The history of Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, Part 127

Author:
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company
Number of Pages: 1082

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GEORGE W. LUSK, lumberman ; a native of New Hartford, Oneida Co., N. Y .; eame to Fond du Lac in May, 1866, and began the lumbering business in the firm of Merryman & Co .; this firm lasted until 1878, when Mr. Lusk became proprietor of the entire business, which he continues ; he has a saw-mill with a capacity of about 40,000 feet of lumber per day, and in which are employed thirty five men ; he manufactures from 5,000.000 to 7,000,000 feet each year ; before coming to Fond du Lac, Mr. Lush was engaged as a lumberman at Edgerton, Wis., about nine years. He has been Mayor of Fond du Lac, and held various local offices.

GILBERT M. LEE. See last pages of this book.

FRANCIS D. MCCARTY was born in Martinsburg, Lewis Co. N. Y., Jan. 12, 1816; edu- cated at his native place; immigrated to Green Bay in 1836; came to Fond du Lac July 8, 1838, and located a farm at Taycheedah, where he built a house the same year, and in March, 1839, brought his family to reside in it ; Mr. McCarty's residence has since been in Fond du Lac Co., though he has been traveling three years in the iron and steel trade ; his first office was that of Constable and Collector; was elected Sheriff in 1850, and was Under Sheriff under George W. Mitchell and J. L. D. Ecclesheimer; Deputy

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United States Marshal in 1860; member of the Legislature in 1858; one of the first Trusteess of Fond du Lac Village ; Alderman several terms ; Justice of the Peace in Empire. Mr. MeC. was married at Green Bay, March 18, 1838, to Eliza A. Vandresar ; their children are Loviea L., Catherine R., Frances E., Darwin D. and Grace ; all married. Mrs. McC. died Sept. 14, 1867.

GEORGE MCCLUSKEY, Superintendent of the Lueo lumber-mills ; was born in Strath- ford County, Perth, Canada, May 23. 1845 ; came to Fond du Lac in about 1867. Married in Fond du Lae, in 1872, Miss B. MeCabe; they have two children-Maggie and John; Mr. MeCluskey has been Superintendent of the Luco Mill over four years; prior to that time he was foreman in the sawing depart- ment several years. He is a Republican in politics.

GEORGE H. M.CUMBER, millwright for C. J. L. Meyer ; is a son of Gordon De Wolf McCumber and Hannah Mosher ; born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Jan. 11, 1828; when 16 years of age, he entered upon his apprenticeship with his uncle, John Mosher, of Toronto. Canada West, with whom he worked seven years ; from 1851 to 1855, he was engaged in building several mills on the Little and Big Otto Rivers, of Canada West. An interesting event in Mr. MeCamber's life at this place was when he with Mr. Free- love was traveling along the old military road, near the Little Otter ; they saw by the roadside a bear's cub; Mr. MeCumber proposed to pick it up, but Mr. Freelove protested ; Mr. McCumber told Mr. F. to get across the log bridge with the horses and he would pick up the young bear ; the plan was finally agreed to, and Mr. F. crossed the bridge, and stationed himself on the opposite side of the river to see the result of the project; McC. at once seized his innocent victim and started for his companion ; but the young enb immediately gave the alarm and the mother instantly rushed to the rescue; in McCumber's haste to eross the bridge, he came upon it with such force that it went down with him, and he dropped the cub thinking the old bear would cease her chase; but she, not content with the rescue of her babe, hotly pursued the would-be kidnaper till he reached his horse and made good his escape. In 1857, Mr. McCumber, with his family, removed to Fond du Lac Co., coming through from Milwaukee to Ocono- mowoc on the first emigrant train that passed over that road, stopping at Oconomowoc for the night, where there were only three hotels of three rooms each to give lodging to the multitude of immigrants ; forty of them were finally made comfortable in one of the hotels, by scattering them rather promiscuously upon the floors for the night ; the next morning there was a rush for the stage which was to convey them to Beaver Dam ; Mr. MeCumber's family were fortunate enough to secure a passage, while his friend, Mr. Fisher, and family took the ox eart for Birds' Corners; arrived at Beaver Dam June 7, soon after which, Mr. Me- Cumber joined them, and they removed to Mound Prairie, town of Byron, Fond du Lac Co., for a short time ; here an interesting event took place, which is given in another part of this work ; they next removed to Fond du Lae in October, where he has since made his home, and devoted his time to his trade; in spring of 1856, he built a saw-mill for Mr. Alex. McDonald, and has since been interested in the build- ing of several large mills, among them a grist-mill for the Indians on their reservation; a saw-mill for Merryman, at Marinette; one in city of Fond du Lac, for Mr. Meyers, also the Railroad Mill, the Hol- lister Mill, at Rochester, N. Y .; one for Mr. Coleman, at La Crosse, and has been constantly in Mr. Meyer's employ for the past two years (1879). Dec. 3, 1849, he was married to Miss Eliza, daughter of Henry and Sarah Branum, of Toronto; they have had six children-Sarah L., now Mrs. William Tostivin, of St. Paul, Minn .; H. Adel, now Mrs. Robert N. Woollett, of Minneapolis ; William G., George (deceased ), death caused by a fall; William H., Nettie A. Mr. McCumber and wife are members of the Presbyte- rian Church ; Mr. McC. is a member of the I. O. O. F., also of the Temple of Honor.

