John Morrissy

John Morrissy, son of John and Margaret (Knox) Morrissy, was born in Kilkenny county, Ireland, in 1820, and there he resided for twenty-eight years, when he moved to Boston, Mass. Later he worked on railroad in New Hampshire as section hand, but after one year engaged in farm work in Virginia, where he remained eighteen months, then moved to Peoria, Ill., where he remained three years. While there he married Miss Joanna Prendergast, who in 1856 settled with him in Valley on 160 acres which he purchased on section thirty-two, an area since increased to 400 acres. Mrs. Morrissy died here in May, 1875, following three of her children to the grave and leaving five, namely: John, James, Robert, Kate, and Bridget. In 1850 his parents came to the United States, settled in Peoria county, where the father died in his eighty-fourth year, and the mother in her eighty- second year. Mr. Morrissy has always been a Democrat, and prominent in national election matters. His industry has won for him an excellent social position, and, what is next best, a good estate — a something which neither manliness, honor, nor industry could accomplish under British laws in his native land.