Chippewa County Biographies
Arthur Johnson McCann
History of Chippewa County, pg. 538Arthur Johnson McCann, farmer, P.O. Bloomer, Chipewa County was born on December 21, 1840 in Menomonie, Wisconsin. His father, Stephen Smith McCann was born in Kentucky, October 4, 1811, and died in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, November 1, 1880. His mother, Wilhelmina (Johnson) McCann was born April 15, 1813, at Borden, NJ. She was one of the first women who lived in the Chippewa Valley. As there were no schools in those days, our subject received his early education from a private tutor at his home in Chippewa City. He subsequently went to Elkhorn, Washington, Illinois and attended school about three months, then he returned to Chippewa City, where he spent six months in school. He then came to Bloomer Township, Chippewa County and purchased 400 acres of land from different parties and in connection with farming carried on the lumber business, having built a mill on the west fork of O'Neil Creek. From 1886 to 1891 he farmed in LaFayette Township, Chippewa County, but in the spring of the latter year he returned to the old homestead in Bloomer where he remained.
August 15, 1861, Mr. McCann married Miss Gertrude Nichols, of Chippewa City, Wis., who was born in Luzerne, Warren County, New York, December 5, 1844. Her father was born September 9, 1821, in Williamstown, Mass., a son of Josiah, who was born in the same place, June 16, 1797. Her mother, Sophronia (Washburn) Nichols was born in New York and died in Eagle Point, Chippewa County, in 1862, a daughter of Samuel Washburn. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. McCann, namely: Barbara, who was born August 18, 1863 in Chippewa City, died August 24, 1863: Arthur Jordan, born November 25, 1864, married Maud Bell English, January 12, 1890, at Bloomer, and they have one child, Maggie Bell, born October 12, 1890; David Benjamin, born June 18, 1866, in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, died October 18, 1867.
Mr. McCann enlisted February 27, 1864, at Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin and was mustered into the service at Madison, in Company K., Thirty Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry for three years, or during the war, and was in the battles of North Ann River, Cold Harbor and Petersburg, VA., and in the last named battle was wounded in the right leg, which was amputated upon the battlefield. He was then conveyed to the hospital at Annapolis, Maryland, where he remained about three months. His wife, learning of his condition on July 1, and on the following day left her home at Chippewa City for the battlefield. Upon her arrival, she enliste in the hospital service for a period of two months, in order to have a chance to attend to her husband, as that was the only way she could be granted the priviledge. They were both discharged September 27, 1864, and returned to their home in Chippewa County, Wisconsin. At that time he held the rank of fourth Sergeant in his company. McCann is a Republican in politics and has served as Supervisor of Bloomer for one term, and Constable in Chippewa City for four terms.
Stephen Smith McCann, Jr.
Historical & Biographical Album of the Chippewa Valley, 1891-1892Stephen Smith McCann, farmer, P.O. Tillinghast, Chippewa County, was born in Badger Mills, Chippewa County, March 23, 1839. His father, Stephen Smith McCann, was born October 4, 1811 and died in Eau Claire, Wis., November 1, 1880. He served in the Black Hawk War and the War of the Rebellion. His mother, Willa Mettie (Johnson) McCann, was born April 15, 1813, in Bordentown, N.J., and was the first white woman who came to this county. Our subject was the first white child born in the Chippewa Valley and his father raised the first potatoes and wheat ever grown in the valley and cut the latter with a carving knife. Stephen S. was instructed by a tutor, whom his father engaged for four years, as there were no schools in those early days in the valley. He learned his first lesson when ten years old. At the age of thirty five years, he removed to Anson Township, Chippewa County, where he resided twelve years, thence went to Bloomer Township, where he bought eighty acres of land from his brother, A. J. McCann, for $650, and now has fifty acres under a good state of cultivation.
Mr. McCann married Miss Mary Copp, in Chippewa City, April 15, 1855. She is a daughter of Richard and Eliza (White) Copp. Four children were born to this marriage, namely: Roxana, June 28, 1856; Mary Eliza, April 14, 1862; Barbara and George. Mr. McCann's second marriage was to Johanna Helen Regen, at Chippewa City, Wis., September 26, 1868. She was born in Ireland, a daughter of Patrick and Angelina (White) Regan, of Waterford, Ireland, both of whom died in Burlington, N.J., the later having been born in 1821. Seven children have been born to Mr. McCann's second marriage, namely: Stephen Jordan Smith, born in Chippewa City, Wis., December 9, 1870; Barbara Theresa, born in Anson Township, Chippewa County, April 8, 1873; Rachel W., February 14, 1875; Martha Ann Clarrina, November 5, 1879; Helen Angelina, February 24, 1881; Arthur Johnston, February 22, 1883, died July 16, 1886; Helen, March 12, 1877, died January 22, 1878. All were born in Anson County, Chippewa County, except Stephen J. S., born in Eagle Point Township, and Arthur J., in the town of Bloomer.
