Bio: Horan, Emmet (1914)

Contact: crystal@wiclarkcountyhistory.org.

Surnames: Horan, Finan, Hogan, McDonough, Cleveland

----Source: History of Eau Claire County Wisconsin (1914) pages 734-735

Emmet Horan, a prominent and progressive citizen of Eau Claire, has for many years been actively identified with the business, political and educational interests of the city. His paternal grandfather, John Horan, a farmer by occupation, was a prominent and influential man of his day in County Tipperary, Ireland. His son Thomas, father of our subject, was born in the same county December 21, 1806. He married in 1831 Catherine Finan, and emigrated to America in 1842, settling first in Canada, and in 1863 came to Eau Claire, Wis., and engaged in farming, and here made his home until his decease in 1876. He was a Democrat in politics; served as chairman of the town board and filled many other local offices. He was an honorable and respected man. His family consisted of seven children: John; Bridget, wife of Dennis Hogan; Timothy F.; Maria married John McDonough; Thomas; Jane married Frank McDonough, and Emmet.

Emmet Horan was born in Canada, March 11, 1852, and came to Eau Claire with his parents in 1863. He was reared on the farm, educated in the public schools and later entered the employ of the Eau Claire Lumber Company. His ability to handle men and the faculty he exhibited in attending to the details of the business secured for him the position of foreman of the logging camps of the company. In 1885 he was appointed by President Cleveland register of the United States Land Office in Eau Claire and held that position four and one-half years. In 1884 he was a candidate for member of the assembly, but was defeated through the influence of an independent candidate. He has represented Eau Claire at various times as member of the city council, and was for four years a member of the county board of supervisors. In 1889 he became a member of the McDonough Manufacturing Company, of Eau Claire; was one of its incorporators, and was made secretary and treasurer. He continued in that position until 1912, and is still a member of the company. He served as secretary of the Eau Claire board of trade for several years, and since 1891 has been a member of the Eau Claire school board and was the first president of the Eau Claire training school board.

During President Cleveland's second administration he was appointed postmaster of Eau Claire and served in that capacity four and a half years. He was appointed a member of the state board of normal school regents in 1908, and has served in that capacity continuously since, and was a leading factor in securing the location for the Normal School at Eau Claire, now (1914) in course of construction, the state having made an appropriation of $225,000 for this purpose, and he is now a member of the executive committee of the state board of normal school regents.

Mr. Horan was married November 4, 1874, to Margaret, daughter of Joseph Lawler, of Eau Claire. They have three children, as follows: Claude, wife of Richard F. Kaiser; Lenore, wife of Mark L. Williams, and Emmet, Jr., an attorney of Milwaukee. Mr. Horan and family are members of St. Patrick's church of Eau Claire. He is a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, and served as state president of the same for a period of four years. He is also a member of the Catholic Knights of Wisconsin, of which he was vice-president six years. Politically he is a Democrat of the progressive type.