Ireland Biographies

DUNLAP
History of Delaware County, Iowa...Captain John F. Merry, supervising ed. 2
vols. Chicago: S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1914

James E Dunlap owns in connection with his brother and sister a fine tract of two hundred and eighty acres of land in Hazel Green township, and devotes his time to its operation. He was born in that township, June 4, 1871, a son of James B. and Clarissa M. (Comstock) Dunlap, natives of Ireland and New York respectively. The father passed away in February, 1903, but the mother survives and makes her home in Hopkinton.
James E. Dunlap was given an excellent education and after completing the course of the local public schools he attended Western College at Toledo, Iowa. Since leaving school he has concentrated his energies upon agricultural pursuits, as he manages and operates two hundred and eighty acres of land on section 3, Hazel Green township, belonging jointly to himself, his brother, and sister. He understands well the methods best adapted to the cultivation of Iowa soil and, as he is a man of great energy, his yield of grain per acre is always high and his stock is invariably of a good grade.
On the 11th of December, 1912, Mr. Dunlap was united in marriage to Miss Clara G. Keith, a daughter of George W. Keith, and to this union has been born a daughter, Rosalind. Mr. Dunlap supports the republican party at the polls and takes a lively interest in all matters concerning the public welfare. He is a man of high standards of conduct and his life is in all respects upright and honorable, winning for him the sincere esteem of all who know him.

DUNLAP

History of Delaware County, Iowa...Captain John F. Merry, supervising ed. 2
vols. Chicago: S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1914

A.E. Dunlap is the efficient county recorder of Delaware county, of which he is a worthy native son, his birth having occurred in Hazel Green township on the 4th of August, 1868. His father, Thomas B. Dunlap, was born in Ireland on the 10th of October, 1840, and came to the United States at an early day, settling in Iowa. He devoted his attention to general agricultural pursuits throughout his active business career and passed away on the 23d of March, 1914. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Rose Speers, was called to her final rest about 1881. Their children were four in number, namely: A.E. of this review; Myra J., who is the widow of William Gillespie and resides in Nebraska; Mary Elizabeth, who gave her hand in marriage to Frank L. McKean and passed away leaving three little daughters; and Robert J., also deceased.
A.E. Dunlap acquired his early education in the common schools of the county and continued his studies in Lenox College of Hopkinton. The work of the fields then claimed his attention and he successfully carried on farming in Hazel Green township until he assumed the duties of county recorder in 1913 to which office he had been elected in 1912. He has been nominated for a second term as he has proven his fitness for the position and is widely recognized as a most trustworthy and capable county official.
As a companion and helpmate on the journey of life Mr. Dunlap chose Miss Mandana Danford, whose birth occurred in Delaware county on the 24th of December, 1869. Her father, Samuel Danford, has passed away. Mr. Dunlap gives his political allegiance to the republican party and has held the office of township assessor for four years. His religious faith is that of the Congregational church, while fraternally he is identified with the Knights of Pythias, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Masons. Both he and his wife have spent their entire lives in Delaware county and are well known and highly esteemed within its borders.

["A" stands for Alexander; Rose Speers was also born in Ireland. This per the 1880 census.]

Submitted by--Becky Teubner

MARTIN

A History of Tama County, Iowa Vol II; Chicago: Lewis Pub. Co., 1910.

