Edward Courtney

COURTNEY, DOYLE, WALKER, LEYDEN, CLARDY, NEVINS

Posted By: Robert W. Hutchins (email)
Date: 12/28/2015 at 13:32:30

Original Source unknown, probably published in Dubuque County. Copy from Conway Family Tree, by Grace Olson Conway, 1969, Indiana State Library, Geneal. q 929.2 C767co

I was born in the parish of Killmore, County Cavan, Ireland. All my work in my youth was on a farm. When I was about nineteen years old a great many of the neighbors made up their minds to go to America and being in an adventurous spirit I thought I should go with the rest. I left home and went to Liverpool, where I engaged passage to New York. After a long and stormy voyage of 9 weeks, in mid winter, I reached New York early in the spring, and being anxious to make money I went to work the next day to dig out a new sewer at a dollar a day, which I thought was splendid wages. I thought I would be rich enough in six months to go home to Ireland and live independently. Then I went to piling lumber, and finally three or four young men and myself hired to work on a railroad that was being built between Brooklyn and Hempstead, on Long Island, at $15.00 a month, which I then considered a great deal of money for a month’s work. A good friend of mine, hearing I was in the country, came after me and brought me up to Albany, and had me bound out for three years to the bricklaying and plaster trade. Being of a roaming disposition, I wanted to see the whole country and started from New York for New Orleans. After a stormy voyage of ten weeks, I arrived at New Orleans on Christmas day, 1848, [probably should read 1838] and went to work at my trade next day. I worked until July, and then finding it getting too warm to work I left there and went up the Mississippi River to St. Louis. My idea in leaving New York was to make a circle by New Orleans, up the Mississippi, and back to Albany by way of the Lakes. I worked in St. Louis for a while and then went up the river as far as Davenport, which was just being staked off for a town, and being offered employment for two years I went to work on what was then called The LeClaire House, the first hotel of note in Iowa.

I was married in 1843. My wife, who is still living, proved to be a good and faithful woman.

Harry Leonard, the man I worked for, came up to Dubuque and contracted to build a hotel to be called the Waples House, the present Julien. In May, 1845, six other bricklayers and myself came up and did the brick work. In the meantime, having taken a liking to Dubuque, I went back to Davenport and brought up my family, which consisted of my wife and one child. I had the contract for plastering the hotel, and that established me in Dubuque.

I worked steadily at my trade until 1850, when, taking the California fever, I settled up all accounts and started for the Far West in the spring with what was called the great Dubuque company of thirty-two wagons. After a long and toilsome journey of over four months we arrived at Hang Town [currently Placerville], and being in good health I went to work in the mines the next day after I got there. I worked steadily in the mines two years, when, getting homesick and anxious to get back home, I went to San Francisco and took passage in an old vessel. During the voyage, the provisions became very scarce. The captain had enough for himself and officers, but the passengers were obliged to go without until they appointed a committee for force the captain to give them some of the provisions he had locked up. He soon consented, and gave the keys of the storeroom to them. All on board, numbering 1,400, had to live on short allowances, each one being allowed one moulded sea biscuit and half a pint of water every twenty-four hours. The voyage lasted twelve weeks, and during that time 400 of the passengers died and were thrown overboard. Of those who survived one-half could not cross the Isthmus of Panama when we landed. I finally reached Chagres, where I got on a steamer that was carrying passengers from there to New York. I thought I was in perfect Paradise on that steamer, for I got a good bed to lie on and plenty of good victuals. The vessel sailed pretty near all around Cuba, and so close to the shore that we could see the people cutting grain. In May we entered Havana to take in coal. I considered it the handsomest place I had ever seen.

I reached New York after a very pleasant voyage, and made no delay there but started for the West by way of Albany, Buffalo, and Lake Erie to Detroit. There was only one railroad in the West at that time, the Michigan Central, the terminus of which was on the Lake opposite Chicago. There was no railroad running west from Chicago, at the time, farther than Elgin, so I had to stage it from there to Galena, which took over four days. I soon reached Dubuque, and was very glad to get home once more. Times were very good in Dubuque for my business. I worked at my trade and was very successful up to 1859, when I traded nearly all my property for the farm on which I am now living.

Thank God I never suffered any great misfortune. I was always very successful in all my undertakings, and believe it is the result of dealing honorably with my fellow men.
EDWARD COURTNEY, SR. Vernon Township, Dubuque County, Iowa, 1880.