USA > Wisconsin > Eau Claire County > History of Eau Claire county, Wisconsin, past and present; including an account of the cities, towns and villages of the county > Part 78
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At Aurora, Ill., on October 12, 1858, Mr. Moon married Sallie Gilman. Mrs. Moon was born August 22, 1836, in Harrison, Lick- ing county, Ohio, and was a daughter of John L. and Cornelia (Baker) Gilman, natives of Vermont and New York respectively, and descended from English and Scotch ancestry. Seven chil- dren were born to this union as follows: Gilman L., Frank H., Angeline. Sumner G., Chester D., Pauline and DeLos R. Jr.
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DeLos Rensselaer Moon, Jr., ranks among the younger class of enterprising, energetic and successful business men of Eau Claire. A native of New York state, he was born at Dansville, August 29, 1879. His parents, DeLos Rensselaer and Sallie Freely (Gilman) Moon, were natives of New York state and Ohio re- spectively, and on his mother's side is descended from English and Scotch ancestry. His father, DeLos R. Moon, was born in Chenango county, New York, and at the age of eight years, came to Kendall county, Illinois, with his mother, and in 1845, removed to Aurora, Ill., where at the age of nineteen he entered HIall Brothers' Bank as bookkeeper. In 1857 he came to Eau Claire, and took charge of the Bank of Eau Claire, and in 1861 engaged in buying and selling logs and timber land.
Mr. Moon acquired his education in the public schools and at Phillips' Academy, at Andover, Massachusetts, where he took a general course in seience. After completing his education, he entered the employ of the Northwestern Lumber Company in 1900, remaining until 1902, when with others he purchased the Linderman Box & Veneer Company, of which he became presi- dent, and in which eapacity he is still serving. Under the care- ful management of Mr. Moon and his associates, the business of this coneern has been greatly enlarged, the sales having inereased from $75,000 in 1901 to $350,000 in 1913. In 1910 the factory of the above company was totally destroyed by fire, but was at once rebuilt, newly equipped, and is now considered one of the best and up-to-date factories in the country.
Mr. Moon was married October 16, 1901, to Miss Bertha Elizabeth Dean, of Eau Claire, and to them have been born two children, Elizabeth, aged ten, and Laura Dean, aged four years. Mr. Moon is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Eau Claire Club, Eau Claire Country Club and the Eau Claire Auto Club. He is highly esteemed by a host of friends whom he has gathered around him by his thorough business habits and social qualities. Ile is genial and affable in manner, always ready to bestow a favor, to speak a kind word or do a kind act, and being enterprising to an eminent degree, he takes a lively interest in all measures tending to the welfare and pros- perity of his city and eounty.
Clinton P. Moses, prominent farmer aud dairyman, was born in the State of Iowa, October 15, 1869, and is the only child born to George and Elizabeth (Powell) Moses. The former was born in Connecticut and served as a soldier in the civil war; the latter was born in South Wales. When Clinton P. was two years old
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his mother died, and he was brought to live with his mother's parents, where he lived until he was 21 in the town of Bruns- wiek, Eau Claire county. The father died in 1901 and the death of the mother occurred August 16, 1871.
John Powell, maternal grandfather of Mr. Moses, was born in Bradnorshire, South Wales, August 12, 1799, and died in Brunswick, December 17, 1881. His wife, grandmother of our subject, was Margaret Williams, also of South Wales, where she was born May 12, 1801, and died April 29, 1902, having lived to be 101 years old. They were married in South Wales and were the parents of eight children: John, Jr., born September 29, 1828; Robert, born August 16, 1831; Anna, born April 16, 1836 ; Edward, born September 30, 1838; Mary, born August 22, 1841; Jane, born September 8, 1847; Elizabeth, born Angust 6, 1850, and William, born January 15, 18 -.
These hardy pioneers left the land of their nativity May 5, 1848, and sailed from Liverpool, May 10, of that year, landing in New York June 19, 1848. They went to Lenore, Madison county, New York, where they spent a little more than two years and then came west to Wisconsin, settling at Oakfield, Fond du Lac county, where they remained until 1856, and then moved to Eau Claire county and settled on a farm in Brunswick town- ship and there spent the balance of their lives, honored and re- spected by all who knew them.
Clinton P. was raised on the farm and his boyhood was spent in mueh the same manner as that of most farmer boys. He at- tended the common school and assisted with the farm work. Ile married Miss Mary A. Sprague, daughter of George A. Sprague, of Brunswick township, by whom he has four children: Victor C., Margaret E., Willard and Lneile. While Mr. Moses is now living in the city of Eau Claire, he still earries on his farm and makes a specialty of dairying, pure bred stoek raising and cattle feeding, and is one of the enterprising and progressive men of his town, having served the same as chairman and treasurer for 9 years, also school treasurer of his distriet for 18 years. Fra- ternally he is a member of the Masonic Order, the Knights of Pythias, the Modern Woodmen and the Beavers.