James Martin- Tama county, Iowa, is located in the midst of a rich and fertile farming region, and prominent among the enterprising and energetic men who have so ably assisted in developing and advancing its agricultural resources is James Martin, of Highland township, a well-known and prosperous farmer. A son of the late Robert Martin, he was born, October 23, 1860, in New York city, of thrifty Irish descent.
Robert Martin was born and reared in Ireland, his birth occurring January 4, 1820. On March 27, 1854, he married Margaret Woods, who was born in Ireland, March 20, 1826, and died in Tama county, Iowa, in 1903. Immediately after his marriage he emigrated to this country, and, after spending sixteen years in New York city, came with his family to Iowa. Buying land in Tama county, he improved a good farm, on which he resided until his death, in 1900. Eight children were born to him and his wife, three of whom are living, namely: James, of this sketch; Maggie, wife of Frankie Fish, lives in Highland township, on the parental homestead; and Mary, wife of George Gary, also of Highland township.
Obtaining a practical education in the public schools, James Martin decided on farming as his life occupation, and in 1891 purchased his present estate of one hundred and sixty acres in Highland township. Here Mr. Martin has made many and valuable improvements, his home being one of the most attractive in the neighborhood, and here he is carrying on general farming with eminent success.
On March 11, 1886, Mr. Martin married Alice Clark, who was born in Lee county, Illinois, October 27, 1863, a daughter of Francis M. Clark. Mrs. Martin was four years a teacher in our public schools. A native of Ohio, Francis M. Clark was born, June 10, 1837, in Richland county. He was a graduate of Mt. Morris (Illinois) college, and taught school for a number of years. He married Sarah Walkup, who was born in Ogle county, Illinois, October 13, 1842, and they became the parents of four children, as follows: Alice, now Mrs. Martin; Arthur, living on the old home farm in Highland township, where his parents settled on coming to Iowa in 1864; Clinton, deceased; and Eva, deceased. Francis M. Clark died December 29, 1908. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Martin, namely: Ralph, deceased; Raymond, Eva, Robert, Ethel and Charles. Politically Mr. Martin is a straightforward Republican. Fraternally he belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America. Religiously he and his family attend the United Brethren church.

RIBBY

A History of Tama County, Iowa Vol II; Chicago: Lewis Pub. Co., 1910.

Alexander Ribby- Among the prosperous and successful agriculturists of Otter Creek township is numbered Alexander Ribby, better known, perhaps, to the residents of this community as Sandy Ribby. he was born in Peoria, Illinois, January 21, 1856. Thomas Ribby, his father, was born in Ireland in 1823, but, coming to the United States in 1848, he worked his way westward as a railroad employee in different construction companies, and in January, 1861, arrived in Tama county, Iowa. He preceded the railroad here and located in Tama when that city contained but a few shacks. In section 15, Otter Creek township, he purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land covered with brush and timber, but he cleared his land and made his home thereon until his death in may of 1866. He married at Bloomington, Illinois, Catherine McCarthy, who was also from his native Ireland, born in 1829, and she died on the 10th of April, 1904. Of their eight children, four are now living, namely: Alexander; Margaret, the wife of Daniel Mulligan, of Otter Creek township; Catherine, wife of King Ullum, of South Dakota; and Mary, the wife of Michael O'Connell and a resident of Richland township.
Alexander Ribby spent fourteen years of his early life in the city of Tama, attending in the meantime its public schools and the Western college, at Toledo, for two terms. At the age of twenty-two years he left home and followed railroad work for five years; was then for eight years a farmer on rented land in Pocahontas county, this state, and then returning to Tama county, he purchased his present homestead of one hundred and twenty acres in 1898. All of the many and valuable improvements on this farm have been placed there by him, and he is numbered among the community's most progressive agriculturists. During the past eight years he has served his township as its clerk, and during two years he was also a trustee. his politics are Democratic.
Mr. Ribby married on October 1, 1882, Emma Dulybon, born at Mt. Carroll, Illinois, April 15, 1866, a daughter of Mathew and Anna (Berkholder) Dulybon. She is one of their six children, and the four now living are: Alice, the wife of a Mr. Dennis, of Nebraska; Mrs. Ribby; Mrs. Frank Laws, of Tama; and Frank, of the same city. Mathew Dulybon enlisted in 1861 with an Ohio regiment and served in the Civil war until its close. He then located at Mt. Carroll, in Illinois, and from there in 1870 came to the city of Tama, Iowa, where he lived until his death. Eleven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Ribby, namely: Sadie, the wife of Michael Foley, of Clutier, Iowa; and Nellie, Margaret, Emma (a teacher in the public schools), Thomas, Alexander, Leo, Mary, Ralph and Carl. The family are members of the Catholic church.

