This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/DIB.2ACE/339.1 Message Board Post: The following was taken from the book "History of Nicollet and Le Sueur Counties, Minnesota Vol II" published in 1916 MARTIN MONAGHAN Martin Monaghan, well-known farmer and a citizen who has been prominently identified with the official life of Kasota township, LeSueur county, Minnesota, was born in Ireland, on November 11, 1842, a son of John and Ann (Tamany) Monaghan, who lived their entire lives in Ireland, where the elder Monaghan was a farmer. John and Ann Monaghan were the parents of eight children: Eliza, Maria, Martin, Peter, Ann, Margaret, Dennis and John. The elder Monaghan and his wife were communicants of the Catholic church of their native country. Martin Monaghan received a common-school education in the public schools of Ireland and when twenty-four years of age came to America, locating in the state of New Jersey, near Jersey City, where he was employed by a market gardener for six years. About 1876, Mr. Monaghan left New Jersesy and came to Minnesota, where he purchased eighty acres of land located in Kasota township, LeSueur county. On taking possession of his farm in Kasota township, Martin Monaghan found it to be timber land, and proceeded to clear his acreage and added improvements and land until he is the owner of a well-improved and thoroughly cultivated farm of one hundred and sixty acres in this county. Mr. Monaghan limits his efforts to general farming. During the year 1876 Martin Monaghan was married to Catherine Koegen, a native of Ireland, who came to America and located at Jersey City, New Jersey, where she joined relatives who had preceded her. To the marriage of Martin and Catherine Monaghan have been born nine children: John, Peter, Patrick, Thomas, Michael, Daniel, Mary, Agnes and Catherine. Mr. Monaghan and his family are communicants of the Catholic church. For six years Martin Monaghan served as a member of the township board, during that time being one of the influences and forces for the development and progress of the various interests in Kasota township. In addition to his service on the township board, Mr. Monaghan, for some time, was a valued member of the township school board.