Bio: Muir, Thomas (1842 - 1924)

Contact:  mahosfeld@yahoo.com

Surname: MUIR, BEARD, CUTURE, VISENEAU

----Source: 1918 History of Clark Co., WI, by Franklyn, Curtiss-Wedge

----Muir, Thomas (22 Dec 1842 - Feb 1924)

Thomas Muir, 1842

THOMAS MUIR, who is carrying on general farming and stock-raising on a farm of eighty acres in section 2, Lynn Township, and doing a prosperous business, was born in Prescott, Canada, Dec. 22, 1842, son of William and Elizabeth (Beard) Muir. The parents were natives of Scotland and were married in Edinburgh, the father being a carpenter and joiner by trade. He was employed for nine years in the royal palace, which is so extensive that in all that time he was never able to find out how many rooms there were in it. William Muir and wife had four children born in Scotland, Robert, William, Elizabeth and Isabella. About 1840 the family emigrated to Canada, where five more children were born: James, Mary, Jeanette, George and John. The father spent the rest of his life in Canada, following his trade as long as he was able to work. He died at the age of 80 years or more. His wife died much earlier at the age of 56. They were members of the Presbyterian Church. Thomas Muir was educated in Canada, attending the district school. When a young man he engaged in lumbering, working in the Canadian woods. On Oct. 15, 1871, he was married to Eliza Cuture, whose family name is now generally spelled Couture. Mrs. Muir was born in Canada, June 10, 1851, daughter of Joseph and Louise (Viseneau) Cuture, the father being a native of France and the mother of Canada. Mr. Cuture was employed for a number of years at logging he and his wife residing in Quebec; afterwards he became a farmer. They had six children: Joseph, George, Mary, Anna, Eliza and Leonora. The parents, who were of the Catholic faith, both lived to an advanced age. Thomas Muir and his wife resided for two years in Canada after their marriage.

Then, in 1873, they came to Clark County, locating in section 2, Lynn Township, on a tract of eighty acres. There were no buildings and no roads, the tract being thickly covered with timber. Mr. Muir and wife took up their residence at a neighbor's, who lived across the road in Wood County. He then built a log house, 16 by 14 feet in size, which stood on a part of the site of the present residence, and also erected a small log stable. He started with practically nothing but his hand to depend on, as he had but four dollars left after paying the driver who brought him and his wife from Neillsville. That fall he went into the lumber woods and the next spring got a cow. He raised his own ox team but grubbed in his first crops by hand. Many times he had to walk to Neillsville for supplies. His wife helped him to clear the place, working in the fields with him when not busy with her household duties. Since then he has developed a good farm. His present barn is 32 by 42 feet in size, and instead of the original one-roomed log cabin he has a commodious and comfortable residence. He raises a good grade of stock. As a prominent citizen of his township, Mr. Muir has always taken an interest in its advancement and prosperity. He has served as road master and as a member of the district school board. In religion he is a Presbyterian and in early, days church services were often held in his log house.

He and his wife have had seven children, the first-born of whom, Mary Isabella, died in Canada. The others are as follows: Jesse Lena, now deceased, who was the wife of Chas. Pearson, and left three children: Elizabeth, Louisa, and Edna J., residing at home; John Calvin, a resident of Wood County; William Thomas, of Wood County; Henry Ben, at home, and Samuel Arthur who resides in Chile Township.

MUIR Family research

This research was done by a volunteer - take as evidence, not as proof.

If you find an error or have information to add, please let us know.

William Muir (b. 1800/1812) & Elizabeth Beard / Baird (b. 1812/1820)

were born in Scotland, married there, and had four children there:

      1. Elizabeth  (b. 1834)

      2. Isabella     (b. 1836)

      3. Robert      (b. 1838)

      4. William    (b. 1840)

In 1840 they went to Canada and had six more children:

      5. Thomas    (b. 22 Dec 1842)

      6. Mary        (b. 1845)

      7. James       (b. 1847)

      8. John         (b. 1850)

      9. Jane / Jeanette (b. 1849)

    10. George     (b. 1858)

Thomas Muir married Eliza Couture in Canada (both born in Canada)

Eliza was the daughter of Joseph Couture (b. France) and Louise Viseneau / Vezina (b. Canada)

     Joseph and Louise were married in Quebec in 1833. 

