My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM FLOOD (deceased). The Emerald Isle has bequeathed to America some of her best citizens, and it is to her that Berrien County was indebted for its representative agriculturist, William Flood. This gentleman was born in County Cavan, Ireland, but for many years prior to his death was a resident of Berrien County, Mich., where he attained an enviable reputation. In conducting his farming operations he brought his good sense, and his practical views to bear, and as a result accumulated a fair share of this world’s goods. In him the community had a faithful and unswerving friend, ever alert to serve its best interests and generous in his contributions toward every movement tending to the general advancement.

He grew to manhood in his native country and for many years was engaged as a tiller of the soil there. Later he married Miss Rose Lynch and while still a resident of Ireland four children were born to his union. About this time many of his countrymen were emigrating to America, and their praises of the fertile soil of the United States roused him to such a pitch that in 1847 he crossed with his family to America. Almost immediately after reaching this country they came to Michigan and located in Berrien County, where he purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres. This was all heavily timbered but with the help of his children Mr. Flood cleared his place, erected good, substantial buildings, and began his career as an agriculturist.

After reaching the United States six more children were born to our subject’s marriage. The first four, Patrick, John, Mary and Ann, were born in Ireland, and Kate, Jane, James, Ellen, Rose and Thomas first saw the light of day in the United States. The two younger boys, James and Thomas, have managed the farm since the death of the father in 1872, and have bought and sold several farms in the last few years. They are wide-awake, thorough-going young agriculturists, and inherit the energy, enterprise and wit of the sons of Ireland. The above-mentioned children are public spirited and take a deep interest in all enterprises that have for their object the upbuilding of Berrien County.

Mr. Flood was an honest, hard-working man, and what he gathered together of this world’s goods was the result of years of economy and hard work. An earnest farmer himself, he reared his children to a life of agricultural pursuits, and at his death left them a name untarnished by any dishonest or reprehensible act. He was a kind and loving husband and father, devoted to the interests of his family, and at all times did all in his power to build up and improve the county in general and his own neighborhood in particular. Politically, he was a Democrat, but his sons are liberal in their political views, and are classed among the representative citizens. Mrs. Flood ever endeavored to prove a worthy helpmate to her husband in gaining a much-coveted home. Now she is in comfortable circumstances and will pass her declining years in peace and happiness. She resides on the old home place with James and Thomas, is well preserved for her years, and is enjoying comparatively good health.