IA-IRISH-L Archives

From: "Cathy Joynt Labath" <>
Subject: Bio of Dennis Sullivan
Date: Thu, 25 Aug 2005 18:35:41 -0500

History of Iowa County, Iowa...by James G. Dinwiddie. Volume 2. Chicago: S.
J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1915

Dennis Sullivan, an active, enterprising business man, accomplishing
what he undertakes by reason of well directed activity, thrift and
determination, is now manager of the Farmers Cooperative Creamery Company,
and is secretary and manager of the Iowa County Mutual Telephone Company. He
was born February 10, 1866, in Bantry, County Cork, Ireland, and is the
oldest of a family of seven sons and four daughters, of whom one son and two
daughters are yet residents of Ireland. His parents were Thomas and
Elizabeth (Daly) Sullivan. In his native land Dennis Sullivan remained to
the age of nineteen years, after which he sailed for America, having
determined to try his fortune in the new world. He landed at Boston,
Massachusetts, on the 15th of June, 1885, but did not tarry on the eastern
coast. Taking Horace Greeley's advice, he made his way direct to the middle
west, reaching Marengo, Iowa, on the 19th of June. For eighteen months
thereafter he was employed on the Rock Island Railroad and subsequently he
worked as a farm hand for two years. He then went to a commercial college in
Omaha for one winter and later made a short trip through the west as far as
Ogden, Utah, but thinking no place like Marengo, he returned immediately and
engaged in farming for seven years. He then entered the contracting
business, hauling all the material for the county courthouse, and he also
hauled brick and coal for the Brick & Tile Company.
On the 2d of May, 1893, Mr. Sullivan was united in marriage to Miss
Mary Sullivan, who was born in County Cork, Ireland, the oldest daughter of
John Sullivan, who now lives in Marengo, where he has been engaged in
railroad work. Mrs. Mary Sullivan had three sisters and a brother, all of
whom came to the United States and all are yet living, with the exception of
a sister. Following their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Sullivan took up
their abode upon the farm, which he continued to manage and operate for
seven years. He has become an important factor in the business circles of
town and county, being now manager for the Farmers Cooperative Creamery,
which position he has occupied, with the exception of two years, since 1903,
making the undertaking one of substantial success. He is also secretary and
manager of the Iowa County Mutual Telephone Company, filling that position
since 1906 and giving to the patrons of the corporation excellent service.
He is likewise a director in the Peoples Bank and he was the first to begin
bottling milk in Marengo. He has erected and occupies the finest residence
in Marengo and he is also the owner of an excellent farm of one hundred and
sixteen acres, thirteen of which lie within the city limits. He is also the
third owner of a farm of three hundred and sixty acres at Iowa City, which
yielded over twelve thousand bushels of corn in 1914, and he also owns two
hundred and ten acres near Kostza, in Iowa county.
In his political views Mr. Sullivan has always been a republican and is
now serving for the second term as a member of the city council of Marengo,
having been first elected in 1911. He has done effective work for the
welfare of the city along various lines and his cooperation is counted an
element for success in the conduct of any public movement. His religious
faith is that of the Catholic church, of which he has been trustee for
several years. His life record is an indication of what may be accomplished
by a poor Irish boy through sobriety, industry and determination. The
talents with which nature endowed him he has used wisely and well and his
carefully defined and promptly executed business plans have made the
interests with which he is connected a source of general benefit to the
community as well as of individual success.

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

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