A HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
DECATUR COUNTY, IOWA
BY REV. EDWARD J. HARKIN, PASTOR
l956 (No Copyright)

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One hundred years ago it was the dream of many immigrants to buy a tract of land out West upon which to cast their lot for happiness and economic security. They worked on the railroad, in rock quarries, as a policeman, peddlers, laborers and just anything to save a few dollars from the labor of their hands. Some of those people purchased land in Decatur County, Iowa, in l853 and l854.

Of the Irish Catholic immigrants who remained faithful to the church and reared their children in the Catholic Faith, LUKE SHAY at this writing was the first to purchase land in Decatur County. He, December 9, l853, entered land in Section 9 of Richland Township (North of Grand River) from the United States Land Office. There is no proof that he lived on it. He lived most of his life in Ringgold County. After Ringgold County was organized (l855) the first district court convened May 25, l857. LUKE SHAY was naturalized a citizen of the United States at that term of court and that was its first business transacted. (Biographical and Historical Record of Ringgold and Decatur Counties, Iowa, from the Lewis Publishing Company, ll3 Adams Street, Chicago, Ill., Page 4l3.)

The next to enter land from the United States Government were two brothers, EDWARD CONWELL and STEPHEN CONWELL, who together purchased l60 acres at $l.25 per acre, in the north part of Richland Township (north of Grand River where LUKE CONWELL lives) in Section 4. The date was June l0, l854.

The next land entries and purchases were in Woodland Township, ten miles southeast of Leon, which became a rural farming community known as Ireland. There was never a town at Ireland, only a church and cemetery. The town of Woodland was three and one-half miles northeast while Bracewell was a store, a mill and a couple of houses about three and one-half miles southeast of Ireland.

WILLIAM GROGAN on August 26, l854, contracted with the State of Iowa to purchase through Decatur County land in Section 19 of Woodland Township.

PATRICK GROGAN contracted to purchase from Decatur County 80 acres in Section 19, Woodland Township, August 26, l854.

JOHN BARRETT September 4, l854, entered land in Section l7, Woodland Township, from the United States Government.

Previous to September 4, l854, JOHN BARRETT also had contracted to buy 80 acres in Section l6, Woodland Township, August 26, l854. He later assigned this same contract to his brothers, RICHARD BARRETT and wife, BRIDGET, and RICHARD BARRETT and wife, JULIA, jointly. They made their final payment April l2, l864. The RICHARD and RICARD BARRETT families sold their land in l866-67 and returned to Indiana.

MICHAEL GRIFFIN purchased land in Section 3l of Woodland Township, October l3, l857, from WILLIAM H. BLAKESLEY and SARAH BLAKESLEY, Book 47, Page l70.

CORNELIUS HANNON bought land in Section 24 of Eden Township from JAMES W. GAMMON September 23, l858.>/p>

On November 6, l858, DENNIS MULLIN and PATRICK MULLIN, two brothers, and a brother-in-law, MAURICE DAUGHTON, acquired title jointly to land in Section l9, Woodland Township, from MR. ISAM T.W. KILGORE.

According to the Iowa Census, l860, BARTHOLOMEW HOULIHAN (HALHAN) related that he owned $l00.00 worth of land. At the Leon Abstract Office, however, he (BARTHOLOMEW WHOLIGAN) is shown as having recorded a deed to 40 acres in Section 29 dated June 8, l86l. It could be presumed that he purchased it from J.D. WASSON even before l860 but failed to have the transaction recorded until a late date. This property later passed to MRS. DENNIS MULLIN who was the daughter of the above BARTHOLOMEW HOULIHAN.

Although the WALLACES were non-baptized Catholics in l853, some of them were baptized later into the Catholic Church. JOHN W. WALLACE purchased land December l3, l853, from his father, PETER B. WALLACE, SR., in Section 29, Woodland Township, who had previously purchased it from the United States Government November 4, l853.

