Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Larkin, Thomas 1838 - 
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Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com May 4, 2007, 7:41 pm

Author: Portrait & Biographical Album, 1890

THOMAS LARKIN. Among the well-regulated homes of Joliet Township none have 
about them an air of greater comfort and content than that which has been 
built up by the joint efforts of Mr. Larkin and his estimable wife. They make 
no pretensions to elegance in their style of living, but have plenty to eat, 
drink and wear and something laid by for a rainy day. It is possible that in 
their modest home there is vastly more genuine happiness than is to be found 
in a palace. A native of County Galway, Ireland, Mr. Larkin was born in the 
year 1838, and is the son of Edwin and Mary (Kelley) Larkin, who were also 
natives of the Emerald Isle and who spent their entire lives there. Thomas 
lived with his parents until a young man of twenty years and then resolved to 
seek his fortunes in America. Repairing to Belfast, he embarked on a sailing 
vessel which, after a journey of four weeks, landed him safely in New York 
City. Soon leaving the great metropolis, he turned his steps toward the far 
West, coming to this county and for two years was in the employ of the Rock 
Island Railroad Company. After this he engaged in farming, working by the 
month for about three years. At the expiration of this time he had saved a 
little money and taking unto himself a wife and helpmate, rented a farm in 
Lockport Township, which he operated successfully for several years. Next he 
purchased the farm on which he now lives, securing at first eighty acres and 
later added to his landed possessions, so that besides this farm which now 
embraces one hundred and thirty acres, he has eighty acres in Troy Township. 
The whole is in a good state of cultivation and the home farm is supplied with 
neat and substantial buildings. The marriage of Thomas Larkin and Miss Ellen 
Goss was celebrated at the bride's home in Joliet in the year 1859. Mrs. 
Larkin was born in County Queens, Ireland, about 1840, and is the daughter of 
Anthony and Catherine (Downy) Goss who were likewise natives of that county, 
where they spent their entire lives. The father was a farmer by occupation and 
the parental family comprised six children. To Mr. and Mrs. Larkin there have 
been born five children, all living and named respectively, Edward, Mary, 
Thomas, Bernard and Agnes. Mary is the wife of Frank McManus and they live in 
Lockport Township. Mr. Larkin, politically is a pronounced Democrat, well 
informed, progressive in his ideas and possessing more than ordinary 
intelligence. He has served as School Director in his district and Overseer of 
Highways. Both he and bis estimable wife belong to the Catholic Church. Mr. 
Larkin before making permanent settlement crossed the Mississippi into 
Missouri, but not liking the country returned and he thinks there is no 
section which in all respects is equal to the Prairie State. 

Additional Comments:
Portrait and Biographical Album of Will County, Illinois, Containing Full Page 
Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens 
of the County; Chicago: Chapman Bros., 1890

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