Hannan, John

John Hannan


John Hannan is the owner of a fine farm situated about a mile and a half from Kenosha, on Section 35, Somers Township, Kenosha county, where he engages in farming and breeding horses.  He was born in the town which is still his home, March 4, 1846, and is a representative of one of the earliest families of the community.  His father, John Hannan, was born in County Dublin, Ireland, in 1798, and was a self-made man, both as regards education and finances.  He crossed the Atlantic to America in 1833, and in 1835, came to Kenosha County, Wisconsin.
Few were the settlers in this community at that time, the entire county being almost in its primitive condition.  He made a claim of a half-section of timber land and after clearing away the trees and digging up the stumps, plowed and planted the fields, which were soon made to bloom and blossom as the rose.
In Kenosha County, John Hannan, Sr. married Bridget Conny, and unto them were born six children, three sons and three daughters.  The eldest, James, a man of superior education and intelligence, is Assistant Superintendent of the schools of Chicago; Kate is engaged in teaching in that city; John, of this sketch is the next younger; Mary is also a teacher of Chicago; Robert is living on a ranch in New Mexico; and Fannie is the wife of J.P. Healy, a wealthy merchant of Chicago and one of its most prominent citizens, dealing in musical instruments.  The father of this family was a man of good judgement, was sagacious and enterprising and lived an upright life, which won him universal esteem.  He always supported the men and measures of the Democratic party in national elections but at local elections voted for the man whom he thought would best fill the office.  He died August 17, 1865, and in his death the county lost one of its best citizens.  His wife survived him many years and departed this life in May, 1889.
The subject of this sketch has spent his entire life in Kenosha County.  In the summer months, when a boy he worked upon his father's farm and in the winter season attended the common schools, but his educational privileges were limited.  He remained with his father until his death, and after attaining his majority operated the old homestead.  In connection with general farming he engaged in dealing in horses and cattle, which business he yet continues.  He has owned some noted fast trotters and the stock now seen upon his farm is of the highest grades.   He laid aside agricultural pursuits, however, in 1888, when he was elected Sheriff of Kenosha County.  He has taken quite an active part in local politics and was nominated on the Democratic ticket for County Sheriff, to which office he was elected by a majority of fifty-six, over a strong republican candidate and in a Republican County.  He made one of the best sheriffs Kenosha County has ever had, discharging every duty with promptness and fidelity.  On the expiration of his term of service he returned to the old homestead.  The estate was divided in 1890, and Mr. Hannan is now the owner of a well-improved and valuable farm of one hundred and ten acres, situated about a mile and a half from Kenosha.  A commodious and substantial residence has lately been erected; there may be seen good barns and outbuildings and the well-tilled fields indicate the industry of the owner.
(Source:  Portrait and Biographicl Album of Racine and Kenosha Counties, Lake City Publishing Co., 1892, Chicago.)



Section 28, Somers Township, 40 acres
"John Hannan, well known as a breeder and raiser of fine stock, has long been identified with the farming interests of Kenosha County.  He was born in Somers Township on the 4th of March, 1846, a son of John and Bridget (Conney) Hannan, who were natives of County Dublin, Ireland, the father's birth having there occurred in the year 1798.  He obtained a common school education in his native country and in 1833 sailed for the new world, hoping to have better business opportunities on this side the Atlantic than he could secure on the Emerald Isle.  The voyage was made in one of the old-time sailing vessels and week after week was passed upon the broad Atlantic ere he reached American shores.
In 1835 he arrived in Kenosha County, at which time Wisconsin was still under territorial government.  He took up a claim of a half section of land and became identified with the early pioneer development of the district.  He was a self-made man, owing his advancement entirely to his own efforts.  Gradually he worked his way upward and the success which he achieved was the merited reward of industry, perseverance and unfaltering determination.  He gave his political support to the democratic party and in religious faith was a Catholic.  He died August 17, 1865, respected by all who knew him, for he possessed many sterling traits of character that made him well liked.  His widow long survived him, passing away in May, 1899.  Their children were six in number, namely:  James, Kate, John, Mary, Robert and Fannie.
In the common schools of Somers Township John Hannan pursued his education, and while his opportunities of mastering the lessons that one seeks in books were somewhat limited, he learned many valuable lessons in the school of experience and was early trained to the best methods of tilling the soil and caring the farm in every department of its work.  After attaining his majority he did not seek to change his occupation but has always concentrated his energies upon agricultural pursuits and has spent much time in raising high grade stock, especially fast horses, in which connection his farm has become noted as a breeding place for fine driving stock.
On Thanksgiving Day of 1874 Mr. Hannan was united in marriage to Miss Maria Broderick, a native of the Town of Brighton and a daughter of Dominick Broderick, one of the old settlers of this county.  To Mr. and Mrs. Hannan have been born five children, as follows:  Frank, at home; James, who is deceased; Winnifred, who has also passed away; and Walter and William, both at home.
Mr. Hannan was reared in the Roman Catholic Church and has always adhered to that belief.  Upon the Democratic ticket he was elected sheriff of Kenosha County and made an excellent record as an officer during the two years of his incumbency in that position.  He has many attractive social qualities which have rendered him popular and his circle of friends in the community is almost coextensive with the circle of his acquaintance.
(Source:  City and County of Kenosha, Vol. II, Chicago, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1916)

