IA-IRISH-L Archives

From: "Cathy Joynt Labath" <>
Subject: Bio of John Mulroney
Date: Sun, 20 Jun 2004 10:29:03 -0500

Harlan, Edgar Rubey. A Narrative History of the People of Iowa. Vol III.
Chicago: American Historical Society, 1931

p. 110

JOHN E. MULRONEY. The career of John E. Mulroney, of Fort Dodge, is
strongly entrenched in the history of the jurisprudence of this section of Iowa
where he has won prestige and esteem both as a private practitioner and public
official. A veteran of the World war, in which he was a member of the immortal
Rainbow Division, he commenced practice in 1922 at Fort Dodge, and in 1928 was
elected to the office of county attorney of Webster County, a capacity in which
he is now serving with energy and ability.
Mr. Mulroney was born at Ruthven, Iowa, February 15, 1896, and is a son of
John E. and Anna (Foley) Mulroney. His paternal grandfather, John M. Mulroney,
was born in County Cork, Ireland, whence he was brought as a boy to the United
States, the family settling in Iowa. When the news of the discovery of gold in
California swept the country Mr. Mulroney made the long and perilous trip
overland to the gold fields, where, probably because of his fighting spirit and
perseverance, he was one of the comparatively few who gained success.
Subsequently he worked his way back via the Isthmus and took up his residence in
Palo Alto County, Iowa, whence he removed to Fort Dodge and established himself
in a mercantile business, of which he also made a success. He was the founder of
the First National Bank of Fort Dodge, of which he was a vice president at the
time of his death in 1916, at the age of eighty-six years and had numerous other
business and financial interests. Mr. Mulroney likewise took an active part in
public affairs and was one of the first county treasurers of Palo Alto County.
His son, John E. Mulroney, the elder, was born at Fort Dodge, where he was
reared and educated, and for many years was a prominent business man of the
city, at the time of his death being largely interested in real estate. He
passed away in November, 1902, at which time his community lost one of its
progressive citizens, and a leading member of the Democratic party who had been
a delegate to the national convention that in 1896 nominated William Jennings
Bryan for the presidency. He was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church,
as is Mrs. Mulroney, an native of Fort Dodge, who still survives him. She is a
daughter of Michael Foley, who was born in Ireland and came to the United States
in young manhood, settling at Fort Dodge, where he was a railroad conductor in
his early days. Mr. and Mrs. Mulroney were the parents of two children: Ellen,
the wife of Willard Peterson, a high school teacher of San Diego, California;
and John E.
John E. Mulroney attended the public schools at Fort Dodge and spent one
year at Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska, and when the United States
entered the World war enlisted in the army and went overseas in 1917 as a member
of Headquarters Company, One Hundred and Sixty-eighth Infantry, attached to the
Rainbow Division. He took part in all of the engagements of that hard-fighting
organization, won a corporal's stripes, and returned to the United States,
receiving his honorable discharge in May, 1919. He then resumed his studies as a
student in the law school of the University of Iowa, from which he was graduated
in June, 1922, with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. He immediately engaged in
practice, and took care of the interests of a large and important clientele,
until his election, on the Republican ticket, in November, 1928, to the office
of county attorney of Webster County, in which he has since served with great
ability. He has shown the possession of splendid legal qualities, both as a
private practitioner and a public servant, and has won and retained general
public esteem and confidence. Mr. Mulroney is a member of the Iowa State Bar
Association, the Sigma Chi fraternity and the Phi Delta Phi legal fraternity,
the American Legion and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He is a
Republican in his political convictions and activities and his religious
affiliation is with Corpus Christi Catholic Church.
On June 4, 1929, Mr. Mulroney was united in marriage with Miss Martha
O'Conner, daughter of Morris O'Conner, a leading attorney of Fort Dodge, and a
former law partner of Judge W.S. Kenyon.

Cathy Joynt Labath
Irish in Iowa
http://www.celticcousins.net/irishiniowa/index.htm

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