This file portion of www.watertownhistory.org website
James and Patrick Rogan
Rogan Home / Boyle Funeral Home
314 W Main
Many
abstracts for properties west of the Rock River began with the name of Capt.
James Rogan, the 'old salt' as he was called. Rogan captained a Great Lakes
vessel, the 'Grampus,' which carried goods from Buffalo to other Great Lakes
ports.
On a
trip inland he saw the beauties of the Rock River valley and decided to cast
his lot here. He was born in Ireland in 1801, his brother Patrick in 1808. Both came to Watertown after living for a
time in New York.
Click on Image
James
Rogan, for the sum of $1, received the first deed to a land grant given to any
individual in the present city limits of Watertown. He claimed it was first
given to him in 1833 by a government surveyor, but it is recorded in Milwaukee
with the date of 1836. (Watertown's first citizen, Timothy Johnson, made his
first land claims at Aztalan, then in Jefferson and subsequently 1,000 acres in
Watertown, but apparently this was recorded after Rogan's. Both came here in
1836).
Rogans Set Camp
The
Rogans set up camp in a two room shanty which became headquarters for new
arrivals in the area. It was referred to as the leading hotel in Johnson's
Rapids. Old letters written by James Rogan related that over 400 Winnebagoes
were his good neighbors. His family joined him here in 1837, the second family
in the area.
Homes on South Washington (such
as the Thauer home) were built on property
included in the first land grant given to an individual in the present city
limits of Watertown. James Rogan received
the early deed for $1. It was recorded at the Milwaukee Register of Deeds
office in 1836. Parcels of Rogan's
property passed through many hands.
The original Rogan land grant
covered acres of wooded land on the west side of the Rock River and was at that
time occupied by the encampments and homes of Winnebago Indians. The camps of
the Potawatomis were on the east side of the river.
The
brothers are said to have been influential in having the name changed from Johnson's
Rapids to Watertown, after their former home town of Watertown, N. Y. This was before the county government was
formed. The brothers farmed and put up a saw mill.
St. Bernard’s Land Donation
Patrick
Rogan shared in ownership of some of the land granted to James. Patrick Rogan
and his wife presented the land to St. Bernard's
where the first frame church was built in 1846. Patrick Rogan was active in
community, church and civic affairs.
Patrick Rogan
“The History of Jefferson County,
Wisconsin”, published: Chicago: Western
Historical Company, 1879.
Patrick
Rogan, farmer; born in County Down, Ireland, Sept. 26, 1808; came to Montreal,
Canada, in 1823; lived two years there, then removed to Jefferson Co., N.Y., where
he resided until 1837, when he came to Watertown, arriving here May 15 of that
year; made a claim to a fractional quarter-section, Sec. 11; was engaged in
farming where the city now stands, on west side of the river; the spring he
came here, he planted potatoes where the College of the Sacred Heart is now
located; never, since he came here, has he entirely relinquished his farming
interests.
Six or
seven years after he came here, he erected a saw mill where George B. Lewis’ factory is now located; carried on the
mill until 1858, in connection with his other business of contracting,
building, farming, etc.; he has invested largely of his means in the building
improvements of the west side of this city; he has also invested, to a great
extent, in plank roads, railroads and other enterprises likely to benefit
Watertown.
Being
among the most public-spirited of its citizens; he was a member of the first
Wisconsin Constitutional Convention; he has been four times a member of the State
Legislature; he organized the school system
here in 1855, having secured the passage of the act providing therefor; he was
Postmaster of this city of eight years; first appointed by President Tyler,
reappointed in 1845, by President Polk’
He was
one of the original corporators of the Watertown Gas Co.,
also a director of plank road and railroad companies; he has held nearly all
city and town offices within the gift of the people.
He never
attended school but three months; he acquired some book knowledge while he was
employed as errand boy in the office of a Notary Public in Montreal; experience
has been his teacher, and it would be difficult to find better informed men
than Mr. Rogan is at the present time.
He was
married, in Chicago, Jan. 17, 1846, to Rose Crangle; she was born in County of
Down, Ireland; they have six children:
Robert Emmett, Charles Eugene, Edwin B., Louis P., Rose and Ellen E.;
lost one daughter, who died at the age of 6 years. Mr. and Mrs. Rogan are members of the
Catholic Church. Mr. R’s father, Peter
Rogan, died at Rochester, N.Y., three years after he came to America with his
family.
