Bio: McCarty, John A. (1847 - 1927)

Contact: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

 

----Sources: Janet Schwarze, Sharon Short, & The Clark Co., WI History Buffs.

 

Surnames: Haskell, McCarty, Smith, Mead

 

John A. McCarty

John A. McCarty, of Hixon, Clark County, was born in Luzern County, Pennsylvania, December 18, 1847, the son on Dominick McCarty, formerly of this place, and a native also of Ireland, near Loch Erin, born May 12, 1798. He was taken to London, England, when a small boy, where he was apprenticed to a shoemaker, which business he followed several years. He came to Prince Edwards Island when a young man, and there married to Matilda McLaren, a native of that place. He worked at his trade there several years, and then came to Luzern County, Pennsylvania, about the year 1838. They were the parents of ten children, six of them who are still living, viz.: Catherine, Elizabeth, John, William, Maggie, and Mary E. The eldest child, Margaret, died at the age of sixteen years; Charles H. died in 1882, at the age of forty-seven years; James, in 1876, at the age of thirty-eight years.

Mr. McCarty’s parents came to La Crosse County, Wisconsin, in the spring of 1857, settling on a farm, where he attended the common schools. He was a soldier in the late war, in Company C, forty-ninth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, serving one year. After the war he went to Melrose, Jackson County, Wisconsin, where he farmed two years, and in the fall of 1867, he came to this county. He worked in the pineries during the winters, and on the farm for W. H. Mead in the summer until 1872, when he settled of his present farm of 200 acres. He has run logging camps several years for others, and also for himself several winters. Mr. McCarty was the first Postmaster at Longwood, having been appointed in January, 1874, by U.S. Grant, which office he held until 1876, when he resigned. He was also the first Town Clerk of Hixon, and he held the office from 1875 to 1886; was Assessor two years; Chairman of the Town Board one year; Constable one year; Justice of the Peace three years; Clerk of School Board six years; School Director three years, and is now serving his fourth year as school treasurer, and has also filled the office of Treasurer by appointment one year.

Mr. McCarty was married January 1, 1872, to Jeanette Smith, daughter of Christopher Smith, and they have three children, - Almon H., Haskell and Dora E. Mr. McCarty is a member of the I.O.O.F. at Greenwood, and also the G.A.R. Post. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

 

Longwood Township Pioneers

Clark County, Wisconsin

 

McCARTY, John A. (1849-19 June 1927)

 

"ANOTHER OLD SOLDIER PASSES AWAY"

The community was saddened by the sudden and unexpected death of J. A. McCarty. Last we mentioned that Mr. McCarty was one of the only remaining old soldiers to survive in the county. On Tuesday he had been in Greenwood to attend the funeral of his comrade, J. H. Christmas and on Wednesday he suffered a stroke which ended his earthly career, death coming on Sunday. Funeral services were held from the local M. E. Church, burial in the Greenwood cemetery. Deceased, together with his wife Jannette, resided with their son and his family on a farm near Longwood. Mr. McCarty's parents came to La Crosse Co, Wisconsin in the spring of 1857, settling on a farm, where he attended school. He was a soldier in the late war, in Company C, forty-ninth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, serving one year. After the war he went to Melrose, Jackson Co, Wisconsin where he farmed two years, and in the fall of 1867, he came to this county. He worked in the pineries during the winter and on the farm for W. H. Mead in the summer until 1872, when he settled of his present farm of 200 acres. He ran logging camps several years for others and also for himself several winters. Mr. McCarty was the first Postmaster at Longwood, having been appointed in January 1874, by U.S. Grant, which office he held until 1876, when he resigned. He was also the first Town Clerk of Hixon (later divided into Longwood), and he held the office from 1875 to 1886, was Assessor two years, Chairman of the Town Board one year, Constable one year, Justice of the Peace three years, Clerk of School Board six years, School Director three years, and four years as school treasurer, and also filled the office of Treasurer by appointment one year. Mr. McCarty was married January 1, 1872, to Jeanette Smith (6-27-1850/4-16-1928) daughter of Christopher Smith, and they have three children: Almon H., Haskell and Dora E.

