My Genealogy Hound

Thomas H. Fagan, justice of the peace in Holly township, Oakland County, and a large general farmer, owning a fine property of 240 acres in section 16, was born in January, 1844, in Holly township, Oakland County, Michigan. His parents ‘were Peter and Eliza L. (Dains) Fagan, the latter of whom still resides in Holly township, at the age of 81 years.

Peter Fagan was born in August, 1808, in Drogheda, Ireland, and died in 1893 in Holly township, Oakland County, aged almost 85 years. He came to America with his parents, when about 15 years of age, and lived with them in the State of New York until 1833, when he and his brother John came prospecting to Michigan. A few months later the parents took the advice of their sons and removed to this State, locating in Holly township, Oakland County, where the father of Peter died in January, 1852, and the mother in December, 1857. All their three sons, John, Thomas and Peter, purchased land in Holly township, and all are now deceased. Peter Fagan located first in section 2, Holly township, but later sold that farm and bought other tracts located in sections 14, 15, 21 and 22, and at one time owned a farm one mile in length, and three-quarters of a mile in width. While he was a practical farmer, he was also a man of such excellent business qualifications and sound judgment, that he was called upon to serve in many official positions, such as highway commissioner, township clerk and others. In politics he was a Democrat. His wife, who was a daughter of Stephen Dains, was born in Yates County, near Penn Yan, New York, and accompanied her parents to Holly township about 1835. Two of her sisters still survive, Mrs. Catherine McHenry, of Lapeer, Michigan, and Mrs. David Handy, of Munda, Genesee County, Michigan. Mr. and Mrs. Dains have been numbered with the dead for 50 years. A family of 13 children were born to the parents of our subject, of which he was the second in order of birth, the others being: Mrs. Mary E. Forsyth of Rose township, Oakland County; Edwin A., of Holly township, Oakland County; Mrs. Eliza J. Spaulding, deceased; Mrs. Nancy A. Ryan, deceased; Mrs. Francelia Dains, of Isabel, Michigan; John S., who is living on the homestead farm in Holly township, Oakland County; Mrs. Rohama G. Wortman, of Fenton, Genesee County; Mrs. Imogene Spaulding, who is living on the old farm; W. H., also living on the home farm; Sabra, deceased, and two who died in infancy.

Our subject was reared in Holly township and was educated in the common schools. He continued on the home farm until the age of 26 years and then started out for himself, purchasing his present fine property some 10 years ago. Mr. Fagan has successfully engaged in a general line of farming and has given considerable attention to politics in his section. He is one of the leading Democrats and has been selected at various times for official positions, serving as commissioner and supervisor, and also as a justice of the peace, being elected to the latter office in the spring of 1903.

Mr. Fagan was united in marriage with Emma J. Andrews, who was born near Fabius, New York, who is a daughter of James M. Andrews, who came to Michigan in 1850, and died in 1893, at the age of 84 years, his wife surviving a few years. Mrs. Fagan has these brothers and sisters: James D., of Montrose, Michigan; Mrs. Daphne Hall, of Davison station, Genesee County; Mrs. S. J. Clough, of Minnesota; Mrs. Helen Newman, of Holly, Oakland County; John J., of Holly township, Oakland County, deceased; and Hosea and Ezra, deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Fagan have one daughter, Emma J., who is the wife of Henry Harvey. They make their home with our subject.

Mr. Fagan is a Mason and both he and his wife are members of the Order of the Eastern Star. They are among the most highly regarded citizens of their locality, and are representatives of some of the leading pioneer families of the county.