For
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume II, Biographical, 1911, page 471
DANIEL O'BRIEN....Daniel O'Brien, now living retired on his farm in Muscatine county, was born in Ireland, March 12, 1832. He is of sturdy Irish acnestry and is a son of Michael and Anna ( Maher ) O'Brien. His parents came to America in 1847, the trip being made in a sailing vessel which required eight weeks for the voyage. After living for three years in St. Louis they settled on a farm in Muscatine county, where the father devoted his attention to agriculture until his death, which occurred in 1861. The mother passed away a year later. Seven children comprised the family, namely : Dennis, now a farmer on Muscatine island ; Patrick, deceased ; John M., a record of whom appears elsewhere in this work ; Daniel, our subject ; Michael, now living in California ; James, deceased ; and Catherine, who died at the age of twenty-two years.Daniel O'Brien was reared on his father's farm, where he continued until twenty-two years of age, assisting according to the extent of his ability in the support of the family. However, in 1854, having heard many stories concerning valuable gold mines on the Pacific coast, he decided to seek the yellow metal, going to New York, sailed for the isthmus of Panama, which he crossed, and then proceeded by water to San Francisco. He spent three years as a miner and prospector and then returned home by the same route which he had taken to the west. Although his dreams were not fully realized he was not entirely disappointed and he gained a great deal of experience that proved to be of practical value in after life. He returned home in 1857 and a year later purchased land in Muscatine county, being now the owner of two hundred acres, which he has improved by erecting buildings, planting trees, etc. so that he now has one of the desirable properties of the county. He makes a specialty of raising and feeding stock.
In 1867 Mr. O'Brien was united in marriage to Miss Catherine Byrne, who was born in Ireland and is a daughter of John and Margaret ( O'Toole ) Byrne, both of whom are deceased. Eight children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. O'Brien ; Mary A., now the wife of J. P. Hickey, of Seventy-six township ; Michael, deceased ; Margaret, of Denver, Colorado ; John and Catherine, at home ; one who died in infancy ; Dennis, also at home ; and Daniel, in Colorado.
Mr. O'Brien was deprived of his lovely wife by the hand of death in 1888 and, although the unwelcome visitor has more than once stopped in his household, the death of his wife was the severest affliction he has ever known. He has now arrived at the age of seventy-eight years and has yielded his cares of the farm to younger hands, resting after many years of earnest and well directed labor. Politically he is identified with the democratic party. He has never sought office but has served as member of the school board. In religious belief he gives his assent to the Catholic church---the church of his fathers---in whose folds the children of the family also find a friendly shelter.
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