Welcome to
Jasper County, Iowa
Historical and Genealogical Data Exchange
|
|
|
|
William Gannon William Gannon, the leading Irish farmer and the most extensive stock man of Poweshiek Township was born County Kilkenny, Ireland, and was one of a family of ten children, of whom only six lived to maturity. John Gannon, the father of the family was a farmer. He lived on leased land in the Old Country, and to improve his condition removed to America in 1849 and settled in Cook County near Chicago, III. There he joined his fortune with those of our subject and purchased eighty acres of land, which was paid for largely from the earnings of his son. The mother of the family was also a native of Ireland. Her maiden name: was Mary Kelley. After arriving in America the parents made their home with William Gannon and resided with him as long as they lived. The father died in Iowa in 1868, at the age of eighty-four years, and the mother some years later, at the age of ninety years. Both are buried in the Catholic Cemetery at Des Moines. Their children were Michael, Katherine, Peggy, Mary, Richard and William, the subject of this sketch. William Gannon
received a fine English education at some of the best schools and was also well
instructed in the theory of farming. When
he came to this country he had little besides his general knowledge and his
indomitable pluck and energy, but these have been sufficient to place him among
the wealthiest and most influential citizens of his county.
From 1849 until 1856 he remained upon the farm in Cook County, IL, and on
the 5th of July of the latter year arrived in Des Moines, Iowa, with the largest
part of his possessions, consisting of the teams and cattle that he drove before
him. During the following winter he
purchased one hundred acres of raw land in Franklin Township, Polk County, for
which he paid $600. The following
spring be rented and farmed a tract of land, and a little later purchased of
James Bailey one hundred and sixty acres of land, for which he gave about
$1,200. This farm he occupied for
five years, giving his personal attention to its cultivation and improvement,
and when he had brought the place to its present state of excellence turned his
attention to an earlier purchase of one hundred and seventy acres, which had in
the meantime been comparatively neglected. Here his intelligent management soon
brought the farm into a high state of cultivation and gradually he has added to
the original tract until he now has eight hundred acres in a body, all showing
the marks of the master farmer's hand. He
residence is one of the finest in the township, and the outbuildings are all
first class. Mr. Gannon and
his sons now own some thirteen hundred acres of other lands in this and
adjoining counties, making them the largest landed proprietors in this section
of Iowa. A very important part of Mr. Gannon's business has been the
buying, selling and raising of stock, and in this line he has been more than
usually successful. Within the past year or two he has gradually withdrawn from
active participation in the business and has given that branch into the hands of
his sons, while be, with his wife, resides in his elegant country mansion, eight
miles from Colfax and near the Polk County line. In 1854 Mr. Gannon married
Catherine Rooney a native of County Tipperary, Ireland, and the daughter of Hugh
and Alice (Dwyer) Rooney. They were married in St. Mary's Church, Chicago. Their
children are: John, who lives at home with his parents; William J., a resident
of this township; Alice, wife of William Phelan; Michael, who lives in Polk
County; Kate, wife of James O'Brien of Bondurant; Mary, who died when about five
years old; Ellen, wife of John Maher, of this township; Hugh and Lizzie, at
home. Mr. Gannon takes an active interest in politics and is a stanch Democrat.
Both he and his wife, as well as the other members of their family, are
regular and consistent members of the Catholic Church. Portrait and
Biographical Record, Jasper, Marshall and Grundy Counties, IA, Biographical
Publishing Co., Chicago, IL, 1894, p. |
|
|