Murray

James Henry Murray
James Henry Murray passed his entire life in Kenosha County and concentrated his energies upon farming, being one of the most successful and most practical agriculturists of his locality.  He was a representative of one of the pioneer families of this section of the state and his birth occurred in Paris Township, Kenosha County, October 21, 1852.
His father, Patrick Murray, was born in County Mayo, Ireland, and grew to manhood in his native country.  He worked there as a laborer until 1835, when he came to America in order to take advantage of the unusually good opportunities offered here to the poor man.  After working for a time on the Erie Canal, he removed to Lockport, Illinois, whence he came to Kenosha County, being one of the first settlers here.  He at once purchased forty acres of land and later bought an additional ten acres, and there he resided for many years, passing away in 1879, when he had reached the advanced age of eighty years.  He engaged in farming and by energy and thrift accumulated a competence.  Both he and his wife were members of the Catholic church and guided their lives by its teachings.
She was born in County Down, Ireland, and also lived beyond the  Psalmist's three score years and ten, as she was seventy-four years old when her death occurred in Kenosha County in 1901.  Her father removed with his family from Ireland to Kenosha County at an early day in its history and after living for a time at Paris located in Pleasant Prairie Township, where he died when almost a hundred years of age.  His wife reached the age of ninety-four years.  They were the parents of two sons and three daughters:  James, a resident of Neenah, Wisconsin; Patrick of Kenosha; Ann the wife of J.P. Callahan of Kenosha;  Mrs. Bridget Murray; and Catherine who married a Mr. McDonald and is now deceased.
To Mrs. and Mrs. Patrick Murray were born eleven children, namely: Sarah now Mrs. George Shanley, Jr. of Brighton Township, Kenosha County; Mary the wife of Frank Farrell of Sioux City, Iowa; Rose the deceased wife of James McCarthy of Fargo, North Dakota; Margaret the wife of John McCann of Osage, Mitchell County, Iowa; James Henry of Somers Township; Dominick of Woodstock, Illinois; Catherine the wife of James Leonard of Albion, Nebraska; Alice who married William E. Heidersdorf of Paris and Somers Township; Frank of Ogema, Price County, Wisconsin; Ellen who married Frank Garland of Waukegan, Illinois; and William, deceased.
James Henry Murray grew to manhood upon the home farm in Paris Township and in the acquirement of his early education attended the district schools.  Subsequently he became a student in a seminary at Osage, Iowa, and after residing in that town for two years and eight months he began teaching.  For fourteen years he devoted his winters to educational work, while during the summer seasons he followed agricultural pursuits.  He stood high among the teachers of the county, proving successful in imparting knowledge and also in training his pupils in habits of industry and concentration.  Following his marriage, he rented a fine farm of two hundred and nine-seven acres of Section 30, and a year later he purchased the place, which he cultivated until called by death.  He made many substantial improvements upon the farm and as the years passed his well directed labors enabled him to gain financial independence.  He raised both grain and stock and in his methods was at once practical and progressive.  He passed away on the 16th of November, 1907.
On the 28th of September 1880, occurred the marriage of Mr. Murray and Sarah A. Craney, a daughter of John and Johanna (O'Leary) Craney, both natives of Ireland, the father of County Down and the mother of County Cork.  The paternal grandfather, James Craney, was a linen manufacturer of Ireland and passed away in that country in middle life.  He and his wife had five sons and two daughters:  John, James, William, Michael, Bernard, Margaret, and Mary.  The O'Leary family emigrated to Canada many years ago, giving up a large property in Ireland rather than surrender their religious faith.  Mr. and Mrs. John Craney both emigrated to Canada from Ireland and were married in the Dominion, where they continued to reside for some time.  At length, however, they came to the United States and settled in Kenosha County when it was still a frontier region.  Mr. Craney engaged in farming and was very successful in that connection, at one time owning six hundred acres of land in Paris Township, Kenosha County.  He died on the 9th of January 1881 when sixty-seven years old and was survived by his wife until August 24, 1901, her death occurring when she was eighty-four years old.  They were the parents of four sons and six daughters, seven of whom survive, namely:  James, who is living near Independence, Iowa; Jeremiah of Los Angeles, California; Rose the wife of George Magill of Kenosha; Mary the wife of Michael Kelley of Bristol Township; Margaret the wife of William J. Ryan; Mrs. Sarah Murray; and William J. of Kenosha.  Mrs. Murray is a graduate of St. Clara's Seminary at Sinsinawa Mound, Wisconsin and taught school in Kenosha County for several years previous to her marriage.  She is the mother of five children, namely: John C who married Agnes McKenna and is a machinist in Kenosha; James P.; Irene, who is teaching school; Alice who was valedictorian of her class when she was graduated from the College of Commerce at Kenosha in 1905; and Arthur Jerome.
Mr. Murray was a Democrat and took the interest of a good citizen in political affairs, although never an office seeker.  He however served for several years as school treasurer of district No. 8 and during that time did all in his power to further educational advancement.  He was connected with Camp No. 828 Modern Woodmen of America at Somers Township and in religious faith he was a Roman Catholic.
(Source:  City and County of Kenosha Record of Settlement by Frank H. Lyman, Vol. II, Chicago, S.J. Clarke Publishing Co. 1916)




