John S. Moffat House
Encyclopedia
The Octagon House House Museum, or also known as the John Moffat House, is a stucco octagonal house in Hudson
, in the U.S.
state of Wisconsin
, located at 1004 3rd Street. The home was built in 1855 by John (1814 Etna, New York
-1903 Hudson, Wisconsin) and his wife Nancy Bennet (1822-1894), who moved to Hudson from Ithaca, New York
the previous year with their ten-year-old daughter. Typical for the time, the Moffats traveled by train to Galena, Illinois
where they took a steamboat
to Prescott, Wisconsin
. Then they traveled by horse and wagon, north to Hudson, which was a prosperous frontier town on the Saint Croix River
, benefiting from lumber
and flour
mills. Two of Nancy's sisters already lived in the town when they arrived. Moffat initially was clerk of the United States Land Office for the Chippewa District and later practiced law
before being elected a Saint Croix County judge in 1869. Their home is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
.
The house is now owned and operated by the St. Croix County Historical Society as the Octagon House Museum, a historic house museum furnished for the mid 19th century. The Society purchased the home in 1964.
Hudson, Wisconsin
Hudson is a city in St. Croix County, Wisconsin, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, its population was 18,937, making it the principal and largest city of the Minneapolis - St. Paul metropolitan area . The Hudson area however had a population of 39,713...
, in the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
state of Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
, located at 1004 3rd Street. The home was built in 1855 by John (1814 Etna, New York
Etna, New York
Etna is an unincorporated community in Tompkins County, New York. It lies at an elevation of 1020 feet ....
-1903 Hudson, Wisconsin) and his wife Nancy Bennet (1822-1894), who moved to Hudson from Ithaca, New York
Ithaca, New York
The city of Ithaca, is a city in upstate New York and the county seat of Tompkins County, as well as the largest community in the Ithaca-Tompkins County metropolitan area...
the previous year with their ten-year-old daughter. Typical for the time, the Moffats traveled by train to Galena, Illinois
Galena, Illinois
Galena is the county seat of, and largest city in, Jo Daviess County, Illinois in the United States, with a population of 3,429 in 2010. The city is a popular tourist destination known for its history, historical architecture, and ski and golf resorts. Galena was the residence of Ulysses S...
where they took a steamboat
Steamboat
A steamboat or steamship, sometimes called a steamer, is a ship in which the primary method of propulsion is steam power, typically driving propellers or paddlewheels...
to Prescott, Wisconsin
Prescott, Wisconsin
Prescott is a city in Pierce County, Wisconsin at the confluence of the St. Croix River and Mississippi River. The population was 4,258 at the 2010 census, making it the second-largest city in the county after River Falls, and the largest entirely within Pierce County.Prescott was home to the...
. Then they traveled by horse and wagon, north to Hudson, which was a prosperous frontier town on the Saint Croix River
St. Croix River (Wisconsin-Minnesota)
The St. Croix River is a tributary of the Mississippi River, approximately long, in the U.S. states of Wisconsin and Minnesota. The lower of the river form the border between Wisconsin and Minnesota. The river is a National Scenic Riverway under the protection of the National Park Service. A...
, benefiting from lumber
Lumber
Lumber or timber is wood in any of its stages from felling through readiness for use as structural material for construction, or wood pulp for paper production....
and flour
Flour
Flour is a powder which is made by grinding cereal grains, other seeds or roots . It is the main ingredient of bread, which is a staple food for many cultures, making the availability of adequate supplies of flour a major economic and political issue at various times throughout history...
mills. Two of Nancy's sisters already lived in the town when they arrived. Moffat initially was clerk of the United States Land Office for the Chippewa District and later practiced law
Jurisprudence
Jurisprudence is the theory and philosophy of law. Scholars of jurisprudence, or legal theorists , hope to obtain a deeper understanding of the nature of law, of legal reasoning, legal systems and of legal institutions...
before being elected a Saint Croix County judge in 1869. Their home is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
The house is now owned and operated by the St. Croix County Historical Society as the Octagon House Museum, a historic house museum furnished for the mid 19th century. The Society purchased the home in 1964.
External links
- Octagon House Museum - St. Croix County Historical Society