The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1921-04-07
Meme History
CONTINUED from page y

able educator and still later became
the editor of the Manitowoc Pilot, in
which capacity he attracted attention
throughout the country by his philo-
sophical editorials and other contribu-
tions. In his death, twenty years ago,
Manitowoc county lost one of its most
distinguished citizens and Wisconsin IT'S
ablest newspaper man. 1t is coinci-
dence that the present editor of the
! Manitowoc Pilot, f.. S. Grove, is also
one of the former Meme boys.
Another of the teachers Of the
Meeme school was L. j. Walsh, who
later went to Montana and is now Uni
ted States senator from that state. He
is still remembered by the old-tme resi-
dents of the district as an instructor of
marked energy and commanding per-
sonalty. One of the outstanding fea-
lures of this rural school was its de-
batting society 1t is safe to say that
the boys of tie locality who later be
came conspicuOusly successful in bust
ness, in the professions, or in politics,
owe their success in large measure to
the training they received in joint de-
bates on the rostrum of the little
schoolhouSe As the youth of this
school attained the highest average of
success of any rural district of Wis
cousin, so was the school itself long
! considered the standard for country
| schools. The best teachers were always
secured; and the matter of the salary
paid was a secondary consideration.
Some of our school boards of today
could well find an object lesson in the
history of the Meme school
Henry Muholland Sr. donated three
acres of land from his farm for a
schurch site and cemetery, In 1913 a
log church was built on this plot; this
was torn down and replaced by frame
structure during the period of the Civil
War This congregation of ST. Isa-
dore'S has had a continuous history
from lS4S to the present time; reg
lister of membership during the long
period would contain many names
familiar to the people of Wisconsin and
the entire country
The late Justice John Barnes of the
Wisconsin Supreme Court was born
and reared in the Meme settlement.
As a boy he attended the rural school
and later on became a teacher He
was graduated from the University of
Wisconsin in 1888 and praotised law
until he was elected municipal Judge
of Oneida county, Later he was ap-
pointed member of the Wisconsin
Railroad commission which position he
resigned In 1907 rather than swerve
from his convictions. In 1908 he was
elected to the Supreme Court, serving
until 1916, when he resigned to become
general counsel for the Northwestern
Mutual Life Insurance company of
Milwaukee He died in Milwaukee on
January /, 1919.
Judge Michael Kirwan of ManitOwoc
is also a Meme product who made his
way to a position of honor in Wiscon-
sin. Before he studied law he was a
teacher in the rural schools and super
tendeRt of schools for ManitowOc
county. 10 him and John Nagle, who
was also superintendent of schools is
given credit for having raised the
standard Of the rural schools of Mani
towoc county until they attracted the
attention Of the entire state, Judge
Kirwan's ability, integrity, and fitness
for his present judicial position are
matters too well known in eastern Wis
conSin to require extended comment
e., Without detracting in any degree
from the fame of the galaxy of bril-
liant men who at one time or another
have called Meme their home it may
be said that John Maggie was more
widely known during his lifetime than
any of the others. Although this phil
, osopher-eSsayst chose TO spend his life
talents in a small city on the shore of
Lake Michigan he was horn q news
paper man of metropolitan caliber, and
his editorials and contributed articles
were read from ocean to ocean.
James Klrwan, II successful lawyer of
Chiffon and brother of Judge Kirwan,
was also teacher before he studied
law. Another product of Meme who
I has attained distinction in his profess
= sion is DR.. F. T.. Maggie of Billings,
J Missouri
Charles f.. Brady, the present district
attorney of Manitowoc county also
comes from the Meeme settlement.
Another of the Meme teachers was
the late Richard Cody, who later on
q became lawyer and located at Stur-
geon BAY. He died several years ago.
9 The Council family of Meeme sent
! out two physicians and surgeons; DR..
Daniel Council now of Beloit, whose
youthful oratory in the rural school
gave him the nickname of Daniel o.
Conncl;" and DR.. j. p, Connell who
, died seevral years ago in Fond du Lac
p where he had made a remarkable rec
e ord as a successful surgeon.
g The several Taugher families of this
D pioneer settlement contributed two