Patrick Flynn

FLYNN, DWYER, QUINN

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 11/11/2011 at 21:56:15

PATRICK FLYNN. The biographies of successful men who, without the influence of wealth or the prestige of family, have attained to positions of usefulness and honor serve the two-fold purpose of encouraging the young and paying a well merited compliment to the man himself. Not only has Mr. Flynn gained the confidence of his acquaintances, but he has also been a very successful man, being the owner of a fine estate of two hundred acres located on section 21, Grant Township, Grundy County.

A native of Ireland, our subject was born in County Tipperary about 1826, and is the son of Timothy and Kate (Dwyer) Flynn. The father was a native of the above county in Ireland, where he was a farmer and leased land. He was a Catholic in religion, and, a useful and law-abiding citizen, commanded the respect of all who knew him. The parental family included six children, of whom our subject is the eldest, his brothers being Malachi, Michael, John, Timothy, and one who died in infancy. The father of these children died in Ireland. The mother came to the United States with her children, and died while residing in Grant Township.

Patrick Flynn remained in his native land until 1847, when he emigrated to the United States, being the first of the family to cross the Atlantic. His first location was in Orange County, N. Y., where he hired out as a farm hand, receiving for his services $5 per month. He was thus engaged for two years in that county, then removing to Livingston County, the same state, he was similarly employed for the following three years. Then, believing that he could do better farther west, he removed to Miami County, Ohio, where his marriage with Miss Mary, daughter of Edward and Portius Quinn, occurred. Mrs. Flynn was, like her husband, a native of Ireland, and came to the United States about 1850.

In 1855 our subject became identified with the interests of the Buckeye State, and in that year made his home in Delaware County, where he became the owner of an eighty-acre tract of land. He had not been there very long, however, when he removed to Black Hawk County, this state, and there rented and cultivated a farm for two years. Then, discerning a good opening in Grundy County, he brought his family here, and has since made his house within its confines. His land when he settled upon it was raw prairie, and the family did all their marketing at Waterloo and Cedar Falls. He worked industriously tilling the soil, and converted his land from a forest into a well cultivated estate. As his means increased, he improved his farm in the way of buildings, adding to his acreage, and now has a comfortable home of two hundred acres, and is surrounded with all that goes to make life enjoyable.

Mr. and Mrs. Flynn have been blessed with a family of eight sons and one daughter, viz.: Timothy, Edward, Malachi, Ann, Michael, John, Patrick William, Richard and James. They are all living, and six make their home in Grundy County. Mrs. Patrick Flynn was a member of the Roman Catholic Church, and departed this life in 1888. In his political relations Mr. Flynn is a Democrat, and as a public-spirited citizen has held many of the township offices. He holds membership in the Roman Catholic Church.

John Flynn, the son of our subject, superintends the management of the home farm. He is a very popular young man, and three years ago was chosen Supervisor of the county. He gives his aid to every project calculated to advance the interests of the community, and is looked upon as one of the rising young men of Grundy County.

Source:
Portrait and Biographical Record
of Jasper, Marshall and Grundy Counties, Iowa
1894