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1907 Past and Present Biographies
Stephen GaffneyAs the name indicates, he is of Irish lineage and his birth occurred in County Wicklow of the Emerald isle, on the 26th of December, 1849. His parents were Patrick and Maria (Hatton) Gaffney, the former born in Ireland in 1813, and the latter in 1829. They remained residents of that country until 1850, when they crossed the briny deep to the new world, settling first in Jackson county, Iowa, upon a farm about ten miles south of Dubuque. Mr. Gaffney resolutely took up the work of tilling the soil and was very successful in his business affairs, becoming the owner of six hundred and forty acres of rich and productive land. At length he sold out there and in 1874 removed to Greene county, investing in six hundred acres of land in Cedar township. His time and energies were then given to general agricultural pursuits until 1891, when he divided his land among his children and removed to Lohrville, where his last days were passed, his death there occurring in 1894, when he was about eighty one years of age. His life had indeed been a busy and useful one and the honor which he manifested in all relations won for him the respect of those with whom he came in contact, while his diligence wrought for his prosperity. He had long survived his wife, who died in 1871. There were ten children born unto this worthy couple but they lost their eldest on the voyage to America. The others are: Stephen, of this review; William and Michael, who are residents of Washington; Mrs. Mary Cavanaugh and Mrs. Elizabeth O’Mara, living in Calhoun county, Iowa; James, who follows farming in Cedar township; Bridget and Ann, who are residents of Lohrville, Iowa; and John, who is located in Coon Rapids, this state. Stephen Gaffney was less than a year old when brought to the United States by his parents. He was reared to farm life in Iowa and in early days shared with the family in the hardships, trials and privations incident to an existence on the frontier. He assisted in the arduous task of developing new land at a day when all farm machinery was very crude and much of the labor was done by hand. He remained with his parents until twenty-eight years of age, when his father gave him one hundren and sixty acres of raw prairie and he then started out in life on his own account. He further completed his arrangements for having a home of his own by his marriage on the 23d of March, 1884, to Miss Johannah Cavanaugh, who was born in Canada in 1850. They traveled life’s journey together for sixteen years and were then separated by the death of the wife in 1900. They had become the parents of four children of whom three sons are yet living, Patrick, Thomas and William, all at home. That Mr. Gaffney has prospered in his undertakings is indicated by the fact that he is now the owner of four hundred and eighty acres of rich farming land in Cedar township and with the assistance of his sons he is now cultivating two hundred acres of this tract, while the remainder he rents. From his property he derives a splendid income and is accounted one of the energetic agriculturists of the community. Almost his entire life has been spent in Iowa and he has witnessed its development from the days of early statehood to its present status of progress, while in the community where he has lived he has borne his share in the work of general improvement, withholding his aid from no movement or measure calculated to promote the welfare of the town or county. He is an inde pendent voter, supporting men and measures rather than party. His fellow townsmen have called him to oflice and he has served as road supervisor, as township trustee for three years and as township treasurer for nineteen years, proving most faithful in the discharge of his official duties. He is a member of the Catholic church and has lived an honorable, upright life in harmony with his professions. |
Transcribed from "Past and Present of Greene County, Iowa Together With Biographical Sketches of Many of Its Prominent and Leading Citizens and Illustrious Dead," by E. B. Stillman assisted by an Advisory Board consisting of Paul E. Stillman, Gillum S. Toliver, Benjamin F. Osborn, Mahlon Head, P. A. Smith and Lee B. Kinsey, Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1907.  Site Terms, Conditions & Disclaimer |