Bio: McKernan, Thomas (1914)

Contact: crystal@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: McKernan, Dalton 

----Source: History of Eau Claire County, Wisconsin (1914) pages 791-792 

Thomas McKernan, who is a native of Ireland, was born October 20, 1839, to Thomas and Mary (Dalton) McKernan. When ten years of age, in 1849, Mr. McKernan came with his parents to America, who settled in Lafayette county, Wisconsin. Of a family of six children, Thomas is the only member now living. The others were Susie, Helen, Patrick, Philise and John. Soon after arriving in this country and during the cholera epidemic of 1849, the father died from this dread disease near St. Louis, and was buried on the banks of the Mississippi river with hundreds of others who died at the same time. 

In 1857 Mr. McKernan came overland from Lafayette county to Eau Claire county, driving a large drove of cattle. He settled on a farm in Pleasant Valley township and engaged in farming there for about three years. In 1860 he went to Montana where he remained two years, thence to Colorado. After a sojourn there of six years, he returned to Eau Claire and Pleasant Valley and resumed farming on his 240-acre tract. Disposing of this farm in 1903, he retired and moved to the city of Eau Claire, where he now owns several dwellings which furnish him a substantial income. After the death of his father, and until her decease in 1894, his mother kept house for him, Mr. MeKernan being a bachelor. Mr. McKernan has been a hard worker during his lifetime, was a successful farmer and has always been a progressive and public spirited man, and a member of St. Patrick's Church, of Eau Claire.