John J. O'Brien Biography


	This biography is from "Memorial and biographical record; an illustrated
 	compendium of biography, containing a compendium of local biography,
	including biographical sketches of prominent old settlers and 
	representative citizens of South Dakota..." Published by G. A. Ogle & 
	Co., Chicago, 1899. Pages 402-403

	Scan, OCR and editing by Maurice Krueger,mkrueger@iw.net, 1998. 

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JOHN J. O'BRIEN, one of the honored pioneers and successful citizens of 
Ree Heights township, Hand county, South Dakota, was born in county 
Cork, Ireland, September 29, 1854, a son of Jeremiah and Nora (Mahoney) 
O'Brien, who spent their entire lives in that county, the father being 
engaged in agricultural pursuits. Our subject was reared and educated 
in his native land, where he continued to reside until 1870. During 
that year he sailed for the new world and landed in New York city. He 
spent three years in the Empire state, where he was engaged in farming, 
and then removed to Brown county, Minnesota, where he bought land and 
in connection with its cultivation also followed railroading in that 
state for five years. In 1880 he came to Hand county, South Dakota, and 
took up land in Ree Heights township, becoming the very first settler 
in his locality. Ever since locating here his time and attention have 
been divided between farming and railroading, and he has had charge of 
a section for the railroad company for twelve years, his services 
giving the utmost satisfaction to all concerned. Although he came to 
the United States in limited circumstances, he has by industry, 
perseverance and close attention to business become quite well-to-do, 
and is now the owner of about one thousand acres of fine farming land 
in this state. Stock raising, also claims a part of his attention, and 
in this occupation he has also prospered. 

In 1872, Mr. O'Brien led to the marriage altar Miss Catherine McCarthy, 
also a native of the Emerald Isle, and they now have one son living, 
Jerry. Both are communicants of the Catholic church, and held in high 
regard by all who know them. In his political affiliations, Mr. O'Brien 
is a Populist, but he is not a politician in the sense of office 
seeking, though he has been called upon to fill some township offices.