PATRICK LACY, a prominent member of the farming community of Silver Creek Township, owns a quarter of section 19, which he has brought to a fine state of cultivation and supplied with a good residence and other suitable farm buildings. Of this he has been in possession since the spring of 1847, and deserves great credit for the manner in which he has assisted the development of the southeastern portion of Stephenson County.

Our subject first drew breath on the other side of the Atlantic in County Kerry, Ireland, March 15, 1823. He is descended from pure Irish ancestry, and possesses all the characteristics of that warm-hearted and generous race. His father, John Lacy, was the proprietor of a modest estate, and spent his entire life on his native soil. The mother, formerly Miss Margaret Leonard, a native of the same county as her husband and son, also died there and is remembered by our subject as an affectionate and careful mother. Both parents belonged to the Roman Catholic Church and lived to a ripe old age. Their family consisted of two sons only, our subject and his brother Thomas.

Mr. Lacy was reared to manhood in the home of his birth, and after reaching his majority was married, in County Galway, to Miss Maria Koyne, a native of the same country, where she was reared on her father’s farm. The latter, Thomas Koyne, is still living and a resident of County Galway, having arrived at the advanced age of ninety years. He married Miss Mary Flynn, who died there some years ago. Mr. and Mrs. Lacy became the parents of nine children, namely, Thomas, James, Margaret, Mary, John, Sabrina, Patrick, William and Llewellyn.

A few weeks after his marriage Mr. Lacy and his young bride embarked on the sailing-vessel “Staffordshire” for the United States, landing in the city of Boston after a voyage of about four weeks. Thence they proceeded to Salem, Mass., where they resided three years, and where our subject employed himself at whatever he could find to do. He then decided to seek the far West, which was beckoning to the enterprising emigrant and holding out to him better prospects for the future. He first proceeded to Wisconsin, but after a few years came into Northern Illinois, locating first in Davis, this county, wehre he was engaged in railroading for two years. Subsequently he rented a farm in Carroll County, upon which he operated one year, and after a brief residence in Winnebago County returned to this county, and purchased the land which comprises his present homestead. After taking possession of this he industriously proceeded with the cultivation of the soil and the erection of necessary buildings, and was prospered in his labors. The soil yielded bountifully, and after the lapse of years he was enabled to take life easier, and now finds himself surrounded by all its comforts and many of its luxuries. Mr. and Mrs. Lacy are faithful adherents to the Catholic faith of their fathers, and politically our subject votes with the Democratic party. He has been Assessor in his township and has held the office of Justice of the Peace since 1881.

Contributed by Carol Parrish from Portrait and Biographical Album of Stephenson County, Ill. (1888), p. 669