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Descendants of James Brennan

Generation No. 1

1. JAMES¹ BRENNAN was born Bet. 1799 - 1801 in St. John's Parish, Co. Roscommon, Ireland (Source: 1880 IA Soundex, est. birth date.), and died 06/18/1886 in Emmetsburg,Iowa. He married KATHERINE WELSH 1825 in Stratford, Ontario, County Perth, Canada, daughter of JOHN WELSH and MARGUARET HERRON. She was born Bet. 11/02/1807 - 1814 in Kilkenny, Ireland, and died 1905 in Emmetsburg Iowa.

Notes for JAMES BRENNAN:
1886: Newspaper unknown
This week it becomes our painful duty to chronicle the death of Mr. James Brennan, when melancholy even occurred at his home in Great Oak twp., on last Saturday evening. He was in his eighty-ninth year and leaves twelve sons and daughters, seventy-eight grandchildren, and two great grandchildren to mourn the closing of his long and useful life. The funeral took place on Monday. About one hundred twenty teams followed his remains to the Catholic church, where Rev. Father Smith performed the last and solemn ceremonies, after which they were taken to their final resting place.
The deceased was born in St. John’s parish, county of Roscommon, Ireland and, like millions of his fellow countrymen, he was compelled to wander o’er the lonely course of the “Exile of Erin.” He landed in New York in 1829, a period long to be remembered by all Irishmen. Soon after he went to Philadelphia, thence to New Jersey, and, in 1832 sought a home in the wilds of Upper Canada, where he experienced the many painful trials and difficulties of a frontier life. In 1864, he came to Clinton, Iowa, removing to Boon county the following year. In April, 1865, he, with his son, James E., came to this county and took up claims. The deceased and family, with the exception of his oldest two sons, made Palo Alto county their permanent home the following July.
In the death of Mr. Brennan, the community has lost an excellent citizen, a large and respectable family and aged and honored father, and time a long standing monument. Proud, indeed, must the members of that family be as they glance back over his unusually long and well-spent life and view the dark shades of the reverses of life that frequently hung o’er him on his long and painful journey from place to place--proud must they be as they now witness the closing of that cherished life. His entire family, save one daughter living at Jefferson, Iowa, were present at the hour of his death. He was the practical Catholic and performed the duties of his religion with punctuality and ardent devotion. He was kind, generous, and honorable in his dealings with his neighbors and was ???? of humility, for when he was about to sink into eternal sleep, he requested his son James to buy for him the plainest kind of a coffin. He was an intensely patriotic Irishman and was not slow to censure a fellow-countryman who did not manifest a similar spirit of love of fatherland. His name and the many noble acts of his live will long be held in grateful remembrance by his friends and acquaintances. Requiescat in pace.

From the Palo Alto Pilot, Emmetsburg, Iowa -June 19, 1886:

Mr. James Brennan, aged nearly 89 years, died at his home in Grat Oak township, Saturday, June 18, 1886. He was born in County Roscommon, Ireland, came to America 1829, lived in various eastern states and Canada until 1864, when he came to Iowa, settling at Clinton, and in 1865, came to Palo Alto county, he has since resided. He leaves a wife, 12 children, 78 grandchildren and two great grandchildren to mourn his demise.
He had known and felt some of the hardest vicissitudes of life, battled with them courageously and in time, surmounted them. He was one of the hardiest of his hardy race and had a bluff honesty of word and deed for which he was noted and respected.
He was a staunch Catholic and in that church received his last sad rites. The greater portion of his family live in this county and are thrifty, upright people, and well respected.

Notes for KATHERINE WELSH:
1900 census lists Catherine as living with Cecelia and Patrick. Lists year of emigration as 1865.

1880 soundex lists Catherines age as 66 which means she was born in 1814 instead of 1807.

The Grim Reapers Work
Oldest Resident of the County Passes Away at the Advanced Age of 97 Years
Mrs. James Brennan
In the last issue of the Tribune we called attention to the venerable Mrs. James Brennan, who had lived to enjoy nearly a hundred years of health and happiness. But since that time the hand of death has touched her and she has been called to her eternal reward.
For the past two months Mrs. Brennan has not been very well and her children could notcie that she was growing very feeble and feared that she would not live long. They were not mistaken in their fears for Thursday night at 2 o'clock she quietly passed away seemingly without a struggle. She had lived to a gool old age and was content to go.

Katherine Welsh was born in Kilkenny, Ireland, Nov. 2, 1807, and when very young crossed the ocean and with her parents located in Canada. At the age of eighteen she was united in marriage to Mr. James Brennan at Stratford, County Perth, Canada. To this union 15 children were born and ten of them came to this country with their parents, who came here in July 1865, having moved the previous fall to Boone County. Each of these children married and live in this county. All are well to do and Mr. and Mrs. Brennan had the pleasure of having their children and grandchildren near them.

