History of Delaware County, Iowa...Captain John F. Merry,
supervising ed. 2
vols. Chicago: S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1914
Patrick Behan is living retired in Ryan, where he
is widely known and highly respected. He was born in Ireland, August 15,
1844, a son
of William and Nora (Brazell) Behan,
who were also natives of the Emerald Isle. The family emigrated
to the United States in 1855 and made their way to Iowa, settling on a farm in Adams township, in Delaware county. The father cultivated his
land until his demise, which occurred February 13, 1862. His widow survived for many years,
dying in 1894. They were the parents of nine children as follows: Mary,
who married James Duggan; Ann, the widow of Robert Montgomery and a resident of
Iowa City; David, who had the distinction of being the first volunteer soldier
to enlist in Adams township and who passed away in 1912; Ellen, the widow of
James McElligott; Nora, who is a nurse in a hospital
at Dubuque; Kate, the deceased wife of Thomas McNulty, her demise occurring in
Oklahoma; Patrick and Morris, twins, the latter of whom is deceased; and
Margaret, the wife of Frank McNulty, of Kansas.
Patrick Behan was a boy of eleven years when his parents brought
him to the new world and he quickly adapted himself to the new conditions of life
found here. He had only a common school education but his native intelligence
and sound judgment have enabled him not only to win financial success but have
made it possible for him to watch with understanding the many changes and
diverse movements in modern life. At the outbreak of the Civil war he enlisted
in Company E, Second Iowa Infantry, and served for a year and a half, during
which time he was with Sherman on the memorable march to the sea.
He became the owner of a good farm in Adams township and devoted his time and
energy to its cultivation until he retired in January, 1914, when he removed to
Ryan, there erecting a commodious residence.
Mr. Behan was married April 20, 1868, to Miss Ann Gannon, a daughter of Patrick
and Mary (Carr) Gannon, both natives of Ireland. In 1855 they brought their family
to the new world and the father carried on agricultural pursuits until his
death, which occurred April 28, 1862. The mother survived for more than
two decades, dying April 28, 1884, on the anniversary of the death of
her husband. To Mr. and Mrs. Behan were born nine
children: Mary Ann, who married Michael Schealy, of
Buchanan county, Iowa; Catherine, the wife of John Vinton, of Nebraska;
William, residing in Masonville, this state; Rose,
who married John Cashmann of Minnesota, Margaret, the
wife of John Callon, of Winthrop, Iowa; Elizabeth who
married George Vinton, of Nebraska; Hannah, the wife of Thomas Cummings, of Minnesota;
Rev. P.J., pastor of St. Patrick's church at Cedar Rapids; and John D. who
married Lillian McElligott, of Illinois, on the 28th
of January, 1914. John D. Behan is engaged in
farming, renting two hundred acres from his father, five miles west of Ryan,
and he owns forty acres of land. In addition to cultivating his fields he
devotes a great deal of attention to raising and selling high grade stock. All
who know Patrick Behan agree that the case and
comfort which he is now enjoying are well merited, as his life was for many
years a very busy one and his activities were guided and directed by excellent judgment.
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