James P. Bannon Biography

James P. Bannon

Among Butler county's most progressive and successful native sons is numbered James P. Bannon, who owns and operates two farms in Madison tovniship, one of one hundred and sixty acres and the other of eighty. He was born on the farm whereon lie now resides July 31, 1871, his parents being James and Katherine (Coyle) Bannon, the former a native of County Carlow, Ireland, and the latter born in County Monaghan in 1831. The father came to America in his childhood, locating with his parents in Albany, New York, where he grew to manhood. He learned the bricklayer's trade and followed this in early life in Chicago, where his marriage occurred in 1856. Ten years later he came to Iowa, locating in Butler county. He purchased land in Madison township and erected thereon a good stone house, in which his son now resides and which is one of the two stone residences in the township. James Bannon worked at the bricklayer's trade and also engaged in general farming for the remainder of his life, dying upon his property in Butler county, October 4, 1911.

James P. Bannon was reared upon his father's farm in Madison township and remained at home until his marriage, which occurred in 1891. He then settled upon the farm on which he still resides and since that time has steadily carried forward the work of improvement and development. He has remodeled the stone house which his father erected; has built a new barn, a granary and corn cribs, and set out also a grove of fruit and ornamental trees. In addition to the home place of one hundred and sixty acres Mr. Bannon owns also a tract of eighty acres in the vicinity. He is a stockholder in the Butler County Telephone Company and in the Farmers Cooperative Telephone Company, and is recognized in business circles as a man of capacity, sound judgment and keen discrimination.

On the 18th of February, 1891, Mr. Bannon was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Kirby, a native of Iowa and a daughter of William Kirby, one of the early settlers in Butler county. Mr. and Mrs. Bannon are the parents of two children, Alice Katherine and James Francis, students in the public schools.

The parents are member of the Roman Catholic church and Mr. Bannon gives his political allegiance to the democratic party. He is very prominent in public affairs and has served in various positions of trust and responsibility. For eight years he was township assessor and has also been prominently connected with educational interests, besides serving as a delegate to numerous county conventions. A residence in Butler county dating from his birth to the present time has made him well and favorably known, and he is justly regarded as one of the leading agriculturists and representative citizens of his locality.