Thomas CANNY was born November 16, 1826, Dublin, Ireland, the son of Michael and Mary CANNY.

At the age of 18 years, Thomas came to America, sailing from Liverpool, England in April of 1844, and landing in New York City on the first of May.

He went to Pennsylvania where he worked for one summer on a farm, then went to Ohio where he stayed one year, then moved to Illinois, staying five years.

While in Illinois, Thomas was an engineer of a passenger train for the LaSalle & Bloomington Railroad. Once, he came very near to experiencing a head-on collision with a freight train. Fortunately, Thomas and the other engineer were able to stop their trains a few feet before a collision occurred. After returning to the railyards, Thomas and a few other men left Illinois, intent on trying their luck in the California gold fields.

When the men arrived in Council Bluffs, three of them died of cholera and were buried there. Thomas and the other man sold their teams, wagon and harness and sent the money back to the widows in Illinois.

The two men went to Missouri where Thomas worked as an engineer in a saw mill for a while. Then he drifted back to Illinois.

In the Spring of 1854, Thomas and Michael BEAVER left McClain County, Illinois, traveling in covered wagons. The first night out, Thomas and Michael slept with the Indians.

Thomas and Michael entered the first land from the government in what is now Lincoln township. The closest trading post was at Hopeville in Clarke County. Or, the men went down to the "strip." The "strip" consisted of nine miles of contested territory, claimed by both the Territory of Iowa and the State of Missouri. The trading point in the "strip" was Ringgold City.

When Thomas CANNY and Michael BEAVER arrived in Ringgold County, there wasn't a white man from Madden Grove located in Union County to Ringgold City in Ringgold County.

A bit of a rolling stone, Thomas explored several locations before coming to Ringgold County. On February 2, 1852, Thomas' mother wrote him a letter, posted from Nottingham Place in London, England, stating that she worried about Thomas and his brother Dan since they didn't write very often. She expressed her desire to come to America. However her sons were fearful that she would become homesick in the wild and wooly West of Iowa.

Thomas CANNY was the second Catholic settler in Ringgold County, arriving in Ringgold County during the Spring of 1854, and worked for Luke SHAY, being paid $12 a month. Thomas worked for Luke approximately 2 years.

Thomas built a log house on his farm in 1858. On April 1, 1860*, Thomas was married to Magdalene CABARET, presided over by Justice of the Peace Joseph GARD. They were the parents of five children: Rose, Tansie [Hortense], Daniel, Thomas and William.

Magdalene (CABARET) CANNY was born at Harcourt, France, in 1831, the daughter of Francis CABARET. The CABARET family arrived in Ringgold County during the year of 1856, settling in what would become Grant Township.

At one point in time, Thomas became a naturalized citizen of the United States but no one seems to know when this happened.

Thomas was thrifty and a hard worker, possessing a rare judgment of business. He employed many Indians who received sorghum and meat in payment for their labors. At first, Thomas weighed out the meat but the Indians refused to recognize this method. Mrs. CANNY resorted to cutting up the meat into chunks, which the Indians accepted, stating, "So big meat for the day."

At one point in time, some neighbors by the name of HUFF stole one of Thomas' horses. A posse went out to retrieve the stolen horse, but it was not in the brush corral at Nebraska City, where they thought the HUFFS went. Thomas believed that the stolen horse might be in a pen in the timber north of his farm. Upon investigating the situation, Thomas found his horse there, six weeks after it had been stolen. Thomas tore down the gate and took his horse home. Over time, Thomas had several hogs stolen off and on.

When the CANNYS settled on their farm in Ringgold County, there were plenty of deer and wild turkeys, wolves, beavers, and wild fruit - grapes, crab apples, gooseberries and plums. There were also plenty of snakes.

They cut their grain with a scythe and cradle and flailed out the grain or tramped it out with oxen and horses.

During the Civil War, Thomas' brother Dan enlisted in the Union Army. He went off to War and was never heard of again. [ A search in the U.S. Civil War Soldiers database does not produce any further information.]

