James H. Regan 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 1074-1075

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

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JAMES H. REGAN is successfully pursuing farming on the fertile soil of 
Bath township, Brown courtly, and makes his home on section 9. His farm 
consists of about one thousand five hundred acres and he has about 
eight hundred acres under cultivation. He has erected a set of fine 
farm buildings and is surrounded by many of the luxuries of life. 

Mr. Regan was born in Wisconsin, January 16, 1857, and was the son of 
James and Catherine (Donovan) O'Regan, both of whom were natives of the 
Emerald Isle, and were married in their native land. After the birth of 
their oldest two children they emigrated to the United States, landing 
in New York. They proceeded at once to Wisconsin and there resided for 
about six years. They then went to Minnesota and settled near 
Rochester, where they engaged in farming four years prior to moving to 
Iowa. They located in Mitchell county, Iowa, where the father died in 
1872. The mother is still living on the home place at the advanced age 
of eighty-three years, her youngest son, Dan, residing with her. To 
this worthy couple eight children were born, six sons and two 
daughters, as follows: Catherine, the eldest, became the wife of Owen 
Callahan, and her death occurred in Iowa, in 1888; Maria, who married 
Morris Murphy, a resident of Nebraska; John, deceased; Michael, 
deceased; Morgan, deceased; William F., deceased; James H., our 
subject, and Dan. 

James H. Regan received his education in the schools of Iowa and worked 
meantime on his father's farm. He now has one of the finest farms in 
South Dakota, and engages principally in the raising of wheat and small 
grains. He has one hundred and twenty-five head of fine grade Durham 
cattle and sixty-five head of horses. A windmill draws a plentiful 
supply of water from a depth of forty feet, and the river Jim flows 
through the farm, furnishing good water for his stock. A grove of 
fifteen acres of ash and box-elder trees adds beauty to the place, and 
to separate his fields into convenient divisions eight miles of fencing 
is required. His residence, erected in 1887, is one of the best 
residences in the county, and is a model of convenience and 
architectural design. He has one large horse and hay barn, cattle barns 
and sheds, granaries, and all buildings necessary to conduct an 
extensive farm, such as he operates. He has modern machinery to lighten 
and lessen the labor of farm life, and is a progressive and intelligent 
member of the farming community of Bath township. 

Mr. Regan was married October 5, 1887, to Miss Ella Cavanaugh, daughter 
of P. C. and Margaret (Williams) Cavanaugh. Mrs. Regan's father is a 
prominent farmer of Brown county. Three sons have been born to Mr. and 
Mrs. Regan, as follows: John, William and Francis. They are an 
intelligent group of boys, and at present are attending school, and it 
is the intention of our subject to give each an excellent education. 
The family are members of the Catholic church and are well known in 
Bath township, and are held in the highest esteem by their many 
acquaintances. Mr. Regan is a member of the Ancient Order of United 
Workmen and the Modern Woodmen of America. Politically he is a Democrat 
and stands firmly for the principles of his party. He is a man who has 
striven by his life to elevate and develop the agricultural interests 
of the community where he makes his home, and is justly rewarded both 
in a financial and social sense.