Bernard Slowey Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1332 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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	BERNARD SLOWEY, a leading representative of the business interests 
of Irene, South Dakota, was born in Wisconsin, October 3, 1852, his 
parents being Patrick and Catherine (McCabe) Slowey, both natives of 
Ireland. The father was born in 1814 and was a young man when he came to 
the new world and took up his residence in Wisconsin, where he carried 
on operations as a farmer for several years with good success. In 1872 
he brought his family to South Dakota and took up three hundred and 
twenty acres of government land in Yankton county. He made the journey 
overland by teams. His first home in this state was a log house with a 
dirt roof, and he used oxen as well as horses in breaking his land. He 
continued to improve and cultivate his land until he had a good farm and 
he continued to make his home thereon until his death, which occurred in 
February, 1902. His wife had died in August, 1884. Both were devout 
members of the Catholic church and he was a Democrat in his political 
affiliations. 

	In the family of this worthy couple were nine children, of whom 
Bernard is the eldest. Catherine is now the wife of Patrick Cunningham, 
a farmer residing in Utica, Yankton county. Mary is the wife of Michael 
Cunningham, also a resident of Utica. Thomas lives on the old homestead. 
John married Tracie Burns and is engaged in farming in Yankton county. 
Elizabeth is the wife of James Murray, a resident of Irene. Patrick is 
represented on another page of this volume. Ellen is the wife of Mat 
Murray, who makes his home in Yankton. Peter married Maud Cook and lives 
on the old homestead. All were given good educational advantages and 
Ellen taught school for one term. They are now well situated in life. 

	Bernard Slowey passed his boyhood and youth in Wisconsin and was 
about twenty years of age when he came with his father to Yankton 
county, South Dakota. Six years later he purchased one hundred and sixty 
acres of government land in this county, nine miles west of Irene, and 
he broke and improved the place, converting it into a fine farm. He was 
married in 1878 to Miss Isabelle McKeachie, by whom he has had eight 
children. Three of the number are now deceased, three others are married 
and two are still at home with their parents. 

	Renting their farms in the winter of 1902-3, Mr. Slowey and his 
brother Patrick moved their families to Irene, where they have erected 
nice homes. They also built a first-class livery and feed stable and are 
now in control of the best business of the kind in town. The subject is 
independent in politics, voting for the man rather than the party and he 
and his family are communicants of the Catholic church.