Biographical Sketch of

Horace C. Moulton

Transcribed by Joan Benner for the Marquette Co WI Pages



Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Green Lake, Marquette and Waushara Counties, Wisconsin, 
published 1890 by Acme Publishing Co., Chicago, Page 536

Horace C. Moulton, capitalist and loan broker of Berlin, was born in 
Utica, N. Y., May 1, 1816, and is a son of Aurora and Rebecca (Maynard) 
Moulton. His parents were born near Hartford, Conn., and both were of 
English origin. The ancestors of our subject on both sides were 
represented in the War of the Revolution as defenders of the cause of 
liberty. His parents both died when he was a child, and he was thus 
left to the care of relatives. He attended school in Albany, N. Y., and 
afterward was apprenticed to the tailor's trade, but after completing 
his term of service was obliged to abandon the undertaking on account of 
a serious attack of inflammation of the eyes. When seventeen years old 
he began clerking in a general store at $5 per month, but his employer, 
appreciating the worth of his services, soon increased his wages. Being 
careful and prudent in the expenditure of money, he was not long in 
accumulating a capital of $200, so when twenty years of age he began 
life for himself in the restaurant business. In eight months he had 
cleared $1,000 and had a constantly increasing trade. He was also forced 
to increase his facilities and son he had accumulated a capital of $3,000,
with which he embarked in general merchandising, in the village of Jordon, 
Onondaga Co., N. Y., where he continued business in that line for sixteen 
years with splendid success. He had secured an extensive and profitable 
trade and was owner of one of the largest and most important mercantile 
establishments in the place when misfortune overtook him. He had been 
successful, and his desire to aid others led him to endorse a note for a 
friend whom he had known for many years and who had previously aided Mr. 
Moulton in his business career by many favors, but his friend failed and 
he saw the accumulated profits of his years of toil and perseverance 
swept away in a day. He was then obliged to close out his business, and 
with nothing left him but energy and hope, he sought to retrieve his 
fortunes in the far West.

On the 14th of April, 1858, Mr. Moulton landed in Berlin, Wis., and began
life anew as an employee of the Oneida Bank in that city, with which he 
remained until it became bankrupt. With his small savings, he then began 
buying up notes in a small way, and as his capital increased extended his 
operations, and in the course of time, in the way of business he became 
possessed of numerous houses and lots and chattels, and acquired a large 
capital. He has had reverses and has met with some serious losses but is 
now the owner of more houses and lots than any other man in Berlin. He 
has also property in neighboring towns, the care of which together with 
the loaning of his money, occupies his entire time.

Mr. Moulton is well read on the topics of the day, and has a wide 
experience of men and the world. He is genial and affable in his manner 
and has many warm friends. He has always been inclined to fraternize 
with the Methodists in religion and is a Republican in politics.
  





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