- HENRY L. McNAMARA, one of the representative business men
of Janesville, was born in
- Williamstown, Mass., on March 15, 1851, and is the son of
Lawrence and Harriet (HICKOX) McNAMARA, both natives of Massachusetts.
The father died on June 30, 1858, and was survived by his wife,
who is still (1908) living, at the age of seventy-eight years.
After completing his studies, which included a common school
course in the district schools and a graduating course in Graylock
Institute, of Massachusetts. Henry L. removed to the state of
Iowa in 1869 and engaged in farming until 1871, when he engaged
in the real estate business in Chicago, which he followed for
some three years. He then turned his attention to merchandising,
handling woodenware, and continued to that line from 1874 to
1879, when he disposed of his business and went on the road as
a traveling salesman, selling woodenware, until 1898, and on
April 1, of that year he located in Janesville and engaged in
his present business of hardware, and is considered one of the
practical business men of the county.
- Mr. McNAMARA has always held allegiance to the Republican
party, although not in an office-
- holding capacity. He finds relaxation from his daily business
cares in the various fraternal orders of which he is an active
and influential member. He has been a member of the Masonic
order for the past fifteen years and is treasurer of the Janesville
Commandery No. 2, and is also a live member of the Elks lodge.
- On December 10, 1873, Mr. McNAMARA was united in marriage
with Miss Sarah E. WARD, who is the daughter of John G. WARD,
of Fulton county, New York state, who came to Wisconsin in 1878
and died in Janesville April 14, 1892.
- Mr. and Mrs. McNAMARA are the parents of three children,
all of whom are now living, viz.:
- Harry W., who is in business with his father, was born December
18, 1875; Frank L., who is district attorney of Sawyer county,
Wisconsin, was born January 21, 1877; and Mark L., born December
14, 1879, is also associated with his father in business at Janesville.
The brothers are all graduates of the Janesville high school
and Frank is a graduate of the law department of the university
at Madison, Wis.
-
- Taken from "Rock County, Wisconsin, Vol. II"
by William Fiske Brown, (c)1908, pp. 873-874.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
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