Outagamie County, WI - Biography of Martin McCormick of Kaukauna *********************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net *********************************************************************** Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives SUBJECT: Biography of Martin McCormick of Kaukauna SUBMITTER: County Coordinator EMAIL: jmmarasch@aol.com DATE SUBMITTED: 28 Feb 2000 SURNAMES: McCormick SOURCE: Commemorative Biographical Record of the Fox River Valley Counties of Brown, Outagamie and Winnebago, J.H. Beers & Co, p. 587, 1895 BIOGRAPHY: MARTIN McCORMICK. Of the early pioneers who settled in and about Kaukauna, Outagamie county, many were fresh arrivals from the old countries or Canada. Conspicuous among those who hailed from the Emerald Isle is Martin McCormick, who was born in Tynar, County Galway, Ireland, in 1822, son of Michael and Mary (Finnerty) McCormick, the former of whom was a shoe dealer in Tynar. Their family consisted of four children, of whom one died in the old country; .another, a daughter, died in De Pere, Wis.; the third, a son, died in 1883, in the town of Kaukauna; and the last and only surviving child is Martin, the subject of this sketch. Mr. McCormick came to America in 1849, and settled in the town of Freedom, Outagamie county, Wisconsin. The following year he left that township and removed to Kaukana, where he purchased forty acres for a homestead, to which he added an adjoining twenty acres, and has resided here ever since. His farm, though not large, is under most excellent cultivation. With the old country thrift, he allows not a foot of ground to lie waste, having long ago learned that one acre of ground, well cultivated, is worth ten poorly cared for-a bit of wisdom which American farmers are slow to heed. His boyhood days were spent on a farm in Ireland, where he early learned that a penny saved is a penny gained, a, precept he followed so well that when grown to manhood he was enabled to go on a bridal tour to America with his bride, Miss Kate Devine, a sister of James Devine. They have three daughters, Bridget, Margaret and Mary, all of whom are living at home. Mr. McCormick cancelled his last debt long ago, and now lives in happy independence with his family, his well-kept farm bringing him a revenue of no mean dimensions. In earlier years he cast his vote with the Democratic party. but his opinions have changed, and he is now a stanch Republican. In religion he is a Roman Catholic and a regular attendant at the parish church in North Kaukauna. In disposition Mr. McCormick is a true son of Erin; although so frugal, he is generous to a fault, and no one in need ever applies to him in vain. He is quick at repartee, an adept at "blarney," and can make and enjoy a joke with the best of them. Appreciating the many advantages America has over the country of This birth, he is a most loyal citizen, and always active in any enterprise which will benefit the public.