Greenan, James 1820-1906

GREENAN

Posted By: Geo Clinton (email)
Date: 12/17/2016 at 11:50:23

COON RAPIDS ENTERPRISE - Fri, Sep 21, 1906 - James Greenan, father of Thomas Greenan, died Tuesday in the 87th year. He was born in Ireland in 1820 and came to this country in 1852, with his wife and one child, Thomas.

When they arrived in New York both parents were sick and were taken to different hospitals and thus separated. Both recovered soon and both took a relapse and returned to the separate hospitals. Here after a long sickness, Mr and Mrs Greenan became separated, losing all trace of each other, the mother having the boy. They made every effort to locate each other without success for 8 years, when through an advertisement and the aid of a priest, Mr Greenan then in Illinois got trace of his wife and boy, who were at Newton, New Jersey.

Mr Greenan at once departed for the east and first found Thomas at a country school. The boy knew nothing at the time of their relationship but conducted his father to his mothers home where there was a most happy reunion. From there they moved to Tennessee and at the outbreak of the civil war he was drafted into the confederate army. He carried a gun, however but a day or two, when he saw a chance to make his escape to the north with his family.

He located in Carroll county, IL, where he resided until 1888, when the family moved to Greene county, Iowa and bought a farm, the wife dying about 15 years ago. Recently Mr Greenan bought a farm in South Dakota where he has resided a part of the time, though making his home with his son Thomas.

The funeral services were held from the Catholic church yesterday. The bereaved family have the sympathy of many friends in their sorrow.