PATRICK TOOHILL Page 800 Note: The following Biography is a prime example of how these pieces can be wrong.The biography of Patrick Toohill states that he was born in Ireland in 1847 but then says that his father came to America in 1838. The next paragraph says that Patrick was seven or eight years old when he came to America with his parents, and then goes on to say that he moved to Illinois in 1857 and went to work for $10 a month. (He would have been ten years old at the time, if born in 1847.)
No member of the farming community of DeWitt County is more worthy of representation in this Biographical Album than this gentleman.He is one of the most extensive farmers and stock-growers of Wilson Township, where he has large landed interests and a commodious home. Mr. Toohill was born in Ireland in 1847. His father, Edmond Toohill, was also a native of that island, where he engaged as a farmer until he immigrated to America in 1838. After coming to this country he lived in the State of New York until 1857, when he took up his residence in this county. He had three sons in the army during the war, and he went to Washington to gain permission from Abraham Lincoln to see them. The President kindly gave him a pass that allowed him to go where he pleased, and he traveled much in the South and considerably through the West. His declining years were spent in the home of our subject, his death occurring in 1882, at the age of seventy-two years. He and his wife, whose maiden name was Josephine Keef, and who was born in Ireland, were both members of the Catholic Church. In his political views he was a Republican, but was independent in local matters.To him and his wife were born ten children, of whom eight grew to maturity: John, Catherine, Edward, Daniel, Patrick, Joseph, James and Ellen.The mother died when about fifty years of age. Patrick Toohill was a boy of seven or eight years when he came to this country with his father and mother. He was reared in the State of New York and attended school some in his boyhood though he had to begin work when quite young. He came to Illinois in the spring of 1857 and settled in McLean County, where he worked one year at $10 a month. At the expiration of that time he made his way to this county and the ensuing four years worked out by the month. He was frugal and economical, and though he frequently sent money to his parents, he finally laid by enough to get a good start in life. He rented land in 1862 of Jesse Funk, of McLean County, the land lying in DeWitt County. He continued to farm as a renter until 1868, and then purchased one hundred and twenty acres on section 28, Wilson Township, which form a part of his present farm.It was then wild prairie land and not a furrow had been turned. He bought a small house for a trifle, and moving onto his land, took up his residence therein. He now has his land well drained, under admirable tillage and finely improved. He has been very successful in his enterprise and has a farm of four hundred and forty-five acres, all under cultivation. He built his present house, which is a fine, large two-story frame dwelling, in 1876, and in 1881 he built his substantial frame barn. He has farmed extensively and has dealt largely in stock, raising many cattle, horses and hogs, which he ships to the market himself. Mr. Toohill was married February 17, 1863, to Hanora Gleason, who was born in Ireland and came to America in 1852. She has made our subject an excellent wife and has had much to do in bringing about his present prosperity. They have had nine children, of whom eight are living: Johanna, Ann (Mrs. Powers), Winnofred (Mrs. Pearl), Edward, James, Mary, Martin and Catherine. Mr. Toohill is a man of excellent habits and is very much respected by the entire community. He is a fine example of our self-made men, as he began life with no other capital than brain and muscle, and has achieved a remarkable success. He is a shrewd man of business, is energetic and enterprising, and stands well in financial circles. He is one of our most valued civic officials and is serving his second term as Supervisor, in which responsible position he is acting with true public spirit and with conscientious fidelity, doing all in his power to advance the interests of his township and county.He is one of the most intelligent supporters of the Republican Party in this locality, is a strong believer in the principles of protection and is an advocate of the McKinley bill. He and his wife are members of the Catholic Church at Wapella, and are generous in contributing to its support.