Union County, SD Biographies.....Ronan, Thomas November 10, 1836 - 
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 February 12, 2022, 6:57 pm

Source: MEMORIAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF Turner, Lincoln, Union and Clay Counties, South Dakota. (1897)
Author: Geo. Ogle & Co.

THOMAS RONAN owns and occupies one of the valuable farms of Spink township, his
estate comprising 320 acres of as fine land as can be found in Union county. Even in
the vicinity where good farm buildings are the rule and modern conveniences abound,
there are few places that in these regards equal the one mentioned. The dwelling is
a commodious and beautiful one, pleasing in architectural design, built with a view
to the comforts of the inmates, and furnished in a manner in keeping with their
means and tastes. The barn is also large and fine, and every arrangement that will
conduce to the conveniences with which the farm and household economy is carried on,
may be found upon this estate. The property is divided into two farms of 160 acres
each, and there is a complete set of buildings on both.

Mr. Ronan is a native of county Waterford, Ireland, and was born November 10, 1836.
He came to America when seventeen years of age, landing at New York city, where he
stayed for a short time and then removed to Yonkers, of the same state. Later he
took up his residence on a farm near London, Canada, where he worked for a period of
two years, and then bought a farm for himself in Door county, Wis. The land was
heavily timbered and he cleared up sixty acres of it and then sold out and came to
Union county, Dak. Ter. That was in 1870, and he then settled on his present farm.
It was nothing but wild prairie land then, and the country for miles around looked
like a wilderness. His little frame house, which he constructed for shelter, was the
first in his immediate locality, and in this he continued to live until 1893, when
he finished and moved into his present fine residence. All the improvements on the
farm he resides on, as well as his other piece of property, which lies just to the
north of his original claim, are the result of his labor. The property is all nicely
fenced and 200 acres of the entire farm are under cultivation. Mr. Ronan is
exclusively a farmer now, though in 1880 he opened a general store on his farm,
which he operated for six years. He started the postoffice of Emmett, which was
located in his store, and served as postmaster for nine years. He built the first
bridges ever constructed over Blue creek, went through the grasshopper times, and,
in fact, has endured all the hardships incident to the development of a new country,
although he was in comparatively fair circumstances when he came to the county. He
helped organize the school board of the district wherein he resides and has been a
member of that body. Politically he has always been a Democrat and has taken an
active interest in all local politics. He served as county commissioner from 1881 to
’84, and filled a second term from 1890 to ‘93, being chairman of same part of the
time. He has also been a candidate for the legislature from his district, and also
the office of sheriff.

An important event in the life of Mr. Ronan occurred in 1859, when he was united in
the holy bonds of matrimony to Miss Catherine Mulvahill, a native of county
Limerick, Ireland. This union has been blessed to them by the birth of nine
children, seven of whom are living, viz.: William, James, John, Thomas, who married
Miss Nellie Jennings; Richard, who married Miss Mary O’Connor; Morris and Mary. The
family are all members of St. Joseph church, of Prairie township, in which Mr. Ronan
has been an officer. He is at present a member of the building committee, who have
in charge the construction of the new church edifice. He has always been identified
with this place of worship, in fact he hauled the first load of lumber used in
building the original St. Joseph Catholic church.


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