Hanrahan, William D.

HANRAHAN, GORDON, OMERA, CLARY, BEDFORD, BARNES

Posted By: Volunteer Transcribers
Date: 1/27/2003 at 19:00:23

WILLIAM D. HANRAHAN
One of the leading farmers of Waterford township is William D. Hanrahan, residing on section 28, where he owns a well-improved and highly cultivated farm of one hundred and sixty acres. He was born in the province of Ontario, Canada, August 12, 1841, and is a son of Daniel and Jane (Gordon) Hanrahan, natives of Ireland and Canada, respectively. The father was about twelve years of age when he removed from the Emerald Isle to Canada, where he was married and continued to make his home until 1859, in which year he crossed the border at Windsor, and from Detroit when by rail to Fulton, Iowa*, whence he proceeded by wagon to Deep Creek township, this county. There he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of improved land, but sold that place six years later and removed to Waterford township, buying a partially improved place of two hundred and forty acres on section 29. There he made his home until his death, which occurred in March, 1897, and his remains were interred in St. Mary's cemetery, that township. His wife died in 1891, and was buried in the same place. They had a family of nine children, namely: William D., our subject; Mary, wife of Thomas O'Mera, of Bloomfield township; Daniel, who married Elizabeth Clary, and lives on section 29, Waterford township; Hugh, a resident of Quigley; Eliza Ann, who lives with her brother John; John, a farmer residing on section 21, Waterford township; Theresa, who died at the age of sixteen years; Martin, who died at the age of thirty-five; and Michael, who died at the age of forty-two.
Reared in Canada, William D. Hanrahan attended the common schools there until sixteen years of age. He accompanied the family on their removal to Iowa, and remained under the parental roof until his marriage, which was celebrated in DeWitt June 1, 1865, Miss Harriet Bedford becoming his wife. She is also a native of Canada, and a daughter of Hiram and Catherine (Barnes) Bedford. Her father was born in New York state, and her mother in Canada. Our subject and his wife have nine children; Martha, at home; Alfred, a resident of Washington township; Theresa, Lewis, Clara, Wilford, Sarah, Louisa Ann and Linus, all at home.
After his marriage Mr. Hanrahan commenced farming on a tract of eighty acres in Waterford township, where he resided for twenty-one years, and then bought his present farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 28, the same township. He has built a large barn upon this place and made many other improvements. For twenty-eight years he served as assessor of his township, and has also filled the offices of collector and township clerk with credit to himself and to the entire satisfaction of all concerned. Politically he affiliates with the Democratic party, and religiously he and his family are communicants of St. Mary's Catholic church of Waterford township. They are people of prominence in their community, and are held in the highest esteem by all who know them.
* This probably should say Fulton, Illinois
Source: The 1901 Biographical Record of Clinton Co., Iowa, Illustrated published: Chicago : S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1901.