McANULTY

A History of Tama County, Iowa Vol II; Chicago: Lewis Pub. Co., 1910.

Wiliam H. McAnulty is prominently known as an agriculturist of Howard township, where he owns a valuable estate in section 12. He is a self-made man in the truest sense of the term, and may well feel proud of the success he has achieved in life. Remaining at home with his mother until 1872, he then purchased his first piece of land, a little tract of eight acres, in section 12, which formed the nucleus of his present large and valuable estate of three hundred and twenty acres of fine land as lies in Howard township. The estate contains two sets of buildings, and its owner is one of the influential men of his community. He has served his township as treasurer and during the past fourteen years he has been its school treasurer and, during the past thirteen years, the school secretary. He has also been twice elected justice of the peace but did not qualify.
William H. McAnulty was born in Berks county, Pennsylvania, September 12, 1847, a son of Patrick and Catherine (O'Neil) McAnulty. The father, who was a native born son of Ireland, came to the United States when eighteen years old, locating among the Quakers of Chester County, Pennsylvania, and there he died on the 23rd of May, 1853, when sixty years of age. Mrs. McAnulty was born in Berks county, Pennsylvania, and there he died on the 23rd of May, 1853, when sixty years of age. Mrs. McAnulty was born in Berks county, Pennsylvania, in 1803, and she died at the age of eighty-six years in this township. Their marriage was celebrated in 1821, and of the fifteen children born of their union only five are now living, namely: Wesley, of Toledo, Iowa: William of this review; Mary, whose home is also in Toledo; Hannah, the wife of Mr. Cox, of Carlton township; and Mrs. Catherine Rhodes, of Clinton, Iowa. Mrs. McAnulty was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church for seventy-two years. The death of her husband left her with a large family of children to support, some of whom were under age, and the older ones wishing to go west and farm, she finally packed her belongings and came with her family to Iowa, journeying by railroad to its terminus at Iowa City and from there they drove to Tama county, and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in section 13. The lumber for the home erected thereon was obtained at Brewer's mill, at Monticello, where the first mill in the county had been erected, and on her farm home here the brave mother spent the remainder of her days and was laid to rest among others of the honored pioneers of Tama county.
William H. McAnulty married on the 12th of September, 1871, Margaret Hill, who was born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, January 7, 1852, a daughter of Absalom Hill, another of Tama county's early pioneers. He also was born in Tuscarawas county, January 18, 1827, and he died in Howard township, of Tama county, on the 21st day of May, 1895. He moved from Ohio to Whiteside county, Illinois, in 1854, where he farmed until enlisting for the war on the 4th January, 1863, and he served until its close. In 1868 he came to Iowa and located in Boone county, and from there, in 1870 he came to Tama county and established his home on section 13, Howard township, where his death subsequently occurred. He had married, on the 23rd of February, 1857, Rebecca Marks, who was born at New Philadelphia, in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, June 8, 1830, and who is now a resident of Toledo, the mother of six children: Mrs. McAnulty; Cyrus, whose home is in South Dakota; Grant, of Otter Creek township; Scott, of Toledo; Mary E., the wife of W.A. McAnulty, also of Toledo; and Jessie, the wife of E. McCormack, of Cedar Rapids. The union of Mr and Mrs. McAnulty has been blessed by the birth of seven children, namely: Edith, the wife of Carl Grau, of Cedar Rapids; Viola, the wife of Howard Lyon, of Whitten, Iowa; Gertrude, the wife of John Stevenson, also of Cedar Rapids; Pearl, the wife of Horace Honeycutt, of Toledo; Earl H., of Howard Township; Hazel, a stenographer in Cedar Rapids; and Nelson, at home with his parents. Both Mr and Mrs McAnulty are members of the Beulah united Brethren Church and he is also a member of the Ancient Order of united Workmen at Toledo. is political affiliations are with the republican party.

O'NEILL

A History of Tama County, Iowa Vol II; Chicago: Lewis Pub. Co., 1910.

