Michael Kane

Among the substantial agriculturists of Allamakee county is Michael Kane, who owns a valuable farm of one hundred and eighty acres in Franklin township. A native of Ireland, he was born in County Limerick in 1848 and is a son of Michael and Bridget (Benson) Kane, both born in the same county. The father always followed farming and about 1852 crossed with his family to the United States, locating in Ohio, where he passed away. In that state the Kanes resided near Columbus. They only remained a short time in Ohio, whence they removed to Iowa. A sister of our subject, after her marriage, had gone to McGregor, this state and the family soon followed. The mother located near McGregor but later removed to this vicinity where she spent the remainder of her life, passing away in 1896. To Mr and Mrs Kane were born six children, of whom Michael Kane of this review was the third in order of birth.

Michael Kane attended school in McGregor and at Monona, receiving but a limited education, as the facilities in those primitive pioneer days were not the best. After laying aside his school books he worked for a time for a Mr. Humphries in Monona, having started out in life when but eleven years of age in order to help his mother with the support of the family. He continued to contribute to the family exchequer until 1873, being employed as a farm hand, in which latter year he was enabled to acquire forty-five acres of land in Franklin township. This tract is now a part of the farm. As the years have passed prosperity has come to him as the result of his good judgment and his incessant labor and he now owns one hundred and eighty acres of the most fertile land to be found in this section, one-half of which he rents out, while he operates the balance himself. He engages in general farming and also gives some attention to stock, deriving a gratifying income from both lines of endeavor. He is a stockholder in the Cooperative Creamery Company and also belongs to the Shipping Association of Monona.

In September, 1898, Mr. Kane was united in marriage to Miss Mary Tiernan, a native of Ireland, where she was born in March, 1871. She is a daughter of Mr and Mrs John Tiernan, who always remained in the Emerald isle. Mrs. Kane arrived in this country about one year before her marriage, residing in New York City before arriving here, the ceremony taking place about one year later. To Mr and Mrs Kane have been born three children: Mary, whose birth occurred in May, 1900; Michael, who was born in April, 1902; and John, born in June, 1905. Mr. Kane is a devout member of the Roman Catholic church attending in Monona. Politically he is a democrat but has never aspired to public office, although he takes a laudable interest in local affairs. For some time he has served as school director and has done the best in his power to improve educational facilities here. Much credit is due him for what he has achieved for he started out in life empty-handed and even handicapped, as he not only had to support himself from earliest childhood but had even to help his mother rear the younger children. He enjoys in a large number the esteem and respect of all who know him, and such prosperity as has come to him is but the just reward of intelligent and incessant labor.

-transcribed by Cathy Joynt-Labath

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