Dallas County IA Archives Biographies.....Graney, Patrick J. February 1821 - October 28, 1896 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ia/iafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Valerie ( Johnson ) Freeman http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00009.html#0002248 March 22, 2010, 1:54 am Source: “A Memorial and Biographical Record of Iowa” Author: . Chicago; The Lewis Publishing Company; 1896 Pg 923-925 Patrick J. Graney, one of the self-made men and prominent citizens of Dallas county, Iowa, is now living a retired life in Perry. He was born in the parish of Castle Island (sic – s/b Castleisland) , county Kerry, Ireland, in February, 1821, and is a son of John and Mary (Clementine) Graney, who were natives of the same place, where the father passed away at the age of eighty-two and the mother at the age of eighty years. Of their family of eight children, five are yet living. The maternal grandparents of our subject were Dominack and ---- (Donahue) Clemaine. The grandparents on his father’s side were Cornelius Graney and Mary, nee Brown. Previous to coming to the United States, Patrick J. Graney had learned the nailer’s trade, which he followed until about twenty-six years of age, when he sailed from Cork to Liverpool, England, and thence to New York, being one month upon the water. On landing on the shores of this country he had less than $10 in his pocket, but by his good business ability and close attention to all enterprises with which he has been connected he has accumulated a handsome fortune and is probably on of the largest tax-payers in Dallas county. On his arrival Mr. Graney went immediately to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he had a brother living, who had come to the United States a few years previous. There our subject engaged as a general laborer until 1849, working at anything which he could find to do, but in that year he located in Indiana, where he engaged in railroad construction work with and Uncle. For several years he was thus employed, and later entered into partnership with a gentleman in contracting on railroad work. It was while engaged in this work in Indianapolis, Indiana, that Mr. Graney obtained his start in life, which has led to his becoming one of the wealthiest men in Dallas county. Near that city he learned of sixty-seven acres of land on which two men had an option for thirty days, but he received the promise from the owner that if they did not arrive within the stated time he should have it. He had only $400 in cash, and on the non-appearance of the men he borrowed enough from those working under him to make the purchase. The following day the two men arrived and offered our subject $100 for his bargain, but he declined to sell until a prominent banker, who owned land all round his tract, asked him to name the price he wanted for the land. On being told that $2,500 cash would buy the same the banker took it, and with the proceeds of that sale, Mr. Graney purchased his first land in the Hawkeye State. On the 19th of February, 1854, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Graney and Miss Mary Sheehan, who was born in county Kerry, Ireland, August 11, 1831, and is a daughter of James C. and Mary (Murphy) Sheehan, who were farming people of that community, where the father died at the age of ninety, and the mother when ninety-one years of age. In their family were eight children, six of whom still abide. The paternal grandparents of Mrs. Graney were Timothy G. and Mary (Costello) Sheehan, while the maternal grandparents were Murtag and Julia (Griffin) Murphy. To our subject and his wife were born twelve children, seven of whom are yet living, as follows: Ellen F., who is married and has two children; Cornelius, who is married and has one child; Margaret A. by her marriage has two children; Patrick J., who is married and has three children; Hannorah, at home; Timothy J., who is married and has one child; and Dennis, at home. Two sons and one daughter died after reaching man and womanhood, the latter, who was married, leaving a child; and three children of the family died in infancy. One year after his marriage, Mr. Graney located in Iowa, driving the entire distance from Indiana, and settled on 800 acres of land, which he had previously bought of the Government. He erected a log cabin house, 18 x 24 feet, on his place, which was the eighth cabin in Spring Valley township, Dallas county, and it continued to be his home until 1865, when a frame dwelling was built. In 1893 he erected his beautiful home in Perry, where he is now living retired, resting in the enjoyment of the