Joseph Raymond McCarthy grew up in Grand Chute, a community of mostly German and Irish farmers in Outagamie County, Wisconsin. Born November 14, 1908, the young McCarthy impressed family and friends with his sense of humor and strong work ethic. He quit school at the age of 14 to run a chicken farm and later to manage a local Cash-Way grocery store.
The Cash-Way chain relocated McCarthy northwest to Manawa in 1929. He left the store that same year after entering Manawa's Little Wolf High School at the age of 20. After finishing high school, he moved to Milwaukee where he studied engineering and law at Marquette University. McCarthy became a lawyer during the Great Depression in 1935.
- The McCarthy
family emigrated to Outagamie County in the late 1850s. Generations
of McCarthys lived on farms in neighboring towns of Center and Grand
Chute.
- The principal
of Manawa's Litte Wolf High School, Leo Hershberger, allowed the 20
year old McCarthy to complete course work at his own pace. McCarthy
finished grades 9 through 12 in one academic year.
- McCarthy worked as a janitor, salesman, short-order cook, and construction worker while studying at Marquette University. He also joined the University's debate and boxing teams, and a fraternity, Delta Theta Phi.
Joseph McCarthy (first row, 4th from right) at Underhill School, circa 1918
OCHS # 1999.41.1
McCarthy graduated from this one-room school house less than one mile south of his Grand Chute home.
Timothy and Bridget McCarthy's Grand Chute farm, circa 1908
OCHS # 1999.41.1
Joseph McCarthy's parents, Timothy and Bridget, raised seven children on this 142 acre farm in Grand Chute. Family legend says that Bridget (lower left corner) is pregnant with Joseph in this picture.