Bio: Tobin, John (Commemorative Bio - 1895)

Poster: Crystal Wendt

John Tobin

John Tobin, deceased, was one of the leading business men of Tomahawk. He was widely known and honored, and in his death Lincoln County, whose interests he had so much advanced by his enterprise, has lost a valuable citizen. He was born July 9, 1854, in Connecticut, and was a son of James Tobin, a native of the Emerald Isle, who was married in New York, and reared a large family of children, consisting of six sons and five daughters. By occupation the father was a farmer. At an early day in the history of the State he came to Wisconsin, locating in Portage County, where he still resides. His wife was called to her final rest December 17, 1894.

Like the average farmer lad, John Tobin became a pupil in the district schools, and assisted in the labors of the farm until reaching his majority, when he commenced farming for himself. He became the owner of 200 acres of good land in Portage County, and as an agriculturist was very successful, as was indicated by the appearance of his farm. In October, 1877, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary Mahanna, whose birth occurred in Portage County in 1856. Her parents, Bartholomew and Helen (Fleming) Mahanna, had a family of five children, of whom only two are now living – Wallace and Mary. Helen died at the age of two years and a half; Louisa, while an infant; and Ella at the age of six years. The parents, who were born in Franklin County, N. Y., were married at Malone, that State, and emigrated to Wisconsin in June, 1854. The father, who was a farmer, died in August, 1871. To our subject and his worthy wife was born three children – J. Leroy, born March 7, 1880; Raymond J., born July 6, 1884; and Merceda, born April 2, 1893.

In the spring of 1887 Mr. Tobin sold his personal property and removed to Tomahawk, where he commenced clearing 125 acres of wild land for the Tomahawk Land & Boom Company, where the sawmills now stand. In the fall he erected the present residence of the family, and opened a boarding house. He dealt in wood, and was also general agent for the Miller’s Brewing Company, of Milwaukee, and the Badger State Bottling Company, of Watertown, Wis. He built a large storehouse for ice, which he handled in large quantities. He was a thorough business man, and in his undertakings generally met with success, so that at the time of his death he left his wife and children a fair competency. Mr. Tobin was called form earth March 17, 1894. He had been ill for about a year, and had gone to Mount Clemens, Mich., for treatment, and there his death occurred. He was among the first to locate in Tomahawk, arriving there when not a single building had been erected on the site of the present flourishing little city. He gave his earnest support and labor to everything tending towards its advancement, and was numbered among the most enterprising citizens. In politics he was a Democrat, and by that party was elected to the office of assessor, from which he resigned, as he preferred giving his entire time to his business interests. He belonged to the Catholic Church and the Order of Catholic Knights.

---Source: Commemorative Biographical Record of the Upper Wisconsin Counties of Waupaca, Portage, Wood, Marathon, Lincoln, Oneida, Vilas, Langlade and Shawano. publ. 1895 by J. H. Beers & Co., Chicago 1110 pages, illustrated; Page 999-1000