Mr. McCann enlisted in Company K, Thirty-sixth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, at Chippewa Falls, February 27, 1864, for three years, or during the war, and was discharged July 12, 1865, at Madison, Wis. He took part in the Battle of the Wilderness, Cold Harbor, Strawberry Hill, Va., Petersburg, Deep Bottom. He was severely wounded on the Weldon railroad by the explosion of a shell, which injured his back and head. He is a pensioner and a member of the G.A.R. of Bloomer. Politically, he is a democrat, and is a member of the methodist church.
Henry McCann
Past and Present of Chippewa County 1913A farm of 360 acres situated seven miles southeast of Bloomer is the well developed property of Henry McCann. The place presents a neat and thrifty appearance and indicates the careful supervision and practical methods of the owner who carries on general farming and dairying. Mr. McCann has been a life long resident of this county, his birth having occured at Jim Falls on the eleventh of March, 1866. His father, Dan McCann, was a native of Ohio and became one of the pioneer settlers of Chippewa county. He made his way to Wisconsin when a young man of 21 years and here engaged in farming and in the lumber business. He made his home at Jim Falls for a number of years, but died in Chippewa Falls on the eighth of November, 1890. He had reached a ripe old age, having been born on the first of January, 1816.
It was in 1837 that he arrived in this county finding a district largely undeveloped and unimproved. Much of the native timber was still standing. Chippewa Falls had not been founded and there was no house on this side of Eau Claire. Mr. McCann was accompanied by his two brothers and they became actively identified with the improvement of the county. They built the first Badger Mills and were among the pioneers in the milling business. They had a hand saw and manufactured much of the first lumber used in the county. As the years past, Dan McCann bore his full share in the work of general development and he lived to see notable changes in the county. He married Margaret LaPoint, a native of Canada, the wedding being celebrated at Prairie du Chien. Mrs. McCann, who was born in 1821, passed away October 4, 1907, at Chippewa Falls.
Henry McCann, who was one of a family of sixteen children, pursued his education in the schools of his native town. Throughout much of his life he has followed farming and until the last four years has devoted the winter months to lumbering and logging. He took up his abode upon his present farm in 1902 and has made all of the improvements upon the place. It is an attractive and well kept property and he has some of the best farming buildings in Eagle Point township. He uses the latest improved machinery to carry on the work of the fields and in addition to raising the crops best adapted to the soil and climate he also conducts a dairy business keeping a number of cows for this purpose.
Mr. McCann was married June 24, 1889, to Miss Mary Kirchner of Jim Falls and they became the parents of seven children, but Bessie, the second in order of birth, and Ruth, the fourth are now deceased. Those still living are Arthur, Alan, Walter, Jessie and Archie. The family are well known in their section of the county and have an extensive circle of warm friends.
In politics Mr. McCann is a democrat, active and prominent in the party and in 1910 was elected to the office of county sheriff, which position he capably filled for one term. He was chairman of the town for two years and filled the office of supervisor for ten years. He was also vice president of the school board and for fifteen years was school clerk. The cause of education has ever found in him a warm and helpful friend and in the discharge of his official duties he has ever been prompt, faithful and reliable. He holds membership with the Knights of Pythias at Chippewa Falls and is a consistant member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He lends his aid to the betterment of the community along material, intellectual, political and moral lines and his worth is quickly acknowledged wherever he is known. Success has come to him as a reward of ernest and enterprising efforts and high regard is given him in recognition of a well spent life.
John W. Thomas
The Blue Book of the State of Wisconsin, 1901.
Contributed by Bob HartzellJohn W. Thomas (Rep.), of Chippewa Falls, was born in Wales, 31 March 1846, coming to this country with his parents in 1849. His first residence was in Tioga county, Pa., where lie received a common school education. He was left an orphan at the age of seven, and came to Wisconsin in 1857 with a family of friends, with whom he settled in the town of Anson. He is a farmer and dairyman by occupation, and received first premium on wheat and dairy butter at the world's fair. He enlisted in February, 1864, in the Thirty-Sixth Wisconsin Volunteers, serving to the end of the war. He participated in the service of his regiment in Grant's campaign of 1864, before Richmond and Petersburg. He was town clerk seven years, secretary of the school board for three years, and served four years as town treasurer, two years as supervisor and seven years as town chairman. He was chairman of the county board for two years, was elected county treasurer in 1884. He was president of the Chippewa County Agricultural society in 1883, and has served eight years as secretary. He was treasurer of the Eagle Point Insurance company two years and director for fourteen years, which position he now holds. John W Thomas has become by his long service and intimate connection with local affairs, an expert in town and county matters. In 1897 he was appointed by the governor a member of the State Board of Agriculture, and reappointed in 1899 for three years. He was elected to the assembly in 1894, re-elected in 1896 and in 1898 and again in 1900 for a fourth consecutive term, receiving 2,582 votes, against 1,249 for Thomas Emmerston (Dem).
