Michael Carrigan 1827-1909

CARRIGAN, CADOGAN, CURTAIN, GANGHAM, PENNINGTON

Posted By: Beverly Gerdts (email)
Date: 12/6/2024 at 15:06:45

The Wapello Republican, Columbus Junction, Iowa
Thursday, August 12, 1909
Page 1

August 10, 1909, marked the passing of a highly respected citizen, at the ripe old age of 82 years. Michael Carrigan was born six miles southwest of the seaport of Uoughal, Ireland, August 15, 1827. He is the second son of Morris Cadogan and Mary (Curtain) Cadogan. The name being changed to Carrigan after the family came west. Both parents dies when Michael was young; his father when he was ten years old, his mother five years later, leaving the burden of a large family on the young shoulders of the two oldest sons. Daniel, the eldest, was not a strong boy so the burden fell on Michael, who soon realized how hard it was to make a living for the family in Ireland.

So leaving Daniel to look after the little flock, the lad set his face to the westward to see what America held in store of him. In 1847 he landed in Pittsfield, Mass, where he found employment, so he could make a home for the others. Each year he sent money to Ireland to pay the passage of one or two of the children, until by his own efforts, he had his orphaned brothers and sisters in this country attending school. Of a family of seven children, he and his youngest sister, Margaret, of Adams, Mass, are the sole survivors.

On August 25, 1853, Mr. Carrigan was united in marriage to Mary Gangham in Sycamore St. church, Cincinatti. To this union eleven children were born, all of whom are living except an infant son who died many years ago and John Edward who dies March 3, 1908. Mr. Carrigan, with his wife and infant daughter Mary, (Mrs. Pennington) came to Wapello in September 1855, fifty-four years ago. In Wapello all the children have been born, with the exception of Mrs. Pennington, who was born in Cincinatti. Two of his children, M. L and Elizabeth, are now in the Philippine Islands.

The funeral occurred today at 9 a. m. at the Catholic church, conducted by Rev. Father Houser, of Sigourney. Interment in the Wapello cemetery.