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

Nolan, Gus on of the earliest settlers in Minocqua and now proprietor of "The Northern" hotel and resort two miles from that village, was born at Petersboro, Canada, Aug. 25, 1858, son of Laughlin and Mary Jane (FITZPATRICK) NOLAN. The parents were natives of Ireland and came to Canada in their youth, being married in Canada and spending the remainder of their lives in that country, where they attained considerable prominence. Gus NOLAN attended the public schools near the place of his birth and in 1873 came to the United States, locating at Bay City, Mich., where, like the average lad of his age in those days and in this section of the country, he went to work in the lumber woods. His first experience in this life of work was at Roscommon, Mich., where he was engaged for about two years. He then became proprietor of the Commercial Hotel at Roscommon, but later reentered logging work as a cruiser and estimator, which line he followed until 1887. In the latter year he came to Minocqua and went to work as a surveyor, his first work in this connection being running the boundary lines of the Indian reservation in the western portion of Oneida and Vilas counties. He later again took up crising and estimating, working with the Land, Log and Lumber Co., the W. H. Bradley Co., and other large timber operators until 1900, continuously, except for the year 1895, when he worked as a government surveyor and surveyed the islands in Trout Lake and some of those in Lake Minocqua. During all of these operations he of course became very familiar with the entire lake region of northern Wisconsin and became acquainted with many people who came to this country for recreation during the summer months. These people persuaded him to establish his present enterprise, which he did in 1900 and has since added to it from time to time until it now embraces a hotel accommodating 100 guests, six cottages, a dance hall, and several other building, and occupies ten acres of ground. It is situated in the beautiful spot on an arm connecting two divisions of Lake Kawaguesage and is a stopping point for all trains on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway. The region round about contains many tracts of virgin timber, never touched by axe or saw, and the new forests of birch, maple, balsam, poplar, and hemlock make the location an ideal one for those seeking respite from the turmoil of the city. The lake, with its undulating shores and beautiful islands, forms a scene never to be forgotten when once viewed. To this place of natural beauty Mr. NOLAN has added comforts and conveniences that only a born hotel man could bring about, and a hotel service that is flawless. Fresh vegetables, poultry, milk, and eggs are supplied from the hotel premises; there are electric lights and hot and cold running water, and many other features of modern comfort. It is accessible by a ten minute boat ride to the stores of Minocqua, and it combines in perfect fashion the beauty of the wilderness and the conveniences of modern civilization. Mr. NOLAN is in every way a valuable citizen of the community; he is a stockholder and director in the Security State Bank of Minocqua, and has a fine residence there where he and his wife reside during the winter months. He also owns a half interest in 600 acres of virgin timber encircling Bobcat Lake and having a mile frontage on Blue Lake, and he has always taken an active part in the boosting for a better and greater Minocqua, and for nothern Wisconsin generally. He is a member of the Catholic Church and of the Knights of Columbus, and has served with credit as supervisor of Minocqua township and village. Mr. NOLAN was married Oct. 2, 1892, at Tomahawk to Josephine PARENT, and Mrs. NOLAN, a thoroughly capable and charming hostess, must be accorded a full share in the credit for the success of "The Northern."

Transcribed by Susan Swanson, from pages 314-315, 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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