Michael J. O’Connor
Michael J. O’Connor, farmer, section 7, Clinton Township, is from the State of New York. His parents, John and Mary (Joyce) O’Connor, native of Ireland, emigrated to America in 1825, settling in the State of New York, where they spent the remainder of their lives.
The subject of this sketch, youngest of a family of 10 children, was born in Franklin Co., N.Y., Feb. 12, 1844. Lived at home till about 17 years old, when he entered service on the lakes, which he followed for 11 summer seasons, in different relations. He first came to DeKalb County in the summer of 1865, but did not settle permanently in the county until 1872. In 1874 he purchased 160 acres of land in Clinton Township, on section 7, where he has since lived. He is now the owner of 240 acres, 200 of which is in a good state of cultivation. In politics he is a Democrat, and in religion both himself and wife are members of the Catholic Church.
Mr. O’Connor was married in Chicago, IL, July 5, 1873, to Maria Lynch, daughter of Thomas and Margaret (Feeney) Lynch, natives of Ireland, and came to LaSalle Co., IL, about 1856; in 1866 they removed to this county, settling in the township of Paw Paw. Mrs. O’Connor, the second child in a family of seven children, was born in Columbia C., N.Y., March 17, 1851. She has become the mother of four children, named Minnie, Thomas, John and Margaret P. Thomas died when two and a half years of age.
