Dubuque County >> 1894 Index
Jones County
Clayton County

Portrait and Biographical Record of Dubuque, Jones and Clayton Counties
Chicago: Chapman Pub. Co., 1894.

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Unless otherwise noted, biographies submitted by Becky Teubner.

MORRIS O'DAILY

One of the well improved farms of Clayton County is that owned and occupied by Mr. O'Daily and situated on section 1, of Wagner Township . It contains all the improvements of a first-class estate, including a neat residence and substantial barn. The soil, through careful tillage, has been brought under excellent cultivation, and the land is subdivided by good fences into fields of convenient size. This place has been the home of the present owner since the year 1861, when, coming hither, he purchased eighty acres comprising a portion of the property now owned by him.

The success which has come to Mr. O'Daily is due entirely to his own exertions, as he was but four years of age when orphaned by the death of his parents, John and Hanorah O'Daily, natives of the Emerald Isle. He was also a native of that country, born in County Carry , April 16, 1823 . The family having been poor, he had no educational advantages in youth, and from early boyhood was obliged to earn his own livelihood. Believing that in the United States he would find better opportunities than the Old World afforded, he crossed the Atlantic in 1846, and arriving in New York, was there variously employed for five years.

While living in New York Mr. O'Daily was united in marriage, in 1852, with Miss Julia Sullivan, like himself a native of Ireland , her birth having there occurred in 1822. She is the daughter of Daniel and Helena (Prenderville) Sullivan who died when she was an infant, and therefore she has little information concerning the genealogy of the family. She was reared in the home of an uncle, and came to the United States about the same time as did Mr. O'Daily. The latter was for some years after his marriage employed at railroading, being thus engaged in Covington , Ky. , for one year, later in Ohio for the same length of time, and afterward in Pennsylvania for six months. Going thence to Chicago , after a short sojourn in that city he removed to Boscobel , Wis. , where he remained until 1857.

In the latter year Mr. O'Daily came to Iowa and after residing for three years in McGregor located upon his present estate in the spring of 1861. His first purchase consisted of eighty acres for which he paid $2.50 per acre. Afterward he added a forty-acre tract, paying $15 an acre for it, and twenty years later he bought a similar amount, so that he is now the owner of a quarter-section of improved land. While his attention has been given principally to farm pursuits, he also takes a commendable interest in local matters, and in politics gives his support to the Democratic party. In religious belief he is a Catholic, and with his wife holds membership in that church at Monona.

Six children came to bless the union of Mr. and Mrs. O'Daily, of whom two are deceased. The eldest, Hanorah, who was born in Detroit, Mich., December 11, 1852, was married in 1879 to Michael Allen, and they reside in Topeka, Kan. Mr. Allen is an engineer on the Missouri Pacific Railroad, running from Kansas City to St. Joseph, Mo. They have had five children, one of whom died at our subject's home, and was buried in Monona. The eldest son of our subject, John, was born in Detroit , Mich. , December 29, 1856 , and is now a railroad conductor with headquarters at Tacoma , Wash. Dandy, whose birth occurred December 14, 1858 , was killed at Brainerd , Minn. , December 2, 1887 , having fallen off a car while braking on a train. Cornelius was born at North McGregor, Iowa, October 6, 1859, and assists his father in the management of the home farm, Jeremiah, who was born in North McGregor, Iowa, May 6, 1861, is now in the employ of the Western Union Telegraph Company at St. Paul, Minn. Morris was born on the home farm in Wagner Township, August 25, 1863, and died of scarlet fever when eight years of age. None of the surviving sons are married. The family is highly esteemed throughout this community, and the children, having been trained in early life for positions of usefulness in the business world, are now known in their various communities as honorable and energetic citizens.

BERNARD J. O'NEILL, one of Dubuque 's capitalists now extensively engaged in real-estate dealing, is a native of County Carlow , Ireland , his birth having occurred there on the 15th of August, 1846 . His parents were John and Mary (Harmon) O'Neill. In Ireland they were born, reared and married, and there made their home until 1852, when with their families they emigrated to the New World and settled in Jefferson Township , Dubuque County . The father was a farmer by occupation. He died June 11, 1888 , and his wife passed away December 12, 1892 .

The gentleman whose name heads this sketch was a child only six years old when, with the family, he came to the New World . They landed in New York City and thence made their way to Dubuque, and the father secured a farm in Jefferson Township, Dubuque County, upon which our subject was reared to manhood, early becoming familiar with the arduous duties of farm life, his education was begun in the district schools of the neighborhood, after which he attended the public schools of Dubuque and then engaged in teaching for two winter seasons. At the age of twenty-one he embarked in business for himself as a brick manufacturer in Dubuque , carrying on operations along that line for thirteen years. At the same time he was also engaged in the grain business, and in his undertakings met with most excellent success, his business career proving a very profitable one. In the meantime Mr. O'Neill was married, the lady of his choice being Miss Mary J. Gandolfo, a native of Dubuque , and a daughter of Dominick and Catherine (Roche) Gandolfo. Both are now deceased. Their union was celebrated October 29, 1872 , and has been blessed with eight children, four living as follows, three sons and a daughter, Harry E., Bernard J., Edith M. and Emmet G. The parents and children are members of the Catholic Church. Those deceased are Dominick J., Paul C. and two infants.

In June, 1888, Mr. O'Neill began real-estate dealing and platted and laid out five additions to the city, comprising an area of one hundred and twenty-five acres, all inside the city limits. In 1887 he aided in the organization of the Dubuque Wagon Bridge Company and secured from the city a bonus of $25,000. He was made President of the company and for three years filled that position. He was one of the organizers of the Dubuque Board of Trade and is now serving as its Vice-President. During 1892 it was instrumental in securing the establishment of five factories in this city. Mr. O'Neill has always taken an active part in public affairs and in public improvements, giving his support to any enterprise calculated to promote the general welfare. He deals extensively in real estate, and during the past three years has erected sixty houses. For his success in life he deserves great credit, as it has been achieved through his own efforts and is the reward of earnest labor, capable management and good business ability. He may truly be called a self-made man. In politics he is a Republican, but has never sought office, preferring to give his entire time and attention to his business interests, in which he has met with signal success.