Lawrence Shehan

Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Peoria County, 1902
Transcribed by John Melton

SHEHAN, LAWRENCE; Farmer; born in Gorey, County Wexford, Ireland, February 3, 1828; is the son of Abraham Shehan, of Gorey, and Margaret (Sutherland) Shehan, of County Wexford, daughter of John and Madge Sutherland. Lawrence Shehan came from Dublin to New York and after spending a year on Staten Island, removed to Chicago. Subsequently he came to Medina Township, Peoria County, and, in 1847 hired to John Hermann, for whom he worked seven years. In 1864 he came to Radnor Township and purchased a farm a quarter of a mile from Dunlap. Mr. Shehan is a member of the Catholic Church; is a Democrat, and has served as Road Commissioner and School Director. Lawrence Shehan and Emily Gates were united in marriage at Peoria, Illinois, February 1, 1865, and have been the parents of eight children: John Henry, born November 27, 1865, Mary Louisa, born February 9, 1867; Myra Ellen, born November 10, 1868; Margaret Alice, born September 8, 1870; Bessie Abbie, born February18, 1872; an infant, died June 17, 1873; Charles Lawrence, born April 16, 1878; Emma Frances, born August 12, 1881; Herbert Stephens, born December 18, 1882. Bessie married James Dean, March 23, 1896, and died, May 9, 1900. She lived in Tremont, where she was prominent in the work of the Baptist Church, of which she was a member. John H. married Anna, daughter of Harrison Harlan. Louisa M. married Grant Rogers. Myra E. married Benjamin J. Rice and lives at Greenfield, Iowa. Margaret A. married William Grant. The other three children are living at home. Emma Frances is a successful music teacher. Charles L. is an amateur artist and has done some fine work; is also a good musician and director of the Dunlap Band. Herbert is a telegraph-operator, and time-keeper on the Rock Island & Peoria Railroad. Emily A. Gates was born in Mossville, August 3, 1839, and is the daughter of Benjamin F. and Mary Pratt Gates. The father was born in Worcester, Massachusetts, and the mother in South Middleborough, same State. The mother had for her first husband, Jesse Dean, a native of Taunton, Massachusetts, who died in his native town in 1833. Mary Dean was married in 1836, to B. F. Gates and they came by wagon from Taunton, Massachusetts, to Radnor in the fall of 1837, the journey by land occupying six weeks.

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