Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1891
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 554
PETER R. MULLEN

Peter R. MULLEN, a farmer residing on section 15, of LaGrange Township, came to Harrison County in the autumn of 1874, and settled on the farm he now occupies. He purchased two hundred and seventy-nine acres of land, two hundred and forty of which was farm land, and the remainder was timber. There were seventy acres of breaking on the place, and a small story and a half house, when he bought the property. He has built an addition to the house, erected two substantial barns, graneries, machine house, corn cribs, and is now building additional cribs and a barn, togethr. He has added to his farm until he now possesses three hundred and fifty-nine acres, one hundred and thirty-five of which are under the plow. The whole premises show him to be a man of thrift and enterprise.

Our subject was born in Dubuque County, Iowa, February 21, 1852. He remained there on the farm with his parents, until he came to Harrison County.

He was married in Harrison County, February 2, 1875, to Miss Ellen M. O'ROURKE, and they are the parents of nine children: John F., James P., Peter W., Mary A., Charles M., Ellen M., Catherine B., Martha G. and Cecelia J.

Mrs. Ellen (O'ROURKE) MULLEN was born in Dubuque County, January 8, 1850, and accompanied her parents to Harrison County, in June, 1873, and remained at home until the date of her marriage to Mr. MULLEN.

The father of Peter MULLEN was born in Ireland, in 1821, and died in Dubuque County, Iowa, May 1882. He came to America, with his mother and the remainder of the family, when he was ten years of age, and they first settled in Maryland, and from there moved to Pennsylvania, and in 1837, came to Jackson County, Iowa, took up a homestead, was among the pioneers of that section of Iowa, and in 1849 sold out, and went to California during the gold excitement. He was there two years, and then came to Dubuque County, and took up a homestead, and in 1852, again went to California, and remained until 1854, then returned to Dubuque County. His wife, the mother of our subject, whose maiden name was Margaret THORNTON, was born in Ireland, and in March, 1821, came with her parents to America, coming direct to Dubuque County, Iowa, where she remained until the date of her marriage.

Our subject's father built the first jail that was built in Jackson County, and was also prominent in the fight with the horse thieves.

Our subject and his wife are both members of the Roman Catholic Church, and politially, he is identified with the Democratic party.

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