Our subject is a native of Ireland, having been born in that country February 12, 1843, in County Meath. His father was a native of County Meath, Ireland, where he followed the occupation of farming until his death when our subject was a child of four years. The mother, Catherine McDonnell, also a native of County Meath, was a daughter of Alex McDonnell, a son of the Emerald Isle, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits until his departure for the shores of America in 1847. He accompanied his daughter, the mother of our subject, but did not long survive the change, dying the first summer he spent in this country at his new home in Peoria County. Following the death of her husband the mother of our subject emigrated to America, bringing with her the family of three children. The trip was made from Liverpool to New Orleans in a sailing vessel and occupied nine weeks, but the tedious voyage did not dampen their ardor and they were soon on their way to Peoria via the Mississippi. Upon arriving in the county she went to her brother in Millbrook Township, where she remained until the next fall when she bought one hundred and ten acres of land on section 30, Jubilee Township, for $5 per acre, upon which she located. As the farm was improved she was enabled to begin farming operations at once, and by industry was able to make a success of her life work and retire in old age from active duty to the home of her son, our subject, who was then in charge of the place, wherein she finally departed from the duties of this life and entered upon the future one January 26, 1888, at the age of seventy-seven years. She was a devout member of the Catholic Church and was a consistent Christian who made many friends by her kind deeds and loving words.

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