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

Moen, John O. president of the First National Bank of Rhinelander, and a prominent official in several other important business concerns of this city, is a man who may be numbered among the pioneers of Oneida County, and one who has been an important factors in the development of the city of Rhinelander. He was born in Norway, Sept. 9, 1847, son of O. T. and Gure MOEN, and was reared and educated in his native land, where he spent the first 19 years of his life. By that time he was beginning to think seriously about his future prospects and to feel that his opportunities in Norway were too limited and the reward of exertion in most cases too insignificant and precarious. But in America, and especially in the United States, different conditions prevailed and there was scope for enterprise. He resolved accordingly to try his fortune in this country, and in 1866 he landed at an eastern port, came directly west to Portage County, Wisconsin, and began industrial life here on a farm. Soon afterwards, however, he went to work in the woods and for serveral years was employed in logging camps and in running logs down the river. During a part of this time he made his home with an aunt in Portage County. At last he reached Nelsonville, in Portage County, where he found employment in the saw and grist mill of Jerome NELSON. Mr. NELSON was a native of New York State, and a Civil War veteran, who spent nearly a life time in the logging and lumber industry of Wisconsin, and who taking a fancy to young Moen, gave him the benefit of his advice and friendship, which proved very helpful to him in advancing his fortunes. Mr. MOEN continued in his employ, being practically a business associate of his, for 18 years, and it was with Mr. NELSON as a partner that he came to Oneida County in 1887 and set up a mill on Moen Lake, five miles east of Rhinelander. Mr. MOEN was engaged in the operation of that lumber mill for 18 years, finally closing it out, and then for several years was interested in timber lands and lumber operations in the South and West. In the meanwhile, in 1897, Mr. NELSON died and in his will appointment Mr. MOEN administrator and trustee of his estate, which was closed up under the latter's able management. About 1900 Mr. MOEN spent several months in Alabama, and during the succeeding years he made several trips to Oregon looking over the timber lands. On his return to Wisconsin he bought an interest in the Wisconsin Veneer Company of Rhinelander, of which concern he is now vice-president. The company employs about 175 man and runs throughout the year. Mr. MOEN is also a director of the Rhinelander Refrigerator Company, but it is as president of the First National Bank of Rhinelander that he is, perhaps, most widely known. His activities, too, in the war fund drives made him acquainted with more of the new people who have located here within recent years. He is a man who has never sought publicity, having been rather averse to it than overwise, but a history of Oneida County would be incomplete without some mention of his activities, which have done so much to benefit the community. Mr. MOEN married Mattie IVERSON, a native of Wisconsin, and he and his wife are the parents of three children: Hannah, Now Mrs. Henry STOLTENBERG of Nelsonville; Gunda, wife of Albert LUTZ, a farmer of Portage County; and Oscar, who is superintendent at the Wisconsin Veneer Co.'s plant.

Transcribed by Susan Swanson, from pages 380-381, History of Lincoln, Oneida and Vilas Counties Wisconsin; Compiled by George O. Jones, Norman S. McVean and Others 1924, H. C. Cooper, Jr. & Co

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