James O'Neill has long been numbered among Tama county's agriculturists and leading citizens, and although practically retired from an active business life, he yet resides on his valuable estate of one hundred and twenty acres in section 5, Carroll township. He arrived in Tama county on the 27th of February, 1865, and after spending the first year with Robert Blake in Howard township he bought eighty acres of land there, the west half of the northeast quarter of section 2. He improved his land and built what was known as the "Half Way House" between old Buckingham and Toledo, one of the historic places of Tama county. There he entertained over night many of the county's early settlers, particularly during the severe storms of those winters. That historic old place continued as his home until 1872, and two years later he sold the farm and came to Carroll township and to his present home.
Mr. O'Neill was born in Canada East on the 27th of July, 1832, a son of William and Abigail (Sherman) O'Neill. James O'Neill, his paternal grandfather, was born in the north of Ireland, but reared in the Protestant faith, and he came as a British soldier to Canada during his young manhood, and the land there which he secured from the crown was the home of both him and his sons. James O'Neill served his full time in the British army. During the early years of his residence in Canada he had to go to Lake Champlain to mill, a distance of twenty-four miles from his home and through the dense timber of those early days. He resided on that farm until his death, and there also the father and two aunts of the James O'Neill of this review passed away. But the land has since been sold. William O'Neill was born and reared on that Canada farm, and there he resided until his death in 1890, more than eighty years of age. He was a prominent farmer and a much respected citizen. Abigail Sherman, his wife, was born in Connecticut, probably of English descent, and she was reared in that state and lived there until her marriage, but she died at the old O'Neill homestead in Canada East. Both she and her husband were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. James was one of three children born to William and Abigail O'Neill and he is the only one living, Henry having died in Montreal and Selina died in Clinton county, New York.
James O'Neill spent the first twenty years of his live at his birthplace in Canada, receiving in the meantime but limited school advantages, and coming then to DeKalb county, Illinois, he worked on farms and at other labor for several years. He was married there in 1860 to Miss Sarah Smith, born in northern Ohio, to Enoch Smith, of English descent and who died in Tama county, which had been his home during the later years of his life. Mrs. O'Neill died in 1872, leaving four children, as follows: William Enoch, living at College View, near Lincoln, Nebraska, and a painter by trade; Asa David, engaged in the mercantile business in the town of Dickey, North Dakota; Sidney, operating the O'Neill homestead in Carroll township, and he has recently taken up a half section of government land in Oregon county, Colorado; and Sarah died in infancy. Mr. O'Neill married for his second wife Mrs. Catherine Carr, born in Carroll county, Illinois, in 1848, a daughter of Conrad and Regina (Blouch) Hild, early residents of the Prairie state, but both born in Germany. They came to the United States in their youth, and they lived and died as farmers in Carroll county, Illinois. Mrs. O'Neill was reared there, and there she married David Carr, a farmer in Carroll township, Tama county, Iowa, where he died on the 10th of November 1871, when but thirty-two years of age. A daughter, Davina Estella, has been born to Mr and Mrs O'Neill, and she is now the wife of Lewis Henigar, another Carroll township agriculturist.
Mr. O'Neill owns one of the well improved farms of his community, and he was engaged in general farming there until his retirement. During about fourteen years he was the secretary of the Tama County Mutual Insurance Company, proving an efficient officer, and he was also for a time agent for the Town Mutual Insurance Company of Des Moines. He has always been a Republican in his political affiliations, and he served eight years in the office of assessor and has also held other local offices. Since 1875 he has been identified with the Odd Fellows lodge at Traer, and his son is also a member of the fraternity. Mr. O'Neill is one of the representative citizens of Tama county.

