him
to the Presidency, which position he has now occupied for eighteen years. To him
have come the "blest accompaniments of old age: honor, riches, troops of
friends," And again, quoting from Shakespeare it might well be said that "Nature
might stand up and say to all the world this is a man." In spanning his life
history one must recognize the fact that old age is not necessarily a synonym
for weakness, nor need it suggest as a matter of course lack of activity or want
of occupation. There is an old age which grows stronger and better mentally and
morally as the years go on and gives out of its rich stores of wisdom and
experience for the benefit of others. Such is the career of George Yule, who in
spirit and interests seems yet in his prime.
It was in Scotland that George Yule first opened his eyes to the light of day on
the 31st of August, 1824, his birth place being the village of Rathen, near
Fraserburgh, in Aberdeenshire. He is therefore today in his ninety-second year.
His parents were Alexander and Margaret (Leeds) Yule, who in pioneer times
became early settlers of Somers Township, Kenosha County, Wisconsin. The father
secured large tracts of land and extensively engaged in farming. Here he
established a family that for four generations has been active and prominent in
the life of the community, contributing largely to its material, intellectual,
social and moral progress.
Alexander Yule was born in Scotland about 1795 and was twice married, his first
wife dying in the land of hills and heather in 1835. They had become the parents
of eight children: William, who died in Somers Township, Kenosha County, at the
age of seventy-six years; James, who died in Milburn, Illinois at the age of
seventy-one; Alexander, who was a professor in Ireland, where he died when a
young man; George of this review; Beatrice, the wife of George Smith of
Evanston, Illinois; John T., of Kenosha; and Cutes and Mary, both of whom died
in infancy.
Mr. Yule was married a second time in Scotland, this union being with Miss Jane
Watson, and by this marriage there were also eight children: Mary, the widow of
David Heddle, of Somers township, Kenosha County; Joseph, who resides in
California; Henry, of Seattle, Washington; Anna, of Somers Township; Thomas,
deceased; Frank, who makes his home in Somers Township; Robert, of Chicago; and
Edward, of Sergeant Bluff, Iowa.
The reports which reached Alexander Yule concerning the opportunities of the new
world led him to the determination to try his fortune on this side of the
Atlantic, and about 1840 he sailed for Quebec, whence he made his way at once to
Kenosha County, Wisconsin, taking up his abode near what was then the village of
Southport. He made investment in two hundred and fifty-seven acres of land in
Somers Township, and for a number of years resided upon and developed that farm.
After his children attained adult age he sold the property to sons George and
William and took up his abode upon a small farm on the same section, which he
called Sunnyside, and there living a more quiet and retired life, he spent his
remaining days until death called him in 1871, when he was seventy-six years of
age. His widow survived him until 1886 and was seventy-eight years old at the
time of her demise. The family adhered to the Presbyterian faith.
George Yule, who was born of his father's first marriage, was a youth of sixteen
years when the family home was established in America. Previous to that time he
had attended school in Scotland, and for three years after his arrival in
Kenosha County his time was devoted to work on the old homestead farm. He turned
his attention to mechanical pursuits when nineteen years of age, at which time
he began learning the wagon maker's trade as an employee of Henry Mitchell of
Kenosha, with whom he continued until 1852. In that year the business was
purchased by Edward Bain, and Mr. Yule, who in the meantime had largely
acquainted himself with the business and had become thoroughly proficient in the
work, was made Superintendent, which position he continued to fill through three
decades. With the incorporation of the company in 1882 he was chosen Vice
President, and in 1900 became President of the Bain Wagon Company, so continuing
to the present time, although he is now more than a nongenarian. When he entered
the wagon factory all of the work was done by hand and his first duty was sawing
plow beams. The output of the plant at that time was from ten to fifteen wagons
and a small number of plows annually, although considerable repair work was
done. Gradually the business has increased and in every particular the plant has
kept pace with the times in all that has been produced through modern invention
and business development. When becoming Superintendent, Mr. Yule resolved that
no work of inferior grade would go out from the factory, and this policy he has
always maintained. A contemporary writer has said of Mr. Yule: "Mr. Yule of late
years has spent his winters in California, and is enthusiastic over the climate
of that state, but will admit that sometimes they do have unusual weather there.
When in Kenosha, however, every day finds him at the office of the Bain Wagon
Company, and nearly every day he makes a tour of the great factory, taking a
keen interest in watching the operation of making wagons, which was his own
occupation for so many years. Many of the workmen now employed in the shops are
the sons and grandsons of those who worked at the forge or bench with Mr. Yule,
and for them he always has a smile or a cheerful word."
Although the wagon business is Mr. Yule's chief interest, he also finds time for
other matters. He is Vice President of the First National Bank and also holds
the same office in the Northwestern Loan and Trust Company, both of Kenosha, and
as a Director in both takes an active interest in the operation of both
institutions.
On the 1st of January 1848 Mr. Yule was married in Kenosha to Miss Katherine
Mitchell, a native of Fifeshire, Scotland, and a daughter of William Mitchell.
They became the parents of six children: Maria, who died in childhood; Louise,
the widow of William Hall; Ada, who passed away in girlhood days; (4) George A.,
one of the officers of the Bain Wagon Works; William L., also connected with the
business; and Harvey, who passed away in his youth. Mr. Yule has long been
identified with the Baptist church.
Mr. Yule has given his political allegiance to the republican party since its
organization, previous to which time he was an advocate of abolition principles
at a period when great courage was required to state one's belief concerning the
suppression of slavery. He was the first Republican Alderman of Kenosha elected
from the First Ward, but political emoluments have never had any attraction for
him. However, in many public connections he has proven his devotion to the
general good and his cooperation has always been freely given to plans and
projects for the benefit and upbuilding of city and county. He was much
interested in the project of establishing a public library in Kenosha and when
the public library association was formed in 1896 he made frequent contributions
to the library, which in 1900 became the nucleus of the Gilbert M. Simmons
library. At that date Kenosha's mayor appointed Mr. Yule a member of the library
board and he was chosen Vice President, in which position he still continues.
The term "ninety-two years young" may well be applied to Mr. Yule. He has kept
in touch with the world's thought and progress, interested in all those
questions which are of vital moment, keeping in touch with the trend of the
times along many lines which show the changing conditions. He has always been
interested in the game of golf and has encouraged his sons and grandsons to
become active participants therein. One of his grandsons, William H. Yule, has
been state champion of Wisconsin, and another, Gordon Yule, held the title of
champion at Yale. He made a donation of what is known as the Yale cup and gold
medals, together with an endowment for their perpetuation. This Yale cup is
regarded as a very valuable trophy and is contested for at the annual tournament
of the Wisconsin Gold Association by five-men teams representing the constituent
clubs of the association.
Mr. Yule is perhaps the oldest active business man in Wisconsin. He yet delights
in watching the operations of the factory and he is as keen today to maintain
the high standards of the Bain Wagon Works as he has been throughout all the
intervening years. His is indeed a record that may well serve as an inspiration
and source of encouragement to the young. It is a proof of the fact that
opportunity is open to all, and that ability and enterprise come to the front.
High purpose has actuated him at every point in this career and his course has
been characterized ever by constructive effort, so that his path has never been
strewn with the wreck of other men's fortunes. With the growth of the business
he has tried to keep in close touch with his men, making them feel that he is
interested in their welfare and that he appreciates the faithfulness of their
service. Work has been emblazoned on his banner and his is the aristocracy of
true worth.
Typed by: Michelle Laycock