Mulhall, Brothers -William, John, James and Louis

MULHALL, PARDON, BAKER, KELLY, OLEARY

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 3/19/2022 at 16:37:51

Mulhall Brothers- William, John, James and Louis came to Rock Valley.

This story was taken from pages 127-128 of the Rock Valley St. Mary’s Catholic Church Book written for the centennial of the church in about 1982(?). The story was transcribed for this BIOS by Beth De Leeuw of the Greater Sioux County Genealogical Society. Some research notes were added.

There were four Mulhall brothers who lived at Rock Valley in the 1800’s. William was the oldest, then John, James and Louis, age wise.

WILLIAM MULHALL, born February 28, 1862, on a farm near Morris, Illinois, graduated from Bryant-Stranton Business College in Chicago and engaged in the banking business in Rock Valley, Iowa. He married ALICE PARDON at Andover, New York in 1888. William and his wife made their home at Rock Valley until 1893, when he sold his banking business and bought a business block at Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He disposed of that business in 1899, and located in Spokane, Washington. In 1902 he moved to Camas Prairie, Idaho, and engaged in grain farming and raising livestock. He developed a fine herd of Shorthorn cattle and at one time his Percheron horses were considered the best in Idaho county. William Mulhall died at Cottonwood February 27, 1949, his wife preceded him in death in 1924.

The following is from my memory: JOHN F. MULHALL was born in Illinois and was the second oldest boy in the family. He was associated in the banking business at Rock Valley and Sioux Falls with his brother William. John moved to Sioux City, Iowa, about 1900 where he engaged in farming operations, the seed business and real estate. John married FLORENCE BAKER and this couple had four children. He passed away at Sioux City, December 18, 1940. His wife died in 1951.

JAMES P. MULHALL (my father) was born in Illinois October 6, 1866. He came to Rock Valley as a young boy and engaged in agriculture. He married MARY FRANCES KELLY in 1895. Mary Kelly taught school at Rock Valley before her marriage and her original home was Schaller, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. James Mulhall moved to Rock Rapids about 1897, and then to Sioux City about 1900.

James Mulhall resided at Sioux City until his death May 23, 1951. He retained his interest in various farms in Sioux and Lyon Counties during his lifetime. His wife Mary died July 10, 1951. This couple had eight children.

LOUIS MULHALL, the youngest of the brothers, was born in Illinois about 1872. He lived in the Rock Valley area in the 1890’s. he lived in the Rock Valley area in the 1890’s. He moved to Sioux City, Iowa, about the time his brothers John and James did. In Sioux City Louis engaged in real estate and built various homes and apartments. Louis, a bachelor, died at Sioux City about 1917.

(written by John L. Mulhall)

RESEARCH NOTES:
1870 census of Highland Grundy Illionis had the family of James Mulhall 33, 1837and Anne Mulhall 31, 1839. Their children were: Charles 12, John 10, William 8, James 5, Mary 3.

1880 census of Highland Grundy Illinois had James Mulhall 40, wife Ann 38, John 19, William 18, James 14, Mary 12, Louis 9, Francis 8 mo.

A brief family report found on ancestry.com (by other than submitter) has James Mulhall born about 1840 Ireland wife Ann O’Leary 1839-1923. They both died in Illinois (?).

OBITUARY OF JAMES P MULHALL
Alton Democrat of Dec 6, 1902
Rock Valley News
Word was received here last week of the death of James Mulhall at Rock Rapids. Deceased was a pioneer resident of this place and the father of the Mulhall boys who were in the
banking business here for so many years. He was sixty-five years of age and was always strong and robust and his death came as a surprise.
Pneumonia was the cause. Deceased lived here for many years and had many friends. The remains were taken to Chicago for burial.
(The surname Mulhall appeared in the Sioux records including census during that time period but no particular James could be determined. )

No picture of the four brothers was found, there is a picture of John P. Mulhall page 128 of the St. Mary’s church book.