Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-08-05
A PIONEER At REST !
John Rabiin Passes Away, Aged
Eigtty=two Years.

John Rabiin Passes Away, Aged
Eighty=two Years.
In the death of every old settler
I Grand Rapids and vicinity loses an i'm
portant part of its history. Each per-
son is peculiar character in himself,
yet requires the many to make inter
| esting history. John Rablin, whom we
are now called upon to mourn, forms
an important link in the history of
Grand Rapids and Wood county. Hav-
ling come here in an early day-in the
fifties-he has seen the present cities Of
Centralia and Grand Rapids-of 5000
peopIe-erow from small burgs Of few
| log houses to their present size. There
was only one avocation for everybody
in those days and that was logging, lum-
bering and running the Wisconsin river.
John Rablin, like all others, went into
this business and became one of the
wealthiest lumbermen in the Wisconsin
river valley in his day. He suffered
great losses in the panic Of 1873, but
revived from the severity Of financial
reverses at that time and spent his old
age in comfort to the end.
He died at the family home Saturday
morning, July 81, 1897, of old age. For
the past year it was evident that he was
failing fast and those who knew him
intimately realized that the end was
near.
From the Northern Wisconsin biog-
raphies we take the following account
of his life:
John Rablin was born in Camborne,
County Cornwall, England, July 15,
1915. He had therefore but recently
passed his eighty-second year. He was
the oldest of nine children, only
two of whom now survive: Fannie,
wife of the late Joseph Thomas, now a
resident of Elk Grove, and Ann, wife
of Mr.. Mitchell, residing in California.
Mr.. Rabin's father was a practical
miner in England and man in limited
circumstances. His children, therefore,
received but meager advantages in the
way of education, John being unable
to either read or write. His success in
life, therefore, was all the more remark
able, Early IL" life he started out IN
the world for himself He first began
work in gristrnill and at the age of
sixteen secured employment in the
copper mines of his native country,
Where he worked until he was twenty
three years of age. His father having
died and he having been married to
Miss Elizabeth Webster in. the year
1887, he decided to cast his fortunes in
the new world, and in the month of
July, 1888, he and his mother and other
members of the family started in a sail
ing! vessel for America. They first
located at Galena, H., where Mr.. Rab-
lin worked in the lead mines, while his
wife and sister engaged in conducting
hotel
In 1851, attracted by the recent dis
coverY Of gold in California, Mr.. Rab
lin went to the Pacific slope, travelling
| by water from st. Louis to San Fran
| cisco, where he engaged in gold mining
for about a year; but finding that for
tunes were not easily secured as he had
anticipated, he returned to Galena in
the. autumn of 1852. In 1854, however,
he again went to California, this time
crossing the plains on horseback, and
taking with him $50 head of cattle, nine
horses and ten men, the trip consuming
about. six months, In 1856 he again
returned to his home, and in the same
year, accompanied by his wife and
| family, removed to Elk Grove. Wis,
where he remained until the month Of
October, and then went to Grand Rap
| ids. Embarking in the lumber business,
The carried on operations along that line
| for many years. Prosperity smiled on
his efforts and he was soon enabled to
| branch out in other lines. He first es-
| tablshed a foundry and machine shops,
which, through many evolutions, devel-
oped into what is now the property of
| the Grand Rapids Foundry Co. He
established a large general store and
was formany years leading merchant.
AT time when Grand Rapids was
| greatly in need Of increased hotel ac-
commodations, he built, at a great sac
pail factory was also started on the
/ tpresent site of the Centralia Pulp q
Water Power Co., and other industries
of greater or less proportions were the
recipients of his bounty. 49, s
| Mr.. Rablin was the father of ten
children, as follows: Jane, born in
ECornwall, January ., 1888, and now wife
| of John Andrews, a resident of Grand
Rapids, Wis; Elizabeth, born in Gal
ena, Ills October 8, 1889, and wife of
the late Seth Reeves; Sarah Ann, born
March. Is, l1S4l, is at home; James, born
January g. 1913, died October 25, 1S4z;
| John, born January IA, 1915, died in
1854; William, born January 8, 1917,
died May 81, 1919; Henry, born October
%, 1S49. now resides in Grand Rapids;
| Catherine, wife of Frank J. Wood, a
| banker of Grand Rapids, born Novem-
Der Is, 1850; Susan, born July y, 1851,
now the wife of Chas Slocum, resi-
dent of West Superior, Wis, and La
vina, born April Is, 1857, now living in
4 West Superior.
Mr.. Rablin was typical self-made
man, one who has been the architect of
| his own fortunes, and the material which
he has used in building has been q
lstaunch heart, a willing hand, a resolute
purpose, and unceasing industry. He
has ever been deeply interested in the
welfare Of the community in which he
resided, and has been no small factor
in converting this section of the state
l from an absolute wilderness to the in
dustrial activity we now enjoy.
/ The funeral service was held in the
Congregational church Monday after
noon, Rev. I. S. Wheeler officiating.
Here is where deceased had worshiped
for many years and was devoted mem
Der Of that society. The edifce was