George Sprague, father of Mrs. Moses, was born at Bordino, New York, and came to Eau Claire in 1854 and later engaged in the livery and blacksmithing business. He helped to construct the first ferry at Eau Claire, and for several years operated it. Ile later moved to the town of Brunswick, where he carried on
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general farming. Ile married, in 1859, Miss Alma Amidon, daughter of Harrison Amidon, of Gilmantown, Buffalo county, Wis. To this union were born three children: George C .; Clay- ton B., who died in 1868, and Mary A., wife of Clinton P. Moses. Mr. Sprague, who died December 1, 1902, was a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons.
Daniel Murphy,* who is now living in retirement, was born in Buffalo, New York, February 22, 1850. Ilis father, Daniel Murphy, who followed farming during his lifetime, was born in Ireland. He married Margaret O'Neil and reared a family of four children, viz: Jeremiah, Ellen, Margaret and Daniel. The parents are now both deceased. When seven years of age, in 1857, Daniel moved with his parents and family to Dodge county, Wisconsin, thence in 1860 to Eau Claire, where the father en- gaged in farming.
Daniel Murphy, the subject of this sketch, grew to manhood in this county, and spent approximately thirty-seven years of his life in the lumber woods, where he was employed as eook, and at other times was engaged in farming. Ile has always been a temperate, frugal man, and a great reader. By hard work, perseverance and economical habits, he saved his earnings until he has amassed considerable money, which he is now loaning on good security. In polities he has never taken any important part ; has never sought nor held political office, but has exercised his rights as a good citizen.
Edward C. Murphy, D. O.,* Eau Claire, was born in West Lebanon. Ind., September 19, 1880; son of and Mary (Moriarty) Murphy ; the father a native of Tipperary, Ireland, and the mother of Indiana. He was raised in Illinois and Kan- sas, receiving his education in the public schools, the State Nor- mal school at Normal, Ill., and Brown's Business College at Dan- ville, Ill. He began the study of osteopathy at the American Sehool of Osteopathy, at Kirkville, Mo., in 1906; was graduated therefrom in 1909 and on June 15 of the same year came to Eau Claire, where he has successed in building up a lucrative practice.
On June 13, 1909. he was married to Verna Belle, daughter of William and Louise (Brown) Roberts, of Kirkville, Mo., who is also a graduate of the American School of Osteopathy in the class of 1910, and she is an able assistant to the doctor in his practice. Dr. Murphy is a member of the American Osteopathic Association, the Wisconsin State Osteopathie Association. the
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Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, lodge No. 402, the Eau Claire Council, No. 1257, Knights of Columbus, and in re- ligious belief is a Roman Catholic, and in polities a Repub- lican.
Jeremiah Murphy,* the son of Daniel and Margaret (O'Neil) Murphy, was born in Rochester, New York, November 1, 1839, of Irish ancestors. He came to Eau Claire in 1860 and engaged in farming, which occupation he followed until the breaking out of the civil war. He enlisted in 1861 in Company B, 6th Wiscon- sin volunteer infantry, and served four years and one month, receiving an honorable discharge June 10, 1864. After being mustered out, he returned to Eau Claire and resumed his farm- ing operations, which he continued for two years. He then moved to Eau Claire and for nine years until 1875, followed the occupation of millwright. He next worked as a machinist in a machine shop for some time. He was one of the first to be ap- pointed as mail carrier of Eau Claire under the Cleveland administration, and performed his duties in that capacity for four years, after which he engaged in business on his own hook, opening a shop for doing all kinds of repair work.
Mr. Murphy is a charter member of the Grand Army of the Republic of Eau Claire, and is a devoted member of St. Patrick's Church. He married, in 1872, Miss Ellen M. McCarthy, daugh- ter of Dennis Mccarthy, of Eau Claire, and they have two chil- dren-Margaret E. and Edward D., the latter lives at home and has taken over his father's business, which he is now (1914) car- rying on.
