PATRICK O'BRIEN 1850-1940

OBRIEN, KELLEHER

Posted By: PETER R. O'BRIEN (email no longer valid)
Date: 7/1/2007 at 15:11:59

Pat O'Brien, born in Kilkenny, Ireland in 1850,
(20 July 1850), came to the U.S. with his parents when a small boy. The family settled in Waukon, Iowa. O'Brien made his home there until he married Mary Ann Kelleher. (abt 1873) The couple came to Park River(North Dakota)in 1903. They owned and operated 345 acres of land on the south end of Briggs Ave.

In 1917, O'Brien retired and sold the land to his son and his wife, Mr. and Mrs. Bill O'Brien. They operated the land and it was called O'Brien Dairy until 1947. After selling the farm to Bill, the Pat O'Brien's moved into the home Bill had lived in. This home is now the Jerry Sandy's residence.

The O'Brien's had 16 children, a granddaughter, Mrs. Lucille Lykkens, and another boy whom they adopted were also members of the O'Brien family. One member of O'Brien's survives, Mrs. Lottie Rangle and lives in California. The O'Brien's were members of St, Mary's Parish. Mrs. O'Brien was an active member of the ALter Society.

On the 60th Anniversary of the couple, the late Harry O'Brien wrote this: "Mr. and Mrs. Pat O'Brien are going to celebrate 60 years of married life. Their marriage was not a foundation of brick and cement, but one of love, confidence and loyalty-without which no marriage can long survive happily. The early years were not easy-no electricity as we have now, no autos, no movies, or radios. They didn't have much money, but did not need it. Why? Because they had each other, good health and an abundance of Faith in God, prayers and the future "

Mr.O'Brien died at age 89 and Mrs. O'Brien at 83. Other members of the family who have died were: Mrs. Mary E. O'Conner, Mrs. Margaret Deviney, Anastasia Kenney, J.J. O'Brien, Agnus Hanson, Kate Leonard, Bill O'Brien, Mike O'Brien, Florance Utecht, Vincent O'Brien, Chike O'Brien and Clemment O'Brien.

"He is buried in Calvery Catholic Cemetary, Walsh County, North Dakota. A brief biography of Patrick and his family was printed in "WALSH HISTORY"