KILDARE BIOS

KELLY

History of Boone Co, IA
A Biographical Record of Boone Co, IA
New York and Chicago; The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co: 1902

     Mike Kelly is now living a retired life in Ogden. Years of active connection
with business interests, the capable control of his affairs and untiring
energy in the prosecution of his work, led to the acquirement of a handsome
competence, so that he is now enable to rest from his labors. He has resided
in this county for twenty years. He was born in co Kildare, Ireland, on the
8th of April 1835 and is the son of John and Catherine (Owens) Kelly, who
were also natives of the same county. The father followed the occupation of
farming there. In the year 1848 he emigrated with his family to America,
settling in New York where he remained until the fall of 1853., when he went
to Chicago Illinois, and after spending the winter in that city he went to
Boone county, Illinois, where he a engaged in farming for several years. He
afterward returned to New York and from that state removed to Missouri,
where he died at the age of seventy-five years. His wife passed away in
Boone county, Illinois, on the 28th of Feb, 1887. This worthy couple were
the parents of eight children, the eldest being the subject of this review,
John died March 16, 1857, at the age of twenty-one years.; Edward, who
enlisted in a Chicago regiment at the time of the Civil war, was detailed
for service in Virginia, where he mustered out at the close of the
Rebellion.  He then enlisted in the United States Regulars and was stationed
at Fort Laramie, Wyoming, while later he was transferred to New Mexico.
Simon has resided in Lincoln Nebraska for thirty years. Patrick died in that
city in the fall of 1900, after having spent a quarter of a century there.
Thomas died at Walker Iowa, in the spring of 1894. Ellen became the wife of
Felix McCune and died in 1897, while her husband and children are still
living in Boone Co, Illinois. James is engaged in mining at Cripple Creek,
Colorado. All received common school educations.
     At the age o twenty-one years Mike Kelly started out in life on his own
account. For four years he was employed as a farm had. Then he resolved to
take a home of his own.  He was united in marriages to Miss Sarah Horton, a
daughter of Abraham and Lena Horton both of whom were natives of New York.
In 1835 they removed to Boone county, Ill and there engaged in farming for
many years. The mother died in 1867 and the father passed away in this
county about 1885. The home of Mr and Mrs Kelly has been blessed with ten
children: Kate, the wife of William McConley, a farmer residing at Red
Cloud, Nebraska; Mary Elizabeth, the wife of P. Cronin, a traveling salesman
representing a firm of St. Joseph, Mo. Irving in Lawrence , Nebraska: Simon,
who is engaged in mining in the Sierra Nevada mountains; Emma Josephine the
wife of Henry Johnson, a farmer living at Red Cloud, Nebraska; Francis
Edward, who married Sarah Clavey, of Boone county, and follows farming in
Beaver township; John A., who is engaged in the lumber business in
California : James M. a resident farmer of Beaver township; and Sarah Jane,
who resides at home. Those who have passed away are William and Harvey. The
children have all been provided with good educational privileges and two of
the daughters were teachers in this county. Mr. Kelly has firm faith in the
principles of the Democracy and has taken quite an active interest in
politics, keeping well informed on the issues and questions of the day. He
and his family are communicants of the Catholic church of Ogden, and are
actively interested in church work. He has been a very industrious and
successful man, carrying his business operations to a successful conclusion.
He is to-day the owner of a fine farm in Beaver township comprising two
hundred and eighty acres, which is well improved. He settled upon that tract
when there was not a building between his house and Grand Junction, Iowa,
except the section-house on the Chicago & Northwestern railroad. For many
years he carried on farming and as time passed his well tilled fields
brought to him a handsome return for his labor. On the 1st of March, 1898,
he gave over his farm to the supervision of his sons and removed to the
village of Ogden where he has a pleasant home and is now living a retired
life. He is a very prominent citizen and no man is better known throughout
this part of the county than Mike Kelly.