WILLIAM MCDERMOTT, insurance agent, was born in Ireland, in 1846, and came to Washington Co., Wis. the same year, with his father ; to Fond du Lac, town of Byron, in 1855, where he lived with James McDermott-his father-until 1867, when he moved to Fond du Lac and began work for L. M. Wyatt, in the insurance business; began business for himself as insurance, loan and real-estate agent, April 1, 1872, and now has fourteen companies-all first-class. He was married, July 7, 1868, to Annie C. Duffie ; they have two children-James P. and George L. All are members of St. Joseph's Church ; Mr. McDermott has been a member of the Board of Education one year, but gives no attention to polities.

ALEXANDER McDONALD, manufacturer and lumberman, was born at Lancaster, Glengarry Co., Canada, Sept. 16, 1827, of Scotch parents ; his education was acquired at the schools of his native place, after which he spent three years in a large grocery store in Montreal; he then returned to Laneaster and engaged with Archibald McBean, merchant and lumberman, for one and a half years, when he became a partner in the business, taking charge of a branch store; in 1848, the partnership, which had existed two and a half years, was terminated, and Mr. MeD. became clerk in William Flower's railroad-contracting office, in which he remained one year, and was given charge of a gang of men, and at the end of another year was made Division Superintendent, owing to his wonderful energy and uniform

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good judgment; in 1856, after finishing with the railroad contractor, Mr. McD. came to Fond du Lac, and, in company with his brother and others, began the manufacture of lumber, which he has since eon- tinued without interruption ; he now is the sole owner of a saw-mill and a large tract of pine lands; Presi- dent of the Wheel and Seeder Co .; Vice President of the McDonald Manufacturing Co .; part owner of the McDonald & Stewart Sash, Door and Blind Factory ; Director of the German-American Savings Bank ; a member of the Log Harbor Co., and Director of the Gravel Road Co., giving attention to every branch of his business; Mr. MeDonald is an astonishing, tremendous and tireless worker ; he has rushed himself through the heaviest labors with only four hours per day of rest and sleep, not simply for a week, but during long periods ; and at his mill, or in handling lumber, takes the place and the labors of two men ; the same prodigious vigor characterizes all his mental operations ; the most prolonged exposure and hardest tug at labor even yet appears to leave him as fresh and strong as when he began; his working trim is 6 feet 2 inches in height and 215 pounds in weight-all bone and sinew ; the first seven years of Mr. MeD.'s life after he left school were devoted to paying the debts contracted by his father, who died when he was only 5 years of age, thus saving the old homestead to his mother. Although giving no attention whatever to politics, he has been elected Alderman, member of the County Board and Mayor. He was married first, in 1859, to Annie Cameron, who died Dec. 12, 1863, leaving one daughter-Sarah ; in February, 1868, he married Christiana McLennan, who died a year later; in 1872, Mr. McDonald married his present wife, Sarah E. Vaughan, who is the mother of his only son-Alexander Vaughan McDonald. Mr. McDonald uses no liquor or tobacco, gives his influence to temperance matters, and is a member of the Presbyterian Church.