          The Coutures had six children:

              1. Joseph

              2. George

              3. Mary

              4. Anna

              5. Eliza (b. 10 Jun 1851)              << married Thomas Muir

              6. Leonora

Thomas & Eliza (Cuture) Muir had eight children (all but the 1^st born in Wisconsin):

    1. Mary Isabella  (died in Canada)

    2. Jesse Lena           (b. May 1873) << d. Sep 1909, Elroy, WI; m. Charles Pearson, 13 Nov 1897

    3. Elizabeth             (b. Jun 1874)

    4. Edna Jane            (b. Aug 1878, Nasonville)  << m. Herbert Porter, 14 Sep 1898

    5. John Calvin         (b. 1881 Jan 27) << d. 25 May 1972 - Marshfield, WI; m. Calpernia Rustad ?

    6. William Thomas (b. Aug 1883)

    7. Henry Ben           (b. Aug 1886)

    8. Samuel Arthur     (b. 7 Oct 1890)  << d. Apr 1968, Marshfield, Wood, WI

Jesse Muir married Charles Pearson, son of William & Almeda Pearson, 13 Nov 1897, Wood Co WI

Edna Jane Muir married Herbert Porter, 14 Sep 1898, Neillsville, Clark, WI

     Herbert was the son of Hugh & Mary (Crawn) Porter

MUIR, EDNA   MARRIAGE   MARSHFIELD NEWS   SEP 29, 1898 p.4 col.3

           Notes: of nasonville/wed herbert porter at neillsville

William Muir married Josephine Stowe, 30 Aug 1905, Clark Co., WI  << ????????????????????

MUIR, BEN    MARRIAGE    MARSHFIELD NEWS    JUL 9, 1914 p.10 col.3

           Notes: of Nasonville/wed Lena Selk (chili news)

MUIR, BEN    MARRIAGE    MARSHFIELD NEWS    AUG 20, 1914 p.4 col.7

           Notes: of nasonville/to wed martha kampin (chili news) ??? are there 2 Ben Muirs ???

MUIR, CALVIN    MARRIAGE    MARSHFIELD NEWS    JUN 20, 1912 p.10 col.2

           Notes: town of lynn/wed calpernia rustad (nasonville news

MUIR, CALVIN    MARRIAGE    MARSHFIELD HERALD    JUN 15, 1912 p.10 col.3

           Notes: wed calpurna rastad at abbotsford (nasonville news

MUIR, JOHN CALVIN    MARRIAGE    MARSHFIELD NEWS    JUN 20, 1912 p.7 col.2

           Notes: of lynn/license to wed calpernia rustad

Rock-Lincoln Cemetery - Nasonville, Rock Twp., Wood Co., WI

t  Muir Thomas    22 Dec 1842   7 Feb 1924                                      

t  Muir Eliza         10 Jun 1851   24 Mar 1936            Wife of Thomas

t  Muir Leon C.   13 Sep 1926   18 Jul 1967   obit says b 1925 M-Winona MN   

                                             married Dorothy Kaufka 3 July 1948    Parents: M/M Calvin Muir

  MUIR, THOMAS   DEATH   MARSHFIELD HERALD   FEB 7, 1924 p.4 col.4

           Notes: born 1843 in canada/of nasonville

  MUIR, THOMAS   DEATH   MARSHFIELD HERALD               FEB 14, 1924 p.4 col.2

           Notes: funeral mentioned twice

  MUIR, THOMAS   DEATH   MARSHFIELD HERALD               FEB 14, 1924 p.10 col.4

           Notes: funeral mentioned (nasonville news)

Cemeteries of Wood Co., WI - Master Index

42 = Township (Nasonville) Rock Township, volume 7

Muir, Thomas    

Muir, Eliza         

Muir, Elizabeth 

Muir, John C.          << John Calvin

Muir, William    

Muir, Henry B.  

