Biography from Biography & Historical Record of Ringgold County, Iowa, p. 273. 1887.

THOMAS CANNY was born November 16, 1826, Dublin, Ireland, the son of Michael and Mary CANNEY.

At the age of 18 years, Thomas came to America, sailing from Liverpool, England in April of 1844, and landing in New York City on the first of May.

He went to Pennsylvania where he worked for one summer on a farm, then went to Ohio where he stayed one year, then moved to Illinois, staying five years.

While in Illinois, Thomas was an engineer of a passenger train for the LaSalle & Bloomington Railroad. Once, he came very near to experiencing a head-on collision with a freight train. Fortunately, Thomas and the other engineer were able to stop their trains a few feet before a collision occurred. After returning to the railyards, Thomas and a few other men left Illinois, intent on trying their luck in the California gold fields.

When the men arrived in Council Bluffs, three of them died of cholera and were buried there. Thomas and the other man sold their teams, wagon and harness and sent the money back to the widows in Illinois.

The two men went to Missouri where Thomas worked as an engineer in a saw mill for a while. Then he drifted back to Illinois.

In the Spring of 1854, Thomas and Michael BEAVER left McClain County, Illinois, traveling in covered wagons. The first night out, Thomas and Michael slept with the Indians.

Thomas and Michael entered the first land from the government in what is now Lincoln township. The closest trading post was at Hopeville in Clarke County. Or, the men went down to the "strip." The "strip" consisted of nine miles of contested territory, claimed by both the Territory of Iowa and the State of Missouri. The trading point in the "strip" was Ringgold City.

When Thomas CANNY and Michael BEAVER arrived in Ringgold County, there wasn't a white man from Madden Grove located in Union County to Ringgold City in Ringgold County.

A bit of a rolling stone, Thomas explored several locations before coming to Ringgold County. On February 2, 1852, Thomas' mother wrote him a letter, posted from Nottingham Place in London, England, stating that she worried about Thomas and his brother Dan since they didn't write very often. She expressed her desire to come to America. However her sons were fearful that she would become homesick in the wild and wooly West of Iowa.

Thomas CANNY was the second Catholic settler in Ringgold County, arriving in Ringgold County during the Spring of 1854, and worked for Luke SHAY, being paid $12 a month. Thomas worked for Luke approximately 2 years.

Thomas built a log house on his farm in 1858. On April 1, 1860*, Thomas was married to Magdalene CABARET, presided over by Justice of the Peace Joseph GARD. They were the parents of five children: Rose, Tansie [Hortense], Daniel, Thomas and William.

Magdalene (CABARET) CANNY was born at Harcourt, France, in 1831, the daughter of Francis and Margaret CABARET. The CABARET family arrived in Ringgold County during the year of 1856, settling in what would become Grant Township.

At one point in time, Thomas became a naturalized citizen of the United States but no one seems to know when this happened.

Thomas was thrifty and a hard worker, possessing a rare judgment of business. He employed many Indians who received sorghum and meat in payment for their labors. At first, Thomas weighed out the meat but the Indians refused to recognize this method. Mrs. CANNY resorted to cutting up the meat into chunks, which the Indians accepted, stating, "So big meat for the day."

At one point in time, some neighbors by the name of HUFF stole one of Thomas' horses. A posse went out to retrieve the stolen horse, but it was not in the brush corral at Nebraska City, where they thought the HUFFS went. Thomas believed that the stolen horse might be in a pen in the timber north of his farm. Upon investigating the situation, Thomas found his horse there, six weeks after it had been stolen. Thomas tore down the gate and took his horse home. Over time, Thomas had several hogs stolen off and on.

When the CANNYS settled on their farm in Ringgold County, there were plenty of deer and wild turkeys, wolves, beavers, and wild fruit - grapes, crab apples, gooseberries and plums. There were also plenty of snakes.

They cut their grain with a scythe and cradle and flailed out the grain or tramped it out with oxen and horses.

During the Civil War, Thomas' brother Dan enlisted in the Union Army. He went off to War and was never heard of again. [ A search in the U.S. Civil War Soldiers database does not produce any further information.]

In 1875, Thomas sold his farm in Lincoln Township and purchased a large farm in Section 33-28 of Grant Township. The family settled here the following year. There never was a mortage on the farm. In 1937, a grandson, Thomas CANNY, was residing on the farm.