JOHN S. McDONALD, manufacturer and Jumberman ; was born in Lancaster, Glengarry Co., near the Province liue, between Upper and Lower Canada, Dec. 7, 1831-a locality noted for the large size of its men and women. When Col. Frasier's regiment was reviewed at Montreal, during the Revolution of 1837, the English General declared he had never seen so fine a regiment -- not a man in it being less than six feet, and some of them were over seven feet in height ; and the Colonel said he could furnish ten more regiments of such men, and as many as might be wanted of men six feet in height. Donald McDonald, lumberman and farmer, father of John S., was boru at Glengarry a year after the grandparents settled on the old homestead. His mother, Marion Stewart, born on the Isle of Skye, Scotland, was, on her mother's side, a McLeod ; her father's family consisted of six brothers and four sisters -none of the brothers being less than six feet-of whom three sisters and one brother are now living, the youngest being 70 years of age, and his mother, who resides in Fond du Lac, being in her 84th year. Mr. McD.'s father died Feb. 28, 1848, after a brief illness. His family consisted of twelve children-six boys and six girls, all now living but two.

The subject of this sketch attended the common schools from the farm on which he was born, beginning at the age of 4 years, and walking regularly every day, rain or shine, with his brothers and sisters, from one to three miles. At the time of his father's death, he had been clerking, for a period of two years, in a gen- eral store at $4 per month, which gave him a practical knowledge of general business. Liquors were retailed over the counters of this store, and, for five years, young McDonald sold intoxicating drinks as a beverage, without ever tasting them himself. His mother lived a mile distant from the store, and every Sunday, after he was ready to return from his visit to her, she woukl admonish him to " be a good boy for another week, and not touch the liquor;" and to his beloved mother Mr. MeD. ascribes his strength to handle liquor five years without tasting a drop of it. All this time, he and his brother, Alexander. were earning money to pay for the old farm and educate the younger children. At the age of 16, he left Glengarry and engaged with William Flower, a prominent railroad contractor, as book-keeper and pay- master, with whom his brother Alexander had previously been engaged, and the two labored together for years with but one aim, that of paying their father's debts. After finishing the Grand Trunk Rail- road, Mr. McD. left the employ of Mr. Flower, in January, 1856, and. after arranging his mother's affairs, went to Chicago ; thence to Dixon, Ill .; out through lowa and finally brought up at Fond du Lac the last of February, 1856, riding in a box-car behind the little Winnebago engine, over the strap-railed Rock River Valley Union Ry., then in operation from Fond du Lae to Minnesota Junction. On his arrival at Fond du Lac, he had only $190, but was introduced to R. and A. Merryman and H. Hunter, with whom he entered into business under the firm name of McDonald, Merryman & Co. His old employer, Mr. Flower, had promised that if MeDonald could get into business, to draw on him for capital. This was done, and Mr. Flower responded by remitting $4,500, and the new firm erected a saw-mill on the corner of Johnson and Follett streets, which burned years after. The same spring his brother Alexander came to Fond du Lac, and purchased a quarter-interest in the mill, which was continued until the panic of 1857, when lumber could hardly be sold at any price. About this time, Mr. Flower, his former employer, had taken the contract

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for building the Stanstead, Shefferd & Chambly Ry., in Lower Canada, and wanted Mr. McD. to organize and begin the work for him, which, with the consent of his partners, he did, and continued in the railroad business until the first division, from St. John's to Granby, was completed. By letter, he then arranged with his partners to carry ou his lumber business at Fond du Lac for three years, and, in 1858, set sail from New York to California. with such letters in his possession as would enable him to get along in case his hands should fail him.

