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Justus T. Moak Called by
Death
1830 - 1913
Moak, Justus T., b.
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 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.
