Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1891
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 313
THOMAS CODY

Thomas CODY, a representative farmer and highly respected citizen of section 34, of Calhoun Township, came to Harrison County, in the spring of 1869, locating at Missouri Valley. He was in the employ of the Northwestern Railroad Company, building water-tanks, which work he continued to do for twenty years. He resided at Missouri Valley for about ten years, and then bought his present place, which consisted of ninety-two acres of partly improved land. He set out an orchard of one hundred and twenty-five trees, kept the place in good repair, and kept adding to the same, until he now has two hundred and sixty acres; ninety being under the plow, while the balance is in meadow, timber and pasture land.

Our subject is the son of the Emerald Isle, born in Ireland, August, 1834. He is a son of John and Mary CODY, of Ireland, who had seven children, our subject being the youngest. The children were named, Michael, Edward, (deceased); Ann, Catharine, (deceased); Mary, John and Thomas.

Our subject lived in Ireland, until about twenty-seven years of age, remaining at home until he had reached his majority, when he was apprenticed to learn the carpenter's trade. After serving four years, he worked at his trade one year and then sailed for America. He worked in New York a few months, and then went to Salamanca, N. Y., where he engaged in coopering, constructing oil barrels, which occupied his time for two years. We next find him in Warren, Penn., working at the same business one winter, and followed the same at Plummersville for a short time. He then went back to work at the carpenter's trade, which he followed until coming to Harrison County. He lived in the Keystone State, during the great oil excitement.

An important event in this man's life was his marriage April 21, 1867, to Catherine WARD, daughter of Timothy and Mary WARD, natives of Ireland, who had six children; Catharine, Maria, (deceased); Thomas, John, (deceased); Nellie and Frank. Our subject and his wife are the parents of ten children; Mary, Ann Ellen, (deceased); John, Ellen, Lizzie, (deceased); Jennie, Maggie, Thomas and William.

Our subject and his wife are both members of the Roman Catholic Church, and politically, he affiliates with the Republican party.

Return to 1891 Biographical C Surnames Index

Back to 1891 Biographies Index