IAGenWeb Project - Clayton co.
updated 07/12/2010

Album index


Clayton county Album
Boland family


John N. Boland and Margaret McNamara
John N. Boland and Margaret McNamara

John N. Boland, son of James O'Boland and Katherine Dinan, was born in Ennis, County Claire, Ireland in 1815. He died in Elkader, Iowa on June 25, 1902 and is buried in St. Joseph's cemetery. In 1844, John married Margaret McNamara in County Claire, Ireland. They immigrated to the USA in 1848, settling in Massachusets until they removed to Clayton co. Iowa between 1857 and 1860. John had several brothers and two sisters who also came to the US in the 1850's and settled in Massachusetts.

Margaret McNamara, daughter of Michael McNamara and Mary Minoque, was born in Ennis, County Claire, Ireland in 1815. She died in Elkader, Iowa on May 13, 1900.

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Their Children

James P. Boland

James P. Boland & his wife Mary Clipper
James & Mary (Clipper) Boland

J.P. & Mary (Clipper) Boland's 12 children
Emma, Margaret, Mame
John, Thomas, Joseph
Anna, Martha, Phillip
Honora, Luke, Rosalia

Born May 3, 1846 in Ennis, County Claire, Ireland. Married Mary Clipper in Elkader on June 1, 1873. Mary, born April 2, 1855 in Garnavillo, was the daughter of Gerhardt Clipper (aka John Klopper) & Maria Honsinger. James died in Elkader on June 25, 1925. Mary died December 30, 1943 in Elkader.

James and Mary had 12 children: Emma, Margaret 'Maggie' Agnes, Mame Ann, Johnathan H., Thomas E., Joseph Michael, Anna D., Martha Jane, James Phillip, Honora 'Nora', Luke Joseph and Rosalia.

James taught school in various Iowa towns during the winter while Mary stayed with the children at their farm home 6 miles west of Elkader. He served as a deputy in the Elkader court system and also helped build many bridges in the Elkader area. On the left is a letter that James wrote home to his daughter Maggie. At the time he was away teaching in Algona, Iowa for the winter and had 4 young children at home.

Maggie's letter, late 1800's

 

Lawrence Boland Born in Ireland in 1848 and died in Massachusetts in 1851

 

John Lawrence Boland

John Lawrence Boland

Born in Massachusetts on May 6, 1851. Married Jane Orr in 1878. John died in Iowa, November 5, 1906, brutally murdered by Ed. West, a neighbor.
From his obituary... He leaves six children; James, John, William, Clement, Fred, and Agnes. Deceased was a quiet, peaceable man, respected for his many good qualities. He had his faults like all of us but nevertheless, he was a good person. All regret his untimely death.  Funeral was Wed. morning at St. Joseph's church.  May God have mercy on him.

Interestingly, two of his sons ended up marrying daughters from the West family. Newspaper articles about his murder.

 

Thomas A. Boland

Thomas A. Boland

Born in Ennis, County Claire, Ireland, May 13, 1853 and died in Elkader, Iowa on May 22, 1941. Married Ellen Ivory in Strawberry Point on January 28, 1873.

 

Daughter Boland

Michael Boland

Born and died in Massachussets in 1855

Born in Massachussets in 1857 and died at Littleport, Iowa in 1862

 

Christopher Boland

Christopher Boland

Born in Littleport, Iowa, December 1860. Married Mary Berigan.

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~photos and family information contributed by Joseph Boland from his personal collection and research. Joe is the great-grandson of John N. Boland & Margaret McNamara, grand-son of James P. Boland & Mary Clipper, and son of Thomas E. Boland & Mary Donlon. Researchers wishing to contact Joe will find his email address in the surname registry for Boland.

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