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

Moran, Bernard N. of Rhinelander, state senator for the 30th District, conprising the counties of Marinette, Langeland, Forest, Oneida and Florence, was born in Oshkosh, Wis., Jan. 31, 1869, son of John and Mary (MCCORMICK) MORAN. The parents were natives of Ireland who came to America when children and were subsequently married in Oshkosh. The father was in the hotel business for many years until his health gave out. The, in 1875, he went west to North Dakota and filed on land; he lived but two years longer, dying in 1877. The mother died in 1879 in Oshkosh. Bernard N. MORAN was educated in St. Joseph's Orphan School at Green Bay, Wis. He began industrial life working on farms in Winnebago County, Wis., where he remained until he was 14 years of age. He then went to Oshkosh where he found employment in the Tremont House, remaining there until the fall of 1886, when he came to Rhinelander with F. T. COON, and for the next two years he was engaged in doing chores in the Rapids House. By the end of that time he was 19 or 20 years old and felt that his position as a man or boy of all work around a hotel was neither sufficiently remunerative nor dignified for one who had ambition to rise in the world; so he kept his eyes open for something better to do and soon got a job running the compass for timber estimators. This gave him the right sort of an opening, as, by keeping his eyes open and his brain active, he learned after a while to estimate timber himself, and he has since followed that line of business, sometimes working for others, including some of the prominent lumber companies of the state, and at other times for himself, buying and selling timber. He now follows logging during the winters and in the summer is engaged in selling lake frontage lands, which he locates in the course of his regular business, and plats into lots for summer resort purposes. He owns about 1,500 acres in Oneida, Vilas and Forest counties. Such, in outline, have been Senator MORAN'S business activities, but they show but one side of his life, and that which pertains chiefly to himself. There is another side which concerns the public at large and has to do with his official career, and it began at a very early period, while he was still a very young man and a resident of the town of Pelican, the inhabitants of which, impressed by his energy, ability and public spirit, got into the habit of electing him to all sorts of offices, such as town treasurer, clerk, assessor and supervisor. At the age of 21 he became chairman of thw town board, in which position he served for 17 consecutive years; he was also for several years chairman of the county board and for a while was supervisor of county assessors. From step to step Mr. MORAN advanced in his public career until in 1915 he became a member of the State Assembly, in which he served with credit for one term, at the end of which he was appointed state supervisor of oil inspectors, a position in which he served for six years. He then went up another step, in 1920 being elected to the State Senate for the 30th District and polling 12,078 votes, an achievement showing remarkable strength. As he is still but 54 years old and is the full vigor of his mental and physical powers, it is hard to predict what triumphs the future may have in store for him; but those who know him feel confident, that, whenever they may be, he will be found equal to the duties laid upon him and faithful to his trust. For many years Senator MORAN made his home on a farm in the town of Pelican, which he had developed from a tract of wild land, and which he had cared for by hired help while he was absent. There he was carried on general farming and dairying with good success, but since 1920 he has resided in Rhinelander. He was married June 2, 1897, in Rhinelander, to Lida G. O'HARA, of this city, who was born in Douglas, Marquette County, Wis., Jan. 9, 1875, daughter of Thomas and Mary Ann (DUNN) O'HARA. Her family came to Oneida County in 1893, settling in Rhinelander, where Mr. O'HARA died Feb. 6, 1915, after having been retired from active work for a number of years. Mrs. O'HARA is still living. Senator MORAN and wife are the parents of a daughter, Eulalia M., who was born Aug. 18, 1900, in the town of Pelcian, Oneida County, and who was married Dec. 27, 1922, to John LAUGHRIN. She and her husband reside in Prentice, Price County, Wis. The Senator and his family are members of the Catholic Church and of St. Mary's Congregation, Rhinelander, while he belongs also the the Fraternal Order of Eagles.

Transcribed by Susan Swanson, from pages 347-348 (with picture), 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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