The Highland Township Historical Society
Highland, Oakland County, Michigan

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FLYNN, THOMAS F.

Portrait and Biographical Album of Oakland County, Michigan, Chapman Bros. (1891), p. 847

THOMAS F. FLYNN, a farmer on section 2, Highland Township, is a son of Thomas Flynn, whose father, Thomas, a native of Ireland, lived and died in the Emerald Isle.  The father of our subject came to Quebec, Canada, in 1833, where he worked for two years at £12 per year.  He left Ireland on account of oppressive laws and came away in the night time.  In 1835 he went to New York State and took up land from the Government, one hundred and sixty acres, on which he lived for thirteen years.  He lived in Franklin County, St. Lawrence County and Scottsville, Monroe County, successively.  His death took place in 1881, in Scottsville.  His wife, who died September 7, 1874, bore him one child, Mary, in Ireland and eight in New York, who were named as follows: Catherine, John, Owen, Elizabeth, Thomas, James K., Annie and Patrick D.  These children were reared in the Roman Catholic belief and their parents gave them a good common-school education.  Their father belonged to the State Militia in New York.

Our subject was born November 28, 1840, in Constable Towrship, Franklin County, N. Y.   When eight years old he went to St. Lawrence County, and in 1864 he came to Michigan and worked one winter in the lumber woods and then went into the employ of the Detroit & Milwaukee Railway as a bridge builder, where he continued until 1868.   For eighteen months he acted as foreman.  His marriage took place in Pontiac September 23, 1867.  His wife, Margaret L., daughter of Maurice and Mary (Donahoe) Murray and was born May 14, 1844.  Her parents were natives of Ireland, where they were married, and after the birth of one child, John, they came to America.  Here their eight younger children were born, namely: John, Maurice, Michael, Mary, Thomas, Margaret, William, Mary.

Mr. Murray was a carpenter by trade and followed this avocation until he came to Michigan in 1844.  He then settled in White Lake Township, Oakland County, where he lived until death called him hence, September 7, 1872.  His wife followed him to the other life in May, 1873.  The six children who have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Flynn are all still at home with their parents. They are: Maurice M., Thomas F., Mary A., Maggie A., C. Libby, S. Jenny.

Mr. Flynn came to Highland Township in 1868 and bought eighty acres of land, on which he still makes his home.  In 1878 he added twenty acres and in 1885 he bought forty-four acres more and now owns one hundred and forty-four acres, all but ten of which are finely improved.  He is a breeder of Percheron horses and Hampshire sheep.  His sheep are of such pure blood as to be eligible to register.  He and his wife are Roman Catholic in their belief and he is a Democrat in politics and always has been, but he is not a radical free trader, as he believes in tariff reform.

 

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