BEHAN

History of Delaware County, Iowa...Captain John F. Merry, supervising ed. 2
vols. Chicago: S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1914

Patrick Behan is living retired in Ryan, where he is widely known and highly respected. He was born in Ireland, August 15, 1844, a son of William and Nora (Brazell) Behan, who were also natives of the Emerald Isle. The family emigrated to the United States in 1855 and made their way to Iowa, settling on a farm in Adams township, in Delaware county. The father cultivated his land until his demise, which occurred February 13, 1862. His widow survived for many years, dying in 1894. They were the parents of nine children as follows: Mary, who married James Duggan; Ann, the widow of Robert Montgomery and a resident of Iowa City; David, who had the distinction of being the first volunteer soldier to enlist in Adams township and who passed away in 1912; Ellen, the widow of James McElligott; Nora, who is a nurse in a hospital at Dubuque; Kate, the deceased wife of Thomas McNulty, her demise occurring in Oklahoma; Patrick and Morris, twins, the latter of whom is deceased; and Margaret, the wife of Frank McNulty, of Kansas.
Patrick Behan was a boy of eleven years when his parents brought him to the new world and he quickly adapted himself to the new conditions of life found here. He had only a common school education but his native intelligence and sound judgment have enabled him not only to win financial success but have made it possible for him to watch with understanding the many changes and diverse movements in modern life. At the outbreak of the Civil war he enlisted in Company E, Second Iowa Infantry, and served for a year and a half, during which time he was with Sherman on the memorable march to the sea. He became the owner of a good farm in Adams township and devoted his time and energy to its cultivation until he retired in January, 1914, when he removed to Ryan, there erecting a commodious residence.
Mr. Behan was married April 20, 1868, to Miss Ann Gannon, a daughter of Patrick and Mary (Carr) Gannon, both natives of Ireland. In 1855 they brought their family to the new world and the father carried on agricultural pursuits until his death, which occurred April 28, 1862. The mother survived for more than two decades, dying April 28, 1884, on the anniversary of the death of her husband. To Mr. and Mrs. Behan were born nine children: Mary Ann, who married Michael Schealy, of Buchanan county, Iowa; Catherine, the wife of John Vinton, of Nebraska; William, residing in Masonville, this state; Rose, who married John Cashmann of Minnesota, Margaret, the wife of John Callon, of Winthrop, Iowa; Elizabeth who married George Vinton, of Nebraska; Hannah, the wife of Thomas Cummings, of Minnesota; Rev. P.J., pastor of St. Patrick's church at Cedar Rapids; and John D. who married Lillian McElligott, of Illinois, on the 28th of January, 1914. John D. Behan is engaged in farming, renting two hundred acres from his father, five miles west of Ryan, and he owns forty acres of land. In addition to cultivating his fields he devotes a great deal of attention to raising and selling high grade stock. All who know Patrick Behan agree that the case and comfort which he is now enjoying are well merited, as his life was for many years a very busy one and his activities were guided and directed by excellent judgment.

GANNON

A History of Tama County, Iowa Vol II; Chicago: Lewis Pub. Co., 1910.

