BIOGRAPHIES:  Frank MULLEN, Oak Grove Township, Barron County, WI

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This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by:  
Vic Gulickson <vic@indy.net>  7 January 2002	
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Frank Mullen, a worthy and hardworking man, whose early career is a part of
the history of the development of Oak Grove Township, came to Seetion 22 in
1871, and thereafter had much to do with the upbuilding of this region. He
built himself a cabin of logs in the woods, with a straw shed for his
animals, and the next year brought his bride to the place. Some of his
furniture was made from trees cut on the place and the household equipment
and farming tools were few indeed. For a number of years he worked in the
lumber woods in the winter and on the river drives in the spring to get a
little money with which to support his family while the farm was being made
profitable. His wife stayed in the little cabin, looking after the place
and caring for the children. In time Mr. Mullen became a "cookee" on lumber
drives, assisted, as soon as they became old enough, by his sons, John and
Michael. As a pioneer in the wilderness he underwent many interesting
experiences. He often brought provisions on his back from far away
Menomonie or Chippewa Falls. In the summers he worked early and late to
develop his farm. When he first came here there were no roads. The path to
his homestead was an old Indian trail which the savages had trodden for
generations. Mr. Mullen realized that if the country was ever to develop
that there must be better means of transportation and communication. He,
therefore, became an advocate of good roads, and not only did he constantly
encourage his neighbors along that line, but he also cut through many roads
with his own hands. When he started farming his domestic animals consisted
of a yoke of oxen and one cow. His wife had a spinning wheel, and on this
she spun yarn with which to knit socks and mittens for the family. The
toil, the labor, the hard work, the sacrifices, the lack of comforts, and
the heart breaking discouragements of those days are hard for the present
generation to realize. But they had strength and courage, and in time their
efforts resulted, not only in the building up of a good place for
themselves, but also in the development of the neighborhood. The Mullen
home was always open to all. It was the center of many of the social events
of the neighborhood, some of the settlers were invited to live there while
they were getting their own places started, no traveler was ever refused
hospitality, and in times of misfortune and illness in the neighborhood,
Mrs. Mullen was an angel of mercy. Aside from being a leader in material
things, Mr. Mullen was deeply interested in church affairs. He helped to
establish the Church of Our Lady of Lords at Dobie and continued loyal and
unswerving in his support. After a long and useful life he died Jan. 28,
1918, at the good old age of 82 years. His good wife died Feb. 1, 1910, at
the age of 68 years. Frank Mullen was born in Armouth, in northern Ireland,
Dec. 15, 1836, the son of Michael Mullen and his good wife. The family came
to Canada in 1870, and it was a year later that the subject of this sketch
came to Barron County. He was married June 11, 1872, to Margaret McGough,
who was born in Canada, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Owen McGough, natives
of Ireland. She died in Barron County in 1909 at the age of 68 years. Mr.
and Mrs. Mullen had four children. Michael farms in Oak Grove Township,
this county, on part of the old homestead. John farms on the old homestead.
Bridget-Ann is the wife of Thomas Dorsey, of Oak Grove Township. Hannah is
the wife of Louis Napolean Forrest, of Campia, in this county.

--Taken from: History of Barron Co., Wisconsin, H. C. Cooper, Jr., & Co.,
1922, pp. 345-346.