William Sullivan, one of the early settlers and prominent men of Guttenberg, was born in St. Louis, Mo., about 1827, where he lived till twelve years of age. His father died at Louisville, Ky., when William was a child; his mother again married, and the family removed to Mineral Point, Wis., where they lived during the Black Hawk war; afterward removed to Dubuque, where his step-father was engaged in mining and brick-making. The family afterward removed to Illinois. Mr. Sullivan left home when about fifteen years of age, and went to New Orleans as cook on a flat-boat. He followed the river till the breaking out of the Mexican war, when he enlisted and served during that war. He participated in the battle of Buena Vista, and other engagements. After the war closed he returned to Alton, Ill., where he married Catharine Henry, a native of Ireland. They came to Guttenberg in July, 1847. Mr. Sullivan is one of the most prominent business men of Guttenberg. He has been engaged in the mercantile business since first coming here. He owns one of the warehouses here, and has long been engaged in the grain trade. Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan have three children, one son and two daughters, viz.; Mrs. Katie Jones, Melvina and Alexander, who is engaged with his father in business. source: History of
Clayton County, Iowa, 1882, p. 872-873 |