Now over three-score and ten years of age, Michael Duffy is passing the
evening of his life in quiet and contentment at his pleasant home in the
northern part of Ottawa. For more than half a century he has dwelt in this
immediate locality and has been a witness of wonderful changes, as the wild
prairie blossomed into usefulness and beauty under the labor of man, as
thriving villages sprang into existence, and the county was covered with a
network of railroads, which afford easy transportation facilities to the
farmer who desires to dispose of the products of his land in the adjacent
towns and cities.
A son of James and Mary (Kennedy) Duffy, our
subject was born in county West Meath, Ireland, in 1827. His parents spent
their entire lives in the Emerald Isle, their attention being given to
agriculture. At an early age, Michael Duffy had to take up the burdens of
life, and until recently he kept busily at work, adding to his capital and
steadily making improvements upon his farm. It was in 1844 that he concluded
to come to the United States, and after a three-weeks voyage in a sailing
vessel he landed in New York city, whence he proceeded direct to Ottawa. A
brother, Bernard, had come to this locality about two or more years
previously, and made a purchase of land in their joint names. This property,
three hundred acres, was not divided, but together the brothers carried on
the homestead harmoniously until the death of Bernard in 1895, fifty-one
years from the time that they had first started to run the farm. Bernard was
the only brother of our subject, and, as he remained unmarried, he made his
home chiefly with Michael Duffy. The latter succeeded to the sole ownership
of the homestead at the death of his brother, and now leases the place to
responsible tenants. A substantial brick house, good barns and other farm
buildings are to be found on the place, which is kept in a neat and thrifty
manner. The farm is finely situated, being on the well kept graveled road
leading from Ottawa to Utica.
In political matters Mr. Duffy is a
stanch friend of the Democratic party. He and all of his family are members
of St. Patrick's Catholic church, of Ottawa. Thirty years ago he married
Mary Vork, of Ottawa township, and three children blessed their union,
namely: James, who resides on the farm owned by the father; John, who is
engaged in farming; and Mary, who, since the death of the devoted wife and
mother, in 1896, has been her father's housekeeper.
Extracted 13 May 2019 by Norma Hass from Biographical and Genealogical Record of LaSalle County, Illinois, published in 1900, volume 2, pages 626-627.
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