George J. Nash, superintendent of printing and engraving for the Eau Claire Book & Stationery Company, was born at Hud- son, Wis., July 17, 1865, the son of Lester A. and Elizabeth Mary (Prey) Nash, and is descended from Scotch-Irish ancestry. His father, who was born in Rochester, New York, was one of the pioneers of Hudson, where he engaged in contracting and build- ing, and where he now lives retired at the age of 78 years, the mother being now in her 80th year. They reared a family of seven children as follows: Frederick is deceased; Jennie mar- ried O. S. Sodel, of Hudson; George J. and Gilbert J. (twins), the latter was drowned at IIndson, July 15, 1878; Elliott E. is as- sistant general superintendent of the Northwestern Railroad in Chicago; Frank L., a dealer in lumber at Seattle, Wash., and Olive V. married W. A. Morse, a traveling salesman, at Lane Park, Fla.
George J. attended the public schools until he was thirteen
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years of age, at which time he went to work on the "True Re- publican" newspaper at Hudson, and there served an apprentice- ship and as errand boy for six years, then went to the "Hudson Star and Times," and for seven years was foreman of the office. In April, 1894, he came to Eau Claire and became associated with the Eau Claire Book & Stationery Company, taking charge of their printing and manufacturing department. Ile is now superintendent and has upward of twenty hands under his super- vision.
In 1887 Mr. Nash enlisted as a private in Company C, 3rd regiment Wisconsin National Guards, as a charter member. He was promoted to the rank of corporal, sergeant, first sergeant, first lieutenant and captain, having been appointed to the latter office August 16, 1893, and resigned February 27, 1895. Fra- ternally Mr. Nash stands high in Masonie circles, being a mem- ber of the Blue Lodge, Chapter and Commandery, is past master of Eau Claire Lodge, No. 112; served seven years as secretary of the Chapter and seven years as recorder of the Commandery. He is also a member of the U. C. T., a member of and at present (1914) elder of the First Presbyterian Church, and superintendent of the Sunday school.
Mr. Nash has been twice married, first to Ilattie A. Smith, of Hudson, who died in 1902, leaving two children-Lucius B. and Clyde L. He married for his second wife Miss May Stevens, daughter of A. H. Stevens, of Eau Claire.
Julius Nerborne,* who. for many years was connected with the Daniel Shaw Lumber Company, was born at Watertown, New York, April 1, 1849; the son of Jeremiah and Orlean (Malette) Nerborne. When our subject was six years of age, his parents moved to Ottawa, Canada, and there he received his schooling and grew to manhood. Ile came to Eau Claire August 17, 1881, and for many years was engaged in lumbering, being for some time associated with the Daniel Shaw Lumber Company, and since the dissolution of that firm, he has been in the employ of the city of Eau Claire.
Hle married at Ottawa, Canada, Miss Annie O'Malley, and six children have been born: John J. J., Arthur J., Annie I., Thomas W., Frederick and Edward. In religious views Mr. Nerborne is a Catholic and a member of St. Patrick's Church. Mr. Nerborne is one of a family of eight children, born to Jeremiah Nerborne and Orlean Maletta Nerborne. Of the others, Joseph, Jeremiah, Cereel, Angusta, Irline, Clarrisso and Harriet. Mr. Nerborne, Sr., died in 1906, and Mrs. Nerborne passed away in 1893.
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Fred S. Newell, a native born citizen of Eau Claire, where he was born on January 15, 1868, comes from sturdy New England stock and is descended from Ebenezer Newell, who was born in Newton, Mass., August 23. 1767. He married, June 10, 1789, Elizabeth Jackson, who was born January 18, 1771, at Cape Elizabeth, Me., and died July 22, 1851. He died at Durham, Me., December 9, 1856. John Newell, grandfather of our subject, was born September 18. 1797, at Durham, Me. He married, June 20, 1820, Sagy Strout, who was a native of the same place, and born January 5, 1800. They both died at New Portland, Me., he on December 8, 1872, and she January 12, 1883. They had a family of ten children, of whom the late C. S. Newell, father of Fred S., who was born June 2, 1830, at New Portland, Me., mar- ried Henrietta Shaw. May, 1856, and died at Eau Claire, Wis., May 18, 1909.
Mr. Fred S. Newell has spent nearly his whole lifetime in Union township, where he was successfully engaged in general farming until about two years ago (now 1914), when he moved into the city of Eau Claire, where he has since lived in retire- ment. He married Miss Jennie C. Tabor, daughter of James C. Tabor, of New York State. and they have one daughter, Marion.
Charles J. Newhouse. Among the well-to-do, thrifty and pro- gressive farmers of Eau Claire county is he whose name heads this brief review. He was born December 17, 1862, and is one of a family of seven children, born to John Newhouse, who was a native of Bilefeld, Germany. The father lived a long and busy life and died at the age of 77 years, and the mother died at the age of 72.
The other children, besides our subject, are: Mrs. Henrietta Shong, Mrs. Mary Richards, Frederic Newhouse, Mrs. Eliza Gris- wold, Henry Newhouse and William Newhouse, deceased.
