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ebook History of Watertown, Wisconsin
Justus T. Moak
1830 - 1913
Moak, Justus T.,
b.
1861 Candidates
for Postmaster
02 28 The Republican millennium draws near [Inauguration of Abraham
Lincoln] —the paradise of office seekers is in sight. The 4th of March is the Rubicon all the lamp
carriers wish to get over. Then comes
the scramble for the places in the gift of the President. They are many, but numerous as they are,
there will be ten applicants for every office.
Thousands of anxious pilgrims are already on their way to
Washington. To the disappointed,
Republicanism, with the disruption of the Union and the defeat of fond hopes,
will not seem so fine a thing as it did before election. But the victory has been won and something
must be done with it, and if it is not good to give offices to the conquerors,
what is it worth? Quite an active
canvass is going on here for Postmaster.
The most prominent candidates for the appointment are J. T. Moak, one of the editors of the Republican, E. W. Cole, one of the first settlers of the city, and
Jacob Jussen, who represents the German element. Either of these gentlemen would make an
efficient and accommodating Postmaster.
WD
1867 Justus Moak was appointed postmaster in 1867 by President Andrew
Johnson and held the office during the succeeding administrations of Presidents
Grant, Hayes, Garfield and Arthur. He
was relieved by President Cleveland and reappointed by President Harrison,
retiring about one year after the commencement of President Cleveland’s second
term, making his service as postmaster cover a period of 23 years.
While postmaster Mr. Moak made the postal service a careful, practical study,
bringing it up to the dignity of a profession in Watertown, making that office
a model for neatness and accuracy. He
was an excellent authority upon all subjects pertaining to postal laws, rules
and regulations. Quite a number of young
men have graduated under his tutorship and are now holding important and
responsible positions in various branches of the service, and he had a host of
friends throughout the state and nation who sincerely regret his death.
When J. T. Moak
received the appointment of postmaster, William
Voss became his deputy.
1895
In 1895 he was elected, however, and served
one year. It was during his term as
mayor that the waterworks was commenced and
nearly completed which he always was proud of as a creditable achievement for
those administering the affairs of the city that year.
05 10 During the past week the incoming mayor, J. T. Moak, has been a sort of curiosity in the political arena,
and the subject of much congratulation and hand shaking by his friends. There was also considerable
"button-holing" at his expense indulged in by office-seekers and
others looking for favors. . . . . WhiIe admitting that politics does not and should not have
any weight on affairs in the common council, it is interesting to know the
political complexion of the incoming body.
It is composed as follows, our Democratic contemporaries to the contrary
notwithstanding: Seven Republicans, six
Democrats and one Independent. Six of
the old members are returned. . . . Among
the new members are a number who have had previous experience in the public
affairs of the city, and the council as a whole is a body of citizens who we
think can be depended upon to do what is right. WR
1898
His last official position was that
of assistant postmaster which he assumed in March, 1898, and retired on account
of ill health in 1903.
While postmaster Mr. Moak made the postal service a careful, practical study,
bringing it up to the dignity of a profession in Watertown, making that office
a model for neatness and accuracy. He
was an excellent authority upon all subjects pertaining to postal laws, rules
and regulations. Quite a number of young
men have graduated under his tutorship and are now holding important and
responsible positions in various branches of the service, and he had a host of
friends throughout the state and nation who sincerely regret his death.
Mr. Moak
was united in wedlock with Eliza H. Pearce, September 7, 1853. His bride was a native of Hartford, N.
Y. No children were born to them, but a
niece was taken into the household when a child and she later was married to L.
B. Caswell of Fort Atkinson. Mr. Moak at the time of his marriage was in business in Jersey
City, N. J. A few months afterward he
concluded to take Horace Greeley’s advice to “go west and grow up with the
country”. He decided to come to what was
then considered far off Wisconsin, and August 15, 1854, landed in Watertown,
where he resided until his removal to Fort Atkinson a few years ago. His wife died several months ago.
During their long residence in
Watertown Mr. and Mrs. Moak had been prominent
figures in the social circles of the city and the former had been closely
identified with the growth and progress and prosperity of the town.
Friend of Newspaper Men
Mr. Moak
was a great friend of the newspaper men and in his official capacity as
postmaster always strived to give the newspapers any and all information which
would be of value to the public. He was
a frequent contributor to the local newspapers on other subjects as well, and
was known as a vigorous writer and one who kept well within the facts in the
matter under discussion. He was at home
in a newspaper office and was always welcome.
Being of a genial nature and radiating cheerfulness, he was a man who
possessed friends among all classes. The
announcement of his death is made with profound sorrow which the whole
community will share because of the realization of his worth as a man and citizen. He passed an active and useful life and goes
to his reward with the consciousness that it was well spent. He was a man of liberal tastes and
cultivation enriched by contact with many people and the literary world.
