McCLOY, JOSEPH

MCCLOY, SHELDON, BENNETT, PECK, KOHL

Posted By: Nettie Mae
Date: 1/19/2003 at 00:52:31

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

JOSEPH McCLOY

This well-known and successful farmer, residing on section twelve, Bloomfield township, was born on the 16th of October, 1840, in County Antrium, Ireland, of which her parents, Welsh and Jane McCloy, were also natives. In 1852, the father, in company with his son Samuel, emigrated to America, and on landing in New York took the train for Freeport, Illinois, from which place they came by team to Maquoketa, Iowa, where the father worked for some time as a carpenter and stone mason, being employed first on the Mitchell block of that city. He laid the foundation for the academy and built a number of business houses and private residences. At the end of two years he was joined by the remainder of the family, and continued to make his home in Maquoketa until 1856, when he removed to a farm in Bloomfield township, this county, having purchased forty acres of wild prairie land. He made many improvements on the place and continued its cultivation until his death, which occurred April 19, 1872, his remains being interred in the Union church cemetery in Brookfield township. Politically he affiliated with the Republican party, and religiously was a supporter of the Presbyterian church. He was a man of the highest respectability and was widely and favorably known throughout the county. His widow now resides with our subject and is the owner of the old home farm.

Unto this worthy couple were born eight children, as follows: Samuel enlisted during the Civil war in the Second Iowa Cavalry, and after serving one year died of typhoid pneumonia at La Grange, Tennessee, in 1863. Jane is the wife of Oscar W. Sheldon, of Welton, Iowa. William, born in Ireland, married Lucy Bennett, a native of Michigan, and resides in Bloomfield township, where he owns a farm of two hundred acres. He also has ninety acres in Waterford township. In politics he is a Republican. Mary is the wife of Sheldon Peck, of Fremont county, Iowa. Rosetta is keeping house for our subject. Robert is a resident of Fremont county. Phebe, born in America, is the wife of Harrison Kohl, who lives near Indianola, Iowa.

Joseph McCloy, the fifth in order of birth, attended the district schools of Bloomfield township until about eighteen years of age, and early acquired an excellent knowledge of all the duties which fall to the lot of the agriculturist. He assisted in the operation of the home farm, and since his father’s death has had the management of the same. He owns one hundred and sixty acres of land, which he also cultivates, and is successfully engaged in raising a high grade of horses, short-horn cattle and Chester white hogs. As an upright, reliable and conscientious business man, he well merits the prosperity that has come to him. By his ballot he supports the men and measures of the Republican party, and in his social relations he is a member of Independent Lodge, No. 33, I.O.O.F., of Maquoketa, and Monitor Lodge, No. 330, A.F. & A.M., of Delmar. Like his father, he is highly respected and esteemed by all whom know him.