WEXFORD BIOSBIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF CLINTON RESIDENTS
(Pgs 669-697) JAMES WELCH, farmer; P.O. De Witt. Mr. Welch was born in County Wexford, Ireland; he came to the United States in 1854; lived in Dutchess Co., N. Y., for five years; came to Clinton Co. in 1859, and settled on the farm he now owns in 1861; he has 212 acres of land. His wife was Catherine Hall, a native of Ireland; they have seven children-James, Helena, Catharine, Mary, Ellen, Ann and John. History of Counties of Woodbury and Plymouth, Iowa; Will L. Clark, et al.; Chicago: A. Warner & Co., 1890-91 Matthew Flood, farmer and stock dealer, Battle Creek, was born in County Wexford, Ireland, in 1846, and received his entire schooling in Ireland. He came to America in 1868, and located at Springfield, Illinois, and was naturalized in 1878. After remaining in Illinois eight years, he came to Dallas county, Iowa, and in 1883 to Woodbury county, always engaged as a farmer. His parents, Matthew and Kate (Furlong) Flood, were Irish, and are both deceased. In 1871 the subject of this sketch married Bridget Diskin, whose parents, Michael and Mary (Cusic) Diskin, are both dead. He has five children: Mary Ellen, Katie, Maggie, Mattie and John. All are members of the Catholic church. Mr. Flood is a member of the Farmers' Alliance. He has a farm of 320 acres, all under cultivation, on which he raises mostly corn. At the present time (1890) he has 100 head of cattle and 200 head of hogs. History of Tama County, Iowa; Springfield, Ill.: Union Pub. Co., 1883. John Doyle was born in county Wexford, Ireland, in October, 1834. During 1853 he came to America, and first settled in Jo Daviess county, Illinois, where he soon engaged in farming. In 1865 he removed to Scott county, Iowa, and at the end of three years, came to Tama county, settling on section 28, Columbia township, where he now lives on a fine farm of 200 acres. Mr. Doyle was married in 1861 to Miss Ellen Enright, a native of Ireland, and born in 1839. They have ten children living-Annie, born July 31, 1862; Michael, born February 14, 1864; Maggie, born August 7, 1865; John, born February 3, 1867; Maurice, born March 31, 1869; Peter, born August 28, 1871; Dennis, born October 5, 1873; Martin, born November, 19, 1875; Mary, born October 28, 1877; Stephen E., born May 22, 1881. Portraits and Biographical Album of Jefferson and Van Buren Counties. Chicago: Lake City Pub. Co., 1890. p. 657 Joseph Warren
is a native of County Wexford, Ireland, born July 12, 1814. His parents were
Christopher and Sarah Warren, who were both natives of Wexford County. His
father was a farmer by occupation, to which pursuit Joseph was reared. The
schools of that locality not being good he received but a limited education
which however he largely supplemented by reading and observation. He remained at
home assisting his father in the management and cultivation of the farm until he
was twenty-five years of age. On the 17th of February 1840, he married Miss Mary
Ann Pierce who was also a native of County Wexford. After his marriage he
engaged in farming for himself and continued to successfully operate a large
farm until his emigration to America. That he thoroughly understood all branches
of agriculture is attested by the fact that he has in his possession a silver
medal, that was presented to him by the Agricultural Association for being the
best farmer in the county. In the summer of 1853, he decided to seek a home in
the New World and with his wife and four children, sailed for America, landing
at New Orleans, and continuing his journey, arrived at St. Louis on the 26th of
December of that year. In the spring of 1854, he landed in Van Buren County. He
was not without means, for upon his arrival he had about $3,000 as the result of
his successful tenant farming in his native land. He located at Vernon Township,
where he bought one hundred and twenty acres of land and began the development
of a farm. His labors were successful, and he continued to increase his
possessions until he became the owner of seven hundred acres. He had been in the
county but a few years, when the people recognizing his ability and worth as a
citizen elected him to the office of Township Supervisor, and the County Board
elected him President of the body. He served his constituents faithfully. He was
subsequently elected Justice of the Peace, but not caring to act in that
capacity he held the office but a few years.
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