PATRICK TOOHEY

TOOHEY

Posted By: Jake Tornholm (email)
Date: 4/22/2020 at 20:21:46

PATRICK TOOHEY, late of Adams county, Iowa, was for many years an honored citizen of this place. A resume of his life will be found of interest to many, and is as follows:

Mr. Toohey was born in Lee, county Tipperary, Ireland, in 1825, a son of poor but honest and respected parents, Michael and Winifred (Burke) Toohey, both natives of the Emerald Isle. Patrick was reared in Ireland and when a young man emigrated to Canada, settling near Guelph, Ontario. While a resident of that place he was united in marriage with the playmate of his youth, Miss Johanna Brairton, a native of county Tipperary, and a daughter of William and Mary (Ryan) Brairton, both of Ireland. Mr. Toohey and his wife lived in Canada some seven years after their marriage, and then came west and located in Sterling, Whiteside, county, Illinois.

In that small, quiet town in Illinois Pat Toohey was living when news of the war of the Rebellion reached him. A love for the country of his adoption and her free institutions caused him to risk his life for her protection. Enlisting in the Thirty-fourth Illinois Infantry, Volunteers, he kissed his wife and children good-bye, and went to the front. He was in any important engagements, and was with Sherman on his memorable march from Atlanta to the sea; was never wounded, but while in service contracted a chronic disease from which he never recovered. After receiving an honorable discharge, he returned to his family at Sterling, Illinois, where they continued to reside until 1876. That year he removed to Page county, Iowa, thence to Jackson township, Montgomery county, remaining at the atter place one year. He then bought a farm of eighty acres in Douglas township, Adams county, where he spent the rest of his life, and where his widow now lives. This farm is now owned by his son, John Toohey, an intelligent and enterprising citizen.

Patrick Toohey died March 19, 1881. In politics he was a Democrat; in religion a devout Catholic. The widow and seven children survive. The names of the latter are as follows: Mary Ann, at home; Michael, Greeley county, Nebraska; Kate, wife of Patrick Grady, Greeley county, Nebraka; Anna, wife of William Devereaux, Douglas township, this county; Emma, wife of William Hauf, of Chicago; and John and Patrick, twins, the former at the homestead and the latter a resident of Greeley county, Nebraska.