Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1891
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 419
WILLIAM T. FALLON

William T. FALLON, a farmer living in Magnolia Township came to Harrison County, in January, 1857, settling at Magnolia, where he clerked in the store for J. W. Bates for about two years, then went into business on his own account, handling general merchandise at Magnolia. He continued this for about three years, and then sold out and went to Colorado. This was in August, 1860. He engaged in freighting with a mule-team making his first trip to Denver. In 1861 he made four trips, and all told he has made thirty-one trips across the plains. Upon one occasion he drove one hundred and twenty-five head of cattle through to Denver. Among his overland freighting trips he made one to Salt Lake and one to Idaho City, and, while it will be remembered that this was during the Indian trouble in the West, he was never molested by them; but upon one occasion they passed where three men had been burned and their wagons destroyed, a few days before they got there. Mr. FALLON quit the plains in the autumn of 1865, and returned to Magnolia, and went to farming on a farm he had purchased on section 33, containing one hundred and sixty acres: this he had purchased in 1855. He improved this farm partly before he went to freighting on the plains, but mostly after he returned. After running this farm for five years he came to Magnolia and operated the Bates House for five years, leaving that in November, 1876. He returned to his farm where he remained until March, 1880, when he returned to the village of Magnolia again, still carrying on his farm. The first house built on his place was a frame structure 14x24 feet, built out of cottonwood lumber. Afterward he built an addition to this house and it is now used as a storehouse for his machinery and also for granery purposes.

He was born in Cecil County, Md., November 15, 1834, and in 1851 came with his parents to Mills County, Iowa, where he remained until 1857, and then came to Harrison County.

He was married at Magnolia, Iowa, January 28, 1866, to Miss Amelia E. PATCH, and they are the parents of four children born as follows: Lloyd W., August 15, 1867; Willard B., May 5, 1872; Hattie I., September 28, 1873, and Augustus E., February 5. 1877.

Amelia E. (PATCH) FALLON was born in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, January 19, 1843, and in 1853 her father came to Harrison County, Iowa. Her mother died in Ohio.

The father of our subject (Lloyd FALLON) was born in Chester County, Pa., in 1804, and when a young man went to Maryland, where he was foreman in the Elk Rolling Mills. He worked at this business until 1851, and then left for Mills County, Iowa, where he died in March, 1883. His wife, Sarah (FURGESON) FALLON was born in Cecil County, Md., December 15, 1805, and remained there with her parents until the date of her marriage.

Of the parents of our subject's wife let it be said that Joel H. PATCH, the father, was born in Massachusetts, October 10, 1814, and when four years of age his parents moved to Lake County, Ohio, where he remained until 1853, during which year he settled in Magnolia Township, and there remained on his farm until his death, January 21, 1879. He was one of the first pioneers who came to Harrison County, and was one in whom all had confidence.

Hannah (ROBINSON) PATCH was born in Connecticut, August 18, 1817, and came with her parents to Ohio, where she was married. She died in Ohio, June 29, 1847. She and her husband were the parents of four children, of whom our subject's wife was the third child.

Mr. FALLON's parents had six children, he being the eldest. His mother was a widow prior to her marriage to his father, and by her first husband she had two children.

Mr. and Mrs. FALLON are members of the Latter Day Saints Church, he uniting in May 1875, and his wife a year later. The three youngest children are also members of the same church.

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