McDONOUGH, John

MCDONOUGH, MELLON, CAMPBELL, HAMILTON

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 2/11/2014 at 22:58:34

Biography ~ John McDonough

"Biographical and Historical Record of
Ringgold and Decatur Counties, Iowa"
(Lewis Publishing Company (1887)), Pp. 500-03.

JOHN McDONOUGH is a native of Green County, Pennsylvania, born July 14, 1829, a son of Richard and Ann (Mellon) McDonough, both natives of Ireland, the father born in County Fermanagh, in 1791, and the mother in County Tyrone, in 1790. They were married in New York aboaut 1814, and to them were born ten children, of whom John was the fourth. They located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, about the year 1816, but shortly after went to Greene County, where they remained five or six years. They they returned to Pittsburgh, locating on Chartens Creek in the suburbs, about 1824. Both died in Allegheny City, Pennsylvania, the father February 1, 1840, and the mother surviving till May 28, 1863.

John McDonough, the subject of this sketch, was reared in Pittburgh and Allegheny City, receiving his eduction in the schools of the latter city, but on account of the limited circumstances of his parents his facilities were not very good. At the age of seventeen years he began working in the foundry of Kingland, Leightner & Co., and remained with that firm and their successors sixteen years, and in the meantime availed himself of the night schools, where he received a fair education. He had not been in the employ of the firm long before he was taken into the office, and was gradually promoted from post to post until January 1, 1951, when he was admitted as a partner, the firm being then known by the name of Bollman, Garretson & Cole, iron founders. He remained with this firm till January, 1853, when he started a foundry in Allegheny City under the name of McDonough & Stewart. He sold out his interest in this foundry June 1, 1854, to John D. Kilgor, and in the same month visited Iowa. He was so taken with the country that he entered a section of land in Jackson Township, Clarke County, where he now lives. He then returned to his home, but in the spring of 1855 came with his family to Iowa, where he found the house which he had contracted to build, lying flat on the ground. The family were obliged to camp in wagons, and although they endured many hardships they stuck to the place through the pioneer days, and are now living in comfortable circumstances, having a most beautiful home. Since coming to Iowa Mr. McDonough has devoted most of his time to farming and stock-raising, in which he has been very successful, owning at present about 500 acres of choice land and at times has owned much more. The quiet life of a farmer has had charms even for one who has been reared among the "madding crowd" of a great city, and engaged among the noises of manufactories. April 12, 1847, Mr. McDonough was married at Brady's Bend, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, to Miss Agnes Campbell, who was born in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, February 24, 1823, a daughter of James and Mary Campbell, who were both natives of Scotland, they coming to Amercia about 1819. Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. McDonough, all of whom survive - James C., of Dakota, was born March 1, 1858, and married to Electa J. Hamilton in April, 1880; Richard S., of Hastings, Iowa, was born February 7, 1850; Mary, at home, born August 11, 1852; John, Jr., born September 12, 1854, living at home; Charles B., at home, born March 30, 1858; Thomas Benton, at home, born June 8, 1860; Ann Mellon, born June 26, 1862, and William C., born October 7, 1867. Mr. McDonough has for a number of years past been an energetic advocate and worker in the cause of education. After coming to Iowa he was elected school director, next justice of the peace, whic office he filled a number of years. He next served as county supervisor two or three terms, then was a trustee of the Iowa Agricultural College at the time of the contract for the present building. During the late war he was Captain of a company of home guards in the Southern Border Brigade. He was president of the Clarke County Agricultural Association, having purchased their fair grounds at a sheriff's sale, selling it in stock shares to residents who made it one of the very best in Iowa. He helped organize the Old Settlers' Association of Clarke County, and was its first president.

In the fall of 1883 he was elected Senator fo the Fifth Sentatorial District (Clarke and Decatur) to the Twentieth and Twenty-first General Assembly, and is still serving as such, and is on record as a staunch supporter of temperance, and of women's rights and suffrage. Mr. McDonough is extensively engaged in stock-raising, giving particular attention to horses. Few men in Clarke County are more widely known or mor generally respected than John McDonough. He has been active in the support of every movement calculated to promote the general welfare of his township and county, and has won the confidence and esteem of all who know him. In his political views Mr. McDonough formerly affiliated with the Whig party, but since the organization of the Republican party has voted that ticket. Mr. McDonough is an active member of the Catholic church; he took a prominent part in the erection of the first Catholic church in Clarke County, at Woodburn. Though a staunch believer in the docterine of his church, he has freely contributed for the erection of other churches, regardless of color or creed.

NOTE: John McDonough died on December 20, 1898. Agnes C. (Campbell) McDonough died on January 30, 1907. Charles B. McDonough, son of John and Agnes, died in 1912. They were interred at Maple Hill Cemetery, Osceola IA.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, February of 2014

Decatur Biographies maintained by Constance McDaniel Hall.
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