While on shipboard, Mr. MeD. became acquainted with two Frenchmen, who were on their way to Cali- fornia to embark in the wine business, and who, as they did not understand the manner of doing business in this country, offered him a one-third interest without a dollar of cash. But MeD. declined the offer solely on account of the nature of the business-his early experience leading him to make such a decision. Ile also met men going to the Frasier River gold mines, and made arrangements to accompany them, taking steer- age passage from San Francisco to Victoria, Vancouver's Island, experiencing hardships never to be for- gotten. After preparing boat and equipages for mining, he was enabled, through the kindness of Gov. Douglass, to whom MeD. bad letters of introduction, to get passage across the Gulf of Georgia, [an altogether dangerous undertaking in small boats], on the steamer Otter, the first steam vessel to navi- gate the Pacific Ocean. Hle landed at the mouth of the Frasier, near Ft. Langley, at 3 o'clock in the afternoon of a rainy October day. After rowing up stream two miles, they camped with other miners for the night. The next day was Sunday, and most of the miners made ready to proceed on the journey. But MeD. said he never worked a Sabbath in his life, and should not begin in British Colum- bia, suggesting that their luggage be divided. and he would remain behind with another, who was against Sabbath-breaking. The next Thursday the MeD. party passed all the boats that started on Sunday, and when they reached the mines, was several weeks in advance of the Sabbath-breakers. The Frasier River was a dangerous stream to navigate, and MeD. and his friends had many hair-breadth escapes while ascend- ing it. It was winter in the mountains, and, on reaching Ft. Hope, he took a job of the government, with others, to build a jail of logs eight inches thick. When this was finished, he tried mining, which was good in some places. On the arrival of spring, the company parted. MeD. and a man named Cor- nell, remained together and made shingles or shakes, and sawed lumber with a whip-saw for a living. After sowie unpleasant experiences with hostile Indians, exposure of the utmost severity, and tiresome mountain- climbing until the next summer, he determined to return down the river, and landed at New Westminster sovu after the government established its headquarters at that point, making it the port of entry for British Columbia, although the place contained nothing but a restaurant, grocery and post office. In the post office, Mr. MeD. found three letters, upon which 75 cents postage was due, but not having any money, he told the Postmaster he would call later, and not knowing what else to do, went out and started up an Indian trail. Ile had proceeded but a few rods, when he discovered a gold dollar shining near a small rivulet that crossed the trail. Believing it the work of Providence, McD. snatched the coin and hastened back for his letters. After paying the postage, he had 25 cents left, which, not having tasted food since the day before, he hastened to expend in the restaurant for buns. While eating them, aud reading his letters, he saw an advertisement calling for choppers for the government. This directed him to Col. Moody, who said the government wanted fifty cords of eighteen-inch wood, for which $3 per cord would be paid. Although without money, ax or provisions, he pluckily took the job, afterward getting trusted by Armstrong, who kept the grocery, for both, and began his work toward night the same day. After working about an hour or so, a tall man came up and wanted work. MeD. hired him at $3 per day, which proved a good bargain, as the man was a good chopper. The next day the two put up four cords, thus making 89 per day for MeDonald. He next went into a grocery, but left it very soon after to engage iu the fish business-catching and packing salmon ; but, after working night and day, making 1,000 fish barrels, getting boats, sheds, nets and other things ready, found the salmon did not run that year. This was a heavy blow, as McDonald had borrowed the money for his costly but disastrous fishing experiment. Hay then commanding a fabulous price, he determined to go into the hay business, and after searching out a marsh at the peril of his life, among hostile and ugly Indians, and, finding that the old chief would protect him, as he wanted the hay cut, he hired five men and put up eighty tons, work- ing like a slave to do it. This was twenty miles from any settlement, and, as 2,000 Indians, enraged by whisky furnished by the coast-traders, constantly sought opportunity to take their lives, the task was a disagreeable as well as perilous one, in the extreme. But the hay was never moved, as opposi- tion companies had put the price down far below even the cost of transportation. The experience with the Indians was a terrible one. Not a day has passed, from that day to this, which failed to recall the dangers then passed through, or the feeling of thankfulness at escaping with his life, as MeD. was left alone with them by his less plucky companions. As soon as the disastrous hay business was dropped, he

