BIOGRAPHY - THOMAS GALLAHUE
Thomas Gallahue owns and cultivates a tract of land of two hundred acres on section 23, Pella township. Nowhere throughout the entire country can richer farm land be found than in Ford county and the tract which is in possession of our subject returns rich harvests as a reward for the care and labor which he bestows upon the fields. He was born in La Salle county, Illinois, November 11, 1861, his parents being Peter and Julia (A'Hern) Gallahue, of whom mention is made elsewhere in this volume in connection with the history of Peter Gallahue. As a farm boy Thomas Gallahue worked in the fields, assisting in plowing, planting and harvesting up to the time when he was twenty-six years of age. He then started out upon an independent business career, cultivating a tract of rented land for a year. He made further arrangements for having a home of his own through his marriage in 1887 to Miss Minnie O'Mara, who was born in Livingston county, Illinois, and was one of a family of eleven children. The parents were natives of the south of Ireland and came to America in early life, settling first in New York city, while subsequently they removed to Grundy county, Illinois, where Mr. O'Mara followed farming. The mother still survives and resides in Thawville, Iroquois county, but the father is now deceased. Her brothers and sisters are also living.
Following his marriage Mr. Gallahue located upon a part of the old farm homestead, of which he now owns two hundred acres, situated on section 23, Pella township. He likewise has one hundred and sixty acres in Minnesota. As a farmer he is enterprising, alert and energetic, and his unwearied diligence has brought him a very gratifying measure of prosperity. His work is conducted along modern and systematic lines and he accomplishes good results in the production of the cereals best adapted to soil and climate.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Gallahue has been blessed with six children: William P., Thomas P., Neil, Dora Agnes, Herbert J. and Francis. The parents are communicants of the Catholic church and are widely and favorably known in this locality. Mr. Gallahue is a democrat in his political views, and his fellow townsmen, recognizing his worth and ability, have frequently called him to public office. He filled the position of highway commissioner for seven years, was collector for eight years and was also school director for nineteen years, in which connection he labored earnestly for the welfare of the public schools. In fact he stands as a stalwart champion of all that pertains to progressive citizenship and throughout this community in which he has so long made his home, he is held in highest esteem.
Extracted 17 Oct 2016 by Norma Hass from History of Ford County, Illinois, From Its Earliest Settlement to 1908, author E. A. Gardner, Volume 2, pages 849-850
