My Genealogy Hound

THOMAS H. SHANAHAN.
The farming and stock-raising interests of Platte township find a worthy representative in Thomas H. Shanahan, whose diligence and perseverance have constituted the strong element in a successful business career that has made him the owner of an excellent farm of two hundred acres on Section 8. The place is pleasantly and conveniently located within a mile of Kent and in the supervision of his farm he gives indication of a thorough understanding of the best methods of carrying on general agricultural pursuits.

Mr. Shanahan is a native of the Empire state, his birth having occurred at Fort Miller on the Hudson River, in Washington county, New York, January 5, 1855. His father, Michael Shanahan, was a native of Kilkenny county, Ireland, and when a young man came to the new world, being married in Troy, New York, to Miss Ella O’Brien, a native of the county of Limerick, Ireland. Mr. Shanahan followed farming in New York and afterward removed to Illinois, spending his last years in Peoria county, where his wife also passed away.

Thomas H. Shanahan was a young lad of about five summers when the parents removed westward to Peoria county, Illinois, where he was reared, early becoming familiar with all the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. After attending the common schools he continued his education in the high school at Brimfield and when he had put aside his text-books he continued to aid his father in the work of the home farm, assisting in its further development and improvement up to the time of his marriage.

That important event in the life of Mr. Shanahan was celebrated in Galesburg, Illinois, on the 29th of May, 1900, the lady of his choice being Miss Ruth Stalker, who was born in Knox county, Illinois, and was there reared. Her father was Thomas H. Stalker, who was born in the town of Douglas on the Isle of Man, whence he emigrated to New York. He was married in Rochester, that state, and afterward removed westward to Illinois, where he spent his last years. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Maria L. Corlette, was a native of the Isle of Man of French descent. Following his marriage Mr. Shanahan engaged in the cultivation of the old Stalker home farm in Illinois until his removal to Union county, Iowa, where he invested in land, purchasing one hundred and twenty acres which he began to farm and improve. Later he purchased an adjoining tract of eighty acres and has since given his time and energies to the further development of the place. He has rebuilt and remodeled the house and has also put up good barns and outbuildings that furnish ample shelter for grain and stock. He has likewise planted fruit and shade trees and made the farm, what it is today—one of the attractive and productive properties of this part of the state. In addition to the tilling of the soil he raises good stock and annually fattens a large number of hogs. About 1901 he began to breed, raise and deal in registered Poland China hogs and is well known in this connection, making extensive shipments to Dakota, Missouri and various points in Iowa. He is practical in all that he does and carries forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes so that as a business man he has made an excellent record and gained most gratifying prosperity.

Mr. and Mrs. Shanahan have but one son, Thomas Alfred, who is now attending the home school. The parents and son are worthy members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Kent and Mr. Shanahan is serving on the official board and as one of the stewards of the church while his wife has for some years been a teacher in the Sunday school. In the work of the church they are much interested, standing at all times for the moral progress of the community. In politics Mr. Shanahan was formerly a democrat but his deep interest in the temperance cause has led him to give stalwart allegiance to the prohibition party. He has been elected and served as assessor after having filled out an unexpired term by appointment and is now the present official in that position. He has also been president of the school board for four or five years and is closely identified with the interests of public education, being in thorough sympathy with the work of the county in that direction. In fact, he is a most public-spirited citizen, interested in all that pertains to the work of improvement and general advancement. His own life has displayed those sterling traits of character which develop honorable manhood and which gain respect and confidence in every land and clime.