Before his death, Thomas was among the largest landholders [750 acres] and most properous farmers in Ringgold County. But Thomas had some problems in 1897.

Ringgold Record
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
September 16, 1897

Frank BENDER, son of Gottleib BENDER, of Grant township, was in the city about 11:30 Sunday night and procured a warrant from Justice KELLER for the arrest of Thomas CANNY, a neighbor residing in the same township. Constable James BEARD, of this city, returnred with him and arrested Mr. CANNY, who was brought to Mt. Ayr early Monday morning. He is charged with assault on the person of Gottlieb BENDER, with intent to committ murder, the trouble occurring Sunday evening. He waived preliminary examination and gave bond for his appearance in the sum of $500 and was then released.

Mr. CANNY is a wealthy farmer and stock raiser of Grant township and his farm joins one owned by Mr. BENDER. On Sunday 125 head of cattle belonging to Mr. CANNY broke through the partition fence into Mr. BENDER'S cornfield. They were discovered and all driven out except twenty-five head, which Mr. BENDER held for damages. In the evening Mr. CANNY'S son came over and asked for the cattle and was told on what terms he could have them - payment of fifty cents per head to cover damages to the corn. He returned and told his father and they together came after the cattle. They were met by Mr. BENDER who told them they could have the cattle if they would pay him for the damage. Mr. CANNY refused and attempted to forcibly take possession of his cattle. Mr. BENDER resisted and the result was that CANNY stabbed him in the left side with a knife. The blade made an incision an inch wide and over two inches deep, striking close to the left lung. Dr. WHITE, of Clearfield, was called and dressed the wound. Mr. BENDER was in a dangerous condition for a time and has much trouble in breathing at present, but is thought he will recover.

The arrest followed. The matter will be brought before the grand jury this week, who will investigate the case. Mr. CANNY is over seventy years old and is worth nearly $50,000. The affair has caused considerable excitment in the community.

Thomas CANNY died at the age of 80 years on October 8, 1904. His funeral was conducted at the Catholic Church in Maloy with Rev. J. J. CONDON presiding over the service. Magdalene died at the age of 75 years on February 13, 1909. They were interred at St. Mary's Cemetery located near Maloy, Iowa.

NOTES: Rose, Thomas and Magdalene's daughter, died at the age of 1 year, 10 months, and 18 days on October 10, 1862. She was interred at St. Mary's Cemetery near Maloy.

Hortense (CANNY) FINN, Thomas and Magdalene's daughter and wife of P. H. FINN, was born September 29, 1866, and died February 10, 1916. She was interred at St. Mary's Cemetery near Maloy.

Daniel "Dan" CANNY, Thomas and Magdalene' son was born March 25, 1867, and died July 12, 1942. Villa, Daniel's wife, was born October 20, 1875, and died August 8, 1957. Their son, William Elmer, was born February 2, 1902, and drowned on June 22, 1917. They were interred at Cleaffield Cemetery.

Thomas and Magdalene's son, Thomas Jr., died at the of eight years on December 9, 1874, and was interred at Cabaret Cemetery in Ringgold County. The surname was spelled "CENNEY" on Thomas' gravestone.

William, son of Thomas and Magdalene CANNY, was born on October 16, 1877, and died on June 29, 1918. He married Mary "Catherine" HANNON, the daughter of Michael and Elizabeth (DALE) HANNON. Catherine was born at Maloy, Iowa, on October 16, 1878, and died at St. Joseph, Missouri, on March 22, 1944. William and Catherine were interrred at St. Mary's Cemetery near Maloy.

M. Thomas "Tom" CANNY, son of William and Mary "Catherine" (HANNON) CANNY, was born in Maloy in 1913, and died in 1977. He married on April 12, 1940 Thelma Zoe TERWILLIGER who was born in 1919 and died in 1996. They were interred at Rose Hill Cemetery, Mount Ayr.

* Thomas and Magdalene's wedding year has also been recorded as 1858 and 1859.

SOURCE: Maloy, Iowa Centennial History: 1887 - 1987 p. 152.

Courtesy of Mount Ayr Public Library

Transcription and Notes by Sharon R. Becker, August of 2011