HUGHES

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF CLINTON RESIDENTS (Pgs 669-697)
From the book "The History of Clinton County Iowa" by L. P. Allen (1879)

RICHARD HUGHES, farmer, Sec. 3; P.O. Elwood; son of Michael and Mary Hughes; born July 12, 1827, in County Kildare, Ireland. In the spring of 1849, emigrated with his parents to the United States, stopping in Northampton Co., Penn. In the fall of 1851, came to Cleveland, Ohio, and remained in that vicinity till the spring of 1853, when he came to LaSalle Co., Ill. In the spring of 1854, came to Clinton Co., Iowa, entering a part of his present farm from Government, to which he has added until he now has 473 acres, valued at $40 per acre. Married Miss Esther O'Brien April 18, 1851; she was born in County Kildare, Ireland, in the year 1826; they have nine children -- Michael, Richard, Ann, Catharine, Ellen, Patrick, Thomas, William and James; lost one daughter -- Mary. Mr. H. has served as Trustee of the township several years. Member of Catholic Church; Democrat.

HUGHES

Wolfe's History of Clinton County, Iowa; Vol 2; B.F. Bowen & Co; Indianapolis, Indiana: 1911

     To be an efficient and honorable agriculturist in the highly favored section of eastern Iowa, where the soil responds generously to the hand which cultivates it, is to be assured of a comfortable home and favorable surroundings. Among the successful farmers of Clinton county is Richard Hughes, of Berlin township, who was born on the farm where he now lives, April 9, 1857. His father was Richard Hughes, and his mother, prior to her marriage, bore the name of Esther O'Brien, both natives of Ireland. These parents came to the United States in the late forties, and after spending a year or two in La Salle county, Illinois, moved to Clinton county, Iowa, and settled on sixty acres of land in Berlin township, which Mr. Hughes purchased of the government. He bought other land at intervals, until in due time he became one of the largest owners of real estate in the county, his holdings at one time amounting to over six hundred acres, all in the township of Berlin. He was one of the leading farmers in his part of the country, manifested an active interest in public affairs, and enjoyed the esteem and the confidence of the people of his community, besides holding worthy prestige as a public-spirited citizen. He lived an honorable life, which terminated on September 20, 1901, his wife dying on the 4th day of October, 1907. Richard and Esther Hughes reared a family of ten children; namely: Michael, of Lyon county, Iowa; Richard, of this review; Anna, who lives in Plymouth county, this state; Katie, of Berlin township; Patrick, whose home is in the county of Plymouth; Thomas, who resides in Berlin township, near the family homestead; William, who lives on the old homestead; James, a resident of Lost Nation, this county; Mary and Ellen, deceased.
     Richard Hughes was reared on the home place in Berling township and enjoyed such educational advantages as the common schools afforded. He early decided to be a tiller of the soil, and in 1901 bought eighty acres of land belonging to the homestead, to which he has added other places from time to time until he now owns two hundred acres of the farm, on which he has made a number of valuable improvements. He devotes his attention to general agriculture and the breeding of fine live stock, his specialties being Norman horses, Shorthorn cattle, and Poland-China hogs, in the raising of which he has been remarkably successful, his reputation as a stockman being second to that of no other man in this part of the state. Financially, he has been exceedingly fortunate, being among the wealthy and influential farmers of his township, with a sufficiency of this world's goods at his command to insure an easy and prosperous future. Like all men with interests of the community at heart, he takes an active part in public affairs, and has well-grounded convictions concerning the question of the day, being an uncompromising Democrat in politics and a leader of his party in the township of Berlin. While zealous in the defense of his principles, he has never sought or desired office, notwithstanding which he has served his fellow citizens in various public capacities and proved true to every trust which they reposed in him. Religiously, he was reared under the influence of the Roman Catholic church and has ever remained true to the teachings of the same, belonging at this time to the congregation of worshipping at Hughes Settlement, of which his wife and children are members also.
     On the 23d day of January, 1883, Mr. Hughes was united in marriage with Margaret Spain, whose parents, John and Bridget (Quigley) Spain, natives of Canada, came to Iowa in 1851, and were among the early residents and well-known families of Clinton county. The following are the names of the children born to Mr and Mrs Hughes: Esther, wife of Joseph Sullivan; Catherine, Joseph, Ellen, Ignatius, Marguerite, John and Ligora. Mr. Hughes and his estimable wife have been zealous in religious and charitable work and their neighbors and friends speak in high terms of their many sterling qualities of mind and heart. They have a pleasant home, in which hospitality abounds, and all who cross their threshold are greeted with a welcome, which delays as long as possible their departure. Possessing a pleasing personality, with a manner which inspires confidence, Mr. Hughes is one of the most popular citizens of his community, a fact made apparent by his faculty of winning and retaining warm personal relationships.