Muir, Samuel    

Muir, Calpernia       << wife of John Calvin Muir ?

Muir, Dora         

Muir, Infant       

Muir, Lena L.          << wife of Henry B. Muir ?

Muir, Margaret G.

Muir, Martha     

Muir, Robert      

1851 Census of Canada East, Canada West, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia

Name: Thomas Muir    Gender: Male    Age: 8    Birth year: about 1844    Birthplace: Canada

Province: Canada West (Ontario)   District: Prescott County   District Number: 31

Sub-District: Plantagenet South      Sub-District Number: 303

William Muir 40 Carpenter, b. Scotland, Presbyterian

Elisabeth Muir 32 Wife, b. Scotland, Presbyterian

Children b. Scotland: Elisabeth 18, Isabella 16, Robert 14, William 12

Children b. Canada: Thomas 8, Mary 7, James 5, Jane 2, John H. 1

1861 Census of Canada

Name: Thomas Muir    Gender: Male    Age: 18    Birth Year: 1843

Birthplace: Upper Canada    Marital Status: Single    Religion: C Of S

Home in 1861: South Plantagenet, Prescott, Canada West - 1 story Log house

William Muir 61 Scotland - Farmer, Elizabeth 49 Scotland,

Mary 14, James 12, Jane 10, John 8, George 3, (all Upper Canada),

Members of the family - absent: William Muir 20 Scotland, Thomas Muir 18 Upper Canada

Ontario, Canada Marriages, 1801-1926

Name: Thomas Muir    Birth Place: Canada    Age: 26    Estimated birth year: abt 1844

Residence: South Plantagenet

Father Name: William Muir                    Mother Name: Elizabeth Baird

Spouse Name: Eliza Couture    Spouse's Age: 17    Spouse Birth Place: Canada

Spouse Father Name: Joseph Couture     Spouse Mother Name: Louise Vivian

Marriage Date: 15 Oct 1870      Marriage Location: Prescott and Russell

Marriage County: Prescott and Russell    Archives of Ontario Microfilm: MS932_2

or Archives of Ontario Microfilm: MS932_4

1871 Census of Canada

Name: Thomas Muir    Gender: Male    Age: 28    Birth Year: abt 1843   Birth Place: Ontario

Marital Status: Married    Religion: Presbyterian   Origin: Scottish

Province: Ontario    District: Prescott    District Number: 75

Subdistrict: Plantagenet South    Subdistrict Number: h

William Muir   68  Scotland    Scotch    Carpenter

John Muir        20  Ontario      Scotch    Laborer

George Muir    14  Ontario      Scotch    going to school

Thomas Muir   28  Ontario      Scotch    Farmer    married within the past year: August

Eliza Muir       20  Ontario      French

1875 Wisconsin State Census

Name: Thomas Muir

Residence: Lynn, Clark, Wisconsin

Number of White Males:        2                           << Thomas and ?

Number of White Females:     4                           << Eliza, Jesse, Elizabeth and ?

Line Number: 25    Film Number: 1032690

Digital Folder Number: 4245041    Image Number: 00102

1880 United States Federal Census

Name: Thomas Mure     Age: 36     Estimated birth year: abt 1844    Birthplace: Canada

Relation to Head of Household: Self (Head)     Spouse's name: Eliza Mure

Father's birthplace: Scotland     Mother's birthplace: Scotland

Home in 1880: Lynn, Clark, Wisconsin

Thomas Mure      36   Canada-Scotland-Scot    Farmer                            1844

Eliza Mure            28   Canada-Can-Can            Keeping House               1852

Jessy Mure             7   WI-Can-Can                                                           1873

Elisabath Mure       6  WI-Can-Can                                                            1874

Edna Jane Mure     1   WI-Can-Can                                                            1879

1900 United States Federal Census

Name: Thomas Muir     Age: 55     Birth Date: Dec 1844     Birthplace: Canada (Fr)