Mr. Moak
is survived by one brother, Dewitt C. Moak of
Minneapolis, and one sister, Mrs. Clara E. Hurd, of Leavenworth, Kansas. The funeral will take place on Friday. Services will be held at Fort Atkinson and
the body will be brought to Watertown over the Northwestern Road at 2:43
o’clock and the
burial will be in Oak Hill cemetery.
A short church service will be held in the Congregational church at 3
o’clock.
And thus passes another of the
pioneer residents of Watertown and one who always took pride in it progress and
welfare.
The flag on the city hall was
placed at half mast today out of respect to his memory.
1899
04 26 The excited imagination of a small boy
resulted in the bringing out of the fire boys Sunday evening. The glare of a blazing coal fire in a window
of J. T. Moak's residence attracted the attention of
a little fellow who was passing by, and his frantic yells of "fire,
fire!" were quickly re-echoed along the line, and soon a large section of
the city was in commotion. But they did
have a "hot" time at the ball game in the afternoon.
06 20 LUNCHEON
Though the weather was not very
favorable for a long lawn fete on Thursday evening, the luncheon given by the
Clover Club was well patronized. The
gorgeous lawn in front of the home of J. T. Moak was
well fitted up for the occasion and swarms of people tripped lightly over the
lawn to the music of Blaesius’ orchestra. Booths were arranged in which refreshments
and various commodities were disposed of by pretty maids, and the dining table,
which was under the protection of a liberty bell, was tended by charmingly
ladies in the garb of the colonial days and powdered hair. WR
c. 1909-1910
Fido's Obituary
It is not often that a newspaper
chronicles the death of a dog, but as ex-Postmaster J.
T. Moak's dog Fido
was known to nearly every man, woman and child in Watertown, and to a large
number of people outside the city as well, a notice of his death will not be
considered out of place.
Last Tuesday night he entered his
last sleep, the cause of his death being rheumatism and old age. For years he made daily rounds of the city
with the mail carriers, and his friendly greeting was greatly enjoyed,
especially by the juveniles of the city.
Mrs. J. T. Moak Obituary
Moak, Elizabeth, b.
Jul 19, 1829, d. Nov 27, 1912
1912
12 05 The many old friends and neighbors of Mrs. J. T. Moak were greatly grieved to hear of her death, which
occurred at the home of her niece at Ft. Atkinson on Wednesday, November 27,
1912. Mrs. Moak
visited here a few weeks ago, and though advancing years were telling on her,
she was apparently enjoying good health for one of her age, and all who had the
pleasure of meeting her then felt that she might live for years to come, hence
the announcement of her death was a great surprise to them.
Her final illness was of only
about five days duration. Mrs. Moak was born in New Hartford, New York, on July 19, 1829,
being a daughter of William and Amy Pearce of that place, her maiden name being
Eliza H. Pearce. September 7, 1853, she
married at New Hartford to Mr. Moak, and then for
about a year resided in Jersey City, and in 1854 they came west and located in
Watertown, residing here till April, 1903, when they removed to Ft. Atkinson,
and since then made their home with Mrs. Moak's
niece, Mrs. L. B. Caswell, Jr., whose maiden name was Eliza Moak
Pearce, and who since she was three years old made her home with Mr. and Mrs, Moak until her marriage in
1881. Her husband and niece, Mrs.
Caswell and one brother, George Pearce of Walworth, Wis., survive her.
Friday morning funeral services were conducted at the home
of her niece, by Rev. H. K. Hanley, pastor of the First Congregational Church
of Ft. Atkinson. The remains were
brought here in the afternoon and taken to the Congregational Church, where
services were held and then conveyed to their final resting in Oak Hill
Cemetery.
Deceased resided in Watertown
close to a half century, during which time her husband was first engaged in the
mercantile business here and afterwards was appointed post master during the
administration of Gen. Grant and served continuously until one year after
Grover Cleveland was elected president, and served during President Harrison
full term.
During her long residence here
Mrs. Moak at all times was a most useful and
prominent member of society and took great interest in the welfare of our
city. She possessed a true Christian
character, and she showed not only in words but in deeds that her life had not
been in vain. She was a faithful member
of the Congregational Church of this city
and was one of that church's zealous supporters. Having an excellent education, she was an
ornament to any society and always made friends by her genial, kind hearted and
pleasant manner. She lived a life of
Christian faith and with faith unshaken passed away in
peace. WG
Cross references:
William
Voss accepted a clerkship in the store of J. T. Moak
and when the latter received the appointment of postmaster, Mr. Voss became his
deputy.
History of Watertown,
Wisconsin