Biography: Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin: Wm. Michael Phelan

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Submitted by Kathy Grace, <gendiva@charter.net> August 2004

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Wm. Michael Phelan, son of Michael Phelan and Martha Colelough, farmer;
born April 27, 1819, at Gore's Grove, County Kilkenny, Ireland; received a
liberal education at a select school; under Prof. Campion; at 16 years of
age was apprenticed in a general mercantile house, in the city Kilkenny,
for a term of five years; after three years returned to the farm; was
enrolled for military conscription during the Papineau or Patriot War, in
Canada, in the year 1838; was then apprenticed to a civil engineer and
surveyor named Lehy, in Thurless, County Tipperary, where he studied the
higher mathematics, Euclid, etc.; both parents dying, returned to the farm
and made agriculture- both practical and theoretical- and agricultural
chemistry, his study and occupation for eight years, with much success; in
the years 1843-45, took an active part in the repeal agitation and
O'Connell monster meetings; in August, 186, joined Smith, O'Brien, Meigher
and Young Ireland party; became a revolutionist and assisted in the
formation of clubs; after the fiasco in 1848, left the country and came to
the United States, via Dublin and Liverpool, arriving at Fond du Lac
Village Aug. 8, 1850, where he permanently settled, buying some lots in the
village and a farm in the town of Eldorado; the first house he build was in
what is now the Fifth War, in 1851.  Was married in the city of Buffalo,
June 22, 1853, to Margaret, daughter of Michael and Honoria M. Norton, born
in Forkhill, near Gores Grove, parish of Crane, County Kilkenny, Ireland,
by whom he had seven children- five boys and two girls, all born in Fond du
Lac.  The subject of this sketch worked as a carpenter and joiner and
general contractor until opening a grocery store in one of his buildings,
No. 377 Mains street; also built and opened a flour and feed store, No. 300
Main street, in the year 1877; also served the city in various capacities;
was elected Street Commissioner in 1853; Alderman in 1856-56 and 1862; as
City or Ward Assessor about eighteen years; served as member of the County
Board, School Commissioner, etc.; was elected some twenty-five times to
various offices in the city, and last year, 1879, as City Assessor and
School Commissioner.


Transcribed from The History of Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin Chicago :
Western Historical Company, 1880 pg. 845