1872 Adeline
(Rogan) Cody Obituary Daughter
of Capt. James Rogan 08 08 WD
Patrick Rogan Obituary
02 25 1898
Shortly
before
Patrick Rogan Home
Boyle Funeral Home, 1941-1978 (1941 or 1939 ? / see 1937 article that follows)
Patrick
built a beautiful large brick home in the 1860's at what is now
The
Rogan House, a Federal style square house, with Italianate influence, was built
in the 1860s and began as a square house with central hall and main rooms on
both sides. Arched front windows and a
cupula were on the original house, but the porch, two story pillars and the
addition of the east side of the building were completed in 1941 when the home
was converted into a funeral home.
Pleasingly designed in the hospitable manner of a
Southern colonial home. New and modern
equipment including chapel, pipe organ, show room, recreation room and family
room (text from early postcard)
Although
there have been many additions, the cupola was part of the original home, as
were the unusual palladium windows. Under the ownership of Boyle who bought the
home in 1941, additions were made. These included the porch and two story
pillars, a garage, added rooms at the side and the archway over the drive. The home
has beautiful oak woodwork throughout.
Helser was owner and operator of the funeral home from 1959 to 1978 when
the building was purchased by T. W. Weber, president of Weber Realty.
Marriage
of Miss Mary Ann Boyle and Clarence J. Corcoran
1936
Watertown
Gazette, 09 10 1936
At St. Jerome’s Catholic Church in
Oconomowoc on Tuesday, September 8, 1936, Rev. Father Haggerty, pastor of St.
Bernard’s Church, Watertown, united in marriage Miss Mary Ann Boyle, daughter of
Mrs. James W. Boyle and the late James W. Boyle, 220 West Main Street, and
Clarence J. Corcoran, son of Mr. and Mrs. L. J. Corcoran of Madison.
The bride’s sister, Mrs. F. H. Carlson of
this city, was her bridesmaid, and Dr. P. C. Dier of Milwaukee was the best
man.
Mr. Corcoran, who is a graduate of River
Falls State Teachers’ college and the University of Minnesota School of
Embalming, is the mortician and funeral director at Boyle Funeral Home. His bride attended Edgewood academy at
Madison and is a graduate of Mercy High School in Milwaukee.
They will make their home at 220 West Main
Street.
Both are well known in Watertown and very
highly esteemed, and enter married life with the good wishes of hosts of
friends, including The Gazette editor.
1937
Watertown
Daily Times, 01 14 1937
The
new Boyle Funeral Home, shown in this artist’s sketch, has now been completed
and is not ready for business. This was
announced by Mrs. James W. Boyle, who is operating the place with her
son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Clarence J. Corcoran.
The
new home, located in
The
funeral establishment is confined to the main floor, while the private
apartments of Mrs. Boyle and Mr. and Mrs. Corcoran are located on the second
floor.
The
main floor contains, in addition to the large and beautiful chapel and
sanctuary, an office, several private and semi-private rooms for mourners and a
large casket display section, besides the modern and complete preparation
room. There is also a music room with piano
and organ. There are several lavatories
on the main floor and there is also a smoking room.
Beautifully
selected furniture is scattered throughout the main floor, giving at once a
home-like and inviting appearance. The
front entrance brings the visitors to a reception hall from which the office
quarters and the chapel lead off on each side.
The stairway to the second floor gives an additional atmosphere of
beauty.
In
converting the old Rogan home into a modern funeral home, the architect, Frank
S. Moulton, of Madison, has achieved everything Mrs. Boyle planned. The general contract for the work was carried
out by George Schleicher, local contractor.
Must
of the old beauty of the original house has been retained. This is especially true of the main staircase
and the woodwork throughout. Another
feature that was retained from the old place is an antique fireplace which has
been moved into and become part of the chapel room.
In
announcing the completion of the new home Mrs. Boyle said that she carried out
the dreams of her husband, the late James W. Boyle, who long before his death
had begun plans for a modern funeral home.
He did not live to see the work begun, but his widow brought them to
completion. She said she feels she has
built a place much as her husband would have liked to have and which, had he
lived, would have met with his fullest approval.
Mr.
Boyle was a resident of Watertown from the time of his boyhood, served this
community as a funeral director most of his life, being active in the
profession until the last. He was in
business for himself, after serving partnerships for some years earlier in his
career. He built up a large practice in
this section and since his death, his wife and daughter, and later the
son-in-law, have carried on the business.
Image Portfolio
Click to enlarge
Viewed from Church and
Main
Cross-References:
No 1: Main,
W, 220 1909, Brooks &
Boyle, general mdse, undertakers
1930,
First funeral home: Nowack’s
Main,
W, 220 1935, Jas. W Boyle,
undertaker
Main,
W, 314 1937, Boyle Funeral
Home