Immigration Year: 1871     Relationship to head-of-house: Head     Occup: Farmer

Father's Birthplace: Scotland          Mother's Birthplace: Scotland

Spouse's name: Eliza Muir     Marriage Year: 1870     Years Married: 30

Home in 1900: Lynn, Clark, Wisconsin

Thomas Muir         55  Can-Scot-Scot    Dec 1844    Imm: 1871 Na

Eliza Muir              48  Can (Fr) x3        Jun 1851     Imm: 1871    7 of 8 Children living

Elizabeth L Muir    25  WI                     Jun 1874    

William T Muir      16  WI                     Aug 1883     Farm Laborer

Henry B Muir         13  WI                     Aug 1886     at School

Samuel A Muir         9  WI                     Oct 1890      at School

1905 Wisconsin State Census

Name: Thomas Meire    Birth Location: Canada    Marital Status: Married

Gender: Male    Estimated birth year: abt 1844   Race: White   Relation: Head

Spouse's name: Liza Meire     Line: 5    Roll: CSUSAWI1905_4

Locality: Lynn     Residence County: Clark    State: Wisconsin

Thomas Meire          61  Canada  Farmer                     1844

Liza Meire                54  Canada                                   1851

Elizabeth L Meire    29  US         Farmer                     1876

Calvin J Meire         24  US         Farmer                      1881

Wm T Meire             22  US         Farmer                      1883

Henry B Meire        18  US                                           1887

Samual G Meire      15  US                                           1890

1910 United States Federal Census

Name: Thomas Muir     Age in 1910: 66    Estimated birth year: abt 1844

Birthplace: Canada English    Relation to Head of House: Head

Spouse's name: Louiza Muir    Marital Status: Married - 40 years

Home in 1910: Lynn, Clark, Wisconsin

Thomas Muir    66  Canada (English)    Farmer    Year of immigration: 1861

Louiza Muir      58  Canada (French)     6 of 7 children living

Elizabeth Muir  35  WI-Can-Can

Edna Muir         30  WI   << married 12 years, 1 child (m. Herbert Porter, 14 Sep 1898)

Calvin J Muir   22  WI-Can-Can    Laborer - home farm

Sam A Muir      19  WI-Can-Can    Laborer - home farm

Merrill Porter       8  WI-WI-WI   Grandson

1920 United States Federal Census

Name: Thomas Muir    Age: 77    Estimated birth year: abt 1843   Birthplace: Canada

Relation to Head of House: Self (Head)    Spouse's name: Eliza Muir

Father's Birth Place: Scotland                    Mother's Birth Place: Scotland

Marital Status: Married    Race: White      Sex: Male   Home owned: Own

Year of immigration: 1873         Able to read: Yes       Able to Write: Yes

Home in 1920: Lynn, Clark, Wisconsin

Thomas Muir           77  Canada-Scot-Scot     Head  Imm: 1873 Pa

Eliza Muir               68  Canada-French-Fre  Wife   Imm: 1873 Al

Jane Mckurcher       70  Canada-Scot-Scot    Sister  Imm: 1873 un    Widowed

Elizabeth E Muir     40  WI-Can-Can     Daughter

Next family

Henry B. Muir   33   Head       b. WI-Can-Can

Lena L.              29   Wife        b. IL-IL-Ger

Olive M.      3 3/12   Daughter b. WI-WI-WI

1930 United States Federal Census

Name: Eliza Muir    Age: 79    Estimated birth year: abt 1851

Relation to Head of House: Mother    Race: White    Widowed

Rent/home value: Own, 2500   Age at first marriage: 19

Home in 1930: Lynn, Clark, Wisconsin

Elizabeth Muir   54  WI-Can (Eng)-Can (Fr)   Occup: Past (?) - general farm

Eliza Muir          79  Canada (Fr)-France-Can (Fr)   Imm: 1872

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Jessie Muir & Charles Pearson

