From History of Walworth County Wisconsin by Albert Clayton Beckwith, Vol. II, publ. 1912, Page 1446-1447 ARTHUR O'LEARY. It is indeed hard to find among our cosmopolitan civilization people of better habits of life, taking it all in all, than those who originally came from the fair Emerald isle. The descendants of those people are distinguished for their thrift, consecutive industry, patriotism and honesty in dealing with their fellow men, and these qualities in the inhabitants of any country will in the end alone make that country great. When, with the qualities enumerated above, are coupled the other qualities of sound sense, tact and wit which all the Celtic descendants possess, there are afforded such qualities as will enrich any land and place it at the top of the countries of the world in the scale of elevated humanity. One of the second generation of this excellent people in this country is Arthur O'LEARY, a successful farmer of East Troy township. Mr. O'LEARY was born in the state of New York on June 30, 1853. He is the son of Patrick and Ann (O'ROURK) O'LEARY, both born in Ireland where they spent their early childhood, but both emigrated to the United States while yet single, during the years 1847 and 1848, and they were married in New York. He was born in county Carey and she in county Wexford. In 1853 they came to Walworth county, Wisconsin, and purchased a farm in Troy township, Patrick and his brother, John O'LEARY, buying eighty acres. They farmed together until 1865 when the former bought out the latter, and in 1866 Patrick bought forty acres more of William TOBIN. In 1881 he purchased eighty acres, thus becoming well established and prospering, and he spent his last days in East Troy township, his death occurring on November 10, 1903, at the advanced age of eighty six years, his wife also reaching a ripe old age, dying on June 17, 1903, when eighty-eight years old. Patrick O'LEARY and wife were the parents of two children, Arthur of this sketch and Nora, who is now living in the city of Kenosha, Wisconsin. Politically, the father was a Democrat, and he and his wife belonged to the Catholic church. Arthur O'LEARY, of this sketch, was reared on the home farm, where he worked when of proper age, and he received his education in the public schools of his district. When young in years he took up farming for a livelihood and has continued the same to the present time. He is the owner of a fine farm of one hundred and ninety-three acres, which he has placed under excellent improvements and keeps well cultivated. In connection with general farming and stock raising, he makes a specialty of dairying, for which he is exceptionally well equipped. He keeps about twenty-eight cows, of a good grade. He has a pleasant home and many large and convenient outbuildings. Politically, Mr. O'LEARY is a Democrat, and he has been assessor of his township for about three years, to the satisfaction of all concerned. He is a member of the Catholic church and a faithful supporter of the same. Mr. O'LEARY was married in April 1879, to Annetta WILMER, a daughter of Bernard WILMER, a complete sketch of who appears elsewhere in this work. Five children were born to this union, namely: William, Benjamin, Anna, Ella and Arthur. Mrs. O'LEARY was called to her rest in 1893, and subsequently the subject was united in marriage with Bridget LEONARD, who was born in Waukesha county, this state, on January 6, 1857. She is the daughter of James and Margarite LOENARD, both born in Ireland, where they spent their early lives, emigrating to America and locating in Waukesha county, Wisconsin, about 1853, later coming to Walworth county, and they spent their last days in East Troy township, having established a good home there. Mr. LEONARD's death occurred in 1880 and his widow, surviving him twenty-nine years, died in 1909. They were the parents of six children, three of whom are still living. To the subject and his second wife, one child, a son, James, was born on January 30, 1899. Submitted by Carol