fruits of his former toil. He accumulated over 2,300 acres, and had fully 2,000 which he divided among his children. He became one of the leading agriculturists of this great commonwealth and transformed his land from an unbroken wilderness into one of the highly cultivated tracts of this section of the State. Prosperity seemed to attend his every effort, but his property was all acquired through his own industrious efforts and good management, and he deserves great credit for the success he has made in life. Mr. Graney and his family hold a high and honorable position in social as well as business circles, and by all who know them are held in the highest regard. They are devout members of the Catholic Church, to the support of which and to educational institutions our subject contributes liberally. His political support is given to the Democratic party, and his first presidential vote was case for Franklin Pierce. He has never been a politician in the sense of office-seeking, but has been called upon to fill local offices of honor and trust. Additional Comments: Descendants of Patrick J. Graney 1 Patrick J. Graney b: Feb 1821 in Castleisland, County Kerry, Ireland d: 28 Oct 1896 in Perry, Dallas Co., Iowa Burial: Saint Patrick's Cemetery - Perry, Dallas Co., Iowa +Mary Sheehan b: 11 Aug 1831 in Killorglin Parish, County Kerry, Ireland m: 19 Feb 1854 in Indianapolis, Marion Co., Indiana d: 5 Dec 1899 in Perry, Dallas Co., Iowa Burial: Saint Patrick's Cemetery - Perry, Dallas Co., Iowa Father: James C. Sheehan Mother: Mary Murphy ** 2 Mary Graney b: 1 May 1857 in Iowa d: 7 Dec 1877 Burial: Saint Patrick's Cemetery - Perry, Dallas Co., Iowa **** +David Fitzgerald b: 6 Feb 1853 in Ireland m: Bef 1879 in Iowa d: 6 Apr 1933 Burial: Saint Patrick's Cemetery - Perry, Dallas Co., Iowa ** 2 Ellen F. Graney b: 5 Oct 1858 in Dallas Co., Iowa d: 24 Feb 1932 Burial: Saint Patrick's Cemetery - Perry, Dallas Co., Iowa **** +Nicholas E. Walsh m: Bef 1881 in (Divorced - 30 August 1899 - Dallas Co., Iowa) Father: Mother: ** 2 John F. Graney b: 27 Nov 1860 in Dallas Co., Iowa d: 4 Aug 1881 Burial: Saint Patrick's Cemetery - Perry, Dallas Co., Iowa ** 2 Cornelius "Con" Graney b: Sep 1862 in Dallas Co., Iowa d: 8 May 1946 Burial: Saint Patrick's Cemetery - Perry, Dallas Co., Iowa **** +Mary Evalyn Nash b: Nov 1867 in Illinois m: Abt 1890 in Perry, Dallas Co., Iowa d: 16 Feb 1958 Burial: Saint Patrick's Cemetery - Perry, Dallas Co., Iowa Father: Patrick Nash Mother: Mary Marshall ** 2 Margaret Agnes Graney b: 10 Oct 1864 in Dallas Co., Iowa d: 21 Aug 1948 Burial: Saint Patrick's Cemetery - Perry, Dallas Co., Iowa **** +John C. O'Malley b: 27 Jan 1864 in Clinton Co., Iowa m: 1 Jan 1890 in Perry, Dallas Co., Iowa d: 9 Nov 1952 Burial: Saint Patrick's Cemetery - Perry, Dallas Co., Iowa Father: Patrick O'Malley Mother: Bridget (Agnes?) McColl ** 2 Patrick J. Graney, Jr. b: 22 Nov 1866 in Dallas Co., Iowa d: 21 Dec 1937 Burial: Saint Patrick's Cemetery - Perry, Dallas Co., Iowa **** +Margaret "Maggie" Anderson b: 5 Jul 1862 in Iowa m: Abt 1890 d: 23 Jul 1947 Burial: Saint Patrick's Cemetery - Perry, Dallas Co., Iowa Father: John Anderson Mother: Catherine McAllister ** 2 Hanorah "Nora" Graney b: Nov 1868 in Dallas Co., Iowa d: 1945 Burial: Saint Patrick's Cemetery - Perry, Dallas Co., Iowa **** +William T. Murphy b: Jul 1867 in Pennsylvania m: 8 Sep 1896 in Perry, Dallas Co., Iowa d: 1935 Burial: Saint Patrick's Cemetery - Perry, Dallas Co., Iowa Father: Mother: ** 2 Timothy J. Graney b: Nov 1870 in Dallas Co., Iowa d: 9 Jun 1955 Burial: Saint Patrick's Cemetery - Perry, Dallas Co., Iowa **** +Anna Marie O'Malley b: Aug 1868 in Dallas Co., Iowa m: Abt 1894 d: 24 Aug 1947 Burial: Saint Patrick's Cemetery - Perry, Dallas Co., Iowa Father: Patrick O'Malley Mother: Bridget (Agnes?) McColl ** 2 Donald/Daniel E. Graney b: 14 Jul 1873 in Dallas Co., Iowa d: 14 Jun 1892 Burial: Saint Patrick's Cemetery - Perry, Dallas Co., Iowa ** 2 Dennis Graney b: 14 Jul 1875 in Dallas Co., Iowa d: 24 Apr 1943 Burial: Saint Patrick's Cemetery - Perry, Dallas Co., Iowa **** +Mame Donahue b: 1878 m: Abt 1903 in Iowa d: 5 Oct 1909 in Perry, Dallas Co., Iowa Burial: Saint Patrick's Cemetery - Perry, Dallas Co., Iowa Father: Mother: ** *2nd Wife of Dennis Graney: **** +Emma Yeager b: 1874 in France m: Bef 1 Jan 1925 d: 18 Dec 1951 Burial: Violet Hill Cemetery - Perry, Dallas Co., Iowa Father: George Yeager Mother: Caroline Woodgang ** 2 Infant #1 Graney ** 2 Infant #2 Graney File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ia/dallas/bios/graney304gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/iafiles/ File size: 9.6 Kb