Hugh McCabe
Hugh McCabe
Hugh McCabe has been a resident of Allamakee county since 1848
and has, therefore, witnessed its entire growth and development,
for few settlements had been made within its borders at the time
of his arrival and al the evidences of frontier life were to be
seen, while the hardships and trials incident to pioneer
existence were to be met. Mr. McCabe was at that time only a
child, but even then he bore his share in the general burden and
through many active, honorable and worthy years since that time
has worked his way upward to success. His record may well serve
as a source of inspiration and encouragement, showing what may be
accomplished by energy and determination, intelligently directed,
for it has been by his own efforts that he has gained the
prominent position which he now occupies as a substantial
agriculturist of this county.
Hugh McCabe was born in County Armagh, Ireland, in March, 1839,
and when he was still a child crossed the Atlantic with his
uncle, who was first mate on the ship Abbie Blanchard, sailing
between Liverpool and New York. Mr. McCabe spent a few years in
the latter city and then came west to Iowa, settling in Allamakee
county in 1848. He remained, however, only a few months, later
taking a steamer down the Mississippi to St. Louis, where for
three months he worked in the employ of Pat McCann. Returning to
Allamakee county, he worked upon a farm for three years, earning
one hundred dollars per year. He also drove stage for some time
but abandoned both occupations at the outbreak of the Civil war,
when he enlisted in the Union army, joining Company B, Twelfth
Iowa Volunteer Infantry, under Captain Earle. The regiment was
sent to St. Louis, where it drilled for a time, and then was
transferred to the seat of war, participating in the battles of
Fort Henry, Fort Donelson and Shiloh. In the latter engagement
Mr. McCabe was taken prisoner and held for six months and eleven
days, first in Macon, Georgia, and afterward in the famous Libby
prison, from which he was paroled and sent to Benton Barracks at
St. Louis. Having secured a thirty day furlough, he returned to
Waukon and spent time recuperating and visiting old friends,
later returning to Benton Barracks, where his company was
reorganized and sent south to Vicksburg. Mr. McCabe there worked
on a canal and with his comrades fought his way to Jackson,
Mississippi, where he took part in the battle of that city and
also in the engagement at Black River Bridge. Under General
Sherman his regiment participated in the Vicksburg campaign and
siege and was present at the fall of the city. It was later sent
down the river to New Orleans and Mobile and thence to Spanish
Fort. In 1864 Mr. McCabe took part in the battle of Tupelo,
Mississippi, and was there wounded by a piece of shell but not
disabled. He served until the close of the war and was mustered
out at Memphis, Tennessee, afterward returning north, where he
received his honorable discharge at Davenport, Iowa, in January,
1866. In that year he returned to Waukon and, on April 2, married
Miss Lydia Alice Gates, a native of Ohio, born in Butler county,
near Cincinnati. She is a daughter of Samuel and Mary Ann
(Montgomery) Gates, who moved from Ohio to Indiana, where they
resided in St. Joseph county. They afterward moved to South Bend
and then to Iowa, driving through with two ox teams and settling
in Allamakee county in 1857.
Mr and Mrs McCabe began their domestic life on a forty acre tract
of wild land, which Mr. McCabe proceeded to break, fence and
improve. He built upon it a cabin, in which they made their home
until he traded the farm for a one hundred and twenty acre tract,
slightly improved. He fenced this property, added to it more land
and now owns two hundred acres, constituting one of the finest
farms in this section of the state. At one time he held title to
over three hundred acres. Throughout the years he has steadily
carried forward the work of development, building a fine
residence, a good barn and substantial outbuildings and
installing all the machinery and equipment necessary to the
conduct of a model agricultural enterprise. His success is the
more creditable to him because it has been attained entirely
through his own labors, for he came to America a poor boy,
penniless and without friends, and he has made each year of his
activity since that time a period in his advancement until today
he is one of the most substantial and representative citizens of
the county, which he has aided in upbuilding. Mr .and Mrs. McCabe
became the parents of six children, four of whom are still
living. Mary Ellen grew to maturity and married Ed Howe. She
passed away leaving three sons. Lizzie lives at home. Alice, who
is deceased, was the wife of Cornelius Sullivan. John Emmett is
married and makes his home upon his farm. Katherine lives at
home. Thomas Henry also resides upon the home farm. The family
are members of the Roman Catholic church.
Few men in Allamakee county are more widely known than Mr.
McCabe, who is numbered among the original settlers in this
section of the state. In his youth he helped to build the first
log cabin in Waukon for Scott Shattuck, who gave forty acres for
the town site. For sixty-five years he has lived in the county
and is one of the few who have so long witnessed its growth and
development. Throughout a great portion of this period he has
made his home on the farm which is yet his place of residence,
but he has not confined his attention and efforts to it alone,
although he has made it a valuable property. From time to time he
has given hearty cooperation to many movements for the public
good and has been one of the great forces which have transformed
the county from a wilderness and reclaimed the region for
purposes of civilization.
-transcribed by Cathy Joynt-Labath
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