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took a job from the government of cutting a trait fourteen miles through heavily timbered country, fre- quently encountering trees so large as to extend, while standing, across the entire trail, which was twenty feet wide. On finishing this job, he took for pay land scrip, and entered lands back of New Westminster, which he still owns. Rev. E. White, a Methodist minister, arrived at New Westminster, and MeDonald helped to erect the first church in that country, a few bearing all the burdens. But as yet, he had made no money-had many a day gone without food, shelter, or proper clothing; had taken a salmon in either hand and gone about trying to sell them for bread. At last, he learned of a man who owned a saw-mill but could not run it. He, therefore, went to two men named Homer and Jackson, who put their money against his experience and labor, and the mill was put in motion. In this new enterprise, McDonald worked with the same tremendous energy, and made a success of it. So, after making cnough to pay all his debts, and show the people he could make a success of something, he determined to leave the Pacific Coast. Before leaving, however, in July, 1859,the got up publie meetings and circulated petitions, praying the English Government to graut a Colonial Legislature to British Columbia, which prayer was soou granted ; and, on his departure, Mr. McD. was tendered a public dinner for the energy and enterprise with which he had helped to develop the colony. On arriving in Canada, he found great excitement over copper mining, and, after paying a hasty visit to Fond du Lac, buying out, with his brother Alexander, Hunter and the Merrymans, and forming the firm of A. & J. S. McDonald. which continued for many years, he enterred into mining operations with his old employer, William Flower. The rebellion in the States caused a promiscuous fleeing of capitalists and cessation of mining operations, so McD. determined to return to Fond du Lac, and give his energy and attention to the lumber business. But he had no notion of returning alone, so proposed to, and was accepted by, Jane Elizabeth, his former employer's second daughter, whom he had known from childhood, and they were married at Montreal, Nov. 12, 1861, making the journey to Fond du Lac, their future home, their wedding tour. The issue of this marriage has been four girls and three boys-Williamina Elizabeth, bora Aug. 8, 1862; Annie Stewart, May 3, 1864; Marion Maria, Aug. 26, 1867; John Flower, June 19, 1870; Edwin Corydon French, July 28, 1872 ; Alexander Dee, Dec. 5, 1874, and Jeunie Louise Alberta, Sept. 2, 1878. Marion Maria died Oct. 31, 1871, at the age of 4 years. Since taking up his permanent residence in Fond du Lac, Mr. McDonald has most of his attention to lumbering. as a member of the firms of A. & J. S. McDonald ; A. & J. S. McDonald & Co .; MeDonald Flower & Co. and McDonald, Lynch & Co., carrying on the business at Fond du Lac, on the Wolf River and other Wisconsin waters. More recently, he began at Ford River, Mich., taking as partners Blanchard & Borland, of Chicago, under the name of McDonald, Borland & Co., which gave place to Ford River Lumber Co., of which he has been President and Manager from the start. In 1877, he formed, at Oconto, the lumber-manufacturing firm of McDonald & Billings' Lumber Co., of which he is President. The same year he purchased the thrashing machine works at Fond du Lac, after their failure, in which, as a stockholder he lost heavily, and, in company with John Spence, his brother Alexander, and C. H. Benton, formed the McDonald Manufacturing Co., J. S. McDonald, President- which is doing a large and increasing business. Mr. MeD. also was heavily interested in the manufacture of peat fuel and paper. Ile is an earnest member of the Presbyterian Church, in which he is a Ruling Elder, and, while liberal in his views of other denominations, has no sympathy whatever with the so-called Liberal Christians. Mr. MeD. was for several years President of the Fond du Lae Co. Bible Society ; is Trustee of the First Presbyterian Church; Superintendent of the Home and Mission Schools of the Church ; Trustee of Carroll College, and Lake Forest University ; member of the Executive Committee of the State Sabbath School Association ; one of the Vice Presidents of the American Sabbath School Union and is connected with other societies, manufactories and business interests in and around Fond du Lac, and other sections of the Northwest.

