Bio: Manson, Rufus P. (1830 – 1897)

Contact: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Manson, Nicolls, St. Amston

---Source: History of Marathon County Wisconsin and Representative Citizens, by Louis Marchetti, 1913.

Manson, Rufus P. (1830 – 21 February 1897)

RUFUS P. MANSON, whose death on February 21, 1897, deprived Wausau of one of its most useful and prominent citizens, was born at Jackson, N. H., in the year 1830. At the age of twenty-one, or in 1851, he came to Wausau entirely alone and his subsequent success in life was attained solely through his own efforts. After arriving here he at once became interested in the lumber industry, in which he continued until his death, being a very successful business man. He served the county and city in public office, being sheriff of Marathon County about the time of the Civil war, also in other county offices at different times, and was several times elected mayor of Wausau. A record of his administration may be found in connection with the history of Wausau in another part of this volume.

He married Catherine Nicolls, who was born in Canada and came to Wausau with Peter St. Amston and wife. She survived her husband but five months, her death taking place July 5, 1897. She was the mother of twelve children, of whom John N., subject of a special sketch, is the eldest of the six survivors.