James C. McDermott 1804-1877

MCDERMOTT, LENDMAN

Posted By: cheryl moonen (email)
Date: 8/2/2017 at 21:03:00

James C. McDermott was born on July 4, 1804 in County Galway, Ireland. He immigrated to the United States some time before 1831.

James married Priscilla Lendeman on February 17, 1833 in Pottsville, Pennsylvania. Their first son was also born there. In 1833, James and Priscilla moved to Dubuque, Iowa with their son. James worked as a lead miner while they lived in Dubuque. Their son, Austin, is believed to have been the first white male child born in the city of Dubuque.

In 1837, James and Priscilla bought a farm in Prairie Creek Township of Dubuque County. They lived on this farm for the rest of their lives. James was very active in the Democratic Party, and often spoke in public and also appeared before the court in minor affairs for his neighbors and problems of the community. James was one of the original founders of St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Garryowen, Iowa.

James and Priscilla had ten sons - John P., Augustine Sylvester "Austin", Edward T., Francis Bernard, William Charles, Ambrose, James Lawrence, Michael C., Joseph Thomas, and Matthias Martin McDermott.

James suffered an accident in 1864 that resulted in him being paralyzed from the waist down. He was thrown from a wagon near his home after returning from his neighbor's after a trip to Dubuque. The horse spooked and ran away, throwing James a short distance from the wagon. James was not found until the following morning.