John W. Thomas
Chippewa County Past and Present, Vol. 2, 1913
Contributed by Bob HartzellHon. John W. Thomas left and is leaving the impress of his individuality upon the history of the county and state and the record is one which reflects credit and honor upon the people who have honored him in choosing him for high positions of political preferment. His sterling worth is everywhere recognized and his substantial qualities have made him one of the foremost citizens of Wisconsin. He makes his home on a farm of two hundred fifty-six acres of section 7, Anson township, and has been a resident of Chippewa county for fifty-six years, or since 1857. He was a lad of but eleven years at the time of his arrival, his birth having occurred in south Wales on 31st of March, 1846. He is a son of Stephen and Sarah (Evans) Thomas. The parents died in the Cherry Flats and were laid to rest in the Welsh cemetery in Tioga county, Pennsylvania. He came to Wisconsin with the family of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Copp, who reared him and whom he assisted in the work of pioneer settlement. He was left an orphan at the age of seven and although he was but eleven years of age when he came to this state, he drove a team for Mr. Copp all the long way from Pennsylvania to Chippewa county. The family with whom he lived settled in the town of Anson and again he had the opportunity to attend school to some extent, but spent time in farm work, aiding Mr. Copp in developing and improving his land. When he was a youth of seventeen, his patriotic spirit was aroused by the attempt of the south to overthrow the union, and he offered his services to the government enlisting as a member of the Thirty-sixth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, with which he served until the close of the war. He participated in the brillian movements of his regiment during General Grants campaign of 1864 before Richmond and Petersburg. When hostilities were over and the country no longer needed his aid, he returned to the north and has since been identified with farming interests in Chippewa county. It was his intention to attend college, but ill health prevented and the money which he had saved for that purpose was invested in real estate. He became owner of a wild tract of land which he cleared and placed under cultivation. From time to time he added to his first purchase until his holdings were quite extensive. He has always retained possession of the old home place and in connection with the cultivation of his crops has engaged extensively in the dairy business, which, by reason of his capable management, has proven a success. He has always wisely used the opportunities which have come to him and is recognized as a man of sound business judgement and keen discrimination as well as of unfaltering energy. In addition to his other business interests, he is president and manager of the Jim Falls Cooperative Butter & Cheese Company, which is a paying enterprise and constitutes one of the chief productive industries of Jim Falls.
Aside from his business connections, Mr. Thomas is prominently know through his political activity and is a recognized leader of the repuclican party in Chippewa county, various political honors having been accorded him. He served as chairman of the county board for several terms and was elected to the office of county treasurer. He was likewise secretary to the Chippewa County Agricultural Society for eight years and did much to stimulate an interest in improved agricultural methods. His high standard in agricultural circles is indicated in the fact that an 1897 appointment of the governor made him a member of the State Board of Agriculture and in 1899 he was reappointed for three years, at he end of which he declined the third appointment. In 1894 the republican party of Chippewa county elected him to represent the second district in the state legislature and he was reelected in 1896, 1898 and 1900, serving, in four consecutive terms, during which period he made a most excellent record as a legislator, faithful to the interests of his constituents and loyal to the welfare of the state. He was again called to public sevice in 1902, being elected railroad commissioner. He was reelected in 1904 and in 1908 was again called to the legislative department of state service, being elected senator from his district by a flattering majority. He was connected with much important constructive legislation and did much toward guiding and directing destinies of the state while a member of the house and of the senate. Mr Thomas was active in the railroad investigation which resulted in no longer giving rebates to shippers and in collection of a large amount of back taxes.
