Hynes, Michael H.

HYNES, DOLAN, MORAN, OMEARA, HEARTY, GLEASON

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 2/14/2003 at 21:22:37

Source: "The 1901 Biographical Record of Clinton Co., Iowa, Illustrated" published: Chicago : S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1901.

MICHAEL H. HYNES

Among the most progressive, energetic and reliable farmers of Waterford township is numbered Michael H. Hynes, who is successfully carrying on his chosen occupation on section 15. He is one of Clinton county’s native sons, his birth having occurred in Lyons, August 11, 1857. His father, Martin Hynes, was born in County Mayo, Ireland, in 1825, and in 1847 came to America with a sister, locating first in the east. He was married in New York in 1851 to Miss Bridget Dolan, who was also born in County Mayo, Ireland, in 1830, and came with her mother, brothers and sisters to the new world the same year as her husband. Coming to Clinton county, Iowa, in 1852, Martin Hynes conducted a hotel in Lyons for a time and also engaged in the real estate business. In the spring of 1868 he purchased a farm of two hundred acres in Waterford township, near Riggs, where he made his home until the death of his wife, which occurred October 6, 1886. He then divided his property, consisting of four hundred and eighty acres, among his children, and afterward lived retired. He was killed in the cyclone May 18, 1898, at which time he was living with our subject, and his remains were interred in St. Mary’s Catholic cemetery in Bloomfield township, by the side of those of his wife.

This worthy couple were the parents of six children, namely: Thomas owns a farm of eighty acres in Waterford township, this county, but is now operating a farm of three hundred and twenty acres in Minnehaha county, South Dakota, belonging to our subject; Mary is the wife of Martin Moran, and lives in the house in Lyons in which our subject was born; Michael H. is next in order of birth; Katie is the wife of T. J. O’Meara, a retired farmer of Lyons; Martin died at the age of five years; and John Francis lives on the old homestead farm near Riggs, where he was born.

Michael H. Hynes attended school in Lyons until ten years of age, and later pursued his studies in the district schools of Waterford township until eighteen, when he entered the Clinton Business College, where he was graduated with the class of 1877. On his return home he aided his father in the operation of the farm and also engaged in buying and shipping grain and stock at Riggs Station.

On the 18th of October, 1893, Mr. Hynes was married at St. Joseph’s Catholic church at Sugar Creek, by Rev. Father Sassen, to Miss Mary Hearty, who was also born in this county, on the 17th of August, 1862. Her father, William Hearty, was a native of County Tipperary, Ireland, born in 1817, and on his emigration to America he settled in Canada, where he met and married Miss Mary Gleason, who was born in that county (sic) in 1830. He then went to San Francisco, California, where he spent three years, and at the end of that time came to Clinton county, Iowa, in October, 1838, and purchased a farm of two hundred and forty acres in Waterford township, making it his home until his death, which occurred April 23, 1890. His widow is still living on the old homestead with her son John. They had four children: John, who is now managing the farm; William, a resident of Fulton, Illinois; Mary, wife of our subject; and Katie, wife of Frank Burke, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Hynes are the parents of five children, whose names and dates of birth are as follows: Madeline Mary, July 22, 1894; Bridget Irene, July 12, 1895; Martin James, October 19, 1898; and William Thomas, November 15, 1899. All are living with the exception of Martin James, who died March 10, 1899.

Since his marriage Mr. Hynes has resided upon the farm which he now occupies, it being a tract of two hundred and eighty-six acres on section 15, Waterford township. In the spring of 1895 he erected an elegant residence upon his place at a cost of five thousand dollars, and also built a large barn and other buildings, all of which were destroyed in the cyclone which swept over this locality at 4:30 p.m. on the 18th of May, 1898. At four o’clock he was at work in a field a half mile from his home, when he saw the storm approaching. Jumping on a horse, he rode to the house on a gallop and on reaching there took the children to the cellar, his wife being away from home visiting her mother, whose place was also destroyed. He then got an orphan boy and put him in the cellar, but was unable to find his father. When the storm struck the buildings it crushed them like glass balls. Later he found the body of his father in a portion of the corn crib. He lost fifty hogs, sixteen head of cattle, one horse, a goat and dog, besides four hundred fowls. In many instances he found chickens picked clean. With the exception of his father, none of his family were injured. The same year he built a splendid modern residence and large barn upon his place, and now has one of the best improved farms of the county. He also has a farm of three hundred and twenty acres in South Dakota, which is well stocked with Polled Angus cattle, horses and hogs. Upon this home farm he also raises that breed of cattle, and keeps a good grade of all kinds of stock, to which he feeds all the grain raised upon his place and considerable that he buys from his neighbors. He also buys, feeds and sells cattle for the market, and in business affairs is meeting with most excellent success.

Mr. Hynes has never had time nor inclination for office, preferring to devote his entire attention to his business interests. He has, however, served as school director a number of years, and always takes a deep and commendable interest in public affairs. Politically he is a stanch supporter of the Democratic party, and religiously is a member of the Catholic church of the Assumption. He is one of the most progressive and up-to-date farmers of his community, having made a scientific study of his chosen occupation, and there is probably not a better judge of stock in the county. As a man he stands high in the esteem of his fellow citizens.