Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1891
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 657
MICHAEL SARVEY

Michael SARVEY, a farmer living on section 28, LaGrange Township, came to Harrison County in the spring of 1871, and bought a quarter section of land where he now lives. He then returned to Dubuque County, and removed his family out the following spring. He built a house 16x24 feet, one story and a half high, and broke about seventy acres of his land that year. He had a good barn, 28x30 feet, with twelve-foot posts. This was built in 1881, as was his granary which is 12x16 feet. Mr. SARVEY added to his original land, from time to time, until he had six hundred and eighty acres, but gave to his sons until he now owns only four hundred acres, one-third of which is under cultivation and all well stocked. He has been prospered in a good degree, though nothing has come to him by chance, as it was hard work and judicious investment which has brought him the handsome competency which he now possesses.

Our subject at this writing is just seventy years of age, as he was born in Ireland in 1821. In 1841 he came to America, just in the pride of his young manhood, and settled in New Jersey, and went to work at $10 per month, and remained there until 1849, then came to Dubuque, Iowa, where he conducted a grocery store for three years and also had two teams freighting. He finally sold out and rented a farm and worked the same as long as he lived in that county, never having owned a foot of land until he came to Harrison County. He had farmed in New Jersey for six years prior to coming to Dubuque County, and by prudence and hard work, he had accumulated $1,500 in money, and upon coming to Harrison County, he had $2,000, nine head of horses and twenty head of cattle, which he drove through from Dubuque.

Among the more important events of this man's life may be mentioned that of his marriage to Miss Margaret DOYLE, in 1844, in New Jersey. By this marriage union six children were born: James, John, Mary J., Katie E., Christopher, deceased, Margaret, deceased.

Margaret (DOYLE) SARVEY was born in Ireland, in the county of Mayo, in about 1823, and when she was fifteen years of age came to America, with her brother, and remained with him until the date of her marriage.

Politically, Mr. SARVEY believes in the general principles of the Democratic party, while he and his family are members of the Roman Catholic Church.

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