CUMMINGS

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF CLINTON RESIDENTS (Pgs 669-697)
From the book "The History of Clinton County Iowa" by L. P. Allen (1879)

JAMES CUMMINGS, farmer, Sec. 2; P.O. De Witt; born in County Kildare, Ireland, near Dublin, about 1827; he came to America with his parents in 1850; he went to Baltimore, Md.; remained about six months; then went to Pittsburgh; remained one year; then came to Clinton Co., and purchased his present farm; returned to Pittsburgh; settled on his farm the next spring. He married Ellen Dunn; they have one child -- Margaret; has eighty acres of land.

CORRIGAN

Past and Present in Allamakee County, by Ellery M. Hancock. 2 vols. Chicago: S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1913.

     J.F. Corrigan is one of the influential and prosperous residents of Taylor township, Allamakee county, owing five hundred and forty acres of land, which constitutes one of the model farms of this section of Iowa. He was born on the farm of which he is now the owner, February 7, 1860, a son of James and Bridget (Fagan) Corrigan, both of whom were natives of Ireland, the latter born in County Kildare. The father acquired his education in his native land and there remained to the age of seventeen years, when, believing that he might enjoy better business opportunities in the new world, he accordingly set sail for America. Landing in New York, he there sought work and for eight years was employed by the proprietor of a hotel and livery barn. At the end of that time he worked his way farther west and for two years was employed at farm work in Ohio. In the meantime he had married and in 1851 he came with his family to Allamakee county, Iowa, locating on eighty acres of wild land on section 21, Taylor township. On this he built a log house, which is still standing, and he at once set about to clear his land and prepare it for the plow. He lived here in true pioneer style and endured all the hardships incident to the establishment of a home in a new country. As time passed and he prospered in his undertakings he purchased an additional tract of eighty acres, one hundred and sixty acres then being included within the boundaries of his place. Mr. and Mrs Corrigan reared two sons and two daughters: Thomas, who died in 1873; Mary, the widow of J.J. Fitzgerald, of Harper's Ferry; Katie, who was a Catholic nun, but is now deceased; and J.F. of this review. The father was a democrat and held the offices of township trustee and justice of the peace, while for twenty-seven years he served as secretary of the school board.
     J.F. Corrigan was educated in the district school near his father's home. He was early trained to habits of industry and economy, which have proved of great benefit to him in his later life. It was on the home farm that he acquired his knowledge of agricultural pursuits, for he assisted his father in the work of the fields throughout the period of his youth and early manhood, and at his father's death he inherited the old homestead, to which he has since added, until his possessions now comprise five hundred and forty acres of finely improved land. His land is fertile and each year yields abundant harvests as a reward for the care and labor that Mr. Corrigan has bestowed upon it. He has erected a good house and outbuildings for the shelter of his grain and stock and altogether it is one of the model farms of Taylor township, for he takes a just pride in keeping everything about the place in good repair.
     Mr. Corrigan established a home of his own by his marriage in 1891 to Miss Mary Hart, who was born in County Caven, Ireland. They have become the parents of nine children but only seven survive. They are James, Katie, Glenn, Mary, William, Donald and Dorothea. The eldest, Thomas, died in infancy; and John, the eighth in order of birth, is also deceased.
     Mr. Corrigan has supported the candidates of the republican party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He has served on the school board for twelve years, but otherwise has not held public office. He is a communicant of the Catholic church. He has always been a hard-working man and has enjoyed the best of health, never having been ill a day in his life. He truly deserves the success that is today his, for it has come to him through honest dealing coupled with sound judgment and good business sense.

