Gannon, William

GANNON, ROONEY, DWYER, PHELAN, O BRIEN, MAHER

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 8/12/2009 at 16:35:06

William Gannon, the leading Irish farmer and the most extensive stock man of Poweshiek Township was born County Kilkenny, Ireland, and was one of a family of ten children, of whom only six lived to maturity. John Gannon, the father of the family was a farmer. He lived on leased land in the Old Country, and to improve his condition removed to America in 1849 and settled in Cook County near Chicago, ILL. There he joined his fortune with those of our subject and purchased eighty acres of land, which was paid for largely from the earnings of his son. The mother of the family was also a native of Ireland. Her maiden name was Mary Kelley. After arriving in America the parents made their home with William Gannon and resided with him as long as they lived. The father died in Iowa in 1868, at the age of eighty-four years, and the mother some years later, at the age of ninety years. Both are buried in the Catholic Cemetery at Des Moines. Their children were Michael, Katherine, Peggy, Mary, Richard and William, the subject of this sketch.

William Gannon received a fine English education at some of the best schools and was also well instructed in the theory of farming. When he came to this country he had little besides his general knowledge and his indomitable pluck and energy, but these have been sufficient to place him among the wealthiest and most influential citizens of his county. From 1849 until 1856 he remained upon the farm in Cook County, IL, and on the 5th of July of the latter year arrived in Des Moines, Iowa, with the largest part of his possessions, consisting of the teams and cattle that he drove before him. During the following winter he purchased one hundred acres of raw land in Franklin Township, Polk County, for which he paid $600. The following spring be rented and farmed a tract of land, and a little later purchased of James Bailey one hundred and sixty acres of land, for which he gave about $1,200. This farm he occupied for five years, giving his personal attention to its cultivation and improvement, and when he had brought the place to its present state of excellence turned his attention to an earlier purchase of one hundred and seventy acres, which had in the meantime been comparatively neglected. Here his intelligent management soon brought the farm into a high state of cultivation and gradually he has added to the original tract until he now has eight hundred acres in a body, all showing the marks of the master farmer's hand. He residence is one of the finest in the township, and the outbuildings are all first class.

Mr. Gannon and his sons now own some thirteen hundred acres of other lands in this and adjoining counties, making them the largest landed proprietors in this section of Iowa. A very important part of Mr. Gannon's business has been the buying, selling and raising of stock, and in this line he has been more than usually successful. Within the past year or two he has gradually withdrawn from active participation in the business and has given that branch into the hands of his sons, while be, with his wife, resides in his elegant country mansion, eight miles from Colfax and near the Polk County line.

In 1854 Mr. Gannon married Catherine Rooney a native of County Tipperary, Ireland, and the daughter of Hugh and Alice (Dwyer) Rooney. They were married in St. Mary's Church, Chicago. Their children are: John, who lives at home with his parents; William J., a resident of this township; Alice, wife of William Phelan; Michael, who lives in Polk County; Kate, wife of James O'Brien of Bondurant; Mary, who died when about five years old; Ellen, wife of John Maher, of this township; Hugh and Lizzie, at home. Mr. Gannon takes an active interest in politics and is a stanch Democrat. Both he and his wife, as well as the other members of their family, are regular and consistent members of the Catholic Church. Portrait and Biographical Record, Jasper, Marshall and Grundy Counties, IA Page 390.