Flynn, James

FLYNN

Posted By: Joyce Hickman (email)
Date: 11/18/2008 at 16:17:55

James Flynn

(From the 1883 History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, by J. H. Keatley, p.269, York Twp.)
James Flynn, farmer, P. O. Neola, was born in County Kerry, Munster, Ireland, May 26, 1827. He is the son of Michael and Honora (Murphy) Flynn, both natives of Ireland. His father died while he (subject) was small. His mother and her father before her were bornin the same house as our subject. She died before her son came to America. Our subject had no advantages for an education. He lived at home till his father was turned out of house and home while on his sick bed, from which sickness he never recovered. He was turned out by six policement and the landlord, Maj. Daniel Mahoney, of Dunlow, for not paying the rent, which he was unable to do on account of sickness. At this time our subject was nine years and ten months old. He was obliged to go out into the world and earn a living for himself and parents during the year that his father lived. He received 72 cents and his board for the first three months' work. He labored in this manner for one year. As he grew older, he received more pay, but the highest he ever commanded in Ireland was $24 a year. After his parents' death, he helped to send some of his sisters to the United States. He came himself to this country in 1856. Landed in New York City and stayed in Brooklyn, N. Y., from September 13, 1856, to March 5, 1857. He then came to Dyersville, Delaware County, this State. He worked two weeks at loading cord wood for 75 cents per day, paying $3 a week for board. He then hired out to Dr. Laird, for $150 a year. He worked for seven months at this rate of wages; he then worked three months for Judge Dyer at $1.25 per day, and boarded himself. After this, he engaged himself to William Dyer, for four or five months, at $20 per month. Then he was in a livery stable, in the same town, receiving $20 per month and board. He then worked as a grader on a railroad, for six months, at $1.25 per day. After this, he burned lime for the use of the railroad, receiving $3 for a night and a half day, sleeping the other half day. After this he worked for several years at various occupations. He rented land and farmed in Jones County, this State, until 1868, when he came to this county, having traded eighty acres of land in Jones County for 120 acres in this. He now owns 560 acres, 300 acres of which is under cultivation. Mr. Flynn has made his farm what it is to-day from out of the raw prairie. He raises large quantities of grain and also stock. He was married, in Jones County, Iowa, August 23, 1859, to Julia Buckley, born in County Cork, Ireland, in January, 1835; she is the daughter of Patrick and Catharine (Reirdon) Buckley, both natives of County Cork, Ireland, and both died in that country when Mrs. Flynn was nine years old. A lady took her and kept her for two years, when her uncle hired her at 1 shilling a month. She worked for him two years. She then went to London, where she worked fir five years in a private family. For the first three years, she recieved 1 shilling a week, after which she was paid 1 shilling 6 pence. Every summer for three seasons she sent 10 shillings to help support her brother. Notwithstanding this, she saved enough to visit her home and to come to America. After her arrival in this country, she worked for a private family, in McHenry County, Ill., for three years, receiving $1,50 per week, for the first year, and $2 per week thereafter. She next came to Jones County, this State, where she worked in a hotel for seven months at $2 per week. Here she met Mr. Flynn and they were married. They have had twelve children, of whom all, except one, are living - John, born May 27, 1860; Michael, born November 11, 1861; died in October, 1862; Honora, born April 11, 1863; Mary E., born July 17, 1864; Catharine, born September 17, 1865; Julia, born February 13, 1867; Margaret, born March 2, 1868; James A., born April 28, 1869; Daniel, born July 12, 1871; Anne, born October 20, 1872; Patrick, born May 2, 1874, and Michael J., born February 18, 1876. The family all belong to the Catholic Church. In politics, Mr. Flynn is an Independent.