Including JOHN W. WALLACE, twelve Catholic Irish immigrants entered or purchased land in Woodland Township during the l850's. THOMAS OWENS, who came to Decatur County with the BARRETTS in l856 or l857, purchased land in Woodland Township in the '60's. Following the Civil War more came such as THOMAS DILLON, JAMES DILLON, FRANCIS MCGOVERN, PATRICK FLYNN, JOSEPH PETERS, DENNIS MAHONEY, CORNILIUS HANNON, PATRICK MAHONEY, THOMAS GROGAN, and others such as SYLVESTER KRITZ, DANIEL SULLIVAN and WILLIAM OGDEN who purchased land in or near Woodland Township to cause that part of Decatur County to be called "Ireland," ten miles southeast of Leon. A fine young man by the name of ROGER SULLIVAN purchased property in Leon in l868 and established a business but died from sunstroke in l87l while helping in the hay field down in Ireland. In addition to these there were also the young ones contracting marriage and starting a new family, such as SAMUEL WALLACE who married BRIDGET DAUGHTON in l86l.

The total number of practical Catholic families by l870 in or near Woodland Township was about twenty-five or thirty at the most with more to come during the late '70's and '80's, but many had already begun to move away. After JOSEPH PETERS died in l879, MRS. PETERS married JOHN BARRY in l880.

The Catholic Church in the name of the Right Reverent Clement Smyth, Bishop of Dubuque, September 22, l863, acquired title to ten acres in Section 19, Woodland Township, for cemetery and church site for the sum of one dollar from WILLIAM GROGAN, PATRICK GROGAN, DENNIS MULLIN, MAURICE DAUGHTON and PATRIC MULLIN and their wives.

For these above dates appreciation is extended to MRS. LENA VARGA and MR. LEE ELSON of the Leon Abstract and Title Company, Leon, Iowa.

Although they contracted to purchase their land in l854 they did not come to Iowa until later, some in l855, others in l856 and l858. It is interesting to review the primitive type of life they had to live the first months and years on their unimproved land. Their only mode of transportation was an ox team and a covered wagon. Some walked. There was no house or buildings. The ground was covered with tall native grass, trees and brush. Wild honey, wild apples, berries and plums were plentiful with which to make sweets and relishes. Wild turkeys and other game were in abundance for meat. At first they had only a covered wagon for shelter until a log cabin was constructed. They helped one another, and soon after the passing of several years a log cabin stood on every eighty or forty. The air was clean and independence was enjoyed as never before. Hope of great accomplishments was seen on the horizon one hundred years ago.

The first Irish Catholic settlers in Decatur County who identified themselves with the Catholic Church were EDWARD CONWELL and his brother, STEPHEN CONWELL, who settled on their land north of Grand River not later than the spring of l855. They were both bachelors, EDWARD was 24 and STEPHEN 26. During the autumn of l855 they harvested 50 bushels of corn from the l0 acres they had improved. (See Iowa Census, Decatur County, Richland Township, taken before June l, l856, Vol. 42, Page 98.)

The first Irish Catholic settlers in Woodland Township it would seem according to this l856 Iowa Census were the six members of the JOHN BARRETT family and a young man unmarried by the name of PATRICK GROGAN, age 25, who lived with the BARRETT family. This Census of l856, taken between January l to June l, lists only this one Catholic family. There were other families but not Catholic. The WALLACE family is listed in this Census as having come to Decatur County in l852. Several members of the JOHN W. WALLACE family were converted to the Catholic Church in later years. JOHN WALLACE himself, and wife, MARY E. MONSON WALLACE, were among them.

The six members of the BARRETT family were JOHN BARRETT, age 39, and wife, ELLEN BARRETT, age 25, and their three children: HENRY, age 4; JOHN, age 3; and William, age l; and the grandfather, JOHN BARRETT, age 70. In the l860 Census, HENRY and JOHN, the children, are not listed. Apparently they died in childhood. JOHN BARRETT had l0 acres improved and ll0 unimproved. PATRICK GROGAN, living in the BARRETT house, had l60 acres unimproved, according to this Census (Vol. 42, Page 270)

The name BARRETT was spelled in this Census as 'BARRIETT' which might seem unusual today. However, if you would pronounce it with a thick Irish brogue it would come out 'BARRIETT' for the census taker.

The DAUGHTON name in many early records is spelled: DARTIN and DALTON. Pronounce DAUGHTON with a thick Irish brogue and it would come out something like DARTIN.

In August of l860 there was completed another Iowa Census in which eleven Catholic families are listed in Woodland Township including the JOHN W. WALLACE family. The total number of souls was 62.

