Bio of O'Brien, Richard (b.1840) Wabasha Co., MN
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Made available to The USGenWeb Archives by: Barbara Timm and Carol Judge
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This bio comes from "HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY" 1884.
Check out Barbara's site for more great information on this book:
http://www.rootsweb.com/~mnwabbio/wab1.htm
There are also some pictures and information from descendents for some 
of the bios on her pages.

O'Brien, Richard, farmer and stock-raiser, of Lake Township, is a brother
of John O'Brien, of Lake City, and like him, one of this county's
successful farmers. He was born in St. Lawrence county, New York, May,
1840, and , like his brother, was reared and educated on the farm, where
he remained till the fall of 1863, when he came to Lake City, Minnesota,
and at once applied himself to labor at anything to earn an honest dollar,
and so continued two years. By this time economy and industry had rewarded
him with the necessary means to purchase one hundred and sixty acres of
land in Lake township, where he at once engaged in agricultural pursuits.
Although Mr. O'Brien was not among the early arrivals in this county who
secured free homes from the government, he is one of the successful
landowners of the county, having added to his first purchase till he is
now the independent owner of nine hundred and forty-seven acres of land in
sections 14, 15, 22, 23 in Lake township, six hundred acres of which is
under cultivation, the remainder is wild pasture and all under his own
personal supervision. The products of his farm is largely disposed of
through the medium market stock (cattle and hogs), of which he turns off
yearly about eight hundred dollars' worth. He married Margaret McShane, a
native of Ireland, and by this union they have five children, as follows:
Edward, William, Thomas, Anna May and Lula. Family are members of the
Catholic church. His executive ability has been appreciated by his
fellow-citizens from the fact that he has held the office of chairman of
the town board for over ten years, with the exception of one term, when he
declined the nomination in order that his entire time might be given to
his farm and stock.