My Genealogy Hound

Patrick Hennessey, who is accounted one of the best farmers of his vicinity, was born in County Cork, Ireland, March 17, 1818, and is the son of James and Fannie (Cantley) Hennessey, both natives of the same county as their son. The father was a farmer by occupation, and the Hennessey family from time immemorial have been Catholics. The mother died in Ireland, but the father died in Providence, R. I. They were the parents of six sons, all of whom came to this country. The second child, Patrick, was left an orphan at the age of six years, or nearly the same as an orphan, for his mother died, and his father was banished from home for threshing his landlord, with whom he had gotten into trouble. The children were thus thrown upon the world to look out for themselves, and Patrick never saw the inside of a school-house as a pupil, though his parents were well educated. In 1839 he left his native land for America, and located at Providence, R. I., where, several years later, his father and all his brothers joined him. The same day he left Ireland he married Miss Mary Welch, a native of Cork County, and by her became the father of thirteen children, five sons and eight daughters. After living in Rhode Island until 1859, he moved to Washington County, Ark., and has made this his home ever since. When he first came to America he had very little means, and for fourteen years he worked for a wholesale merchant of Providence. He saved his money, and after coming to this county he purchased a good farm, but the war gave him quite a back-set. He now owns 296 acres of land, 210 being under cultivation. He is a Democrat in politics, and he and family belong to the Catholic Church.