Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1891
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 456
MICHAEL BARRETT

Michael BARRETT, one of the representative business men of Dunlap, has been a resident of Harrison County since 1868. Having been a prominent factor in Harrison County, it is appropriate in this connection, that the subjoined sketch of him should appear.

Mr. BARRETT is a native of the Emerald Isle, born in County Mayo, Ireland, November 11, 1834. He is a son of Jacob and Mary (O'CONNELL) BARRETT, who emigrated to America in 1847, and located in new York State, and two years later removed to Madison, Ind., where the family remained until 1852, then moved to Clinton County, Iowa, where they made their home until 1868. During that year our subject came with his family to Harrison County; having been here the year previous, just as Dunlap was being platted, and located lands in Shelby, Crawford and Harrison, purchasing some thirteen hundred acres. He moved his family to his farm, one mile south of Dunlap, where they remained two years. In 1870, he is company with two of his brothers, engaged in the mercantile business, under the firm name of BARRETT Bros., which firm continued until 1879; Martin BARRETT, however retired in 1875. In 1879 J. H. retired leaving our subject in full control of the business, and in 1884 the firm name was changed to BARRETT & Sons, composed of Michael BARRETT, E. H. BARRETT and M. J. BARRETT, which firm put in a stock of general merchandise with a cash capital of fifteen thousand dollars. The firm has always done a general business, and is now carrying a stock of twenty-five thousand dollars, their annual sales amounting to seventy-five thousand dollars. The business is conducted in a fine two-story brick building, which was the first brick business house erected in Dunlap, it being completed in 1874. This building is twenty-five feet front, by one hundred feet in depth. M. J., one of the firm, managed a branch store at Ute, Iowa, for four years. They are also extensively engaged in stock raising, principally standard grad horses, and have turned off some very fine trotters; having reared some animals of the 2:30 class. At this writing they have fifteen standard bred horses. Among them might be mentioned, "Almont Wagoner," "Fred Dunlap" and "Young Ranger." They have in and around Harrison county, over thirty thousand dollars worth of real estate, as connected with their farming and breeding ranch enterprises.

The parents of our subject came to Harrison Township, in 1870, where the father died July 1, 1887, at the age of eight-two years. The mother is still living aged seventy-nine years. They reared a family of six sons and four daughters; Michael, our subject; Ann, widow of L. DEVITT, a resident of Dunlap; Mary, wife of Thomas HIGGINS, of Dunlap; Martin, a resident of Dunlap; Rose, deceased; Catherine, deceased; Jacob H., president of the Omaha Vinegar Works, and the owner of a cattle ranch in Nebraska; Edward and Thomas, both deceased.

Our subject was united in marriage at Madison, Jefferson County, Indiana, in July 1853, to Rose CAULFIELD, born in Ireland in 1835. Mr. and Mrs. BARRETT are the parents of ten children; Anthony, deceased; Bessie, wife of M. C. DALLY, a resident of Dunlap; Jennie, wife of J. M. SMITH, of Dunlap; Edward H., a member of the firm of M. BARRETT &Sons; M. J., a member of the same firm; Mary, wife of Dr. William BEATTY, of Dunlap; Ella, wife of James H. PURCELL, of Omaha; Josephine, deceased; Jacob, deceased, and James F. at home.

Politically, our subject is a stanch supporter of the Democratic party, and has held his share of local offices. He has been a member of the school board, as well as one of the Town Council. He and his family are members of the Roman Catholic Church, and have always been liberal donators to their own church, as to those of other denominations. Our subject has improved six farms in this and adjoining counties, besides erecting several substantial buildings.

The man, of whom this sketch is written, together with his family, is a true example of what honest industry can accomplish, under our form of government. It will be remembered that our subject exchanged his native land Ireland, for American when he was a mere boy, and hence has made all he has since coming to our shores.

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