IowaJones/Biographies/J. T. McNally

J. T. McNally–P. H. McNamara

James T. McNally
Born January 15, 1851

Practicing the virtues of thrift and industry with an energy that could not but be attended with a pronounced success, James T. McNally may well be numbered among the prominent farmers of Washington township. He was born upon the old homestead whose fields he now tills, January 15, 1851, a son of Thomas and Jane (Farrell) McNally. The parents were both natives of Ireland, but came to America in 1833, shortly after their marriage. For two years they lived in Brooklyn, New York, and then removed to Maryland, which remained their home for three years. It was in 1841 that they came to Washington township, Jones county, Iowa, where Mr. McNally "squatted." When this section of the state was opened by the government for colonization he conformed with the conditions required of the home seekers and secured the tract, living thereon for the rest of his life. When he came here, he had to cut the trees to make a rude shelter of logs, for the land had not known the plow or harrow and the woods had not heard the blow of an ax or hatchet. As the years passed and the soil returned abundant harvests for his labor, Mr. McNally erected a house more adequate for his needs. In 1885, when his death occurred, he was able to look back upon those early years with a sigh of satisfaction, for the present with its comforts, its large income and the knowledge that his sons were well established in their own vocations, presented a view very much changed from that of the untried country of half a century before. While Mr. McNally never aspired to public office, he enjoyed the distinction of being one of the first grand jury summoned in this county. His wife, who with so much courage had borne the hardships of the pioneering days, died one year before him, but she too was able to partake of the joys and pleasures that were added to their later years. They were the parents of eight children, namely: Robert, a farmer of Richland township, Jones county; one who died in infancy; Bernard and Frank, who have also passed away; Mary, who is the wife of James Linch, of Wright county, Iowa; Anna, who has not married; James T., the subject of this review; and Norbertus, who is deceased.

James T. McNally completed the course of instruction prescribed by the common schools of his district and then entered the high school at Temple Hill. He was always connected with agricultural pursuits, however, for from his earliest years he did his share toward assisting in the work that was carried on around the home place. Now he owns two hundred and eighty acres of some of the choicest land in Washington township, and since it has been his home through the many vicissitudes of youth and manhood, he feels attached to it as are few farmers to the fields they till. Annually he feeds about two carloads of steers and from fifty to seventy-five hogs, while he also raises several colts, deriving from all his interests an income that is very gratifying.

In 1888 Mr. McNally wedded Miss Margaret Supple, who was born in Clay township, this county, November 12, 1857. Her father, John Stipple, a farmer of this county, died in 1885, and her mother in 1883. One son, Francis J., has been granted to them. He was born October 8, 1889, and is now a promising young man who has made good use of the educational advantages afforded him.

Mr. McNally has steadfastly given his support in political matters to the democratic party and has himself played no small part in local affairs, for he has been a most capable township trustee through several terms and as a school director has done much to advance the cause of education in his locality. His allegiance in religion is given to the Catholic church of Temple Hill. Mindful of the precepts of his father, always to be up and doing, advancing not standing still, but at the same time to achieve success wholly through his own efforts and not through the calamities of those who were less amply endowed to brave the battle of life, Mr. McNally has steadily risen to an important position among the citizens of his township. As befits a man of such wide influence, he gives his support to those measures which are calculated to promote the well being of the commonwealth and of his county.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Past and Present, R. M. Corbitt, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, 1910, p. 497.

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Robert McNally
Born 1835

Despite his advancing years Robert McNally is still actively engaged in agricultural pursuits in Richland township, which for almost two score years has been the scene of his labors. He was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1835, and is a son of Thomas and Jane (Farrell) McNally. The parents were both natives of Ireland, coming to America in 1833, shortly after their marriage. For two years they resided in Brooklyn and then removed to Maryland, where they lived for three years. In 1841 they came to Jones county, Iowa, settling in Washington township, where Mr. McNally "squatted" on a tract of land. When the land of this section of the state was put upon the market he secured it from the government through fulfilling the conditions prescribed for homesteaders and it remained his home for the rest of his life. On it he built a log cabin, that served to shelter him and his family from the weather until he was able to erect a more substantial and adequate dwelling. Forty-five years later, in 1886, when his death occurred, he had the satisfaction of contrasting the comforts which he then enjoyed with the hardships of those early years and felt a justifiable pride in the results of his years of labor. His wife, although she died a year before her husband, was also able to partake of the ease which added pleasure to the later years of their lives. They were the parents of eight children, namely: Robert, the subject of this sketch; one who died in infancy; Bernard and Frank, who have also passed away; Mary, who is the wife of James Linch, of Richland township; Anna, who has not married; J. T., of this county; and Norbertis, who is deceased.

