Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1920-11-16


Hon, John n. Manson
Ray Charter, j. A. Rowley and other
Wausau insurance men who had been
called into consultation with the
State Insurance Commissioner. Twice
during Friday morning, according to
Mr.. Charter, Mr. Manson complained
of slight indispositiOn, the first time
after partaking of breakfast and later
after walking through the Capitol
grounds and up into the building.
| The remainder of the day he seemed
| to be in excellent health, taking lunch
con at the Capitol cafe and joining
| insurance men at a dinner in the
evening at the Madison club.
Later musical comedy was attend
ed at the Fuller Opera House, after
| which, Mr. Manson and Mr.. Charter
went to the Park hotel. The lobby
| was crowded with men gathered to
attend the annual Homecoming of the
University of Wisconsin. There they
met W. S. Thorn and l.. A. Maier of An
tigo and ]. r. McQuillan of Merrill,
and it was while passing words of
greeting with these gentlemen that
Mr. Manson swayed and fell into the
| arms of Mr.. Charter, passing away be-
fore he could be placed on couch in
an adjoining room. Doctors were
called Immediately but he was beyond
the help of human power. The i'm
mediate cause of death was pro-
nounced by the physicians as valvular
heart trouble.
The three sons of Mr.. Manson, John
\. Jr., and Charles, who are seniors
at the University of Wisconsin, and
Stewart who is a freshman, were soon
reached and with other Wausau peo-
pie, who were in the city attending
the reunion, were called hurriedly to
the hotel.
Died Friday
Death came to Mr.. Manson at IL 20
o'clock Friday night, November 18th,
1920, and it was after l a. m. Sat-
urday before word could be communi-
Gated to relatives in this city. The
announcement was all the more start
ling to our people as Mr.. Manson had
not been i'll but had been mingling
daily with his neighbors and friends in
the active discharge Of his various
business activities, greeting all with
cheerful words and a pleasant smile.
Mr.. Manson was born and grew to
manhood in Wausau. For over sixty
years he shared the joys and sorrows
| of our people. 1t can be said, in truth,
| that he had the full confidence and
esteem and was greatly beloved, by
everyone who had the honor of his ac-
quaintance. This grew as his life
progressed, for he was ever engaged
| in the work of contributing to the
| happiness of others. He was big
| hearted, sympathetic, and charitable
| i'll the extreme, and it was these char
| acteristics which made lasting friend
ships and bound him with strong ties
| 20 all. His work with the young peo-
| pie in Boy Scout, Y. M. c. A, Sunday
| School and other activities has al
| ways been a marvel to all who knew
| him. He has, since a young man
! been associated with every onward
| and upward movement to make our
| city a better place in which to live
| His services and advice were sought
| constantly, and few men there are
| who give the time that Mr.. Manson
did to assist friends or to help worthy
| enterprises.
He enjoyed the distinction of being
| among the oldest inhabitants born in
the city of Wausau.
Born i'm 1867
John n. Manson was born in Wau-
sau on the fourth day of March, 1857
| He was a son of the late Mr.. and Mrs
Rufus P. Manson, the former coming
to Wausau from New Hampshire in
1851. He was heavily engaged in
numbering and for many years was
one OF our most extensive general
merchants. Rufus P Manson passed
away on February 23rd, 1897, his
wife following him in death on July
26th. 1887. She had come to Wausau
in the early SOS to visit a sister anC
was united in marriage to r. P. Man
son on Nov. 18th, 1854. John n. Man
son was their second son. He was
educated in our city schools. and in
1915 became an accountant in the
store of Parcher & Manson, and la
ter purchased the interest of r. E
| Parcher. the firm becoming r. P. &
j. y. Manson. The deceased contin-
ued i'll the mercantile line until 1891
when the store was disposed of to the
| Heinemann Bros He then decided to
| OASSi 4AiNO INC III anu lie insurance
business and opened an Office in the
| First National Bank building and in
this he continued up to the time OF
his death, building up a large and
successful business, second to none
in the north.
He was secretary of the Great Nor
thern Life Insurance company of this
| city and member of the board of di-
| rectors of the First National Bank,
having held that position many years.
| His knowledge of men. his wide ac-
| quaintance and his ability as a finan-
cier, made him very valuable acuui-
! Sition TO that board He was interest
| ed in many of our institutions.
Mayor i'm 1898
Mr.. Manson was mayor of Wausau
| in 1898 and 1899. and had the distinc-
| ton OF being the first mayor born in
| Wausau. His term was a very sue
| ceSSful one during which great strides
were made in the Improvement of city
| streets, and in educational work. 4
new high school was built during his
term at cost of S65.0OO. The Span
! iSh-American war occurred during
! the term and Mr.. Manson was a vital
force in awakening interest in il and
/ in Company G. which went to the
front at that time He called the citi-
zens of the community together, and
mainly through his efforts. funds