William f. Hanrahan

HANRAHAN, FLYNN, MAGIN, DUNN, BOYLE, OTOOLE, MONAHAN, MCGINN

Posted By: Barbara Gehlsen Nugent (email)
Date: 7/24/2011 at 22:20:39

Wolfe's History of Clinton County, volume 2, Excerpt: PAGES 945, 946, AND 947

WILLIAM F. HANRAHAN.

For a number of years William F. Hanrahan, well known merchant, general stock and coal shipper and grain dealer, of Charlotte, Iowa, has been a potent factor in promoting the progress of Water ford township along material, social and civic lines, consequently his name well deserves a place in the record of the representative citizens of this locality.

Mr. Hanrahan was born in Upper Canada, near Ottawa, March 10, 1837, and was reared on his parents' farm and received a good practical education. He is the son of William and Ellen (Flynn) Hanrahan, both natives of Ireland, he born in county Tipperary and she in Cork. Both came to Canada when young, in 1825, and were married there. He was the son of Daniel Hanrahan, a farmer and an early settler in Canada, where he reared his family, and there his death occurred. After this event, in May, 1861. his widow and all the family came to Clinton county, Iowa, the father of the subject having come in the fall of 1860, bought land and returned to Canada and in the spring moved the family here ; his mother spent the remainder of her days here, dying at the advanced age of ninety years. Her family consisted of eight children, all of whom settled in this county and all died here. William Hanrahan. who married in Canada, was born in 1802 and his death occurred in 1880, at the age of seventy-eight years. He bought land here and improved it, spending the remainder of his life here. He was very successful as a general farmer and he raised and handled large numbers of live stock for the market, shipping to Chicago. He paid seven dollars per acre for his first land, and by thrift and industry added to the same until he owned two hundred and forty acres. He had one of the best farms and most comfortable homes in the early days here. Politically, he was a Democrat and was a member of the Catholic church. He was a good and useful man in his community, charitable and ready to assist in any good cause at all times, and he was highly respected by all. His wife died in December, 1880, at the age of seventy-two years; she was the daughter of James Flynn, a native of Ireland, where he spent his life. She had three brothers in Canada, James, Thomas and Patrick, who later settled in New York. Five sons and five daughters were born to the father of the subject, named as follows: Daniel, a farmer, died, leaving six children; William F., of this review: Ellen, Mrs. Magin; Margery, Mrs. T. Dunn; Julia entered the convent and later went to France, thence to South America; Mary, Mrs. Boyle; Nancy A., also a sister at an orphans' home. New York, where she died aged thirty-four years; Thomas a successful farmer, died leaving five children; Martin, farmer, died-in the East; Patrick, farmer, is yet single.

William F. Hanrahan spent his youth at home and assisted with the farming until he was twenty-four years of age, then came to Iowa and assisted his father start a new home. He then engaged in farming for himself and in buying fat stock and marketing them before the days of railroads, and was very successful. He continued thus for several years, then, in 1871. he and C. McGinn erected a building at Charlotte and engaged in the mercantile business. After a year or two he bought Mr. McGinn's interest and he has continued to conduct the business alone and has been rewarded with abundant success. In the early days he was obliged to do credit business, and the most he ever lost in one year was about one hundred dollars. His business grew until he was not only busy himself, but his wife and various clerks assisted. He has several farms, and he is also a stockholder in the Farmers and Merchants Bank at Charlotte, Iowa. He has built three valuable properties, which he rents. He has furnished coal to the people of this vicinity for thirty years, and since 1881 he has been engaged in buying and shipping grain. He has been very successful in whatever line he has turned his attention to, and he is one of the leading financiers and men of commerce in this vicinity, and has done as much as any other man for the good of the town and community. During Cleveland's administration he was appointed postmaster and filled the position for four years in a very creditable manner. He has witnessed and been a most important participant in the general development of the town and surrounding country, and he is widely known and commands the respect and confidence of the people. Politically, he is a Democrat and he has filled the office of tax collector for several years. He has been a notary public since 1876 and he has performed a great deal of successful business. He was reared in the Catholic faith and has never departed from the mother church.

Mr. Hanrahan was married to Mary O'Toole, who was born in Canada and who has made a worthy and faithful helpmeet. She is the daughter of Thomas O'Toole, of Ireland, who came to Canada in an early day, thence to Clinton county in 1853, having had but very little capital when he reached here. He first rented a farm, later bought and sold farms and engaged in stock raising, feeding and shipping. He made a specialty of grading up young short-horn cattle, visiting cattle countries and bringing young thoroughbred stock to this county, becoming widely known as a stock man, and thus by his industry he created a large estate. Politically, he was a Democrat and he filled the office of justice of the peace. His death occurred May 20, 1908. He was a member of the Catholic church and was a good and useful man, honored by all. In his family were ten children, an equal number of sons and daughters, the wife of the subject being the third in order of birth.

The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hanrahan: Frank is assisting his father in the store; Laura is still at home; Charles is assistant cashier in the Farmers and Merchants Savings Bank at Charlotte; Birdie is the wife of Frank Monahan, undertaker; Aloysius is assisting his father in the store; Sarah is at home and is engaged in teaching music.