JAMES M. BYRNE has been a resident of the town of Fitchburg during the past 20 years, and so well has he ordered his affairs and so indefatigably has he toiled that he has won a secure position among the progressive and prosperous farmers of that portion of Dane county.Mr. Byrne was born in the county of Dublin, Ireland, on June 26, 1861, and was the son of Lawrence and Anna (Doyle) Byrne, who were also natives of Ireland. The opportunities for securing an education were very limited, but our subject attended school for a time at Kingston, Ireland, and when he was eleven years old came with his parents to America.
They located in the state of New York, and there he supplemented the scholastic training he had received by attendance upon the public schools. His father bought land in the Empire state and continued to reside there until his death, which occurred a few years later. There were three children born to Mr. and Mrs. Byrne, and after the father’s death, the mother married a Mr. O’Brien and to this union three children were born. The mother of our subject, a sister, and two half-brothers still reside in New York and only two of the family live in Wisconsin, viz., James M. Byrne, whose name introduces this review, and a half-brother, Peter O’Brien, who is a flagman at Brooklyn, Wis. The subject of this sketch was thrown upon his own resources at the age of fifteen years, and he worked as a common laborer during the summer months and attended school during the winter months. In 1886 he came to Wisconsin and located in the town of Fitchburg, Dane county, where he was employed as a farm hand for some time. He then purchased the farm upon which he still resides containing one hundred and twenty acres, and proceeded to make the excellent improvements thereon. The success that has crowned his effort is due to his own unflagging industry, aided by a congenial and provident helpmate. Mr. Byrne was married on February 16, 1887, to Miss Alice Kinney, a native of Fitchburg, born October 15, 1869, and daughter of Michael and Alice (Lynch) Kinney, prominent residents of that town. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Byrne: Jessie M., Alice E., Lester Joseph, and Albert John. In politics the subject of this review gives and unswerving allegiance to the principles of the Democratic party, and he and Mrs. Byrne are members of the Catholic Church. 1906 History of Dane County, Wisconsin, p. 135-36. |