This representative and honored citizen of Elkhorn, Walworth county, has been distinctively the architect of his own fortunes, has been true and loyal in all the relations pi life and stands as a type of that sterling manhood which ever commands respect and honor. He is a man who would have won his way in any locality where fate might have placed him, for he has sound judgment, coupled with great energy and business tact, together with upright principles, all of which make for success wherever and whenever they are rightly and persistently applied. By reason of these principles he has won and retained a host of friends in whatever community he is known.
Henry L. Mallory was born on September 29, 1840, in Jordan. Onondaga county, New York. He is the son of Ward and Margaret (Butts) Mallory, the father born in Kent, Connecticut, April 10, 1810, and the mother in Pennsylvania January 2, 181 1. The former died on November 8. 1898. In the fall of 1844 he came by boat on the Great Lakes to Michigan where he settled and remained until December, 1847, when he came to Walworth county, moving here by ox team, several weeks being required to make the trip.
He arrived in this county in February, 1848. His family consisted of two sons and two daughters. The family lived in Elkhorn until April, then went to Delavan, where Mr. Mallory opened the White Hotel on April 1st, which place he continued to conduct until 1851, when he rented it and moved to a farm in Sugar Creek township, but later returned to the hotel, the management of which he resumed until the lease expired in the fall of 1853, when went back to the farm where he lived until the spring of 1865, when he rented his farm and returned to Delavan, where he conducted the Park Hotel until January, 1870. He then went to Marshalltown, Iowa, where he conducted a livery barn for a period of six years, then came to Elk Point, Dakota, then to Sioux City, Iowa, where he lived until his death in 1898. He was a Whig in his early days, later became a Republican. He was justice of the peace for several years and a member of the town board. Four children were born to Ward Mallory and wife: Sarah E. lives in Valley City, North Dakota; Isabelle M., wife of Charles Hollinshead, also lives there; Henry L., of this sketch; Albert W., of Wakita, Oklahoma.
Henry L. Mallory, of this sketch, grew to manhood under the parental roof. He attended school in Delavan, being one of the first graduates under Professor Cheney.
In 1864 Mr. Mallory enlisted in the one-hundred-day service. Company F, Fortieth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and he was mustered out in September of the same year.
On September 27, 1865, Mr. Mallory was united in marriage with Mary Gray, who was born in Sugar Creek township, Walworth county, Wisconsin, the daughter of Dr. Harmon and ]\Iaria T. (Finch) Gray, the father a native of Bennington, Vermont, born June 29, 1806, she born in Connecticut, January I, 1808. The death of Doctor Gray occurred on September 19, 1895, his wife having preceded him to the grave on October 20, 1887. The Doctor came to Walworth county, Wisconsin, in 1840 and here purchased a farm in Sugar Creek township, near Millard, and he continued to reside here until his death. He practiced medicine until about 1885, being one of the well known doctors here of a past generation. To Mr. and Mrs. Mallory one child has been born, Edwin H.
Henry L. Mallory lived on his father’s farm one and one-half years, then moved to Millard, on his father-in-law’s farm, where he remained until the spring of 1869, then moved to Nebraska where he bought a farm and lived until the fall of 1873. Renting his farm he returned to Millard, this county, and again took charge of the farm belonging to his father-in-law, conducting the same until the spring of 1886, when he moved to Elkhorn, where he engaged in the implement and well-drilling business, which he conducted with success until the fall of 1892 when he retired from active life.
Mr. Mallory is a Democrat, a member of the Masonic order, and of the Grand Army of the Republic. He was justice of the peace for about ten years in Sugar Creek township, discharging the duties of this office in a manner that reflected much credit upon himself and to the satisfaction of all concerned, his decisions being characterized by fairness and a broad knowledge of jurisprudence, although he had never studied law.
From: Beckwith, A.C. (1912). History of Walworth County Wisconsin