W. C. Tyrrell
William Casper Tyrrell, known as "Captain W.C." (January 12, 1847 - September 14, 1924), was an entrepreneur and investor from Pennsylvania and Iowa who became an oil tycoon, venture capitalist, and prominent businessman of Beaumont, Texas during the Texas Oil Boom. He became a major philanthropist in his adopted city, supporting the arts, assisting during natural disasters, and buying and donating a building for use as the public library.
Life
William Casper Tyrrell was born in Pennsylvania in 1847 to Mallory and Polly (née Titus) Tyrrell. He married Frances Helen Rorick there and the couple had one daughter together, Esther, born in 1869.
Eventually moving his family to Pleasant Township, Iowa, Tyrrell was soon investing in grain mills and real estate. By 1873 he had purchased the large farm of Smith & Munson from state senator E. A. Howland. Tyrrell was nicknamed "Captain W.C." After learning of the 1901 Spindletop gusher in Beaumont, Texas, Tyrrell and his extended family decided to move there.
The Captain quickly became established in Beaumont as an oil speculator and businessman, earning a fortune that reached the millions of dollars. He is often remembered both for his love of the arts and his generous philanthropy.[1] He donated and distributed large quantities of food during storms and times of shortage. On one occasion he sent more than 100,000 roses to area hospitals and churches in Kansas City in response to a city-wide disaster.
In 1923, Tyrrell purchased the First Baptist Church in Beaumont after its congregation had moved to a new building. He donated it to the city for use as a public library, and it is now known as the Tyrrell Historical Library. The library built an addition in 2010; its historical holdings include many geneological records.[2]
As an investor during economically depressed times, Tyrrell provided much-needed capital to fledgling entrepreneurs and struggling businesses. He funded development of the city's first commercial port, contributed to an irrigation system to support the area's growing rice culture, and invested heavily in residential and commercial development. Tyrrell was very active in the Port Arthur and Houston areas as well.
References
- ^ Carolyn Davis Smith, "Captain William Casper Tyrrell: Philanthropist Extraordinaire and the Legacy of Philanthropy in Beaumont," Texas Gulf Historical and Biographical Record 2002 38: 5–18
- ^ "Tyrrell Historical Library", Beaumont Library official site
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