WILLIAM CAHILL

William Cahill is one of the prosperous farmers of Cedar county, owning four hundred and forty acres of land in Cass and Gower townships, all of which he has acquired through his own labor, save a tract of eighty acres, which was a part of his father’s homestead. In matters of business judgment he is seldom if ever at fault and his industry has constituted the foundation upon which he has built his property. He was born in Davenport, Iowa, in September, 1860, and is a son of James and Margaret (Martin) Cahill, both of whom were natives of County Tipperary, Ireland. Their youthful days were spent on the Emerald isle, but they were married at Rock Island, Illinois. Coming to Iowa, they lived for many years in Cedar county, both passing away on the old homestead farm, to the development and improvement of which Mr. Cahill had long devoted his time and attention. He was about sixty years of age at his death which occurred on the 19th of February, 1881, while his wife passed away December 12, 1872, at the age of fifty years. They were people of highest respectability and enjoyed the warm friendship of the many with whom they were associated. Their family numbered four children: Sarah, now the wife of Thomas Wall of Johnson county, Iowa; Margaret, the wife of John Hanson, living in South Dakota; William; and Mary, the wife of Herbert Flannery of South Dakota.

William Cahill on leaving the city of Davenport took up his abode in Johnson county; but after two years came to Cedar county, arriving in 1865, when the subject of this review was but five years of age. He has since resided upon the place which is now his home. It is situated on the old stage route to the “Side Hill” postoffice. At present Mr. Cahill is the owner of four hundred and forty acres of excellent and productive land of which two hundred and one acres is situated on section 31, Cass township, while the remainder is on sections 5 and 6, Gower township. It is all in one body, however, and is known as the Glendale Stock Farm. Mr. Cahill is actively engaged in the raising of Hereford cattle, Shire horses and Duroc Jersey hogs. Eighty acres of this farm was part of his father’s homestead, but the remainder has been acquired by Mr. Cahill and his possessions are the visible evidence of his life of thrift and industry. The farm has been well improved by him and is lacking in none of the accessories or conveniences of the model farm. He also has interests in Oklahoma.

On the 26th of March, 1883, Mr. Cahill was united in marriage to Miss Hannah Dwyer, who was born in St. Joseph, Missouri, on the 15th of March, 1860, and was taken to Johnson county, Iowa, in 1861 by her parents Michael and Mary (Peters) Dwyer, both of whom were natives of County Tipperary, Ireland, where they were reared although married in the United States. They now reside in Cedar township, Johnson county, upon the farm where they originally located. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Cahill have been born eight children: Margaret, who is the wife of T. F. Lynch of Cedar Valley and has two children, William and John; Michael, at home; James; Maurice; William; Mary; and John and Francis, twins.

In his political views Mr. Cahill is a democrat and for the past four years has served as one of the trustees of Gower township. At the present time he is a school director, filling the position for six years. He belongs to St. Bridget’s Catholic church in the Nolan settlement and is interested in all that pertains to the material, intellectual and moral progress of the community. His forcefulness and his resourcefulness in business are indicated in the excellent success which he has achieved, making him one of the prosperous farmers of Gower township.