On June 18, 1886, Mr. Brennan died and since that time Mrs. Brennan has made her home with her children, though for the greater part of the time she lived with her daughter, Mrs. P. Leahy, at which place she died. The deceased was probably the oldest woman in Palo Alto County. She lived in a simple way and her life, while responsiblilities rested upon her, was one of honest toll, devoted to her home and children. She came here in the early days when settlers knew naught but hardship and work. She and her good husband labored diligently day by day to support their children and bring them up as best they could, teaching them the lessons that would make them good citizens and Christian men and women. What eulogy to this woman is necessary? Her life and work has eulogized her. Though she may not have been known outside of Palo Alto County, still she has done a noble work. She was a zealous Christian and her every act of life was in accordance to what she believed was right, she faithfully performed each duty resting upon her and her devotion to her home and family was remarkable. She was charitable to all and was kind-hearted and generous. While the inactivities of old age has for a number of years removed her from close association with many people, yet those who knew her some years ago will remember her good qualities and extend sympathy to her sons and daughters who survive her and mourn her loss. For though she has lived many years beyond the average person a mother grows none the less dear as years go by, and her loss is keenly felt.

She leaves six daughters, Mesdames P.R. Jackman, Dan Sherlock, Michael Joynt, Patrick Leahy, Isaac Stewart, all of whom reside in this county, and Mrs. Ann Mugan who lives at Jefferson, Iowa. Of the four sons who came to this county with her only two are still living, Martin F., who is a resident of (Owakis?) Minn., and Edward Brennan, who lives in Nevada Township. Her son James died in April 1895, and John in September, 1900.

Sixty-eight grandchildren and fifty-one great grandchildren survive her.

The funeral services were conducted by Very Rev. J.J. Smith at the Assumption church Sunday at 2 o'clock and the remains laid to rest in St. John Cemetery.

The pall-bearers were her six grandchildren, Mike and Joe Joynt, John and James Sherlock, Francis Jackman and Mike Brennan.

Children of JAMES BRENNAN and KATHERINE WELSH are:

2.	i.	JAMES² BRENNAN, b. Abt. 1845, Canada; d. 04/1895.
	ii.	LIZZIE BRENNAN, b. Abt. 1864, Canada (Source: 1880 IA Soundex, est birth date.); m. JOHN NELSON, 01/04/1881.
	iii.	MARY ANN BRENNAN, m. JOHN STAFFORD.
3.	iv.	JOHN WILLIAM BRENNAN, b. Abt. 1837, Stratford,Ontario,Canada; d. 09/13/1899, Emmetsburg Iowa.
4.	v.	CATHERINE BRENNAN, b. 05/06/1844, Goderich,Ontario,Canada.
	vi.	PATRICK BRENNAN, b. 03/08/1846, Goederich,Ontario,Canada (Source: Goderich Parish Register of St. Peter's Church-Ontario,CN.); d. 09/10/1898, Emmetsburg Iowa.

Notes for PATRICK BRENNAN:
Single according to death record.

From Goderich,Ontario parish register of St. Peter's Church-
"The 20th of April, 1846 baptized Patrick Brennan, born 8th March, son of James Brennan and Catherine Welch, sponsors, James Paten and Margaret Walahe. P.Schneider, P.P."

More About PATRICK BRENNAN:
Cause of Death: Heart disease (Source: Palo Alto County Death Records-Book 2.)
Fact 1: farmer (Source: Palo Alto County Death Records-Book 2.)

5.	vii.	ANNE BRENNAN, b. 06/08/1847, Goederich,Ontario,Canada.
6.	viii.	MARGARET BRENNAN, b. 08/19/1849, Stratford,Ontario,Canada; d. 03/28/1909, Emmetsburg Iowa.
	ix.	EWART BRENNAN, b. 04/14/1851 (Source: St. Joseph's Church Records-Stratford, Ontario,CN.).
7.	x.	MARTIN BRENNAN, b. 05/01/1853, English Canada; d. Aft. 1934.
8.	xi.	EDWARD BRENNAN, b. 04/02/1851, Stratford,Ontario,Canada; d. 02/18/1920, Emmetsburg Iowa.
9.	xii.	CECELIA BRENNAN, b. 11/05/1857, Stratford,Ontario,Canada.
10.	xiii.	BRIDGET BRENNAN, b. 1859, Stratford, County Perth, Canada; d. 05/23/1930, Emmetsburg, Iowa.
11.	xiv.	ELLEN BRENNAN, b. 06/1860, English Canada.

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