ANTHONY O. FARRELL is one of the highly respected retired farmers of the town of Oregon, which has been his home for many years, and where by honest effort and strenuous toil he has gained a competence that makes his declining years one of quiet enjoyment.He was born in the county of Sligo, Ireland, on May 2, 1828, and is the son of Matthew and Bridget (Feeney) Farrell, both natives of the Emerald Isle, where they spent all the years of their useful lives. They were the parents of six children, only two of whom are now living, the subject of this sketch having a sister, Mary, who is the wife of Michael Crowe and resides in the village of Oregon.
Matthew Farrell served for thirteen years as a soldier in the British army. Anthony O. Farrell, whose name introduces this memoir, received his education in the schools of his native country, and continued to reside there until he had reached the age of twenty-six years. He then, in 1854, sailed for America in the ship, Conquerer, and first took up his residence in Vermont, where he resided twelve years, working a part of the time in the marble quarries and when not thus engaged being employed as a farm hand. In 1866 he came to Wisconsin and first secured employment on the railroad then being constructed between Brooklyn and Madison. He followed this occupation for three years, then worked on a farm for about two years, after which he worked land on shares, and in 1875 purchased the one hundred and twenty acres of land in the town of Oregon, which he had previously been farming, and on which he has since continued to reside. He was married in 1856, to Miss Ellen Dunn, who was also a native of County Sligo, Ireland, and the date of her birth was May 8, 1857 (1837?). Her father was Lawrence Dunn and the maiden name of her mother was Bridget Kelly. In the Dunn family there was a large family of children, but only two daughters came to America -Bridget, who married a Mr. Gilfeather, and she who became the wife of Mr. Farrell-both of them being now deceased. Nine children were born to the union of Mr. and Mrs. Farrell: Matthew T. married Catherine Keigen and resides in the town of Union; Patrick L. married May Kelley and is now deceased.-his widow resides in Dakota; Bridget married Byron Andrew and resides in Superior, Wis.; Edward married Mary Wallace and resides in South Dakota; Ellen married Olamp Garvoil and resides in the town of Rutland; Mary August is deceased; John William resides in Chicago; Margaret Ann, now Mrs. Silver, resides at Kilbourn, Columbia county, Wis.; and Anthony J. married Wilhelmina Ace, and resides with his father. Mr. Farrell is a Democrat in his political affiliations, and his religious faith is expressed by membership in the Roman Catholic church. 1906 History of Dane County, Wisconsin, p. 279-280. |