Patrick Sullivan
"The design of the fathers of the United States government was to make of this country a home of such undoubted freedom that the oppressed of every land could come here and do better than they could in their own countries. In this way the fathers reasoned that they could build up the nation with a freedom-loving people, and that their reasoning was sound and eminently wise is shown by the phenomenal development of this country. In proportion to population, no foreign nation has sent so many emigrants to the United States as has Ireland. Restricted and oppressed at home, curtailed of their rights and privileges in the management of their local government, these people by the thousands crossed the wide Atlantic to the shores of better America in the hope and with the utmost confidence of improving the worldly condition.
Among the native sons of the Emerald Isle who have contributed to the advancement and prosperity of Fayette county, Iowa, mention must be made of Patrick Sullivan, who owns and operates a splendid fertile farm in Clermont township and who is favorably known because of his industry and success in his chosen line of effort. Mr. Sullivan was born in Ireland in 1845 and is a son of Michael and Mary (DIVINE) Sullivan, both also of Irish birth, but who came to the United States in 1852. They first located in Ohio, but in 1856 they came to Fayette county, Iowa, and settled on a farm, to the improvement and cultivation of which their energies were devoted. Mr. Sullivan was prospered and became the owner of one hundred and twenty acres of land. On this place this worthy couple spent the remainder of their days, the father dying in 1897 and the mother during the year previous. Michael Sullivan was a Democrat in his political affiliations and his religious membership was with the Catholic church, to which his wife also belonged. They became the parents of four children, two of whom are living.
Patrick Sullivan was reared by his parents and for his mental discipline he is indebted to the common schools of Fayette county principally. He has consistently devoted his entire life to agricultural pursuits and, by the exercise of sound judgment and wise discrimination, he has been prospered to a very gratifying degree. He is now the owner of four hundred and forty acres of land, practically all of which is improved and in cultivation. Mr. Sullivan does not specialize in any line, but carries on diversified farming, in connection with which he gives some attention to the raising of livestock, with good results. He is practical in his methods and progressive in his ideas and is considered one of the best farmers in Clermont township. He has also other business interests, being a stockholder and director of the Clermont State Bank, one of the solid and influential monetary institutions of this part of Fayette county.
On February 14, 1871, Mr. Sullivan was united in marriage with Mary MINIHAN, who was born in Brattleboro, Vermont, on October 20, 1850, daughter of Patrick and Catharine (CURRAN) Minihan. These parents were natives of Ireland and came to the United States about 1845, settling in Vermont, where they remained until 1853, when they moved to Ohio. In 1856 they came to Clayton county, Iowa, and there spent the rest of their days, the father dying on October 13, 1873, and the mother on April 24, 1901. They were the parents of seven children. The father was a farmer by vocation and in politics he was an ardent Democrat, while he and the members of his family were affiliated with the Catholic church. To Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan have been born eleven children, namely: Michael (deceased), James, Thomas, Mary (deceased), John, Margaret (deceased), Catharine, Henry, Johanna (deceased), Clara and Elizabeth.
Politically, Mr. Sullivan gives a stanch support to the Democratic party, while religiously, he and his family are members of the Catholic church, to which they give an earnest support. Mr. Sullivan enjoys a wide acquaintance throughout Clermont township and vicinity and he stands high in the esteem of all who know him."