Robert McNally was reared at home and attended the public schools to obtain what education they were able to give in the early years of the colonization of this county. He continued to remain with his parents even after he had reached his majority, until he was thirty-two years old, in fact, when he married and had the natural desire to establish a home of his own. Then he bought the farm on which he is living today. It embraces two hundred and twenty acres of good, arable land in Richland township, on which Mr. McNally carries on general farming. With a diligence that may well serve as an example to others he has tilled and improved his fields, until he has brought them to the point where they return a most generous harvest for his industry. This, indeed, has ever been the means of his success and has obtained for him an enviable position among the substantial agriculturists of his township.

At the age of thirty-two Mr. McNally wedded Miss Maria Kenny. She was a native of New York state, born May 1, 1846, but her parents, Michael Kenny and his wife, were of Irish birth. One of a family of six, through her marriage Mrs. McNally became the mother of eleven children: Jennie, who is the wife of Hillar Souser, of Randolph, Nebraska; Anna, who married Theodore Maire and lives in Cascade, Iowa: Lettie, who is a nurse; Katie, who is the wife of Nic Fregen, of Dubuque, Iowa; Nellie, who married James Suple and lives in Cascade, Iowa; Agnes, who is the wife of J. Hayes, of Cascade; Thomas, who is at home; Bernard, Austin and Arthur, who are living in South Dakota; and Robert, who is now attending college in Omaha, Nebraska.

Mrs. McNally died in 1907, and, having been a devout member of the Catholic church throughout her life. her death was attended with all the consolations of that religion. Mr. McNally also professes that creed, in which all of his children have been reared. Politically he has affiliated with the democratic party from the time he cast his first vote but has never sought office, although he served very efficiently for a number of years as a justice of the peace.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Past and Present, R. M. Corbitt, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, 1910, p. 190.

Rev. P. H. McNamara
Born February 27, 1874

Rev. P. H. McNamara, who is ministering to the spiritual needs of the Catholic parish at Oxford, was born in County Clare, Ireland, February 27, 1874, a son of Andrew and Ann (Hayes) McNamara, who have spent their entire lives on the Emerald Isle, where they still maintain their home. Their family numbered nine children, seven of whom have reached years of maturity, namely: Rev. Andrew McNamara, of County Tipperary, Ireland; Father P. H. McNamara, of this review; James and Michael, who are upon the home farm in Ireland; Sister Mechtildes, a Sister of Mercy at Kilrush, Ireland; Theresa, at home with her parents; and Elizabeth, who died in Ireland at the age of twenty-one years. Two cousins of Father McNamara are residing at Oxford Junction: Miss Nell Lalor who is a teacher of music, and Miss Agnes Lalor, who is clerk in the creamery office at Oxford, the former having been in America for two years and the latter for five years.

Father McNamara, of this review, was reared in his native county and for four years was a student in the diocese college. He afterward entered All Hallows College, a foreign mission school at Dublin, Ireland, there completing a course in June, 1898. In September of the same year he came to the United States, settling at Dubuque, Iowa, where he was appointed chaplain of the Sisters of Mercy. After four months he was sent by the archbishop to Charles City, Iowa, where he labored as assistant priest for eight months, when he was transferred to South Sheldon, Iowa, and had charge of the parish there for eight months' during the absence of the regular priest in Europe. He was also for three months at Ryan, Iowa, and in November, 1900, came to Oxford Junction. There are also two missions in connection with this parish-at Baldwin and at Hughes settlement. The Baldwin church was destroyed by fire in June, 1909, and is now being rebuilt. Father McNamara has done excellent work in behalf of the church during the nine years of his residence here, carefully ministering to the spiritual needs of his congregation and at the same time proving of assistance to them in material things by his kindly advice and counsel.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Past and Present, R. M. Corbitt, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, 1910, p. 101.