- MARTIN McDERMOTT. Among the prominent farmers and representative citizens of Hortonia township, Outagamie county, may be mentioned Martin McDermott, the owner of a fine farming property, which was originally the home of his father, John McDermott. John McDermott, who was born in Ireland, came to the United States at the age of seventeen years, and from 1847 until 1865 lived in New York City. He was married in that city to Katherine Saul, also a native of Ireland, who was left an orphan and came to the United States when ten years old. In 1862 John McDermott enlisted for service in the Civil War, becoming a member of the Fourth New York Heavy Artillery, with which he served until the close of hostilities, when he received an honorable discharge. He was seriously wounded at the battle of Gettysburg, and he never really fully recovered from the effects thereof. At the close of the war he came to Wisconsin, whence his wife and three children, George, Thomas and Michael (seven children having died in New York) had preceded him the spring previous, and when he located here he purchased the property that is now owned by Martin McDermott. This land was then covered with heavy timber, but after John McDermott had erected a little log shanty, he and his sons started to clear the property for cultivation. For eight years the family lived in the first little home, and Mr. McDermott then built a larger house, in which he died in 1901, aged seventy-two years, his wife following him to the grave in 1907. Martin McDermott's educational advantages were somewhat limited, as his help was needed on the farm during the summer months, and in the winters he worked in the logging camps, but he managed withal to gain a fairly good education, which has been supplemented by reading and close observation in after years. In 1882 he was married to Mary Cavanaugh, a native of Ohio, daughter of Michael and Bridget (McNicholas) Cavanaugh, who came from Ireland and settled in Ohio, from whence they came in 1858 to Wisconsin, settling in Hortonia township. Here Michael Cavanaugh took up land, and at the time of his death, June 3, 1911, he was one of the prominent citizens of his section. His wife died June 18, 1887, having been the mother of eight children. After his marriage Mr. McDermott came to live on his present property, where, by hard work and good management, he has added considerably to his acreage. Mr. McDermott's home is large and commodious, and the barns are modern and ample, all of these having been built by him, and the fine, prosperous appearance of the property testifies to its good management. Mr. and Mrs. McDermott have had six children: John Edward and two infants, deceased; Mary Ethel, born June 16, 1885, the wife of William Furman, of Winchester; Nellie Alicia, born August 9, 1889; and Martin Elias, born May 17, 1897. The family is connected with the Catholic Church at New London.
(All names entered into 1FamilyTree database)
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1855 - 1937 (81 years)
Biography
