John Brennan
John Brennan, now retired, though for many years a representative
and prosperous farmer of Paint Creek township, owns eighty acres
of valuable land on section 34. He was born in County Carlow,
Ireland, in December, 1841, and is a son of Thomas and Mary
(McDonald) Brennan, also natives of the Emerald isle. John
Brennan spent his early life in his native country and as a young
man emigrated to the United States with his parents. He settled
first in Wisconsin where he engaged in various occupations,
spending a great deal of time in railroading, and in 1861 he
enlisted from that state for service in the Civil war. He spent
four years as a member of Company D, Sixth Wisconsin Volunteer
Infantry, reenlisting at the expiration of is first term as a
member of the same company and regiment. He was with the Army of
the Potomac and took part in all engagements in which his
regiment participated, these including some of the most important
and hotly contested battles of the Civil War. He was on the field
at Gettysburg and attended the fiftieth anniversary of that
engagement.
After the close of the hostilities Mr. Brennan returned to
Wisconsin and there remained until 1873, when he came to
Allamakee county, Iowa, purchasing his present farm. This was at
that time slightly improved, the
buildings being all of logs, and through the passing years he
steadily carried forward the work of development, erecting a
modern residence and excellent barns and outbuildings. Of late
years he has rented his land and
lives in retirement, his leisure and active, honorable and useful
life.
At Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, July 12, 1867, Mr. Brennan was
united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Johnson, a native of Ireland
and a daughter of Robert and Catherine (Chogren) Johnson. Mr and
Mrs Brennan have one
daughter, Mary, who is now the wife of M.J. Hart, of Waterville.
They are devout members of the Roman Catholic church and Mr.
Brennan is a democrat in his political beliefs, taking an active
and intelligent interest in
community affairs without being an office seeker. He is widely
known in Paint Creek township, where he had resided for forty
years, and his substantial characteristics have gained for him
the warm regard and unqualified trust of his fellow citizens.
-source: Past & Present of Allamakee County; by
Ellery M. Hancock; S. J. Clarke Pub. Co.; 1913
-transcribed by Cathy Joynt-Labath
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