Michael L. Carmody, one of the early residents of Greene county, was born in County Clare, Ireland, in 1820, a son of Peter Carmody, also a native of that land. Reared and educated in his native country he came to America in 1849, leaving home on the 8th of October, of that year. The vessel on which he took passage sailed to New Orleans and he thence came up the Mississippi river to St. Louis, by packet to Alton and by wagon to Carrollton, where he lived with his uncle Patrick, who with his son had come to America the year previous.

Mr. Carmody turned his attention to farm labor and was employed in this way until 1852, when he began working on the Cairo & New Orleans Railroad. He had worked six days when he was driven out by the mosquitoes, so thick were these pests in that locality. He spent the winter in work on the Mississippi and in the spring he returned to Carrollton, where he was engaged in farm labor, being thus employed until 1854, when he began renting farm land. He thus carried on agricultural pursuits on his own account for two or three years, after which he purchased a tract of land, buying eighty acres and entering forty from the government. The latter adjoined the first tract. He entered into partnership with his brother Connor in the ownership and cultivation of the farm, but after two years he purchased his brother's interest and later bought two forty acre tracts so that his home place comprised two hundred and eighty acres, which is pleasantly located about three and a half miles west of Carrollton. There he continued to engaged in agricultural labor and later he purchased one hundred and twenty acres near the home farm. He afterward invested in one hundred and eighty-seven acres of land, so that his farm comprises nearly seven hundred acres. He has carried on general agricultural pursuits and has been very successful, owing to his unfaltering diligence and perseverance. In 1900, however, he put aside the arduous duties incident to the development and cultivation of a farm and has since made his home in Carrollton. He has, however, purchased eighty acres adjoining the town and the operation of this trace he gives his supervision. Indolence and idleness have ever been utterly foreign to his nature and his strong purpose and capable management have made him a prosperous citizen.

In 1855 occurred the marriage of Michael L. Carmody and Miss Anora Neagle, who was born in Clare County, Ireland, and died in the year 1896. She was a daughter of John Neagle, who remained in Ireland, but she had several brothers and sisters who came to Carrollton, but all are now deceased.

The children of this marriage are Mary; Margaret; one that died in infancy; Michael; Ellen, who is living with her father; and Timothy, who is residing on the old homestead farm.

Mr. Carmody has served as a member of the board of supervisors and is interested in the county and its welfare, although he has never been active as a politician or seeker for office. He takes a helpful interest in the church and he has reared a family of which he has every reason to be proud. His business career demonstrates the opportunities that are open to young men in America and through capable and well directed labor Mr. Carmody has gradually advanced from an humble financial position to one of affluence.