They were:

1. JOHN BARRETT, wife ELLEN, and three children.
2. RICHARD (RICARD) BARRETT, wife JULIA, and four children.
3. THOMAS OWENS, wife ELLEN, and three children.
4. MAURICE DAUGHTON, wife ELLEN, and seven children.
5. DENNIS MULLIN, wife MARGARET, and three children.
6. PATRICK GROGAN, wife FRANCES, and one child.
7. WILLIAM GROGAN, wife BRIDGET, and seven children.
8. BARTHOLOMEW HOULIHAN, wife MARY.
9. JOHN W. WALLACE, wife MARY E., and eight children.
10. MICHAEL GRIFFIN, wife MARGARET, and five children.
11. JOHN BARRETT, SR.

JOHN BARRETT, SR., born in County Cork about l769, see his stone in cemetery, and died in Decatur County, Iowa, December 30, l869, l00 years old and buried in Catholic Cemetery, Woodland Township, Decatur County. He came to Iowa in l856. His children were JOHN BARRETT, ELLEN BARRETT OWENS, NANCY BARRETT REARDON, RICARD BARRETT and RICHARD BARRETT.

JOHN BARRETT, born County Cork, Ireland, about l824 (see stone at cemetery, l820), died February 5, l903, buried Catholic Cemetery, Woodland Township. Married at St. Paul, Indiana, l850, to MISS ELLEN SULLIVAN, who also was born in County Cork, December 8, l830, died March l9, l902, buried at Catholic Cemetery, Woodland Township.

They came to Decatur County in the spring of l856 and had ten children. Five died in childhood. He entered land in Decatur County, Woodland Township, Section l6, August 26, l854, and also in Section l7, September 4, l854.

Children:

1. HENRY BARRETT, born l85l, Indiana, died in Iowa before l860.
2. JOHN BARRETT, born l852, Indiana, died in Iowa before l860.
3. WILLIAM BARRETT, born St. Paul, Indiana, December 8, l854, was married at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Woodland Township, southeast of Leon, to CATHERINE GROGAN (relative of WILLIAM and PATRICK GROGAN, and she had worked in Leon) September 27, l880, by Father E. Hayes. They moved to Tobias, Nebraska, and both are buried near Friend, Nebraska. Five children. He brought first Priest to Milligan, Nebraska, and introduced him to people.
4. RICHARD (RICARD) J. BARRETT, born in Decatur County July 4, l857, married ELLEN MAHONEY. He died in l936. Both are buried in Catholic Cemetery, Woodland Township. Five children. Four lived: MARY MASTERSON, HELEN BARRY, WILLIAM D. BARRETT, GRACE BARRETT, (JOHN) EDWARD BARRETT, born June 24, l890, died August l4, l902.
   
   On Sunday, October 4, l885, in the Catholic Church in Woodland Township, Decatur County, Iowa, RICHARD J. BARRETT and ELLEN MAHONEY were united in marriage by Father William M. Williams (Leon Court House Book 3, page 3348, No. l5l4)
5. MARY BARRETT, born in Decatur County, Iowa, March 23, l859, married ED MACY. She died in l938 and was buried in St. Mary's Cemetery, Woodland Township. One child, FAY ALBERT MACY, of Osceola, Iowa. She was stepmother to ED MACY's children by his first wife who had died. They were non-Catholics.
6. MARGARET BARRETT, born in Decatur County, Iowa, March, l86l, married JOSEPH WILLARD MULLIN August 3, l885. She was confirmed by Rt. Rev. Henry Cosgrove, D.D. Bishop of Davenport, in Catholic Church, St. Patrick's, Woodland Township, June 5, l885. Eight children. Both are buried at Catholic Cemetery, Woodland Township. She is the mother of MRS. WILLIAM (HAZEL) BUCKINGHAM.
7. NANCY (NAN) BARRETT, born Decatur County, Iowa, May l0, l863. Never married. She was Father J.C. Maher's housekeeper for many years in Leon and in Des Moines. She died February 8, l948, at the home of her niece, MRS. BUCKINGHAM. Buried at the Catholic Cemetery, Woodland Township.

Obituary, Leon Reporter, Thursday, February l2, l903, Page 6.