CONNOR

History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa 1882... Chicago: O. L. Baskin & Co., 1883

     J.W. Connor, farmer, P.O. Wheeler's Grove, born in Middlebury, summit Co., Ohio, July 11, 1847, son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Thompson) Connor; he, born in County Kildare, Ireland in 1810; came to America in 1842, settling in the Western Reserve, Ohio, where he followed his avocation of woolen manufacturing, moving to Iowa in 1854, and settling on the farm where he now lives in this township, having retired from active business; she, born in Yorkshire, England, in 1809, came to America in 1843, just one year later than her husband; is still living, and is the mother of three children, subject being the oldest son. Subject received a limited common school education; he is a fine conversationalist, being well read, very public-spirited, encouraging any enterprise which is for the public good, and commenced life as a farmer, working on his father's farm for several years after his marriage, generally controlling its affairs, but now he owns a farm of 110 acres adjoining the old homestead, keeping him happily near his aged parents. Subject is a Republican, thought not a noisy politician; and married Miss Laura Peckenpaugh in this county on October 1, 1871, born in Warren County, Ill., on July 8, 1850, daughter of Louis B. and Aurilla (Sellers) Peckenpaugh, he, born in Crawford County, Ind., on August 6, 1826, emigrated to this State about 1854, settlted at or near Logan, Harrison County, this State, where he lived until his death, which occurred December 6, 1856, leaving a wife and four small children, which were cast upon the charity of the world; she, born in Crawford County, Ind., May 19, 1826, is still living in this county. Mr. and Mrs. Connor have two bright girls, viz., Minnie, born August 22, 1872; and Kate, born August 21, 1874. Subject's farm is pleasantly located, being five and a half miles southeast of Macedonia, and two miles southwest of Wheeler's Grove Post Office, just east of Farm Creek, the principal steam running through the township; has forty-five acres of very beautiful, healthy grove of natural young timber, consisting of hickory, oak, walnut, elm and ash. The farm cost about $1,500 and is now valued at about $4,000.

FARRELL

Portrait and Biographical Album of Jackson County, Iowa. Chicago: Chapman Brothers, 1889

     RUSSELL R. FARRELL, Attorney at Law, of Bellevue, Iowa, is a native of this county, having been born Aug. 3, 1860. he is a son of Patrick and Elizabeth Farrell, residents of Bellevue Township. His father is a native of County Kildare, Ireland, and his mother of Pennsylvania. Patrick Farrell is one of the earliest settlers of Bellevue Township, and is said to have come here some time in the forties.
     Our subject has been reared to manhood in this county, where he received his preliminary education in the public schools. When twenty years of age he began to attend the Valparaiso Normal School at Valparaiso, Ind., and took the four years' classical course, being graduated in 1883. When sixteen years old he began teaching in the district school, and taught about three years.
     In 1883 Mr. Farrell began the study of law in Bellevue with D.A. Wynkoop, now of Maquoketa, with whom he studied about four years, and with whom he was connected in his office. He was admitted to the bar June 26, 1884, and began business for himself in 1886, and has been in practice since that time. He has served two terms as Justice of the Peace, which office he filled satisfactorily.
     Our subject was united in marriage, Feb. 16, 1887, with Ida M. Whiteley, daughter of William and Elizabeth Whiteley, of West Covington, Ky. To them was given one child, Russell G., born July 13, 1888. Mr. Farrell is a Democrat in politics and is at the present writing, Secretary of that lodge. He is also a member of the K. of P., and is meeting with success in every line undertaken by him.
     Patrick Farrell, the father of our subject, took up 160 acres of Government land in Bellevue Township, and settled on it while it was yet without improvements. He has added to this until he now has 280 acres of valuable land. He met with and overcame the usual hardships in getting a start in the western country, and is one of the oldest pioneers of the county. Our subject is a Democrat in politics, and has always led in any attempt to promote the welfare of the township and society. He is a rising young lawyer, and has before him a bright future.