1887 Partial map of Somers Township, Kenosha County
Section 30, J.H. Murray owned two parcels:  80 acres and 140 acres

Census Information
1900 U.S. Census listed James H. and Sarah home was Somers Township, Kenosha County
1905 Wisconsin State Census listed James H. and Sarah home was Somers Township, Kenosha County
1910 U.S. Census listed James H. and Sarah home was Somers Township, Kenosha County and also a brother, Arthur J., lived with James and Sarah in 1910.

Moran

1887 Partial Map of Somers Township
Section 12
D. Moran Est. parcel
Click on map for closer view.

Dominick Moran
Dominick Moran, was one of the pioneers of Kenosha  County, Wisconsin, arriving here in the '40s, and for many years he carried on agricultural pursuits in Somers Township.  He was widely known and his demise was the occasion of much sincere regret.
A native of County Mayo, Ireland, his birth occurred in 1819, and his education was that afforded by the common schools of the Emerald Isle.  He remained there for several years after he had attained his majority, but in 1842 or 1843 he emigrated to the U.S. and located in Kenosha County.  He became the owner of a tract of land and at once began the improvement of his place, which became in time one of the valuable farms of Somers Township.  When he reached this country he was empty handed, but his enterprise and sound judgement enabled him to gain more than a competence.
About 1857 Mr. Moran was married in Kenosha to Miss Margaret Cunnane, also a native of Ireland, and they became the parents of six children:  Bridget Louisa; James, who resides on the home place; Ellen, the wife of D. Toner, by whom she has three children; John; Mary, the deceased wife of Michael Daley, by whom she had two children; and Margaret, the deceased wife of John Sherry.
Mr. Moran was a stanch advocate of Democratic principles and supported that party loyally at the polls.  He was a member of the Temperance Society and attended the services at St. Mark's Roman Catholic Church.  He was a factor in the early development of the county, and his upright and useful life entitled him to a high place in the estimation of all who knew him.  He passed away May 11, 1874, and his community was the poorer because of his demise.
(Source:  Kenosha City and County Record of Settlement by Frank H. Lyman, Vol II, Chicago, S.J. Clarke Publishing Co. 1916)

John Moran
John Moran, the second son of Dominick Moran, was born in Kenosha on the 10th of January 1863 and as a boy attended the common schools, continuing his education until he was fifteen years old.  He then concentrated his energies upon farm work, assisting his father until the latter's demise, and he is now operating the home farm in connection with his brother, James.  The place comprises seventy-three acres of rich land, and the buildings are modern and substantial.  He is recognized as one of the capable and prosperous farmers of his community and has never had occasion to regret his choice of an occupation.
Mr. Moran was married on the 31st day of July 1897 to Miss Theresa White, a daughter of Michael White, an old settler of this county.  To Mr. and Mrs. Moran were born two children, Robert and Walter, both of whom are attending school.  The wife and mother died on the 18th of December, 1903 and is buried in Kenosha.
Mr. Moran supports the Democratic party at the polls when national issues are involved but otherwise votes independently.  He was clerk of the school board for six years and has also served acceptable as Pathmaster.  His religious faith is that of the roman catholic church, and he is a communicant of St. James at Kenosha.  He has gained a gratifying measure of prosperity through his industry and careful attention to his farming operations and is highly respected throughout the county.
(Source: Kenosha City and County Record of Settlement by Frank H. Lyman, Vol II, Chicago, S.J. Clarke Publishing Co. 1916)

"Funeral services for James Moran were held Tuesday at St, James church, Kenosha, with burial in St. James Cemetery.  The casket bearers were George P. Thomas, Frank Lichter, John F. Swartz, Edward Witschcber, William Thompson and Frank Feest."
(Source:  Racine Journal, June 23, 1934)