The fuel interests of any city comprise one of its most important features of trade, and in this line Mr. Slattery has been engaged at Galena since 1852. Besides handling wood and coal he is also interested in hay and grain, and operates quite extensively from his headquarters at Nos. 64 and 66 Main street. He came to this locality as early as 1848, and with the exception of five years spent in Memphis, Tenn., has dealt largely in wood especially. Formerly he had lived in Jackson County, Iowa, where his father settled, upon his emigration from Ireland, and while Michael was a lad of thirteen years.

Dennis Slattery, the father of our subject, spent his last years in Jackson County, Iowa, where his death took place in 1878, at the age of seventy-eight years. He had followed farming mostly during the latter part of his life. A native of County Tipperary, Ireland, he was born in McGloss Parish, where he was reared to man’s estate, and married Miss Catherine Achie, a native of the same parish as her husband; she died in her native Ireland in the prime of life. Five children were thus left motherless, and they came to the United States with their father, in the summer of 1848. Three of these are now living: Our subject; Mary resides in San Francisco; William resides in Washington.

Our subject was the eldest of three sons and two daughters, and soon after the second marriage of his father, started out in life for himself. From the Hawkeye State he emigrated South, and, after spending five years in Tennessee, came to this county. Not long afterward he made the acquaintance of Miss Mary Pound, who was born in Queen’s County, Ireland, and they were married, July 10, 1856. Mrs. Slattery was born Aug. 25, 1839, and is the daughter of Thomas and Mary (Delaney) Pound; the latter of whom died in Ireland. Mr. Pound, after the death of his wife, came to America with his children, and settled near Ogdensburg, N. Y., where he died soon afterward. Mrs. Slattery and one sister came to this county, where she lived until her marriage. Ten children came to bless this union, one of whom died at the age of four years; Catherine was married to J. C. Campbell, an attorney-at-law at Bellevue, Iowa; the others are named respectively: Ann, Ellen, John T., Edward, Mary, Michael, Walter A., and C. Emmitt. The survivors are being given the training and education which will fit them for a worthy position in life. The father is assisted in his business by his intelligent sons, who add greatly to the success of it. Mr. and Mrs. Slattery are members of St. Michael’s Catholic Church, and our subject, politically, is an uncompromising Democrat.

Contributed by Carol Parrish - From Portraits and Biographical Jo Daviess County Pg 520