EDWARD McASEY. The adopted sons of America have acquitted themselves in fully as admirable a manner, in most instances, as those who were native born, and among them the subject of this notice deserves more than a passing mention. He is one of the leading farmers of Scott County, fought as a Union soldier during the late Civil War, and is thoroughly identified with the interests of his adopted country. He was born in County Carlow, Ireland, Nov. 23, 1833, and is the son of Patrick McAsey, who died when Edward was a mere infant.
Our subject sojourned in his native county until a youth of eighteen years, receiving a common school education and employing himself mostly at farming. He was a thoughtful and ambitious boy, and at an early age determined to become a man among men. Seeing little prospect of carrying out his desires in his native land, he decided to emigrate to the United States, and accordingly put his resolve into execution in the fall of 1851. He landed in New York City, and sojourned there with an uncle until the following spring, then set out for the West, crossed the Mississippi, and located in St. Charles County, Mo.
Our subject was a resident of Missouri until the fall of 1854, then came to this county, and within its limits has since made his abiding-place. He occupied himself at farming until the outbreak of the Rebellion, then enlisted as a Union soldier in Company D, 129th Illinois Infantry, which shortly afterward was ordered to the front in Louisville, Ky. He was in the service nearly three years, participated in the battle of Stone River, and then was taken ill and sent to the hospital, where he remained until receiving his honorable discharge. The privations and hardships which he endured undermined his constitution, and on account of this he now receives a pension from the Government.
Three years after taking up his abode in this county, Mr. McAsey was married, in September, 1857, to Miss Mary, sister of Patrick O'Donnell, one of the leading farmers of Central Illinois, and whose biography appears elsewhere in this volume. Mrs. McAsey was born May 15, 1843, in Ireland, and of her marriage with our subject there has been born one child, James H., Oct. 2, 1859. This son, although now approaching the thirtieth year of his age, remains with his parents, and relieves his father of a large part of the care and management of the farm. He is in his own right owner of 191 acres of land, and is largely interested in stock-raising. Mr. McAsey, it is hardly necessary to say, votes the straight Republican ticket, and has no desire for the spoils of office. He and his family belong to the Catholic Church. His accumulations are the result of his own industry, aided by the good management of a prudent and intelligent wife, and their hospitable home is the frequent resort of the many friends whom they have made during their long residence in this county.