In 1875, Thomas sold his farm in Lincoln Township and purchased a large farm in Section 33-28 of Grant Township. The family settled here the following year. There never was a mortage on the farm. In 1937, a grandson, Thomas CANNY, was residing on the farm.

Before his death, Thomas was among the largest landholders [750 acres] and most properous farmers in Ringgold County.

Thomas CANNY died at the age of 80 years on October 8, 1904. His funeral was conducted at the Catholic Church in Maloy with Rev. J. J. CONDON presiding over the service. Magdalene died at the age of 75 years on February 13, 1909. They were interred at St. Mary's Cemetery located near Maloy, Iowa.

Rose, Thomas and Magdalene's daughter, died at the age of 1 year, 10 months, and 18 days on October 10, 1862. She was interred at St. Mary's Cemetery near Maloy.

Hortense, Thomas and Magdalene's daughter, was born September 29, 1866, and died February 10, 1916. She was interred at St. Mary's Cemetery near Maloy.

Daniel CANNY, Thomas and Magdalene' son was born March 25, 1867, and died July 12, 1942. Villa, Daniel's wife, was born October 20, 1875, and died August 8, 1957. Their son, William Elmer, was born February 2, 1902, and died June 22, 1917. They were interred at Cleaffield Cemetery.

Thomas and Magdalene's son, Thomas Jr., died at the of eight years on December 9, 1874, and was interred at Cabaret Cemetery in Ringgold County. The surname was spelled "CENNEY" on Thomas' gravestone.

William, son of Thomas and Magdalene CANNY, was born on October 16, 1877, and died on June 29, 1918. He married Mary "Catherine" HANNON, the daughter of Michael and Elizabeth (DALE) HANNON. Catherine was born at Maloy, Iowa, on October 16, 1878, and died at St. Joseph, Missouri, on March 22, 1944. William and Catherine were interrred at St. Mary's Cemetery near Maloy.

* Thomas and Magdalene's wedding year has also been recorded as 1858 and 1859.

SOURCES:
Biography & Historical Record of Ringgold County, Iowa, p. 273, 1887.

LESAN, Mrs. B. M. Early History of Ringgold County: 1844 - 1937 p. 20, 96-7, 243. Blair Pub. House. Lamoni IA. 1937.

Transcriptions & note by Sharon R. Becker, May of 2010

Lewis Publishing Company of Chicago, 1887, p. 273

THOMAS CANNY

Thomas CANNY, one of the prominent and prosperous agriculturists of Ringgold County, engaged in farming and stock-raising on section 33, Grant Township, is a native of Ireland, born November 16, 1826, a son of Michael and Mary CANNY, who were natives of the same country. Thomas CANNY was reared a farmer in Ireland till eighteen years of age, when he decided to try his fortunes in America. Accordingly, in April, 1844, he sailed from Liverpool, England, and landed at New York City, the 1st of May. He first went to Pennsylvania, where he worked on a farm for one summer, and in the following fall went to Ohio, remaining in that State one year. He then spent five years in the State of Illinois, and in 1853 came to Ringgold County, when he located on the farm where he has since made his home. He has on his land a fine orchard filled with many varieties of fruit trees, a well-cultivated farm and good farm buildings.

Mr. CANNY was married April 1, 1860, to Mary CABERT. They have had five children - Rose, Tansie, Daniel, Thomas and William. Rose and Thomas are deceased.

In politics Mr. CANNY casts his suffrage with the Democratic party. Mr. CANNY has met with excellent success in his agricultural pursuits, and by his persevering energy and good business management has accumulated a large property, amounting to 750 acres, all of which he has gained by fair and honorable dealings, and what is of greater value, he has won the respect and confidence of all who know him.

SOURCES:
Biography & Historical Record of Ringgold County, Iowa, p. 273, 1887.

LESAN, Mrs. B. M. Early History of Ringgold County: 1844 - 1937 p. 18, 243. Blair Pub. House. Lamoni IA. 1937.

Transcriptions by Sharon R. Becker, January of 2009; updated May of 2010