Rice County, Minnesota - Biographical sketches (3 of 3 so headed), 1882

Thomas Coleman was born in Ireland in 1843, and lived in his native country until the age of seven years. He then came to America with his parents and located in Dunkirk, New York, where he attended school; five years later moved to Galena, IlHuois, and completed his education. In 1856, Mr. Coleman's father came to Shieldsville and was one of the first settlers in the place. Thomas was married here in February, 1863, to Miss Ann Murphy a native of Ireland. She died in 1876, and in 1877, lie married his present wife, formerly Miss Eliza Bramau, a native of Wisconsin. He had three children by his first wife, two of whom are living, and also three by his present wife, two living. Mr. Coleman has held the office of Assessor and was commissioned Postmaster in 1878, still holding the latter.

John Finley, one of the pioneers of tliis place, is a native of Ireland, born in 1820. He was married in 1845, to Miss Mary Tuey and resided in his native place until the age of thirty-two years. He came to America and first located in Rockland county. New York, engaged in brick making. In 1856, he moved to this place and located in section three, where he still resides. He has been Chairman of the board of Supervisors six years. Justice of the Peace six years, and has been a member of the School board several terms. He and his wife are members of the Cathohc church. They have had four children, tln-ee of whom are

Patrick MoKenna is a native of Ireland, born in the parish of Ardstree, county Tyrone, on the 15th of April, 1829. He received a common school education and at the age of seventeen years emigrated to America, locating in Quebec, Canada. He was engaged in rafting timber for ships five months, then removed to Toronto and worked on a farm a year and a half. In 1848, he had charge of a sail vessel which he run during summer montlis for four years and during the winters was in the lumber business. On the 23d of September, 18i9, he marricnl Miss Susan McKenna. They reside! on a farm tour years in Canada West and in October, 1856,came to the territory of INIinnesota and directly to Shieldsville. There were then but four white families in the place. They moved to Erin township but soon returned to this place, bought lots, built a house and started a grocery store. In 1876, Mr. McKenna erected a hotel called the North Star, which he now keeps. He held the office of Town Clerk, Assessor, and Constable all at the same time for twelve years; in 1874, was elected Justice of the Peace and still holds the office and in July of the same year was appointed Notary Public by Gov. Davis. Mr. and Mrs. McKenna have had fifteen children, seven of whom are living; John, thirty years of age; Charles, twenty-five; James P., twenty-three; Catherine, twenty-two; Mary Ella, seventeen; Eddie, thirteen; and Daniel, ten. The family are all members of the Catholic church.

John Nagle, one of the earliest settlers of this place, was born in Ireland in 1830, and resided there until eighteen years old, attending school. He came to America in 1840, and settled in Washington coimty, New York, where he was engaged in farming until 1855, when he moved to Shieldsville. He was married in New York to Bridget Murphy, who has borne him six children, four of whom are living; Richard, aged twenty-five years; Thomas, twenty- three; John, twenty -one, and Mark H., eleven. Katie died in May, 1882, at the age of twenty -seven years. She was the wife of James Finley. Dennis died in infancy and both are buried in the cemetery at this place. Mr. Nagle has been a member of the school board several years and always takes an active part in all school matters. His second son is studying law at Faribault.

Rev. John J. Slevin was born in county Longford, Ireland, on the 4th of March, 1855. He attended St. Mary's Seminary in his native place and afterward All Hallow's College at Dublin and was ordained Priest on the 24th of June, 1878. He, then came to America to St. Paul, Minnesota, from whence he was sent by the Bishop to Shakopee, where he built a parsonage costing .«1,600. In 1880, he came to Shieldsville, since which time the Catholic church has been completed at a cost of $1,600. Father Slevin has four brothers and four sisters in Ireland and one brother and one sister in the state of Missouri. His father died in Ireland in 1882.