My Genealogy Hound

W. O. Tretheway is one of the substantial citizens of New Harmony, who enjoys a well earned reputation for honesty, uprightness and good citizenship. Mr. Tretheway is a native of England, born February 28, 1848, at St. Stephens, forty-one miles from Lands End, in the county of Cornwall. His parents, Thomas and Ann (Columb) Tretheway, lived in the mother country, and are both now deceased. Young Tretheway was educated in the schools of his native land; and in early life was apprenticed to learn the blacksmith and wagon making trades. He served five years and his princely salary was $5.00 and his board and clothes. But pay was not the prime object of his endeavor. He was there to learn his trade, and he learned it thoroughly. When a young man of nineteen, in 1867, he immigrated to America, locating in New Harmony, where he had a brother and sister living at the time. Here he worked at his trade for a time, when he went to Mt. Vernon, where he remained seven years, working at his trade. Then on account of ill health he was advised to go west and accordingly went to Stockton, Cal. He soon gained his health in sunny California, and remained there working at his trade until the spring of 1878, when he returned to New Harmony and engaged in general blacksmithing and wagon making, which has claimed his attention ever since. He has built up an extensive business and constantly employs two assistants and sometimes more. Mr. Tretheway was married November 17, 1869, to Miss Sarah Baldwin, of Mt. Vernon. To this union have been born six children: Mary Leora, married John Armstrong; William A., blacksmith and wagonmaker, New Harmony; Grace, married Nelson Felch, New Harmony; Clara, married William Ward, New Harmony; Hattie, married Fred E. Cook, New Harmony, and Garfield, died in 1904, at the age of nineteen. Mr. Tretheway has always taken a keen interest in political affairs and is a Republican. He has served with credit in the city council. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Encampment and Rebekahs, and takes a prominent part in the State organization, as well as the local lodge. While Mr. Tretheway takes a deep interest in the welfare of all public institutions, perhaps his devotion to the fire department of New Harmony is paramount. He has served as chief for twenty-seven consecutive terms and has been identified with that organization for thirty-five years. His long experience as a fire fighter, coupled with his ability to handle men, places him in the front ranks of the volunteer fire chiefs of the State. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and has served as superintendent of the Sunday school for twenty-five years.