"Obituary: JOHN BARRETT, one of the pioneers of Decatur County, died at his home in Woodland Township on Thursday morning, February 5, l903, after an illness of several months at the advanced age of 79 years.

"The deceased was born in County Cork, Ireland, in the year l824 and emigrated to America in l848, landing at New Orleans during the terrible epidemic of cholera in that city but passed it without taking the disease. He went from New Orleans to Ohio, settling near Cincinnati, and lived for a few years in that state and in Indiana at St. Paul, Indiana. He was married to MISS ELLEN SULLIVAN at St. Paul, Indiana, in l849, and their married life extended over a period of more than fifty years, being broken by the death of MRS. BARRETT last March. To their union were born ten children, five having passed to the great beyond and five living present during his illness, WILLIAM BARRETT of Tobias, Nebraska; R.J. BARRETT of High Point, MRS. MARY MACY of High Point, MRS. MARGARET MULLIN of Burrell and MISS NANCY BARRETT, who lives at the old BARRETT home.

"Uncle JOHN came to this country in l854 (? The census of l856 states that he had been in the State of Iowa "0" years), and located in Woodland Township where he entered Government land which he continued to occupy until his death. He was a typical Irishman, rugged and had always enjoyed exceptional good health. After the death of his wife last March, however, he commenced to fail and frequently expressed the wish that he might be called. He was a man highly respected by all who knew him and his death causes sorrow to a large circle of friends. The funeral services were held from the home on Saturday morning, February 7, l903, conducted by Rev. John A. Condon of Maloy, interment being at the Catholic Grave Yard in Woodland Township.

The new church building was not finished, having been begun in October, l902, hence the funeral had to be at home.

It is said that in early days JOHN BARRETT was the only one who had a Catholic newspaper coming to his home. It was the monthly edition of "The Boston Pilot."

It is related that MR. JOHN BARRETT served Mass for the Priest up until he was an old man.

ED OWENS says: "We lived about a quarter of a mile east of the church. The men took turns boing ten miles to Leon to meet the Priest when he arrived at Leon the day before. The Priest would stay the night with one of the families. Many times he would stay with the BARRETTS. They lived a mile or more north-northeast of us. I can remember seeing the Priest walking across the fields and pasture to the church from the BARRETTS up north of our place. The Priest was a tall man who stretched out when he walked fast. After him came MR. and MRS. BARRETT and their children. They would come onto the road in front of our place, then my mother would gather up us kids and we would follow the BARRETTS up the road to the church. That was during the late '70's or in the '80's.

"Sometime the Priest wouldn't arrive on the train and of course the people would not know it until they gathered at the church the next morning. MR. JOHN BARRETT would lead them in the Rosary and the Litany. The Protestants over at Woodland would say: 'Jack Barrett read the Mass for the Catholics last Sunday.'

"MARY BARRETT (MRS. ED MACY) was a school teacher in the very early days and taught Catechism at the Church."

"ELLEN SULLIVAN BARRETT was born in County Cork, Ireland, in l822, and died at her home in Woodland Township on Wednesday, March l9, l902, age 80 years.

"Leaving her native home in October, l848, she landed at New Orleans November 27, l848, and went to the state of Indiana where on November 22, l849, she was married to JOHN BARRETT at St. Paul, Indiana. In l854 (?) they came to Iowa and were among the early settlers of this county entering the home farm in Woodland Township as government land, where she continued to reside until her death.
To their union were born ten children, five of whom, with the aged husband, survive her: WILLIAM BARRETT of Tobias, Nebraska; RICHARD BARRETT, MRS. ED MACY, MRS. JOE W. MULLIN and MISS NANNIE BARRETT, who reside in this county. All of her children were with her during her last illness.

"The funeral services were held on Friday, March 2l, l902. Interment being at the Catholic Cemetery in Woodland Township. MRS. BARRETT was a noble woman and we trust has gone to her reward in the unknown world. Many dear friends mourn her departure."

THOMAS OWENS, born County Meath, Ireland, August l5, l827, died October l5, l874, buried at Catholic Cemetery, Woodland Township, married ELLEN BARRETT who was born County Cork, Ireland, February ll, l828, died June 8, l9ll, buried Catholic Cemetery, Woodland Township. They came to Decatur County before April 4, l857, most likely in the summer of l856. It has been said that they came with the BARRETTS but they are not listed in the Census of Spring, l856.
They came from St. Paul, Indiana.