1900 United States Federal Census

Name: Jessie Peissan [Pearson]    Age: 27    Birthplace: Wisconsin

Race: White    Gender: Female     Relationship to head-of-house: Wife

Home in 1900: Weston, Marathon, Wisconsin

Charles Peissan  30  Head    NY-Eng-Can    Imm: 1869    m. 2 years

Jessie Peissan    27  Wife     WI-Can (Eng)-Can (Fr)         0 children

1905 Wisconsin State Census

Name: Jessie Pearson    Birth Location: Wisconsin    Marital Status: Married

Gender: Female              Estimated birth year: abt 1873    Race: White

Relation: Wife    Spouse's name: Charles Pearson   << married 13 Nov 1897, Wood County WI

Line: 30              Roll: CSUSAWI1905_13

Locality: Knapp     Residence County: Jackson     State: Wisconsin

Charles Pearson    36  (Sep 1869)  NY-England-Canada (Eng)   Farmer

Jessie Pearson       32  (May 1873)  WI-Canada (Eng)-Canada (Fr)

Almeda Pearson     4  WI-NY-WI

Edmond Pearson    1  WI-NY-WI

MUIR, JESSIE    DEATH    MARSHFIELD NEWS    SEP 30, 1909 p.8 col.3

    Notes: died: elroy (town of rock news)  << Elroy, Juneau County, WI

1910 United States Federal Census

Name: Charles M Pearson    Age in 1910: 42    Estimated birth year: abt 1868

Birthplace: New York           Relation to Head of House: Head

Father's name: William Pearson        Father's Birth Place: England

Mother's name: Almeda Pearson       Mother's Birth Place: Canada English

Marital Status: Widowed       Race: White    Gender: Male

Home in 1910: Knapp, Jackson, Wisconsin

Charles M Pearson  42  NY-Eng-Can    Widowed    Farmer - General Farm

Meda Pearson                        9  WI-NY-WI

Edmond Pearson        6  WI-NY-WI

Maud Pearson                        3  WI-NY-WI

William Pearson      79  England   Father             Married 55 years

Almeda Pearson      75  Canada (Eng)   Mother   7 of 12 Children living   House Keeper

1920 United States Federal Census

Name: Edmund Pearson     Age: 15    Estimated birth year: abt 1905

Birthplace: Wisconsin   Relation to Head of House: Son    Father's name: Charles M Pearson

Father's Birth Place: New York          Mother's Birth Place: Wisconsin

Marital Status: Single   Race: White   Sex: Male   Able to read/write: Yes

Home in 1920: Lincoln, Monroe, Wisconsin

Charles M Pearson    51  NY-Eng-Can    Widowed    Janitor - Private Family

Meda Pearson                       18  WI-NY-WI        

Edmund Pearson       15  WI-NY-WI        Laborer - working out

Maude Pearson         13  WI-NY-WI

Almeda Pearson        85  Canada (Eng)   Mother   Widowed   Imm: 1849

1930 United States Federal Census

Name: Edmond R Pearson    Age: 26    Estimated birth year: abt 1904

Relation to Head of House: Son     Parent's Name: Charles M Pearson

Race: White          Occupation:       Rent/home value: Own

Home in 1930: Lincoln, Monroe, Wisconsin

Charles M Pearson    62  NY-Eng-Eng   Widowed   Farmer - Dairy Farm

Edmond R Pearson   26  WI-NY-WI                         Farmer - Dairy Farm

Maud Pearson                       23  WI-NY-WI

Wisconsin Death Index, 1959-1997

Name: Edmond Pearson    Age: 59    Sex: M (Male)

Birth Date: abt 1904    Death Date: 1 Aug 1963, Monroe County    Certificate: 025566

Social Security Death Index

Name: Edmund Pearson        Born: 25 Mar 1904    Died: Aug 1963

State (Year) SSN issued: Wisconsin (1951)

1920 United States Federal Census

Name: Calvin M Muir     Age: 38      Estimated birth year: abt 1882

Birthplace: Wisconsin     Relation to Head of House: Self (Head)

Marital Status: Married   Spouse's name: Calpernia Muir

Father's Birth Place: Scotland    Mother's Birth Place: Canada

Race: White   Sex: Male   Home owned: Own   Able to read/write: Yes/Yes

Home in 1920: Rock, Wood, Wisconsin

Calvin M Muir         38  WI-Scot-Can    Farming - own farm

Calpernia Muir        33  WI-Norway-Germany

Lewellyn W Muir     5  WI

Bernice E Muir   4 5/12   WI

Ielene M Muir    3 2/12   WI

Edna F Muir       1 10/12  WI

Wisconsin Marriages, 1836-1930

Groom's Name: Herbert W. Porter       Groom's Birthplace: Senica, Crawford, Wis.

