From a story in the Wisconsin State Journal - 9/14/1968.
The horses which Harry Mullen loved and which cost him the family farm and possibly his life can be seen on his memorial in Evergreen Cemetery in Shullsburg, Wisconsin.
For 50 years the Lafayette County bachelor farmer trained horses for public exhibition. They were Percherons and Belgians which worked alongside him in the fields.
Harry wanted the world to see his eight-horse hitch. Wherever there was a parade Harry would take his the team, usually at his own expense. If he won prize money he would return it to the donors.
Harry went so deep into debt over the horses that he lost the best part of his farm according to his sister, Katherine Haffele. He wouldn't go to the doctor when he should have. All of his money went for the horses. When he was taken to the hospital, he sobbed "I'll never see them again."
After his death in 1957, Eleanor Mullen, an older sister who was his housekeeper, ordered a favorite photo of Harry's attached to his gravestone. The photo had to be replaced once due to vandalism. It shows Harry with three of his beloved Belgians.
Unfortunately - the photo of the memorial shows that the photo of Harry and his horses is missing from the gravestone.
From a story in the Wisconsin State Journal - 9/14/1968.
The horses which Harry Mullen loved and which cost him the family farm and possibly his life can be seen on his memorial in Evergreen Cemetery in Shullsburg, Wisconsin.
For 50 years the Lafayette County bachelor farmer trained horses for public exhibition. They were Percherons and Belgians which worked alongside him in the fields.
Harry wanted the world to see his eight-horse hitch. Wherever there was a parade Harry would take his the team, usually at his own expense. If he won prize money he would return it to the donors.
Harry went so deep into debt over the horses that he lost the best part of his farm according to his sister, Katherine Haffele. He wouldn't go to the doctor when he should have. All of his money went for the horses. When he was taken to the hospital, he sobbed "I'll never see them again."
After his death in 1957, Eleanor Mullen, an older sister who was his housekeeper, ordered a favorite photo of Harry's attached to his gravestone. The photo had to be replaced once due to vandalism. It shows Harry with three of his beloved Belgians.
Unfortunately - the photo of the memorial shows that the photo of Harry and his horses is missing from the gravestone.
Family Members
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John Thomas Mullen
1869–1944
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Nell Eleanor "Nellie" Mullen
1870–1958
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Wilbur Ambrose Mullen
1874–1961
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James Henry Mullen
1875–1944
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Joseph Single Mullen
1878–1968
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Mary Elizabeth Mullen
1880–1882
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Katherine "Katie" Mullen Haffele
1882–1981
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Louis Edgar Mullen
1884–1940
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Clyde Christopher Mullen
1888–1934
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Matilda Elizabeth "Tillie" Mullen Wickler
1892–1921
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