Children:

1. JAMES OWENS, died as an infant in Indiana.
2. PATRICK OWENS, died as infant in Indiana.
3. JOHN (JACK) OWENS, born in Decatur, Iowa, April 4, l857, baptized at St. Mary's, Ottumwa, by Father John Adam Kreckel, September l6, l860, with ten other children of the Settlement of Woodland Township. He died in September, l937, near Beaconsfield, Iowa, buried Catholic Cemetery, Woodland Township.


He married KATHRYN DAUGHTON at the Catholic Church, Woodland Township, by Father T.J. Mullen, April 29, l889. Aunt KATIE died in l954 while residing at Westerville. She has two children: DENNIS OWENS and ALICE OWENS MCGRAW.
4. JOSIE (JOHANNA) OWENS (twin), born in Decatur County, March 4, l860. Never married. Died and buried in Catholic Cemetery Woodland Township, in August, l949.
5. MARY ANN (MOLL) OWENS (twin), born March 4, l860, married JAKE BEARDSLEY. One son, WILLIAM BEARDSLEY, at Grand River, Iowa. Later married WILLIAM MULCHAHEY of Chicago. She died and is buried in Chicago. Two children: JOSEPHINE MULCHAHEY and FRANK MULCHAHEY.
6. BRIDGET OWENS, born about l863, married BOB MALONE. Died November 8, l952, Lincoln, Nebraska and buried in Nebraska. Several children.
7. MARGARET OWENS, born November 2, l865, in Decatur County, married DOUGLAS GREEN, by Father William M. Williams, MR. GREEN died and she married KERRY A. WILSON. He is dead. She lives at 2ll4 Army Post Road, Des Moines, Iowa. (July ll, l953) "Father Williams taught me catechism and married to MR. GREEN, in l886." In August, l953, a United States Army jet plane didn't make it taking off and crashed into her house while she was in the house. The house burned and her parakeet was killed. MARGARET suffered shock and is back at her house now.
8. RICHARD OWENS, born February 28, l867, died December 2l, l9l8, buried Catholic Cemetery, Woodland Township.
9. EDWARD THOMAS OWENS, born November 6, l868, in Decatur County. Never married. Living in Leon in December, l955. Baptized by Father Louis Cornelis. Record at Georgetown.
10. WILLIAM OWENS, born about l872. Died in Lincoln, Nebraska, about l922.
11. ELIZABETH OWENS, born l874, married DR. J. DURHAM. Lives at Mercer, Missouri.

RICKARD - RICARD BARRETT, born in County Cork, Ireland, about l824, married JULIE SULLIVAN. They are listed in the l860 census of Iowa and came to Iowa at least before l858. He purchased land in Decatur County, Woodland Township, and lived in Woodland Township until about l867 when they sold out and returned to Indiana. RICARD was a brother to JOHN BARRETT, JR., and ELLEN OWENS and A RICHARD BARRETT and a NANCY REARDON.

Children:

1. JOHANNA BARRETT, born in Indiana, l852.
2. MARY A. BARRETT, born in Indiana, l854.
3. JOHN BARRETT, born in Iowa, May l0, l857.
4. ELLEN BARRETT, born in Iowa, September 3, l859.
5. RICKARD-RICARD BARRETT, born in Iowa, March ll, l866. See Baptismal records at Ottumwa and Georgetown, and Iowa Census l860.

RICHARD BARRETT, a son of JOHN BARRETT, SR. It is said he was born in County Cork, Ireland, and came to Iowa about l856 or l857 and returned to Indiana. He married a woman by the name of BRIDGET. He bought land jointly in Decatur County, Woodland Township, with his brother, RICARD. He bought several other pieces of land in Woodland Township but sold them in l866-l867 according to the abstract office at Leon. He is not listed in the Census of l860.

NANCY REARDON, daughter of JOHN BARRETT, SR., born in County Cork, Ireland. Married EDWARD REARDON. If they came to Decatur County, Woodland Township, Iowa, they did not remain long. There is no record of them. EDWARD OWENS says he heard about them from his mother and thinks he heard that they came but returned to Indiana immediately.