Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1903-10-21
Asst 2. II. i. 7 Moak, Resigned.


ter, is no longer at his accustomed place
in the Watertown postoffice. Inquiries
at official headquarters is met with the
answer, that. owing to i'll health, Mr.
Moak has reslgnea to date from last
Saturday. The most sincere sympathy
of every one is felt and emphatically ex
pressed for our old friend in his double
misfortune. We're there causes for the
change other ths. the one assigned they
are private matters between the parties
interested, bat the loss Of Mr.. Moak's
invaluable services IS matter of public
concern.
The postmaster assures us that there
were no bad feelings on his part, and
that any intimatlon that such is or was
the case is not true.
No man in the same sphere of activity
in Wisconsin has rendered longer or
more valuable public services than j. L.
Moak. His interest in politics and his
activity may have made him temporary
enemies, but as he draws near the close
of his long, busy and eminently useful
public life, no one can deservedly boast
of more friends among all political par
ties and among people in all the walks
Of life than he. j. L. Moak is of g posi-
tive character, strong in his likes and
his dislikes; loyal to his friends, and ex-
tremely likely to attract the busy atten-
tion of his known enemies. No one who
was ever sufficiently we'll acquainted
with him to learn the trne inwardness
Of the man and the motives that
prompted his more prominent acts, who
does not like him better for what at first
glance might appear to be faults.
Other men may be fOnnd to fill his
place as post-office official, but not one
is likely to be found who will fill the
public eye so fully and SO long as Mr.
Moak has done
AS pertinent to the present, we copy
entire sketch that appeared in The
American Postmaster, published at Eff
fngham, ILL.,, in the March number of
this year, under the title Of ga Patriarch
in the Postal Service" as follows:
Mr., Justin T, Moak is native of New
York, having emigrated from the Empire
State to Wisconsin in the early ffties,
locating in the thriving city of Water
town, where for half a century he has
been one of its leading business men
and politicians, acquiring a reputation
throughout the state as one of the
shreWdest men in the councils OF his
party, having long been associated with
Ion. Henry G, Payne, the present Post
master General, Hon. K. w. Keyes, the
present postmaster at Madison, and
many others of that class, and is now a
close friend Of Wisconsin'S leading
statesman, Hon. John G. SpOoner, Uni
ted States Senator.
Mir. MOak was appointed postmaster at
Watertown during the first administra-
tion of Gen. Grant IS president, serving
continuously III that capacity until a
year or more after the first Inauguration
of Grover Cleveland, when he gracefully
retired for few years, only to be reap
pointed soon after the election of Benja-
min Harrison. in 1883, again retiring
upon the second advent of Cleveland.
Soon after the election of Mckinley
in 1896, there developed at WatertOwn
one of the WarmeSt contests ever Waged
for postoff1ce, there being several ex-
ceptionally able aspjrants for the place.
Mr.. Moak championed the cause OF Mr..
W. f. Gruetzmacher who was appointed
and promptly made Mr.. MOak his assist
ant, which position he is now filling to
the utmost satisfaction OF the patrons OF
the office. whose fullest confidence he
has always enjayed.
Notwithstanding the fact that Water
town is a decidedly Democratic city,
and Mr. Moak has always been an un-
compromising Repub lean, he has served
several terms as a member OF the city
council and one term as mayor, being
elected because ST his personal pOpularl-
ty and rare business ability.
: ~ Mr. MOak has made the the postal SER
vice careful, practical study for quar-
ter of century, bringing it up to the
dignity Of a profession in WatertOWn,
making that Office model for neatness
and accuracy. He is an excellent au-
thority upon all subjects pertaining to
postal laws, rules and regulations,
aud fortunate indeed are those who come
in contact with his Influence, socially,
politically or officially. Quite number
of young men have graduated under his
tutorship and are now holding impOr-
tant and responsible positions In various
branches Of the service, and he has a
host of friends throughout the State and
nation who sincerely wish for him many
wears of health and usefulness. that he
NAV continue to enjoy the honors which
he has has so richly won, both as citi-
zen and as an official of the post office
department..
Approaching Marriage.