Bride's Name: Edna Muir                     Bride's Birthplace: Nasonville, Wis.

Marriage Date: 14 Sep 1898                 Marriage Place: Neillsville, Clark, Wisconsin

Groom's Father's Name: Hugh Porter   Groom's Mother's Name: Mary Crawn

Bride's Father's Name: Thomas Muir   Bride's Mother's Name: Elizabeth Coture

Groom's Race: White     Bride's Race: White  

Indexing Project (Batch) Number: M00339-0   System Origin: Wisconsin-EASy

Source Film Number: 1275835            Reference Number: cn 02898

MARRIAGE: Olive May Muir, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. H. B. (Henry Ben) Muir

http://www.wiclarkcountyhistory.org/clark/data/1/bbs14/14443.htm

Social Security Death Index

Name: Calpernia Muir     Born: 30 Jan 1886    Died: Aug 1975

State (Year) SSN issued: Wisconsin (1966)

Last Residence: 54552  Park Falls, Price, Wisconsin, United States of America

Social Security Death Index

Name: Samuel Muir     Born: 7 Oct 1890     Died: Apr 1968

State (Year) SSN issued: Wisconsin (Before 1951)

Last Residence: 54449  Marshfield, Wood, Wisconsin, United States of America

Responses

Jesse was my Great Grandmother and Charles Pearson was my Great Grandfather.  Jessie and Grandpa Charlie were the parents of my grandfather Edward Pearson. My grandfather was married to Mae Thiemke.  My grandma said that Jesse was French Canadian which I learned was probably from the Ojibwa tribe.  I am searching for information on my Great Grandmother Jessie’s Mother.  Jessie is buried at the Warrens Cemetery in Warrens, Wisconsin.  Jessie was native Indian and I have no history of my Great Grandmother’s genealogy. Would like to know if possibly Jessie’s mother could have been buried in Wood County. If anyone could help me find some of this information I would appreciate it very much.  My email address is jhake2@charter.net

Jeanette Pearson Gray

410 McLean Avenue, Tomah Wisconsin 54660

jhake2@charter.net

Re: Muir family     Monday, February 14, 2011 2:31 PM

From: "M. Hosfeld" mahosfeld@yahoo.com       To: jhake2@charter.net

If you are certain that Jesse Pearson was the daughter of Thomas Muir and Eliza Couture, then I'm not sure why you think she could be Ojibwa.  Thomas' parents were born in Scotland and Eliza's father was born in France.  That just leaves her mother's mother -- Louise Viseneau / Vezina.  It appears that Louise and Joseph were married at Notre-Dame in Quebec, Quebec.  This doesn't mean she wasn't Ojibwa, but her surname is of French origin and it is so much more likely that she is of French descent.

I think this is the marriage record of the parents of Eliza Couture Muir:

Quebec Vital and Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1621-1967

Name: M Louise Vezina     Spouse: Joseph Couture     Event Year: 1833

Event: Mariage (Marriage)   Religion: Catholique

Place of Worship or Institution: Québec (Notre-Dame)   Province: Quebec

A search of the Clark County website shows that Thomas & Eliza Muir are buried at the Rock-Lincoln Cemetery in Nasonville, Rock Twp, Wood County, WI.  http://www.wiclarkcountyhistory.org/cemeteries/wood/Rock.htm

Muir  Thomas   22 Dec 1842    7 Feb 1924           

Muir  Eliza       10 Jun 1851   24 Mar 1936  Wife of Thomas

Was your grandfather's name Edmond?  I only found 3 children of Jesse and Charles Pearson: Almeda, Edmond, and Maud. Marsha, Rockford IL