J.F. Corrigan
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.
-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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