Buena Vista County, IA
USGenWeb Project

Patrick Clancy, a retired agriculturalist residing at Storm Lake, was born in Ireland in March, l833.  The father, Timothy Clancy, who was a farmer by occupation, spent his entire life in the Emerald isle.  He wedded Miss Catherine Connelly, by whom he had the following children:  Bridget, Mary, Maggie, Peter and Patrick, all of whom are living in the United States, with the exception of Mary, who is a resident of Ireland.

When a youth of sixteen years Patrick Clancy crossed the briny deep to the United States, wishing to take advantage of the broader business opportunities which he had heard the new world afforded.  He first took up his abode in New Jersey, subsequently removed to Connecticut and about 1852 journeyed to Illinois, securing employment on the Rock Island Railroad.  He afterward worked on the Illinois Central and then turned his attention to farming.

Loyally espousing the cause of the Union at the time of the Civil war, Mr. Clancy enlisted at La Salle, Illinois, May 8, 186l, as a private in Company F, Twenty-third Illinois Volunteer Infantry.  His first engagement was the battle at Lexington, Kentucky.  Being taken prisoner he was held as such one night and then paroled and sent to St. Louis, Missouri, where he was mustered out of service.  In October, 1861, he reenlisted, becoming a private of Company H.  Fifty-eighth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, but was soon promoted to sergeant and for two years and a half was color bearer of his regiment.  He participated in the battles of Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth, Luka, Pleasant Hill, Yellow Bayou, and Nashville, Spanish Fort, Mobile and Fort Blakely and was finally mustered out at Montgomery, Alabama, April 1, 1866.  He was wounded four times.

In 1882 he came to Buena Vista county, Iowa, purchasing a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, in the cultivation of which he was successfully engaged until 1893.  In that year he took up his abode in Storm Lake, where he has since lived retired in the enjoyment of well earned ease, his unremitting industry and well directed energy in former years having brought to him a good competence.

Mr. Clancy was united in marriage to Miss Anna Hunt, a native of Ireland, by whom he has the following children:  Kate, the wife of James Connell; John and Peter, both of whom are residents of Providence township; Mary, who is the wife of Charles Grisby; Annie, who became the wife of Ed Grisby; Bridget; Maggie; and Patrick and Thomas, both of whom are engaged in farming.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Clancy are devoted members of the Catholic church and are well and favorably known throughout the county in which they have now resided for more than a quarter of a century.  The hope that led Patrick Clancy to leave his native land and establish a home in the new world has been more than realized, for here he found the opportunities which he sought and in their utilization gained the measure of success that now enables him to spend his remaining days in honorable retirement from labor.