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History of Story County, Iowa Vol 2 by William O. Payne, 1911

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resident of Canada he received the appointment of justice of peace from the crown. Mr. McCarthy was united in marriage to Miss Mary Elizabeth Moore and by this union seven children were born, three of whom still survive, the son Daniel being the second in order of birth.

Daniel McCarthy acquired his fundamental education in the district schools of Canada and after laying aside his textbooks he apprenticed himself to the carpenter's trade. When he attained his majority he left the land of his nativity and located in Jefferson county, New York, but after a brief residence there he decided to follow the sea for a while, believing the opportunities so afforded of studying the customs and habits of other nations at first hand would prove a liberal education. He shipped out of Sackets Harbor, New York, as a sailor, but two months of this life was sufficient and he migrated to Chicago and then removed to the central part of Illinois and obtained a position as fireman on the Illinois Central Railroad for a few months. In the winter of 1854 he came west to Iowa and located in Marshall county, where he worked at the carpenter's trade. He remained there until the 1st of April, 1856, when he removed to Fairviewnow Story City, it taking four days to make the journey. After his arrival in Story county he installed a steam plant in a sawmill owned by Mr. House. This was the first steam plant operated in this county, and after completing the work he returned to Marshall county but shortly afterward was employed by Nelson House to remove the sawmill to what was at that time called New Philadelphia but is now Ontario. He continued in the service of Mr. House in the sawmill for a time and then bought the mill, which he operated for about two years and then sold it. He again engaged in carpenter work for seven years, being dependent upon it for his livelihood, while spending all of his leisure time in the study of law. He made what progress he could, being entirely without assistance during the whole period of his study. However, he was ambitious and determined to win and although it took twelve years to master the principles of jurisprudence his perseverance won and he was admitted to the bar in 1870, remaining in active practice for nearly forty years, only recently retiring. He first engaged in practice with John L. Stevens, under the firm name of McCarthy & Stevens, later G. A. Underwood was admitted as junior partner. After the dissolution of that partnership he became a member of the firm of McCarthy & Conley and later practiced with Mr. Lee, now Judge Lee. More recently he has been identified with Mr. Luke, under the name of McCarthy & Luke, and while this last relationship still continues Mr. McCarthy is only a consulting partner, taking no active part in the business of the firm.

When he first located in Story county Mr. McCarthy bought one hundred and sixty acres of land in Washington township, upon which he erected the first frame house built in the township, and since that he has at divers times added to his holdings until he now owns four hundred

Page 98 of 507

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