MEEHAN, Thomas - 1914

MEEHAN, NORTON, SHEAREN, MCCORMICK

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 7/8/2009 at 23:39:31

HISTORY OF
Cherokee County
IOWA
VOLUME II
ILLUSTRATED
CHICAGO
THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY
1914
by Thomas McCulla

THOMAS MEEHAN.

General agricultural pursuits claim the time and energies of Thomas Meehan, the owner of two hundred and forty acres of valuable land on section 26, Marcus township. His birth occurred in Mechanicsville, Cedar county, Iowa, on the 5th of March, 1862, his parents being William and Mary (Norton) Meehan, of whom more extended mention is made on another page of this work in connection with the sketch of John Meehan, brother of our subject.

Thomas Meehan attended the public schools of his native town in the acquirement of an education and when eleven years of age began working as a farm hand, being thus employed for a period of eleven years. When a young man of twentytwo he removed to OBrien county, Iowa, where he cultivated rented land and broke prairie for others for about four years. On the expiration of that period he came to Cherokee county and here cultivated rented land in association with his brother for eleven years. Subsequently he purchased a tract of one hundred and sixty acres on section 26, Marcus township, and began its improvement. As time passed and his financial resources increased, owing to his untiring industry and capable management, he augmented his holdings by additional purchase and now owns two hundred and forty acres of rich and productive land in Marcus township. His undertakings as an agriculturist have been attended with an enviable measure of success and he is widely recognized as one of the prosperous and substantial citizens of his community. He is a stockholder in the First National Bank of Marcus, Iowa.

On the 12th of February, 1895, Mr. Meehan was joined in wedlock to Miss Ellen Shearen, who was born at Amboy, Illinois, on the 2o,th of January, 1862, her parents being Patrick and Rebecca (McCormick) Shearen, natives of Ireland and Scotland, respectively. They emigrated to the United States in an early day, locating first in Philadelphia and subsequently removing to Amboy, Illinois, where Mr. Shearen cultivated rented land for a time. Later he made his way to Boone, Iowa, where he purchased land and followed farming for some time, eventually disposing of the property, however, and removing to Plymouth county, Iowa. There he also acquired property and followed agricultural pursuits until 1897, when he came to Marcus, where he has since lived retired in the enjoyment of well earned ease. His wife is also living. Mr. and Mrs. Meehan are the parents of five children, as follows: Emmet, who is seventeen years of age; Marie, a maiden of sixteen; and Charles, Andrew and Margaret, who are fifteen, thirteen and eleven years of age respectively.

Mr. Meehan is a democrat in his political views and his fellow townsmen, recognizing his worth and ability, have called him to positions of public trust. He has held the office of county supervisor for one term and ably served as trustee of Marcus township for fifteen years, while in the capacity of assessor he has likewise made a creditable record. His religious faith is that of the Catholic church. The period of his residence in Cherokee county covers a quarter of a century and he enjoys an extensive and favorable acquaintance within itf borders.