From: "Biographical Review of Cass, Schuyler and
Brown Counties, Illinois 1892", by Biographical Review Publishing
Company, Chicago, Illinois; pages 521-522, a reprinted by Stevens
Publishing Co., Astoria, Ill., 1971, is sold by the Schuyler County
Historical Society, Rushville, Illinois.
Stephen Brannan, deceased, having died at his home in
Beardstown, Illinois, September 16, 1875, was born in Queen's county,
Ireland, about seventy-two years ago. He came of pure Irish ancestry.
His mother had died in her native country, when in middle life. Her
name was Anorah Brannan. His father later came to this country, joined
his son in Cass county, and after having lived here twelve years, died
at his home, aged eighty-four. He and his wife were all their lives
Roman Catholics.
Mr. Brannan came to Cass county a poor man in 1849. He had given
up a farmer's life in Ireland and when twenty-three years of age went
to England, spent three years in Liverpool and in 1849 reached the
United States. He had been nine weeks in the city of New York before he
came on to Beardstown and here the scenes of his active life began. He
was a hard-working farmer and stock raiser and became prominent as such
in the county. He was successful in accumulating land, having worked
around for seven years; he then purchased and began to farm for
himself. He first bought eighty acres, which before his death he had
increased to 380, and 340 of it is still in the family. This land is in
Indian precinct.
He was married, in Beardstown, to Elizabeth A. Riley, who was
born in Londonderry, Ireland, August 7, 1835. She was the daughter of
John and Margaret (Kenan) Riley, natives of Dublin, Ireland. Mr. Riley
and his wife had both come to England when young people, were married
in Ashton, England, and there Mr. Riley followed for a time the trade
of a baker and was so engaged throughout England until 1836, when he
came to the United States and located in Beardstown. Four years later
his wife and children came over on the same ship with Mr. Brannan of
this notice. Mr. Riley obtained land in Indian precinct, about 650
acres, and it was upon this place that John Riley and wife labored,
successfully, and died about the age of fifty-five years, having been
all their lives good Roman Catholics. Mrs. Brannan was her parent's
only child. She has kept the property together and is a good manager.
They had thirteen children, four of whom are dead. Nicholas is now a
farmer on the old homestead; John Jr., is also a farmer at the same
place; R. Edward is a partner with his brother in farming; Mary A., at
present housekeeper for her brothers on the farm; Nora is at home with
her mother; Thomas is a clerk for Werner & Stoneagle; Lizzie is at
home, while William and Stephen work for their brothers on the farm.
Mr. Brannan was a good neighbor, a kind father and husband and a consistent member of the Roman Catholic Church.
