Patrick Garaghty, harness-maker,
Elkader, was born in County West Maid, Ireland, on the 3d
day of February, 1833. In February, 1848, left his home
in Ireland for America, landing in New York and went
immediately to Litchfield, Conn., where he learned the
trade of a molder, remaining there until Oct. 7, 1851.
His parents being in Clayton County, he made it his
objective point, and came here and engaged in farming. In
1862 he met with an accident which came near causing the
loss of his life. As he was being lowered into a well he
was sinking, the man at the windlass let go, letting him
drop a distance of forty-six feet, breaking his left leg
in two places. By this accident he was crippled, so that
he was forced to sell his farm and come to Elkader, where
he embarked in his present business. In 1883 he married
Catherine Connorton who was born in New London, Conn.,
Sept 6, 1852. By this union there is a family of seven
children, via.: Lawrence, Annie, Katie, Susan, Romana,
Mary, and Philaphena. Mr. G. took a decided stand in
early life for the cause of temperance, and from his
boyhood up has never touched liquor of any kind. Mr. G.
has been identified with the county for thirty years, and
has seen the wild unbroken praries developed into a
beautiful and cultivated county. source: History of Clayton
County, Iowa, 1882, p. 656 |