John Brogan
John Brogan, who for nearly a third of a century has been conspicuous as one of the leading agriculturists of Crawford county, is a native of Ireland, where his birth occurred June 24, 1824, being one of three children born to William and Ann (Coiel) Brogan. The other two, Bridget and Francis, are deceased, the latter having died in Kansas.
John Brogan remained in the land of his nativity until attaining his majority and in 1845 emigrated to the United States, first locating in Pennsylvania, where he remained for about five years. He then moved to Clinton county, Iowa, and there took up a quarter section of land. the site of which is now occupied by the city of Lyons, where he continued to reside for the ensuing twenty-five years.
In 1875 Mr. Brogan came to Crawford county and bought two hundred and forty acres of land on sections 6, 7 and 8, Jackson township, to which he added from time to time until his holdings now aggregate four hundred and forty acres of cultivated farm land, upon which he has made all modern improvements, including residences, outbuildings and fences. Here he carries on general farming but makes a specialty of shorthorn cattle, which he buys and ships on an extensive scale.
On February 9, 1849, Mr. Brogan was married to Miss Jane McClosky, a daughter of John and Ann (McLaughlin) McClosky, both of whom were natives of Ireland, where they spent their entire lives. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Brogan have been born eleven children, of whom the following eight survive: Andrew and Thomas, who reside in Crawford county; Edward, who lives in Sac county; William, a resident of Nebraska; and Frank, James, Mary and Lizzie, who are living at home. The three deceased are Rosanna, Sarah and one who died unnamed.
In politics Mr. Brogan has always given his support to the democratic party and has at different times been called upon to hold various township offices. In religion he is a faithful member of the Catholic church. Today, after having passed the eighty-seventh milestone on his life journey, he is enjoying the aftermath of his early endeavors in the possession of a fine farm where he has all the comforts and some of the luxuries of life.
Source: History of Crawford County, Iowa. Vol. II. Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1911.