Patrick Whalen
Among the most profitable farms located in Allamakee county is
that of Patrick Whalen, comprising four hundred and forty-one
acres on section 26, French Creek township. He is one of the
early pioneers of this section, where he was brought by his
mother in 1858. A native of New York, he was born in Oneida
county on April 13, 1851, and is a son of Thomas and Nora
(Carney) Whalen [*notes], natives of
Ireland, in which county they were married. The father with his
family emigrated to America and established a home in Oneida
county, New York, but lived but a short time after coming to this
country, passing away when his son Patrick was but an infant. In
1858 his widow and her children came to Allamakee county and here
she purchased forty acres of unimproved land on section 35 in
French Creek township. Courageously taking up her duties of
providing for the family, she undertook the cultivation of her
farm and there her children grew to maturity. The mother ever
continued to make her home on that property, where she passed
away several years ago. Of her six children two are now living:
Patrick, of this review; and Peter, who makes his home in
Decorah, Iowa. Those deceased are: Elizabeth, who became the wife
of John Lauchlin, of French Creek township; William, who enlisted
from Oneida county, New York, for service in the Civil war and
was killed during that conflict; Thomas, who died on the old
homestead in 1888; and James, who passed away at the age of
twenty-one in this county. Patrick Whalen was the youngest of
these six children. He was educated in the district schools and
early began to take up life's duties by assisting in the work of
the farm and driving teams in order to break the land. At the age
of twenty-six he had acquired the means to purchase one hundred
and sixty acres, slightly improved, and by close application and
following modern and up-to-date methods has succeeded in gaining
such gratifying results that he was enabled to extend the
boundaries of his farm from time to time until it now includes
four hundred and forty-one acres of fertile land. He has greatly
improved his property and has erected thereon suitable and
substantial barns, outbuildings and sheds and his residence is
comfortable and commodious. The latest farm machinery and
implements can be found upon his property and he is ever ready to
take up new methods which promise greater yields from his acres.
In 1876 Mr. Whalen was united in marriage to Miss Julia Reagan, a
native of Center township, Allamakee county, and a daughter of
Daniel Reagan, one of the earliest pioneers of this section. Mr
and Mrs Whalen have nine children, all of whom are living: Nora,
the wife of P.J. McCauley, of French Creek township; Daniel J., a
plumber of La Crosse, Wisconsin; James, who is studying for the
priesthood; and William T., Mary, Peter, Charles, Frank and
Angela, at home. Mr. Whalen has always supported the democratic
party and is well informed upon all matters of a public or
political nature. For three terms he served efficiently as
township trustee and while in the office of school director gave
evidence of his interest in the cause of education. He and his
family are devout communicants of the Catholic church, in the
work of which they take and active and helpful interest. The
career of Mr. Whalen is proof of the fact that success is but
ambition's answer and what he has attained is but the natural
outcome of industry and energy dominated by a progressive spirit.
He is highly respected and esteemed for what he has attained, and
the confidence and good-will which he receives from his friends
and neighbors are highly merited.
-transcribed by Cathy Joynt-Labath
_______________________________
*Nora's maiden name was Higgins. In
researching baptismal records for the parish of Ballygarrett, Co
Wexford, Ireland, the entries for the older Whalen siblings list
the father as Thomas Whelan and the mother as Hannah
Higgins. Nora shows up as "Hannah" and
"Hanora" in various censuses and on the ship
"Margaret" manifest, which landed in New York City May
3, 1849. - contributed by Matthew Whalen, June 2007 [researchers
needing additional information about this family can contact
Matthew from his personal
website]
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