Joseph P. Gallagher Biography


	This biography appears on page 1565 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	JOSEPH P. GALLAGHER, one of the prominent and successful farmers 
of Humboldt township, Minnehaha county, is a native of the old Keystone 
state, having been born in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, on the 2d of 
March, 1856, and being a son of Michael and Kate (Leonard) Gallagher, 
both of whom were born in Ireland. This worthy couple continued to 
reside in Pennsylvania until 1857, when they came west and located in 
Winona county, Minnesota, where the father of our subject engaged in 
farming, developing a good farm from the forest wilds. Both he and his 
wife passed the closing years of their lives in the same place, and they 
ever commanded the unqualified esteem of all who knew them, having been 
devoted communicants of the Catholic church, while in politics the 
father was a staunch and uncompromising Democrat. Of their nine 
children, seven are living, the subject of this sketch having been the 
third in order of birth. 

	Joseph P. Gallagher was an infant in arms at the time of his 
parents' removal to Minnesota, and there he was reared to maturity on 
the farm, while his educational advantages were such as were afforded in 
the common schools of the locality. He there continued to maintain his 
home until 1878, when, at the age of twenty-two years, he came to what 
is now the state of South Dakota, locating in Minnehaha county, where, 
on the 10th of May, of that year, he entered homestead and timber-
culture claims in Humboldt township, about one and one-half miles south 
of the present village of the same name. He began operations in a 
primitive way, his original dwelling being rudely constructed of lumber, 
and through energy, perseverance and good management during the long 
intervening years he has accumulated a valuable property, while his 
ranch is equipped with the best improvements. He still retains his two 
original claims, to which he has since added an adjoining half section, 
so that the area of his landed estate at the present time is six hundred 
and forty acres, nearly all of which is available for cultivation, 
yielding large returns for the labor expended. Mr. Gallagher's religious 
faith is that of the Catholic church, in which he was reared; 
politically he gives an unwavering allegiance to the Democratic party, 
and fraternally is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. 

	On the 27th of July, 1885, Mr. Gallagher was united in marriage to 
Miss Maggie Kelly, who was born and reared in Minnesota, and who was a 
resident of Minnehaha county at the time of her marriage. Of this union 
have been born two children, George, who is associated with his father 
in the management of the home place, and Mamie, who likewise remains 
beneath the parental roof.