Biographies: James W. McCANN, Eau Claire, Eau Claire Co., WI 

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This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by:  
Debra McCann  <chenae@ap.net>  2 December 1999	
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James W. McCann, logger and general contractor of Eau Claire, is a native 
son of Wisconsin having been born in Walworth county, this state, November 
21, 1859, the son of Patrick and Mary (Kerrigan) McCann, both of whom came 
from Ireland.  The father came to the United States i 1845 and first located 
in the state of New York. He married at Hoosick Falls, and came to Wisconsin 
in the early fifties and was numbered among the pioneer farmers of Walworth 
county.  In 1862 he moved to Monroe county, where he was engaged in farming 
until his death at the age of 72 years.  He had six children who grew to 
maturity, as follows: John, who owns the old homestead, is a farmer and 
extensive land owner in the town of Wilton, Monroe county; James W.; Ella, 
now Mrs. Hugh Rice; Joseph, Edward and Frank, all residing in Wilton, except 
Joseph and James W.

James W. went with his parents to Monroe county when he was three years old 
and there grew to manhood on his father's farm and attended the public 
school.  In 1876, when 17 years of age, he came to Eau Claire and for eleven 
years followed the woods and rivers.  In 1887 he located at Ashland and 
there engaged in general contracting which he has since followed.  In 1898 
he returned to Eau Claire county and made his home on his 160-acre farm in 
Union township, which he had owned for 25 years.  During the present year, 
1914, he sold his land and moved into the city of Eau Claire, where he is 
giving his whole attention to logging and general contracting in paving, 
sewer building and the buying and selling of timber and farm lands.

Mr. McCann married in 1886 Miss Clara Ransom, daughter of Anson B. and 
Lucinda Ransom, of the town of Union.  Their family consisted of five 
children, four of whom grew to maturity, as follows: Lucy L. is the wife of 
Joseph Briskie; Nellie, now Mrs. P. J. Bolin; Grace is deceased, and Evelyn.  
In may, 1906, Mrs. McCann died, and on February 18, 1908, Mr. McCann was 
again married, this time to Ella Amborn, daughter of August and Emma (Pfaff) 
Amborn, of Union township.  In politics Mr. McCann is a Republican, and 
religiously he is a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church.  He is a member 
of the Catholic Order of Foresters and the Modern Woodmen of America.

--Taken from "The History of Eau Claire County, 1914, Past & Present,"
pages 784-785.