Died at his home in Lawler, Feb 9, 1891, Patrick Galligan in the 74th year of his age. Deceased was born in County, Cavan, IRE and came to this country in 1841, settling first in Canton, Mass. In 1844 he married Miss Mary Reilly and together they came west, settling in Stapleton Twp. in this county in Nov 1854, where his home has been ever since. He was the father of 12 children, nine of whom survive him: Mrs P. Burns of Lawler, Mrs J. J. O'Donnell of Jacksonville, M. P. [sic Matthew James] Galligan of Pueblo, Colo., Mrs John Tooley of New Hampton, P. H. [sic Phillip Henry] Galligan of Stapleton, P. J. [sic Patrick Joseph] Galligan of Washingtcn D.C., and Miss Bridget, Maggie and Teresa Galligan who reside at their home in Lawler. Mr. Galligan was elected Sheriff of this county in 1859 and served two years from 1860 to Jan 1st, 1862. His business has been farming and until the past few years when poor health compelled him to retire from the farm. He lost an arm by cancer, having it amputated in April 1889. A man of good mind, of sterling integrity, he earned from the soil a competency and enjoyed the respect and esteem of a large circle of relatives and friends.

He helped lay the foundations of society in this county, and its formative principles took shape from the minds of him and his co-pioneers. A staunch Catholic, a firm believer in liberal educatian and an earnest, God loving Christian. Humanity never suffered at his hands, and the world is better for his having lived in it. The funeral was held at the church of Our Lady of Mt Carmel, Feb 11th at ten o'clock a.m., Rev. Father Howe officiating, and the body was laid to rest. He lived his life doing his duty as he saw it, and laid down to rest at peace with God and all mankind.

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Patrick was the son of Farrell Galligan and brother to Owen. The obituary states he came to America in 1841, living for a time in Canton, Mass., which is close-by Providence, R.I., where he married Mary Reilly. They moved to Erin Township, Washington Co., in 1848. He is shown there in the Wisconsin Census of 1850, along with Terrence Commerford and a number by the Reilly name. His sister, Anne, with her husband William Galligan lived in the adjoining Hartfard Township. His obituary states he moved to Iowa in Nov 1854. We know on 14 Feb 1857 Patrick travelled to Freeport, IL, where he, and an unknown Margareta Bree, were sponsors at the baptism of Micheal Nulty, born 28 Jan 1857, at St Mary's Church in Freeport. The names of only ten of his twelve children are known.

His wife was the daughter of Phillip Reilly and Nancy Cronin. Information given by descendants state Phillip was of Corlislea Townland and that Nancy was of 'Corrickaughbawn', both in Co.Cavan. I suspect, tho, that "Corrickaughbawn' might really be 'Carrickabane, a townland which adjoins Corlislea and Corduff. Alse, since "Nancy" was a common nickname for Anne, I also wonder if the Phillip Reilly and wife Ann Reilly, buried in Mt. Carmel might be her parents. This Phillip was born in 1791 and died 5 Sept 1881; Ann born 1794, died 8 Oct 1867. No search has been made to prove or disprove these assumptions.