Charles J. Newhouse was born on the farm, attended the com- mon schools and assisted in the farm work. He has always fol- lowed this occupation and carried on his operations with good success and profit. He now owns 320 acres of fertile land under a good state of cultivation, and well-improved with a fine elass of substantial buildings and all the appurtenanees and conven- iences that go to thoroughly equip an up-to-date model farm.
He is also engaged in stock raising, keeping a fine herd of Holstein eattle and from twenty to thirty head of milch cows, and does an extensive dairy business.
In 1894 he married Miss Cora E. Shong, a daughter of Nich- olas Shong, and has two children-Earl S. Newhouse and Eliza-
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beth L. Newhouse. In fraternal matters Mr. Newhouse is prom- inently identified with the Masons. Ile is a loyal publie spirited man and takes active interest in all matters pertaining to the welfare of his town and county.
He is a Democrat in polities and has held many local offices.
James H. Nickerson,* influential farmer and president of the Fairehild village ; was born in MeHenry county, Illinois, Septem- ber 14, 1865. Ilis parents, Stephen and Margaret (Bright) Niek- erson, were natives of Cazenovia, New York, and England re- spectively, and is of Seoteh and English descent. The parents of Mr. Niekerson were pioneers of MeHenry county, where the father owned a farm of 250 aeres, which he subdued, improved and brought to a good state of cultivation, and where he lived and died. The family consisted of four children-Alvarado is deceased ; Florence, deceased wife of Loren Warner: James H., the subject of this sketeh, and Rosa.
Mr. Nickerson was reared on the old homestead in Mellenry county ; attended the district school and assisted in the farm work. After attaining his majority, he went to Rock county, Wisconsin, where he was variously employed for several years. He subsequently returned to his home county and embarked in the livery business at Marengo, which he followed in connection with the buying and selling of real estate for thirteen years. In 1900 he came to Eau Claire county and purchased 1,000 acres of land in the town of Fairehild, of which he still owns 480 acres, 160 acres of which he has improved and cultivated himself. In addition to his farming operations he is engaged in the bnying and selling of real estate in Wisconsin and adjoining states. IIe is married and has resided in the village of Fairchild sinee 1900. In 1913 he was elected president of the village and has filled the office with dignity and honor.
John H. Nygaard, the popular county elerk of Eau Claire county, a position he has continuously held sinee 1904, was born in Norway, January 19, 1863, the son of Halvor H. and Maren (Jacobson) Nygaard.
Halvor II. Nygaard, father of John H., was born in Norway in 1828, and was one of the prominent and successful men of his native town, where he was engaged in the merchant tailoring business until 1890. In that year he came to this country and settled in Eau Claire, and for a number of years followed the occupation of tailor. Ile afterward moved to Washburn, N. D .. where his son, Hans C. had preceded him and where he now lives in retirement. Ile is a devoted member of the Lutheran
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church and in polities believes in the doctrines of the Republican party. He married Maren Jacobson, of Norway, who is now de- ceased, and the following children were born to them: Hans C., who resides in Washburn, has been prominent in politics all his life in and around Washburn, N. D., and where for twelve years he has been Register of Deeds. John H., the subject of this sketch; Annie married John Thompson, a merchant in Tacoma, Wash., and Carl, who is engaged in the merchant tailoring busi- ness in Tacoma.
John H. Nygaard was educated in the common schools of Norway, and in early life learned the trade of cutter in his father's tailoring establishment, where he was employed until 19 years of age. Learning of the tempting opportunities for ad- vancement in this country, he set sail in 1882 for America, and upon his arrival, he came to Eau Claire and was employed as cutter for eight years in a tailoring establishment. In 1892 he formed a partnership with Mr. John Baker in the same business under the firm name of Nygaard & Baker, at which he continued until the Fall of 1904, when he was elected county clerk of Eau Claire county on the Republican ticket, and by re-election with- out opposition has held the office ever since. He is one of Eau Claire's most prominent officials, progressive and up-to-date, and has done much in the line of his duty to place Eau Claire among the banner counties of the state, and has been the means of caus- ing to be published several directories of the county officials and maps, for the convenience and benefit of his constituents.