Peter Gannon, a prosperous farmer on section 19, Highland township, was born in McHenry county, Illinois, November 19, 1850, and is a son of Luke and Margaret (Fallon) Gannon, both natives of Ireland. The former died in 1870, aged fifty-five years, and the latter died in 1885, aged seventy years. Luke Gannon came to the United States at the age of seventeen, in 1832, and spent sixteen weeks on the ocean, besides being three times shipwrecked; Margaret Fallon spent thirteen weeks on the ocean, and was thought to have made a quick passage. Luke Gannon went to Illinois where he secured employment at Lockport, on the old Illinois canal. Later he entered land and settled in McHenry county, Illinois, and carried on a farm there until his death. Of the eight children, seven survive, namely: Catherine, wife of Peter Minnon, of Chicago; Mary A., unmarried, lives at Crystal Lake, Illinois; James, a resident of Illinois; Peter; Michael H., of Chicago; Thomas, of South Dakota; and Margaret Malone, living in Illinois.
Mr. Gannon spent his boyhood on his fathers' farm in McHenry county, Illinois, where he remained until twenty-four years of age. In 1874 he came to Tama county with a man for whom he had been working in Illinois, and there was put in charge of the farm he now occupies, which his employer had purchased. He conducted the farm on a partnership basis until 1901, when he bought it himself. At the time he began cultivating and clearing it, the farm consisted of wild land, unimproved, and Mr. Gannon now has stocked it and made modern improvements, so that his farm of two hundred and sixty-three acres is now in fine condition. At one time he owned eighty acres on the southern line of the county, in Highland township, which he sold. Though his early education was meager, Mr. Gannon has made the most of his opportunities, and is well posted on the affairs of the day; he is thoroughly enterprising and energetic, and is one of the leading citizens of his part of the county. He broke his land from the sod, and has worked hard all his life, but has lately turned over the farm work to his sons. He is a Democrat, and has always favored that party; he has served a number of years as trustee and school officer. He was one of the organizers of the Citizens' Savings Bank at Gilman, Iowa, in which he holds stock; also one of the organizers and stockholders of the Farmers' Elevator at Gilman; also part owner of the opera house at Gilman. He is affiliated with Cyrus Lodge, No. 338, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, at Gilman, and with the chapter at Marshalltown. He and his wife belong to the Knights of Pythias and is a member of the Mutual Benefit Association of Gilman; and he was a member of the Congregational church at Gilman. Though interested in public affairs, he is not an office-seeker, and though elected to the office of township clerk, he would not qualify.
Mr. Gannon married, October 17, 1888, Florence McClure, born near Legrand, Marshall county, Iowa, February 20, 1862, and a daughter of James A. and Mary (Crawford) McClure. Her father died July 4, 1905, aged seventy-five years, and her mother, who was born July 23, 1835, resides at Gilman, Iowa. They came West and located at Benton county, Iowa, in 1854; they came as far as Rock Island by train, and drove the remainder of the journey. In 1855 they came to Marshall county, and settled near Legrand, where they lived on a farm until 1899, and then removed to Gilman, where Mr. McClure died. Of their eight children, seven survive, namely: E.C., of Alliance, Nebraska; Mary, wife of W.H. Vosburg, of Gilman, Iowa; Byron B., of Marshalltown, Iowa; Lloyd; Frank S., of Gilman; Alice, wife of E.J. Robb, of Marshalltown, Iowa; and Florence, the fourth child. Mr. Gannon and his wife have three children, as follows: Fannie A., a school teacher, of Gilman, Iowa; Raymond H., living at home, and John C., also at home.

SCANLAN

History of Delaware County, Iowa...Captain John F. Merry, supervising ed. 2
vols. Chicago: S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1914

William Scanlan, who died in 1909, at the age of sixty-three years, was actively and successfully identified with agricultural pursuits in Delaware county for four decades, owning and operating a farm of eighty-four acres on section 36, Coffins Grove township. His birth occurred in Ireland on the 22d of December, 1846, his parents being William and Sarah (Mills) Scanlan, of whom more extended mention is made on another page of this work in connection with Luke Scanlan, a brother of our subject.
In 1869, when about twenty-three years of age, William Scanlan crossed the Atlantic to the United States and made his way direct to Delaware county, Iowa, subsequently settling on a farm here. He was married in Manchester and operated a rented farm during the next seven years. On the expiration of that period, however, he purchased a tract of eighty-four acres on section 36, Coffins Grove township, where he carried on agricultural pursuits successfully throughout the remainder of his life. The property is now in possession of his widow and returns to her a gratifying annual income.
As a companion and helpmate on the journey of life Mr. Scanlan chose Miss Isabella Anderson, a native of Pennsylvania and a daughter of Christopher and Margaret Anderson, both of whom were born in Ireland. They emigrated to America in 1852 and located first in Pennsylvania, while in 1857 they took up their abode on a farm in Prairie township, Delaware county, Iowa. Subsequently they removed to Nebraska and in that state spent the remainder of their lives. To Mr and Mrs Scanlan were born nine children, five of whom are still living, namely: Artazena, who is engaged in teaching school; William L.; Retta; Christina M.; and Howard A.
Mr. Scanlan died June 16, 1909, and was laid to rest in the Oakland cemetery. With his family he attended the services of the Methodist Episcopal church, and in all the relations of life he exemplified the highest principles. His widow, who still survives, has now been a resident of Delaware county for fifty-seven years and enjoys an extensive and favorable acquaintance within its borders.

McLaughlin