IA-IRISH-L Archives

From: "Cathy Joynt Labath" <>
Subject: Bio of John Francy
Date: Sat, 17 Jul 2004 07:40:05 -0500

Portrait and Biographical Album, Henry County, Iowa; Acme Publishing Company,
Chicago, 1888, pp 391-392

JOHN FRANCY, a farmer of Jackson Township, was born in County Antrim,
Ireland, in the year 1816, and is a son of John and Agnes (Carly) Francy. The
children of this couple were all born in Ireland, and were twelve in
number-Ellen, William, David, Robert, Mary, George, Margaret, Agnes, Jane, Rose,
John and Alexander. John Francy, Sr., and his wife Agnes, resided upon a farm
in Ireland and were of that industrious and enterprising class that keep the
business world moving. He was a great lover of fine horses, and his stables
never contained an inferior animal. During their lifetime the parents remained
on the homestead, and both reached a ripe age. They were of the Protestant
faith, and their children all followed the Christian teachings of their parents.
In 1839 our subject was married to Miss Joyce Richey, born in 1819, a native of
County Antrim, Ireland, and their eldest son, Timothy, was born in the Emerald
Isle. In May, 1840, Mr. and Mrs. Francy bade adieu to home, friends and kindred,
and with their meager possessions, embarked at Belfast for Liverpool, and from
there took passage to New York, arriving in that city in July, having spent ten
weeks upon the ocean, during which time three of the sailors were buried in the
sea. Sailing fifty miles up the North River, they stopped for a few months in
Newburg, Orange Co., N. Y., Mr. Francy securing work there on a farm. After
deliberation the young couple decided to try their fortune in Virginia, and in
September, 1840, located in Wheeling, where Mr. Francy secured employment at the
tile and fire-brick manufactory, at which business he was an expert. In the city
of Wheeling their children, William J., George and Eliza, were born.
Carefully hoarding his earnings, Mr. Francy found himself possessor of
enough cash, at the end of seven years, to purchase a small farm if they should
remove to the West, and deciding to remove to this county, of which they had
heard favorable mention, in 1851 a permanent location was made, Mr. Francy
purchasing 100 acres, a part of his present homestead. Small improvements had
been made and a trifling log cabin built. Into this the family moved, and the
wife soon had their few household goods placed in order; the children grew
robust and the old cabin had to have an addition. Later this was covered with
boards and made into a comfortable dwelling. As the lands were cleared
prosperity came, and her smiles have never dimin­ished. Other lands have been
purchased and the merry laughter of the children and their ambition to aid in
the work of improving the farm, gave added zest to the parents. Two other sons
were born on the homestead, Robert and David, and the old house still stands as
a landmark. Many pleasant memories cluster about the quaint old relic. Its roof
gave shelter to a happy family, and through its open doors the children ran in
their play, and through its old-fashioned windows the baby-boys watched for the
coming of their father, who always greeted them with a smile and a pleasant
word. But this house has seen its time, and a fine house has taken its place.
The children have grown to manhood and womanhood and are widely scattered, but
the family circle remains unbroken by death. The same cheerful matron presides
in the modern farmhouse who gave the kindly greetings to the weary stranger or
the new-corner who called at her cabin door when the country was new and the
crops of 1851 were not so fruitful as now. The Francy mansion has ever been
noted as one of the most hospitable homes in the county, and the children are
fit representatives of such parents. Of the children, Timothy became the
husband of Martha Hall; William J., who wedded Eliza Lisle, was a dispatch
bearer during the late war, but belonged to no particular command (see sketch);
George, a resident of Salt Lake City, married a lady there; Eliza remains with
her parents and is unmarried; Robert is now the husband of Sarah Robey, and
David wedded Miss Ella Clark. Every child mentioned does honor to the parents
and among the most successful business men are the children of John and Joyce
Francy.
In their mature years this good couple can look back upon a well-spent
life, and from the day their troth was plighted neither has ever had cause to
regret their union. Blessed with health and rich in purse, their old age is
pleasantly passed. Among the old settlers and representative families of this
county they find a cordial remembrance, and in one of the cosiest and neatest of
homes they are enjoying the fruits of a life of industry and thrift, surrounded
with the comforts of life, and enjoying the respect and esteem of the entire
community.

Cathy Joynt Labath
Irish in Iowa
http://www.celticcousins.net/irishiniowa/index.htm
Henry Co, IA USGenWeb Project
http://www.rootsweb.com/~iahenry/index.htm

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• Bio of John Francy by "Cathy Joynt Labath" <>