At Bloomer, Wisconsin, on the 29th of February, 1868, Mr. Thomas was married to Miss Marcella M. Fuller, a daughter of Daniel and Sarah Fuller, of Bloomer, the father a pioneer farmer of Chippewa county, upon a part of whose farm the town of Bloomer was built. Both he and his wife are deceased and their graves were made in Bloomer cemetery. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas have a daughter, Sarah, the wife of Fred Hartzell, who is a secretary- treasurer and the active manager of the Jim Falls Cooperative Butter & Cheese Company. Mr. and Mrs Hartzell reside with their parents and they have four children; Marion and Robert, who area attending school; and Lloyd and Norma, who are at home. Mr. Thomas is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and in fact is the oldest representative of the organization in the county, years of continuous connection therewith. He occupies a fine residence upon his farm on section 7, Anson township, and has splendidly improved the property. There are large barns and outbuildings and all modern equipments of the model farm are here to be found. Mr. Thomas was the first in north Wisconsin to own a silo and he has ever displayed an enterprising spirit in carrying on his farm interests. He possesses excellent business ability and where upon his retirement from the office of railroad commissioner he was elected president of the Jim Falls Cooperative Butter & Cheese Company, he bent his energy to the development of a business which was then in a precarious condition. The company was in debt and the future seemed dark, but Mr. Thomas at once took hold of the business and under his guidance, it has been developed, its output being increased from eighty-three thousand to three hundred and fifty thousand pounds of butter annually. It is characteristic of Mr. Thomas that he accomplishes what he undertakes, whether in business affairs or in public life and at all times he is actuated by a spirit of enterprise and honor that has made him one of the most valued citizens of his county and state.
John W. Thomas
Biographical Sketch, Law makers of Wisconson 1899-1901
Contributed by Bob HartzellJohn W. Thomas, was born in Wales, March 31, 1846. He came to this country with his parents in 1849, and received a common school education in Tioga county, Pennsylvania. He was left an orphan at the age of seven, and removed to Wisconsin in 1857, with a family of friends, with whom he settled at Anson, Chippewa county. He enlisted in the Thirty-sixth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, in February 1864, and served until the end of the war. His regiment participated in Grants campaign of 1864 before Richmond and Petersburg. Mr. Thomas has always been active in politics, as a member of the Republican party. He was town clerk for seven years, secretary of the school board for three years, town treasurer for four years, a member of the board of supervisors for two years, town chairman seven years and county treasurer for two years. Mr. Thomas was president of the Chippewa County Agricultural society in 1883, and served the same society eight years as secretary. He was elected to the assembly in 1894 to represent the Second district of Chippewa county, was re-elected in 1896 and again in 1898. He was chariman of the committee of railroads.
Angus V. McGillivray
Chippewa Falls Biographical Sketch, History of Northern Wisconsin, 1881
Contributed by Bob HartzellAngus V. McGilvray, P.O. Chippewa Falls, left his native place, Glengary Co., Canada West, where he was born Dec. 10, 1830, and came to Wausau in the Winter of 1856, where he lived seven years, most of the time employed in lumbering. In 1859, he went back to Glengary, and on Oct. 18, 1859, was married to Miss Mary McDonald, daughter of Roderick and Ann McDonald. They were married by Rev. Father McDonald, of Parish St. Raephel's, Glengary, who died in March of 1879, at the advanced age of 103 years. They have six children, John I., Isabel Ann, Roderick P., Blena May, Catherine, and Charles F. W. They have lost by death three children, Isabel Ann, died Oct 13, 1861; Donald E., June 27, 1879, and Angus Duncan, July 4, 1879, both of the two latter dying of scarlet fever. Mr. and Mrs. McGilvray are both members of St. Mary's Church, Chippewa Falls, Rev. Father Goldsmith, pastor. Mr. McGilvray has worked in the lumber woods every Winter, with one exception, since sixteen years of age, both in Canada and Wisconsin. He has worked on the river in the Spring, driving logs, and is one of the most experienced drivers on the Chippewa River.
Charles V. Sweeney
Chippewa Falls Biographical Sketch, History of Northern Wisconsin, 1881
Contributed by Bob HartzellCharles V. Sweeny, Chippewa Falls, is a native of that place, born Oct 16, 1854. His father, Simeon C. Sweny, came to Chippewa City in the Spring of 1850, from Black River Falls, Jackson Co., where he lived for several years previous. His mother Elizabeth A., following in 1853. Mr. S. was married July 4, 1876, to Miss Adeline M. McCann, of Jim Falls, Chippewa Co. The parents of Mrs. Sweeney, Daniel and Margaret McCann were among the earliest settlers in Chippewa City, or the Fall's, coming from Dubuque, Iowa, in 1839. It was Daniel McCann who purchased for a sack of corn an eagle of an Indian at Lake Flambeau on the Chippewa River, brought the bird to Eau Claire and sold him to Mills Jeffreys, who in turn presented him to Capt. Perkins of the 8th Wis. It was "Old Abe" who followed the fortunes of the "Eighth" through the entire war and who died in Madison in 1881. Mr. Sweeney left school at the age of fourteen years and from that period has constantly been engaged in the various departments of lumbering. Is a lumber scaler.
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