William Michael Byrne

BYRNE, KELLEY, LYNCH, SULLIVAN

Posted By: Karen-Volunteer (email)
Date: 9/17/2020 at 11:39:02

Taken from “The Pioneer History of Pocahontas County, Iowa” by Robert E. Flickinger, A. B. B. D, published by Fonda Times, Fonda Iowa, 1904

Transcribed by Mary Alice Schwanke and Cyndi Vertrees

Biography of Wm. Michael Byrne

Byrne, Wm. Michael, (b. 1858), is a native of County Roscommon, Ireland, the son of William and Mary (Kelley) Byrne. He was raised on a farm, in 1878 he married Catharine Lynch and, coming to America, worked two months on a railroad in N. J., and then located in Cedar township, Pocahontas county.

In 1880 he bought a farm of 80 acres on sec 14. Dover township, which he was the first to occupy and improve. He increased this farm to 240 acres, improved it with good buildings, grove and orchard and occupied it until 1896, when he built a house and moved to Fonda for the education of his children. He has managed the affairs on the farm several years since his first removal from it and usually carries about 70 head of cattle.

In 1900 he formed a partnership with his nephew, Thos. J. Byrne and has since been engaged in the stock, grain and implement business in Pocahontas. He is a democrat and a member of the Catholic church.

His family consists of five children, Michael, Catherine, Anna Ellen, Margaret and Mary Elizabeth.

William, the oldest, died from an accidental gunshot wound in 1896.

Mary Byrne, his widowed mother came to America in 1880 and has been a resident of this county since that date. She has dwelt most of the time with her three sons, Thomas in Grant, Matthew in Cedar, and William.

Peter Byrne, who was a resident of Grant township 20 years and moved to Minnesota in 1902, was also her son. He married Ann, a sister of Jeremiah O. Sullivan, and raised a large family. Her other son, Michael, lives in England.