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Justus T. Moak Called by Death

1830 - 1913

Moak, Justus T., b. Feb 4, 1830, d. Feb 26, 1913

1913

Watertown Daily Times, 02 1913

(Picture)

Prominent Resident of Watertown Over Half a Century

Dies at Fort Atkinson

Postmaster Twenty-Three Years

Prominent Republican Politician for Many Years

Was a Leader in Political Circles in Wisconsin for Many Years

Hon. Justus T. Moak, former postmaster of Watertown and a pioneer resident, died at his home in Fort Atkinson this morning at 2 o’clock following a brief illness. His death came as a shock to his many warm friends in Watertown who were unaware that he was sick, as on his last visit to Watertown he appeared in good health and spirits.

Justus T. Moak was born in Sharon, New York, February 4, 1830, and received a common school education in the town of his birth. At the age of 13 he started out to make his own way in the world, doing clerical work until 1851, when he moved to Jersey City, N. J., where he resided until 1854. In the latter year he came to Watertown, engaging in the mercantile business which he continued for several years.

He 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 re-appointed 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.

He was editor of the Watertown Republican for three or four years after its establishment in 1860 and had been a frequent contributor to it columns in later years.

In 1864 he was a delegate to the Republican national convention at Baltimore which nominated Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson, for president and vice president. He also represented his party many times in state, congressional, county and local conventions. He was the Republican candidate for state senator in 1868 and though leading his ticket by a considerable majority, was defeated. Several times he was chosen alderman in his ward, his first election taking place in 1864. In 1872 he was president of the common council and became acting mayor through the resignation of Mayor Fred Kusel. He also represented his ward one year on the board of supervisors. In the 70’s he was for six years a member of the Republican state central committee during the chairmanship of Hon. E. W. Keyes, and for two years its secretary.

Mr. Moak was the Republican nominee for mayor four times but with one exception never was able to overcome the democratic majority going down to defeat with the rest of the ticket. 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. 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.

c 1904-1910

Dog'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.

Cross reference:

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.