Deegan, William H.

DEEGAN, PERRYMAN, QUINLAN

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, Plym. CC (email)
Date: 2/21/2005 at 17:19:40

William H. Deegan

Many of the farmers of Plymouth county were born in other states or foreign countries and have later come to this state, where they have met with success in farming as well as other lines of industry. Among them is William H. Deegan, who was born in Jo Daviess county, Illinois, on January 24, 1862, and is the son of Michael and Ellen (Perryman) Deegan. Michael and Ellen Deegan were born in the county of Kings, Ireland, and came to the United States with their parents, who located in Jo Daviess county, where the children were educated, grew to manhood and womanhood, and were later married. Michael Deegan engaged in farming as a young man and he and his wife continued to live in Illinois until 1886, when they came to Iowa and established their home on a farm in section I, Elgin township, Plymouth county. It was on this farm that the parents continued to live engaged in farming until their deaths. The father died some years ago at the age of sixty-four years. They were devout members of the Catholic church and were well known throughout the county and were held in high regard by all who knew them.

Michael and Ellen Deegan were the parents of the following children: Kate, Mary, William H., James J., J.F. and Ellen. Kate died while the family lived in Illinois; Mary is the wife of Ed Fitzpatrick of Le Mars; James J. and J. F. are farmers in Elgin township; Ellen is the wife of Mike King, of Sioux City, Iowa.

William H. Deegan attended school in Illinois and later came to Iowa with his parents. Soon after his arrival in Plymouth county he engaged in general farming in section I, Elgin township, for himself. After four years he came to his present farm in section 12, known as the Hingby place. Here he has done much in the way of development and has erected all the buildings now on the place.

In 1882 William H. Deegan was united in marriage to Kate Quinlan, of Grant county, Wisconsin, and the daughter of Nicholas Quinlan and wife, who were natives of Ireland, and who later came to the United States and located in Wisconsin, where they passed the remaining days of their lives. To Mr. and Mrs. Deegan the following children have been born: Roy, Minnie, John, Joseph, Nellie, Florence, Margaret, William and Cecelia, all of whom are at home. They all received their education in the home schools and at Sioux City.

Mr. Deegan is still engaged in general farming and stock raising and has a fine herd of Shorthorn cattle, many Duroc-Jersey hogs and some fine draft horses. He has always taken much interest in local affairs and is identified with the Democratic party. For many years he was a member of the local school board, and served his township as clerk and as trustee and was for six years a member of the county board of supervisors, being chairman of the organization. He and his wife are devout members of the Catholic church and have long been prominent in the social life of the township.

As a farmer and stock man Mr. Deegan is recognized as one of the successful and substantial men of the county. He now has two hundred and forty acres of land in the home place and one hundred and sixty acres in section I, Elgin township. He is thoroughly posted on all current events and is well read. His life has been an active one and because of his ability and excellent judgement, he is often consulted relative to the affairs of the township and county.

BOOK SOURCE:
History of Plymouth County, Iowa
Indianapolis, Ind.: B. F. Bowen, 1917