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Biography - MICHAEL DUFFY

Now over three-score and ten years of age, Michael Duffy is passing the evening of his life in quiet and contentment at his pleasant home in the northern part of Ottawa. For more than half a century he has dwelt in this immediate locality and has been a witness of wonderful changes, as the wild prairie blossomed into usefulness and beauty under the labor of man, as thriving villages sprang into existence, and the county was covered with a network of railroads, which afford easy transportation facilities to the farmer who desires to dispose of the products of his land in the adjacent towns and cities.

A son of James and Mary (Kennedy) Duffy, our subject was born in county West Meath, Ireland, in 1827. His parents spent their entire lives in the Emerald Isle, their attention being given to agriculture. At an early age, Michael Duffy had to take up the burdens of life, and until recently he kept busily at work, adding to his capital and steadily making improvements upon his farm. It was in 1844 that he concluded to come to the United States, and after a three-weeks voyage in a sailing vessel he landed in New York city, whence he proceeded direct to Ottawa. A brother, Bernard, had come to this locality about two or more years previously, and made a purchase of land in their joint names. This property, three hundred acres, was not divided, but together the brothers carried on the homestead harmoniously until the death of Bernard in 1895, fifty-one years from the time that they had first started to run the farm. Bernard was the only brother of our subject, and, as he remained unmarried, he made his home chiefly with Michael Duffy. The latter succeeded to the sole ownership of the homestead at the death of his brother, and now leases the place to responsible tenants. A substantial brick house, good barns and other farm buildings are to be found on the place, which is kept in a neat and thrifty manner. The farm is finely situated, being on the well kept graveled road leading from Ottawa to Utica.

In political matters Mr. Duffy is a stanch friend of the Democratic party. He and all of his family are members of St. Patrick's Catholic church, of Ottawa. Thirty years ago he married Mary Vork, of Ottawa township, and three children blessed their union, namely: James, who resides on the farm owned by the father; John, who is engaged in farming; and Mary, who, since the death of the devoted wife and mother, in 1896, has been her father's housekeeper.

Extracted 13 May 2019 by Norma Hass from Biographical and Genealogical Record of LaSalle County, Illinois, published in 1900, volume 2, pages 626-627.


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