Bio: Coughlin, Michael J. (1881)

Contact: crystal@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Coughlin, Wicks, Hutchinson

----Source: The History of Northern Wisconsin, Marathon County, Wis.) page 558

Michael J. Coughlin, engineer of the fire department, Wausau, was born in Zanesville, Ohio, March, 1846. He came with his parents to Milwaukee, in May, 1856. His father was a railroad contractor and worked in the construction of several divisions of the C.M. & S.P. R.R. They were in Milwaukee a short time and then went to Horicon, and from there to Ripon where they remained more than a year. From there they went to Holland Township, Brown Co., and went to farming, and in the Spring of 1859, Mr. M. J. Coughlin went to Milwaukee, and worked in the railroad shops as machinist. September, 1860, he went to Memphis, Tenn., and was engaged as railroad engineer. June, 1861, he left on account of the war, and returned to Milwaukee on the Prairie du Chien division of the railroad and run an engine. In March, 1862, he engaged in the fire department for Milwaukee City, in which capacity he remained until September, 1876; he then became assistant chief engineer and superintendent of machinery for the above city. In 1876, he went to Stevens Point, and run a steam fire engine for that city, until May 1880. Then he worked for Mr. John Wicks on the Big Eau Pleine, in the capacity of engineer, and was there until August, 1880. He then went to Stevens Point, and worked repairing engines until Sept. 1, 1880, then to D. Hutchinson's mill, on the Little Eau Pleine River, and run the engine there until he came to Wausau, November 1880.