WILLIAM MORAN, b 6 Jan 1850

MORAN, FITZPATRICK, KIRK, GORRY

Posted By: Donna Moldt Walker (email)
Date: 7/13/2004 at 15:58:30

William Moran, County Supervisor of the Fifth District, stands among the first farmers and stock raisers of Prairie Springs Township. He has a well-ordered farm of 175 acres of land of unsurpassed fertility, pleasantly located on sections 27 and 28, which he is cultivating to advantage. He is a Kentuckian by birth, and is a son of Michael Moran, a well-known citizen of this township. The father was born in County Longford, Ireland; and his father, William Moran, was a native of the same county. Michael Moran was bred to the life of a farmer in the land of his nativity, and after his emigration to the United States he located in Scott County, and became an overseer on a large plantation, acting in that capacity for some years. But he had a natural desire to become a land-owner, and in 1858 he came to Jackson County, and invested in a tract of 160 acres of fine farming land. He improved it, and later sold and commenced to speculate in lands, and was quite successful in that venture, making considerable money, and still owns 100 acres of valuable land in Prairie Spring Township, which he rents. His record during a long and busy life of seventy-five years has shown him to be a sagacious, well-principled man, always fair in his dealings, and worthy of the regard in which he is held to-day. In politics he is a Democrat; religiously he is a Catholic. His wife, whose maiden name was Catherine Fitzpatrick, was born in County Wexford, Ireland, seventy-five years ago. Her father, Philip Fitzpatric, was a tanner, and owned a tannery, which he managed until his death at the early age of thirty-five years.

The following is recorded of the seven children born to the parents of our subject: Ann is living in Prairie Spring Township; James and Margaret, both deceased; Mary lives in Prairie Spring Township; William, of whom we write; John lives in Deadwood, Dak.; Catherine is deceased. James was a victim of the late war, sacrificing his life for his country; he was a member of the 12th United States Infantry, enlisting in 1864, and was present at the battle of Fredericksburg, Va., where he was shot in the right hand. He was in the hospital sometime after that, but was finally honorably discharged from the army; he wished to re-enlist, but was not accepted on account of his wound. He then went to the front as teamster, and after being out three days was captured by the rebels near Little Rock, Ark.; was sent from there to Tyler, Texas, where he was confined in the stockade till he died, some ten months later.

William Moran, the subject of this biography, was born Jan. 6, 1850, in Georgetown, Scott Co., Ky., and was a boy of six years when his parents brought him to Jackson County, in the fall of 1858, coming by boat from Louisville to Dubuque. He was reared on a farm in Prairie Spring Township, receiving his education in the public schools, and in common with other farmers' boys he was early put to work and gained a thorough, practical knowledge of farming in all its branches. He remained at home with his parents until he attained his majority, and then entered upon his career as an independent farmer, purchasing at that time 114 acres of his present farm, with no improvements on it, although it was partly broken. But with resolution and characteristic energy and industry he at once began the pioneer task before him of developing a farm from the uncultivated prairie, and in this he has been highly successful. In 1882 he moved on to the place, having erected a commodious, well-built dwelling, 18x26, with an ell 16x18 feet; a woodhouse 20x14 feet; two barns 24x36 feet, and 20x32 respectively; windmill, tanks, etc. He has since bought land adjacent, and now has 175 acres of land, all under the plow and neatly fenced. He is engaged quite extensively in stock-raising, having a good herd of graded cattle, some fine Norman horses, using two teams in the labors of the farm; and he also has Poland-China hogs.

Mr. Moran has the active co-operation of an able wife, who has cheerfully assisted him in the upbuilding of their attractive home, and the marriage ceremony that made them one was duly solemnized, April 9, 1882, in St. Theresa's Church in Prairie Spring Township. Five children have been born unto them: John, deceased; William, Michael F., Faustina and Leo J. Mrs. Moran, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Kirk, is a native of this State, born in Clayton County, to Francis and Elizabeth (Gorry) Kirk, natives of Ireland. Her father is a well-to-do farmer in Prairie Spring Township, where he owns a valuable farm of 300 acres.

Our subject has always manifested great interest in the progress of the township and county where his home has been the most of his life, and in a man of his capacity, shrewdness, and superior judgment, they possess a valuable civic official. He was Justice of the Peace seven years, and Constable four years, and in the fall of 1886 he was elected to his present important position as County Supervisor, on the Democratic ticket, and is discharging the duties of that office to the entire satisfaction of his constituency, irrespective of party. He affiliates with the Democrats, is active in the support of party principles and candidates, and has been a Delegate to the county convention. He has served on the Petit Jury several terms. In him the Catholic Church finds one of its best members, he being a communicant at St. Theresa.

("Portrait and Biographical Album of Jackson County, Iowa", originally published in 1889, by the Chapman Brothers, of Chicago, Illinois.)