COSTELLO, Thomas

COSTELLO, BURNETT, MURPHY, GRADY, STEWART, LANAGAN, MCGONEGAL, BRADY, NUTTERVILLE, KELLY, WILKEY, HARDY, CRONNAN, MCCARTY, CANADY, COLLINS, DRAKE, CRAWLIAN, MCCLEMON

Posted By: Volunteer Transcribers
Date: 1/19/2003 at 20:20:44

THOMAS COSTELLO. 

Canada has furnished to the United States many of her most enterprising and prosperous citizens—men who through their own unaided efforts have met with success in life. To this class belongs Thomas Costello, who is now successfully engaged in farming on section twenty-two, Bloomfield township. He was born in Canada on the 17th of December, 1846, a son of John and Margaret (Burnett) Costello, both of whom were natives of County Tiperary, Ireland, although they were married in Canada. The father was very young when he crossed the Atlantic, and while a resident of Canada followed farming and lumbering. In 1852 he came to Iowa by way of the Great Lakes to Chicago, and by teams to Savannah, Illinois. On reaching this state he located in Deep Creek valley, a mile from St. Mary’s church, where he purchases four hundred and eighty acres of wild prairie and timber land. He was very particular about preserving the timber, but the remainder of the tract he placed under a high state of cultivation, making it one of the best farms in that locality. In those early days Indians often camped near his home while trading with the white men; deer and wild game of all kinds were plentiful; and wolves often annoyed the settlers by killing stock. The father died on the 2d of August, 1891, the mother on the 24th of February, 1901, and both were laid to rest in St. Mary’s church yard.

In the family of this worth couple were ten children: Matt enlisted under Captain Merrill in the Twenty-sixth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and was killed in the battle of Arkansas Post. Anna, who died June 30, 1875, was the wife of Patrick Murphy, a resident of Waterloo, Black Hawk county, Iowa, Ellen, deceased, was the wife of William “’Grady, a farmer of Bloomfield township, Clinton county, Thomas, our subject, is next in order of birth. John married Annie Stewart, and was killed in a railway accident. His widow now resides near St. Mary’s church, in Waterford township, Clinton county. Michael, twin brother of William, wedded Maggie Lanagan, and is a retired farmer of Charlotte, this county. Margaret is the wife of William McGonegal, of Clinton.

During his boyhood Thomas Costello conned his lessons in an old log-school house until sixteen years of age, and then aided his father in the operation of the home farm until twenty-four. He was married July 4, 1871, at St. Mary’s church, by Rev. Father Scallion, to Miss Eliza Nutterville, who was also born in Canada, on Christmas day, 1849. Her father was born in the same county, in 1823, and at Richmond, Canada was united in marriage with Bridget Brady, a native of Kavanaugh, Ireland. Coming west in 1869, they located in Waterford township, Clinton county, Iowa, where they spent three years. The following year was passed in Harrison county, this state, the next in Crawford county, and at the end of that time they removed to Shelby county, where Mrs. Nutterville died in 1893. The same year the father returned to Clinton county, and is now living retired with our subject, a hal and hearty old gentleman who possesses a splendid memory. He is a member of the Catholic church and a supporter of the Democratic party.

Mrs. Costello is the second in order of birth in a family of ten children, the others being as follows: Julia A. first married Martin Kelly, and after his death wedded Duncan Wilkey, and now lives in Ottawa., Canada. Catherine is the wife of Norman Hardy of Harrison county, Iowa. Thomas is a resident of the state of Washington. James married Margaret Cronnan, and lives in Butte City, Montana. Mary J. has been three time married, her first husband being William McCarty, her second William Canady, and her third Burt Collins, and she now lives in Idaho. Margaret is the wife of M. C. Drake, a conductor on the Santa Fe Railroad, and a resident of Atchison, Kansas. William J. wedded Marie Crawlian, and lives in Butte City, Montana. John died at the age of seven months. Lucy died at the age of eleven months.

Mr. and Mrs. Costello have seven children, namely: John, who resides on the homestead farm; Mary, wife of James McClemon, a farmer of Bloomfield township; Margaret, Matt, Thomas, Ellen and Lucy, all at home, attending school.

After his marriage Mr. Costello rented a farm in Waterford township for three years, and then removed to Shelby county, where he spent four years. On his return to Clinton township, at the end of that time, he again lived in Waterford township for one year, and them commenced work for Monnehan Brothers, who were engaged in the agricultural implement business in Charlotte, remaining with them seven years. He then purchased a farm of two hundred and forty acres on sections twenty-two and twenty-seven, Bloomfield township, which had been improved but was then badly run down. It is now in a thrifty condition, owing to his able management. Mr. Costello breeds a high grad of horses, cattle and hogs for market, and is one of the most successful agriculturists of his community. For four years he efficiently served as road supervisor in his township, but has never sought office. In his political affiliations he is a Democrat, and in religious faith is a Catholic, belonging to St. Mary’s church, in Waterford township. He is a man of the highest respectability and commands the confidence of all who know him.
 Source: The 1901 Biographical Record of Clinton Co., Iowa, Illustrated published: Chicago : S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1901.