HON. CAMPBELL McLEAN, Judge of the Fourth Judicial Cirenit ; was born in Washi- ingtou Co., N. Y., May 16, 1825, but raised in Clinton Co., where he received an academic education at Keyesville, and where he studied law with Hon. Geo. A. Simmons. Judge MeLein was admitted to the bar in 1850, and practiced in Keyesville until 1856, when he removed to Fond du Lac, where he has since resided ; he was a member of the Assembly in 1862 ; elected to the Fourth Judicial Circuit judge- ship in 1868, and re-elected without opposition in 1874. He was married at Fond du Lac, in January, 1860, to Emogene S. Gillett, daughter of Rev. Dr. Erastus Gillett; she was boru at Jamestown, Chau- tauqua Co., N. Y. ; they have one child-Kate M.

CHARLES M. HeLEAN, of MeLean & Haas; was born in Ireland in 1822; came to America in 1848 ; spent six years in Steuben Co., N. Y., after remaining a short time in Pennsylvania ; came to Fond du Lac in May, 1855, from Steuben Co., N. Y. ; learned the wagon-maker's trade in New York State, which he has followed since coming to Wisconsin ; has been in business for himself since

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1863. Mr. McLean was married in Fond du Lac, May 9, 1859, to Ann Rayburn, born in County Gal- way, Ireland. They have four children-Mary Jane, Teresa, Thomas John and Ann. He is a member of the Total Abstinence Society.

MADISON McLEAN, farmer; was born at Ithaca, N. Y., Oct. 29. 1829; removed when a child to Chenango Co .; then five years in Onondaga Co .; came to Metomen, Fond du Lac Co., Wis., in 1854, where he engaged in farming until 1868, when he removed to Oshkosh; removed to Ripon in 1870; to Fond du Lac City and Town in 1873, where he now resides. Mr. McLean was married near Syracuse, N. Y., Nov. 23, 1853, to Sarah C. Bull, born in Onondaga Hollow, June 29, 1832; they have three children-Alice E., now Mrs. Ed Ingram, of Northampton, Mass .; Elsie Beecher and Mary Eliza- beth. During several years in Fond du Lac, Mr. McLean carried on the business of dairying; he is now farming two miles east of the city.

GEORGE McWILLIAMS; the subject of this sketch is a native of Mercer Co., Penn. ; was born on the 11th of December, 1800, and is the son of George Mc Williams (a firmer), and Naomi, nee Mitchell; he passed his early life in his native place, attending school during the winters and spending the summers at farm work, and at the age of 16 years, entered upon an apprenticeship of four and a half years to learn the carpenter's trade ; at the expiration of this time, he began work as journeyman, and soon removed to Painesville, Ohio, and there spent eight years working at his trale; in 1830, going to Wis- consin, he settled at. Green Bay ; then in Michigan Territory, during the next thirteen years, he was actively engaged at his trade ; during that time, he had the contract for many important buildings in his section of the country ; he built the first Protestant Mission buildings of Green Bay for the education of the half-breed Indians; he was also superintendent or architect for rebuilding Ft. Howard, and was there engaged four years; having become largely interested in the Fond du Lac Company, he removed thither in 1843, and took charge of the business of the Company ; he has been a large dealer in real estate, and, at one time owned a large part of the land where the city of Fond du Lac now stands, and by judi- cious investments and careful management has accumulated a large fortune ; he has not, however, confined himself to his private affairs, but in all matters pertaining to the growth and welfare of his city and State, has taken an active part ; he was a member of the first Territorial Legislature in 1836, and during a period of several years, served as Justice of the Peace, at Green Bay, under an appointment by Gov. Dodge; after removing to his present home, he was elected Mayor of his eity two years after its incorpo- ration ; Mr. Me Williams has traveled extensively over the United States, and being a man of close obser- vation, he has gained in this manner a most valuable experience and a practical knowledge of men aud things. Politically; he has been identified with the Republican party since its organization. Mr. Mc- Williams has never been identified with any church organization, and has never married ; he is, however, a worthy member of the Masonic Order. Such is a brief outline of the life-history of one, who beginning life without means, has worked his way up step by step, and stands now a worthy example of that success which may be attained by constant, persevering and honorable effort.

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The history of Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, Part 127

Author: Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company Number of Pages: 1082

Author:
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company
Number of Pages: 1082