Biography extracted from History of Sauk County, Wisconsin Chicago: Western Historical Company, published 1880.

Ironton:

Dennis Closey, farmer, Sec. 23, P.O. Reedsburg; son of Thomas and Susan (Kelley) Closey; was born in County Kilkenny, Ireland, in 1813, came to the United States the year of the great fire in New York City; remained there about 11 years. He was married at Hudson, July 22, 1842, to Mary, daughter of Felix and Catharine (McGregor) Donley; she was born in the County of Antrim, Ireland. Mr. C. and family came to Wisconsin in 1845, settled in the town of Lima, Rock Co., and in October, 1850, came to Sauk Co., stopping a short time in the village of Reedsburg; he bought 160 acres in Sec. 23, Town 12, Range 3, now Ironton; here the walls of a log house were erected, and Dec. 15 the family moved, without raods or bridges, to their new habitation; as they depended on the lumber which formed the shanty at Reedsburg to complete the house, they found themselves in a cold rainstorm in a house without roof or floor; one corner was covered with loose boards; here the family took shelter till the lumber could be brought to finish the house; their nearest neighbor was G. W. Gray, living three and a half miles to the south, and the next one was Mr. S. Baker, living four miles east; the first white person whom they saw was Mr. Gray, in April of the next year. Mr. and Mrs. C. have seven children- Edward, married to Isabella Pine, living in Minnesota; John, married to Margaret Sammon, living on the same section as his father; Thomas, married Margaret Welch, also living on the same section; William J., living at home; Felix D., living in Allegany Co., N. Y.; Catharine and Joseph, living in Chicago. Mr. Closey has been Clerk of his school district ten years. Mr. and Mrs. C. are members of the Catholic Church.

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