"W W Tarbell, Aged 80, Dies In Connecticut - Brother of Ida Tarbell Was Born at Wattsburg; Lived Here in Youth - Resided Once in West - William Walter Tarbell, aged 80, died Wednesday night at a hospital near Bethel, Conn, where he had been receiving treatment for several weeks. The body will be brought to Titusville Saturday morning, arriving at 9:05 am, and will be taken to Woodlawn cemetery for interment in the Tarbell family plot. Mr Tarbell was a son of the late Franklin Sumner and Esther Ann McCullough Tarbell and was born in Wattsburgh (sic) [Wattsburg], Erie county, in July, 1860. The elder Tarbell became interested in the petroleum development and brought his family to Titusville in 1870. For many years the family home was on East Main street, where Mr and Mrs Lee M Green now reside. William attended the city schools and was graduated from the High school in 1876. He entered Allegheny college at Meadville, from which he was graduated in 1881. A few years later Mr Tarbell and the late William Bayliss 'went west' and took up land offered by the Federal Government in what is now South Dakota. Messrs Tarbell and Bayliss developed several thousand acres of wheat land which they later sold for a considerable profit. The elder Tarbell became a successful independent oil operator in the Oil creek fields, and the son, William, on returning to this region took up the oil business. He was one of the organizers of the Pure Oil Co and became interested in the United States Pipe Line Co, a subsidiary. He was general manager and treasurer of the Pure Oil Co for a number of years. Although leaving Titusville when a young man, Mr Tarbell occasionally visited in the city and will be remembered by many acquaintances. While residing in Titusville, he was a leader in social and civic activities of the city. He was a charter member of Titusville lodge, BPO Elks, and the first exalted ruler, serving 1893-95. While Mr Tarbell was engaged in wheat growing in the Dakotas, he met Miss Ella Scott, to whom he was married. Besides the wife, he leaves three children: Franklin S Tarbell of Roswell, NM, Mrs James Aldrich of Brookline, Mass, and Mrs Tristam Tupper of Hollywood, Calif. There are two sisters, Miss Ida M Tarbell, internationally known author and lecturer, and Miss Sarah Tarbell. After his retirement from the Pure Oil Co, Mr Tarbell did considerable research work in South America for the Gulf Oil Co. For a score or more years, the Tarbell family has maintained a home at Bethel, Conn, which was established by Miss Ida M Tarbell. There the two sisters have resided and the brother and his family also came at various times during the years. It was to this home that Mr Tarbell retired when illness and advancing years came. Miss Ida M Tarbell and her sister, Miss Sarah Tarbell, are ill and will be unable to come to Titusville. Members of the immediate family also will not be able to come to the city at this time. The E L Cummins funeral home has charge of the arrangements for interment in Woodlawn."
(Titusville Herald, Mar 14, 1941, p.2)