Biographical Sketch of John M. Quinn, Laclede County, Missouri

>From "History of Laclede, Camden, Dallas, Webster, Wright, Texas, 
Pulaski, Phelps and Dent Counties, Missouri" The Goodspeed Publishing
Company, 1889.
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John M. Quinn, a successful agriculturist of Laclede county, was born
in County Tyrone, Parish of Cookstown, Ireland, February 22, 1817, be-
ing the son of Edward and Catherine (McCloskey) Quinn, natives of the
same parish.  The former was a school teacher by profession, and pass-
ed an examination by the board of excise, and but for his death would
have received a government appointment.  John was reared and educated 
with his mother's family (they being manufacturers and exporters of
linen cloth), and was apprenticed to them to learn the manufacture of
linen cloth, subsequently making alternate trips to Glasgow and Edin-
burgh, Scotland, in their interest, between 1836 and 1844.  In the 
spring of the latter year he took passage at Liverpool for America,
landing at New York twenty-eight days afterward, but after a short time
in that city followed up his determination to come west by going via 
the Hudson River to Albany, and thence on rail to Buffalo, the rails
of the road at that time being wooden, covered with hoop iron, a decid-
ed contrast to the appointments of today.  In October he started for
Chicago, taking a lake boat, but the first night out a hurricane so
disabled the craft that it was necessary to put in port for safety. The
trip was later successfully accomplished.  About this time political
feeling was at fever heat, and no little excitement attended the con-
test between Clay and Harrison.  Chicago was then a mere hamlet, and
before long Mr. Quinn went to Joliet, Will county, Ill., taught school
one year, and then returned to Jersey City, N.J., where he remained a
short time.  In February, 1845, he set out for Little Rock by way of 
New Orleans, resuming teaching in the former city in the Old Academy,
but owning to sickness he returned to Jersey City, later entering the
employ of a New York publishing house.  In 1849 he married Miss Bridget
Reynolds, by whom he had five children: Frank, John, James, Mary E. and
Anna Teresa.  From 1849 until 1856 Mr. Quinn was occupied in merchandi-
sing in New Brunswick, N. J., then accepting a position as shipping
clerk in the New York Custom house under Schell, then collector of
customs, which position he left in 1861, and from that time until 1866
gave his attention to stock raising in Wilmington, Illinois.  In August
of this last mentioned year he started for Southwest Missouri overland,
and after traveling in an emigrant wagon over 400 miles arrived at
Lebanon, September 1.  For three months he lived in a camp, being 
obliged to haul the timber for his house a distance of sixty miles. Mr.
Quinn, though now in his seventy-first year, is remarkably well pre-
served for a man who has passed through the many hardships he has.  In
July, 1887, he had the misfortune to lose his life companion.  He was
initiated into the Odd Fellows Lodge No. 6, I.O.O.F., in New Brunswick,
N. J., in 1853, and is now one of the prominent citizens of Laclede
county.  His attention is directed to stock and fruit raising, and at 
this he has been quite successful.

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