Marshall County KS Archives Biographies.....Shaughnessy, James 1870 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ks/ksfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com May 18, 2007, 7:35 pm Author: Emma E. Forter (1917) JAMES SHAUGHNESSY. James Shaughnessy, one of the well-known arid prominent farmers and stock breeders of St. Bridget township, Marshall county, was born in the township on November 1, 1870, and is the son of Michael and Ellen (Ryan) Shaughnessy. Michael and Ellen Shaughnessy were natives of Ireland and there received their education in the public schools and spent their early life in the Emerald Isle. The former was born in 1824 and died on June 13, 1906, and the latter was born in 1829 and died in February, 1885. As a young man Michael Shaughnessy came to America and located in the state of Indiana, where he was married at Madison in 1849. There he and his wife established their home and lived until i860, when they came to Kansas, where they joined the colony of early settlers in St. Bridget township, Marsha^ county. They obtained a farm and soon became prominent in the community and had much to do with the development of the district. They remained on the original farm until 1882, when they purchased the farm now owned by the son, James. Here Mr. Shaughnessy engaged in general farming and stock raising in which he was most successful. As he prospered he purchased more land and at the time of his death was the owner of one thousand acres of the best land. He was a man of strong personal qualities and was possessed of much business acumen. He, was a firm believer in the highest class of farming and the keeping of the best of stock. He was known throughout the county as one of the most successful breeders and raisers of high-grade stock in the district. He and his wife were devout members of the Catholic church, Mr. Shaughnessy being one of the founders of the parish in St. Bridget township and one of the builders of the church. He was identified with the Democratic party, taking much interest in local affairs and had much to do with the growth and development of the township and county. To Michael and Ellen Shaughnessy were born the following children: Thomas, Edward, Michael, Ellen, Mary, Anna, Delia, James. Edward and Thomas are now deceased: Michael lives at Kansas City; Ellen is the wife of Patrick Loot, of Axtell; Mary is the wife of B. Myers and is a resident of St. Bridget township and Delia is the wife of William Gossin, of St. Bridget township. James Shaughnessy received his education in the common schools of St. Bridget township and at Axtell and was reared on the home farm. As a boy he put in much of his time herding cattle on the range and while thus engaged he came to know the habits and characteristics of these animals, which has been of much value to him as a stockman. He now has six hundred acres of the best land and is engaged in general farming and stock raising. In 1911 he began the breeding of thoroughbred Hereford cattle and his herd today is one of the finest in this section of the state. The present leader of the herd is "Beam Ultin No. 366158," bred by Gudgell and Simpson of Independence, Missouri, and was later owned by the University of Missouri and purchased by Mr. Shaughnessy in 1916. He now has some forty cows and he sells many of his cattle in all parts of the country for breeding purposes, as well as for the range. He is a member of the American Hereford Breeders Association and is well posted on the care and attention that should be given to all breeding animals. He has a splendid barn, thirty-four by thirty-six feet, with a shed twenty by one hundred feet, all of which is modern in every respect and especially adapted for the feeding and care of his stock. In addition to the care of his stock he had last year one hundred and fifty acres of corn and seventy acres of other grain. His beautiful house, one of the best in the township, is situated almost in the center of his large tract of land, making it convenient for him to reach every part of the place with as little trouble as possible. On April 28, 1896, James Shaughnessy was united in marriage to Laura Brolyer, who was born on August 27, 1872, in Miami county, Indiana, and is the daughter of Henry and Nancy J. (Hubbard) Brolyer, the former having been born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, on February 11, 1836, and died on January 23, 1902, and the latter was born in Fayette county, Indiana, on December 25, 1841, and was the daughter of Samuel and Nancy (Glidwell) Hubbard. Mr. and Mrs. Brolyer were married at Wabash, Indiana, on October 27, 1861, and remained residents of the state of Indiana until 1884, when they came to Kansas and located in St. Bridget township, Marshall county, where they became prosperous farmers, and are held in high regard by all. They are the parents of the following children: Luella C. Bryan and Charles now deceased; Mrs. John Carney of Murray township; Mrs. Laura Shaughnessy; Mrs. Rose Kabriel, of near Mina; Oliver, of Nebraska; Edward, of Marysville, this county, and Emil, of Geary county, Kansas. To James and Laura Shaughnessy the following children have been born: Leebert, a graduate of the Axtell high school and now attending the St. Joe Commercial College; Vincent has completed the public school course, graduating June, 1915: Rose, in the eighth grade of the public schools; Agatha, in the fifth grade and Fern and Charles, also in school. Mr. and Mrs. Shaughnessy are devout members of the Catholic church and are prominent in the social life of the community, where they are held in the highest regard and esteem by all who know them. Additional Comments: Extracted from: History of Marshall County, Kansas: its people, industries, and institutions by Emma E. Forter Indianapolis, Ind.: B.F. Bowen & Co. (1917) File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ks/marshall/bios/shaughne454gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/ksfiles/ File size: 6.2 Kb