History of Lincoln, Oneida and Vilas Counties

"History of Lincoln, Oneida, and Vilas Counties Wisconsin"

Compiled by George O.Jones, Norman S. McVean and Others. Printed in 1924 by H.C.Cooper. Jr. & Co., Minneapoli-Winona MN. ill. 787 pages. The first two hundred pages are history of the three counties, the remainder of the book is biographies.

Biography

Houlahan, Edward a pioneer of the city of Tomahawk, and one of it principal business citizens today, and who has been closely connected with various phases of its growth and development, was born on a farm in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, son of James and Mararget HOULAHAN. The parents came to the United States from Ireland in the early 40's, while still single, taking passage on the ship "Baltic," which took six weeks to cross the Atlantic. They landed in New York, being doubtless glad to set foot on solid ground once more, and for awhile remained in that city, where they were married. It was in 1845 that they came west to Wisconsin, settling on land in Fond du Lac County, where they engaged in farming. On retiring from active work many years later they took up their residence in Stevens Point, where James HOULAHAN died Nov. 26, 1893. His wife subsequently made her home with her son Edward and daughters until her death Dec. 11, 1903. There were eight chldren in the family, of whom seven are now living, namely, Mary, Kate, Ellen, Richard, Edward, Bernard and George; the one deceased is John. George is a dentist at Stevens Point, Wis.; Mary married Daniel MCCULLOUGH of that city; Kate is the widow of Mike DOYLE, formerly of Belfield, N. D.; Ellen, the wife of Robert PHELAN of Stevens Point; Richard, lives in Madison, Wis., and Bernard lives in Hurley. Edward HOULAHAN was reared on his parents' farm in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, attending district school when young and assisting his father until he was 20 years old. He then drifted into the lumber industry, in which he was busy for some years, working in the woods near Mosinee as chopper and felling timber on the Wisconsin, Yellow and Black rivers; also rafting and driving logs on the Wisconsin River, which he did altogether at intervals for 12 years. In addition to this he worked in the mills at Mosinee. In 1886 he went to Hurley, Wis., where he conducted a hotel for two years, and then in 1888 he came to Tomahawk, which place was just starting out on its career of prosperity, having been platted in the previous year. Here or in this vicinity he engaged in logging, buying timber land, which he sold after cutting and logging the timber, and in that business he has been engaged up to the present time. In early days he did his freighting on the old "tote" road connecting Merrill and Otter Rapids, taking one week for the trip and sleeping on the ground under wagons. He still has considerable cut-over land for sale. Mr. HOULAHAN is one of the best known citizens in Tomahawk, having at various times prominently served the public in offcial capacities. He helped to write the original charter of the city and was one of its alderman when its general charter was adopted. At different times he has capably filled various municipal offices, having been a member of the Police and Fire Commission, member of the County Jury Commission, assessor, which office he has filled for 18 years, and a member of the Park Board, of which he is now president. He is a stockholder in the Bank of Tomahawk and is a member of two fraternal orders, the Knights of Columbus and the Catholic Knights. Mr. HOULAHAN was married at Stevens Point, Wis., on Nov. 11, 1885, to Nora SHEA, who was born at Erin, Wis., April 21, 1856, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth SHEA. Her parents, now deceased, were natives of Ireland, and at one time Thomas SHEA was a school teacher at Hartford, Wis., and also a merchant. Mr. and Mrs. SHEA had four sons and four daughters and six of the children are now living. Nora SHEA, who was one of a family of eight children, was reared to young womanhood at Stevens Point. In 1888 she came with her husband to the then new city of Tomahawk, which was her subsequent home until her death on June 29, 1923. She was a most worthy woman, whose life was devoted to her home and family and to her christian duties as a member of the Catholic Church and of its Altar Society, she taking an active part both in its services and in its outside activities. She had long been a patient invalid, and her passing brought keen sorrow to her family and numerous friends. Mr. and Mrs. Edward HOULAHAN were the parents of eight children, of whom the four now living are: Edward S., a graduate of Wisconsin University, who is employed in the office of the paper-mill in Rhinelander; Mida, wife of W. D. SUTLIFF of Tomahawk; Thomas J., superintendent for the Ashland Leather Co., of Ashland, Ky., and Rosella, who resides at home with her parents. Two children died in infancy and two others, Marguerite and Loretta, are also deceased. Mr. and Mrs. HOULAHAN also reared a daughter of the former's brother, Katherine HOULAHAN, who is a graduate of the Tomahawk High School. Besides her husband and children Mrs. HOULAHAN was survied by two sisters and two brothers: Mrs. Ed ESKER and Mrs. Margaret MULLEN of Stevens Point, Thomas SHEA of Chicago and Frank SHEA of Montana; also by eight grand-children.

Transcribed by Susan Swanson, from pages 521-522; History of Lincoln, Oneida and Vilas Counties Wisconsin; Compiled by George O. Jones, Norman S. McVean and Others; H.C. Cooper Jr. & Co, 1924

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