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| THOMAS CAHILL, farmer, sec. 15, Aetna Tp., was born in Canada, July 8, 1834. His parents, James and Catherine (Lebo) Cahill, were natives respectively of Ireland and Canada; they passed the greater part of their lives in Canada and there died. Mr. Cahill spent his early life after the manner of farmers' sons, and at 16 was apprenticed to learn the business of a butcher. He devoted four years to the accomplishment of his purpose, and the succeeding four years was occupied in buying stock and speculating. He then located at Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich., and worked at his trade two years, resigning his business to enroll as a soldier in the Union cause. He enlisted in 1861, in the 24th Mich. Vol. Inf., and after six months service received honorable discharge. He went at once to Saginaw, where he found employment as a lumberman about two years, and in the fall of 1863, came to this county and passed three years in the pineries. In 1866 he purchased 80 acres of timber land and proceeded to put it in a habitable condition. He built a house and cleared 70 acres. A later purchase of 200 acres has swelled his real estate to 280 acres where he is earnestly engaged in the prosecution of agricultural pursuits. He was married in Canada, Sept. 14, 1860, to Eliza, daughter of Samule and Elizabeth (Wright) Houghton. Of this marriage one child was born, - Katie, March 14, 1861. The mother died at Ypsilanti, Mich., in September, 1861 and Mr. Cahill was again married at Detroit, Mich., Oct. 9, 1864, to Mary E., daughter of Thomas and Mary (Mitchell) Lovesy and widow of Ephraim G. Tucker, who lost his life in the war of the Rebellion. Her father is an Englishman by birth and is yet living in this county; her mother was a native of New York and died in 1870. Mr. Cahill is a Democrat and has held the office of Supervisor four years, Town Clerk one year, and has occupied other important town and school offices. |