Mr. Nygaard is a man of pleasing personality and readily wins the good will and holds the confidence of those who come within the range of his influence. He is a man of genial, social temperament, loyal to his friends and is actively identified with the Free Masons, Knights of Pythias, the I. S. W. A., Sons of Norway, the Beavers, the Eau Claire Rod & Gun Club and the County Clerks' Association. He is also a member of the Luth- eran church. In 1888 he married Miss Julia Logan, daughter of John Logan, of Eau Claire, and they are the parents of four children, as follows : John Richard, a graduate of the high school, was appointed to the West Point Military Academy through the influence of Congressman John Esch, of LaCrosse; Mildred S. is a graduate of the common and high schools of Eau Claire, and in 1913, graduated from the Normal School of Superior, and during this year, 1914, has taught school at Chippewa Falls; Eva N. and Julia S. Nygaard live at home with their parents.
Eugene O'Brien, general superintendent of the Dells Paper &
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Pulp Company, of Eau Claire, is descended from a long line of Irish ancestry. His father, John O'Brien, was born in County Cork, Ireland, where he was for some time engaged in the groe- ery business. He married Ann Donavan, and in about 1842 came to the United States with his family. After his arrival in this country he went direct to the state quarries in Vermont and fol- lowed that line of employment for some years, and later engaged in state contracting at Hydeville, Vt. He died at the age of 67 years and was buried at Turners, Mass. Mrs. O'Brien died at the age of 68 years. They were the parents of eight children, as follows: Catherine married S. R. Morrison and made her home at Turners, Mass. ; Patrick, James and Helen are deceased. Those now living are Mary Ann; Thomas; Eugene and John, who is foreman for the Chapman Brass & Valve Works at Chickepee Falls, Mass.
Engene O'Brien was born at Ilydeville, in the western part of Vermont. September 25, 1855. Ile received a common school edu- cation in Vermont, and at the age of sixteen, commenced work in the cutlery business at Turners Falls, Mass., for L. Russell & Company, in their Green river works, remaining in their em- ploy four years, after which he engaged with the Manthue Paper Company at Turners Falls, and was employed as beater engineer, then back tender, then machine tender, and then promoted to boss machine tender, and there obtained a thorough knowledge of paper making. In 1879 he came to Wisconsin and located at Appleton, where he was employed by Kimball & Clark as boss machine tender during his time of service with this coneern. He went from Appleton to Neenah, and was there employed as machine tender and assistant superintendent for the Winnebago Paper Company for seven years. In 1894 he came to Eau Claire and became associated with the Dells Paper & Pulp Company as superintendent, and since 1909 has been general superintend- ent of the company's entire plant. Since becoming connected with this concern, he has made many improvements in the plant, erected new buildings and made extensive alterations in the old ones, and now has five hundred men under his direet supervision.
Mr. O'Brien is a keen business man and an expert mechanic, and as such, has made many improvements in paper-making ma- chinery, holds many patents and is considered an authority on the paper-making industry in both the United States and Can- ada. He is progressive and enterprising and takes a commend- able interest in all publie affairs. Besides his connection with the paper business, he is a director of the Larson Automatic
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Pump Company. In religious affiliations he is a member of St. Patriek's Catholic Church, and is also a member of the Knights of Columbus. He married Helen Burk, daughter of Thomas Burk, of Greenfield county, Massachusetts. To this union have been born eight children, of whom five are now (1914) living, as follows: Edward, a traveling salesman ; Eugene, chemist and as- sistant superintendent of the Dells Paper Company ; Thomas, as- sistant chemist for the Dells Paper & Pulp Company ; Nellie mar- ried Sylvester Gilford, banker and broker, of Calgary, Alberta, and Raymond O'Brien. Those deceased are: Thomas, Nellie and William.
Thomas Francis O'Connell,* president and general manager of the T. F. O'Connell Tile Company, of Eau Claire, was born January 15, 1865, at Bell Creek, Goodhne county, Minn. His father, Patrick O'Connell, who was born at Galway, Ireland, in 1818, emigrated to America in 1836, landing in New York City. Ile went from there to Louisville, Ky., where he married Cath- erine Griffin. He was employed at railroad work and made Louisville his home until 1858, when he moved to Bell Creek, Minn., and there purchased 160 aeres of land, and successfully followed general farming until his death in 1892, at the age of seventy-four years. He was a member of the Catholic church, and as a Democrat in political faith, he took an active interest in the affairs of Bell Creek. He was the father of nine children, of whom six are now (1914) living, viz: Mary, now Mrs. J. C. Lewis, resides at Michigan City, Minn .; Catherine married Ed- ward MeNamara; Thomas F., the subject of this sketch ; Timothy resides at Grand Forks, N. Dak., where he is engaged in the meat business, and James, a salesman of Milwaukee. Those de- ceased are : John ; Jane, deceased wife of M. J. Nilan, and Patriek, John O'Connell, grandfather of Thomas F., was born in Ireland. and lived all his life in and near Galway.
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