 

1905 Plat book "Patrons": McCarty, John A., Farmer and Chairman Township Board, S. 27, T. Longwood, P. O. Greenwood; Clark Co. resident since1868.

 

1905 census residence #97 owns farm. McCARTY, John A. 57, born PA, wife Janet 55, born NY.

 

1880 sec 27 contained a home + Longwood graded school that was later moved

1900 census residence #188  1880 sec 26 & 27   1893 sec 26, 27,34     1905 - 1920 sec 27 & 34

 

 

7-31-1884: "J. A. McCarty has just completed a nice little cottage in which her parents (Christopher and Betsey Smith) are to reside."  8-28-1884: "McCarty & Co. have started their threshing machine." 1885: "J. A. McCarty raised a large barn last week and at this writing, has it nearly enclosed."

  

McCarty School

Section 27, Longwood Twp. indicates a school house was once located there.  It is on the property of J. A. McCarty who built the largest log house in Clark County, Wisconsin.  It was also used as a hotel and was possibly mistaken for a school by the early mapmaker.

 

Clark County Press, Neillsville, Wis. (July 1885)

 

J. A. McCarty raised a large barn last week and at this writing, has it nearly enclosed.

 

 

Greenwood Gleaner Clippings, 17-May-1901 - Longwood, Wis. Locals

Born to Mr. and Mrs. Almon McCarty, May 8, a son.

 

The Clark Republican and Press 2-11-1886

John McCarty, of Longwood, is in town being examined by pension examining surgeon Dr. McCutcheion.

 

Longwood Township Pioneers

Clark County, Wisconsin

 

SMITH, Christopher S. (1797-Dec 1881)

Dec-22-1881: "Mr. Smith the aged father of Mrs. W. H. (Julia) Mead and Mrs. John (Jannette) McCarty of Longwood, was buried here yesterday. One by one they pass away." 1891 History: "...Julia A. Smith (Mead), who was born in Herkimer County, New York, May 26, 1842, the daughter of Christopher and Betsy (Pedricks) Smith the latter now lives with Mr. Mead (Harry), at the age of eighty-two years...." (Greenwood cemetery: Betsy Pedricks Smith born 1808 died May 10, 1899.)  1880 sec 28, 29, 34 no residences on property J.R. Smith and Jenett nee Smith McCarty (by 1893 was J. McCarty)

 

Thorp Courier 15 June 1888

 Mr. and Mrs. J. L. McCarty, of Longwood, enjoyed themselves at the opening dance at Kurtz hall in this village last Saturday evening.

 

LONGWOOD MAN MISSING (7 April 1932)

 

John BOWEN, treasurer of the town of Longwood, has been missing from his home since March 28. He has been in ill health and it is thought that he has wandered away. Sheriff Bradford has issued notices throughout the state offering a reward for information leading to finding him. Bowen is 62 years old; wore a red jumper; dark cap. He has gray hair; 5 foot 10 inches tall; smooth shaven; thin faced; walked lame on one leg. (No Clark Co. cemetery info.) 1905 census residence #9 owns farm: John 35, wife Olivia 23 born Norway, daughter Edna G. 2 born WI.  (wife = Olivia "Libby" nee Bredeson Bowen 1881-1964 buried Riverside Cemetery.  (No further info on the "missing" John Bowen.) 1920 sec 27 & 28

 BOWEN, Ed Jr. (1877-1938)

 

In 1899 he moved to Longwood with his parents. He was united in marriage to Dora McCarty on February 26, 1901. To this union were born four children. He is survived by his wife, two sons Howard of Neillsville and Richard of Longwood, two daughters, Lorraine of Chicago and Mrs. Vernon Sholtz of Waukesha. 1905 census residence #8 owns

home: Ed 28, farm labor, wife Dora E. 22, son Howard 3, all born WI.  1905 & 1920 sec 33, + sec 27 in 1920

 

 Census Records

 

 

Military Records

John A. McCarty, Civil War Soldier