John E. McMullen (1880)

Birth: October 7, 1842

Death: April 5, 1922 (age 79)

Burial: Saint Mary's Cemetery (Chilton, Calumet County, Wisconsin)

 

John E. McMullen was born in Kingston, Canada, on October 7, 1842, and came to this country with his parents, the late William Vaughn and Mary McMullen, Oct. 15, 1855, locating on a tract of land now part of Brillion.  Although young in years he played the pioneer's part in clearing the land and while doing so completed the course in the common schools of that settlement. Long before he had attained his majority he taught school in the towns of Brothertown and Stockbridge, studying diligently by the meager light of the pioneer candle. Later he taught the advanced schools in Manitowoc, Sun Prairie and Chilton and while at Manitowoc he began the study of law in the office of Attorney J. D. Markham and Sylvester Woods.

In 1864 he entered the University at Madison with the money he had saved from teaching and the same year, while a student of that institution he volunteered his services to his country in the Civil War. He served as a member of Company D. Fortieth regiment of Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. Upon his discharge he resumed his studies and later entered the law department of the University of Ann Arbor, Michigan, from which he graduated in 1868, taking the Wisconsin State Bar examination before the late Judge David Taylor, who was judge of the Circuit Court of Calumet County. He was admitted to the practice of law. He went onto be the District Attorney for Calumet County and Mayor of Chilton. 

On January 23, 1871, at the French Catholic Church in Fond du Lac, he was united in marriage by Rev. Father Perridon to Miss Clarissa Ebert of that city and came to Chilton which has since been their home. Mr. and Mrs. McMullen had one son, William. D. McMullen and four daughters, Miss Corinne, Miss Edna, Miss Mary and Attorney Geraldine of Milwaukee.