Patrick L. Peisley 1844-1900

PEISLEY, O NEIL, PHILLIPS, CORKELL, WALBRAN

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 3/6/2007 at 10:12:13

Biographies from the 1914 "Past and Present of O'Brien and Osceola Counties of Iowa"

PATRICK L. PEISLEY.

A well remembered and honored pioneer citizen of Osceola County who passed to his reward many years ago was Patrick L. Peisley. He was a man who united those qualities of head and heart which insure success in any field of endeavor. Born of sturdy Irish parents, he was taught self-reliance, independence of thought and a sturdy belief in strict adherence to the accepted rules of life. He served with distinction in the Civil War and after the close of that struggle came to this county where he became one of the earliest pioneers.

Patrick L. Peisley was born in Ireland in 1844 and died in Osceola County, Iowa, September 13, 1900. He came to this country with his father, Michael, when he was five years of age and the family settled in Grant County, Wisconsin, and there Patrick Peisley was reared to manhood. In that state he enlisted for service in the Union army in 1861, in Company C, Second Regiment Wisconsin Cavalry, and served until he was mustered out at Austin, Texas, November 15, 1865. He was appointed corporal June 1, 1864, and finally discharged at Madison. Wisconsin, on December, 1865, with this rank. Among the battles in which he took part may be mentioned the following: Bayou Cache, Arkansas; Oakland, Mississippi: Lick Creek, Arkansas; Cold Water, Mississippi; Hour Lake, Tennessee; siege of Vicksburg; Clinton, Mississippi; Bayou Pierre and James Landing, Arkansas; Jackson, Mississippi; Mentonia, Missouri; Prairie Grove, Arkansas; Van Buren, Arkansas; Hall's Plantation, Mississippi; Woodville. Mississippi; Yazoo City; Egypt Station and several skirmishes in Texas.

After being mustered out of the service in Wisconsin, Mr. Peisley remained there until his marriage in 1873. He and his wife then came to Osceola County and homesteaded on section 32, in Viola township, and on this farm they lived and reared a family, remaining there until 1910. In that year the widow moved to Sibley, where she is now living. Mr. Peisley was successful as a farmer and at the time of his death was the owner of two hundred and ninety-three acres of excellent farming land. He put extensive improvements on his farm in the way of new buildings, fencing and drainage until it became one of the most valuable tracts in the township.

Mr. Peisley was married on July 3, 1873, to Mary Jane O'Neil, who was born December 15, 1850. in Dutchess County, New York, and is the daughter of John and Julia (Phillips) O'Neil, who were both natives of Ireland. They left New York in 1874 and settled in Grant County, Wisconsin, where they lived until 1883. In that year they came to Osceola County, Iowa, where the father and mother both died, the mother passing away in 1889 and the father in the year following. Mr. and Mrs. O'Neil were the parents of three children: Mary J., the wife of Mr. Peisley; Eliza Ann, who died in the fall of 1906, and Daniel, who is the clerk at the Osceola House in Sibley. Mr. and Mrs. Peisley are the parents of four children: Mrs. Maria R. Corkell, who is living with her mother in Sibley; Mrs. Emma Walbran, who is a resident of Tracy, Minnesota: Daniel L., who is living on the homestead in Viola Township, this county, and one who died in infancy.

Mr. and Mrs. Peisley were both members of the Catholic Church and always rendered it their earnest support. In politics Mr. Peisley was a Democrat and always took an active interest in local politics. He had been a school director in Viola Township for a number of years preceding his death and served several years as trustee of Viola Township. Mrs. Peisley is a woman of most estimable character and is highly esteemed by all who know her for her many deeds of kindness and charity. She and her husband lived a full and complete life and were happy in their home relations. Mr. Peisley thought much of the family name and strove to keep it untarnished before the world. He took pride in his children and did everything in his power for their welfare. To those who were very near to him and knew him well he was regarded as a good man in every sense of the word, faithful and true, a kind neighbor, and an honor to his county and state.

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