Saturday, September 05, 2015

Michael Martion, Iowa.

Michael Martin, dealer in groceries and provisions; Lawler, lowa, was born in Ireland, in 1829, and is the eldest son of Edward and Catherine Martin. When he was twenty -two years of age, in '51 he emigrated to America, locating for three or four years at Cincinnati, Ohio, removing from thence he came to this state, settling in Clayton county, in 1855. Here he remained until 1873, when he removed to Lawler engaging in the grocery and prowision trade and has remained there ever since. Notwithstanding his loss by the fires, that have devastated the town, he is considered, by all, to be financially sound. He was married in 1858, to Bridget Boughana, a native also of the "Emerald isle" and they have six children, Katie, Edward, Lizzie, Mary A., Joseph and John. Mr. Martin has been identified with the educational system of his adopted home, having been a member of the school board, and is one of Lawler's most influential citizens.

2 comments:

  1. Dennis, I believe this is Michael Martin, who married my great-grandmother's sister, Bridget Bohan. My great-grandmother was Eliza Bohan, who married John Fitzsimons/Fitzsimmons, and lived in Lawler, Chickasaw County, Iowa until her death in 1903. Another sister, Maria, married name Blanchard, lived with Eliza in Lawler when both women were widows. I think the Bohan family came to America from County Galway, Ireland. In the 1860 U.S. Census of Fairview, Allamakee County, Iowa, Bridget's father, "Farges" (might be Fergus but misspelled by the census taker) lived with the Martin family, and a lady once wrote me that he was Fergus-Farely Bohen, and died in one of the Lawler fires.

    Michael Martin and Eliza's husband, John Fitzsimmons (my great-grandfather) were business partners in Lawler.

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  2. Tom read this link, most of the names are here.
    https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=loc.ark:/13960/t48p6bq5h;view=1up;seq=5

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