Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2025 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ =========================================================================== Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== History of Buffalo & Pepin Counties, Wisconsin - Vol. 1 pub. H. C. Cooper, Jr. & Co., Winona, MN - 1919 [page 150-151] BARNEY McDONOUGH, a pioneer of Maxville township, Buffalo county, was born in County Clare, Ireland, and came to the United States about 1847. About the same time came MARGARET MORRISEY, a native of Tipperary, Ireland, to whom BARNEY was married in Illinois. There he followed the business of a railroad contractor, his headquarters being in Chicago, which was then but a small place in comparison with what it has since become. Thus MR. McDONOUGH was engaged until 1857, when he joined the throng of settlers seeking homes in the Northwest, driving into Maxville township, Buffalo county, with his wife and two sons, JOHN and JAMES. His conveyance was a wagon, drawn by an ox team, and he and his wife brought with them such house- hold goods as they could carry. For a part of the way when they drew near their place of settlement, they had to cut their road, as none was as yet laid out. On his land there, in section 18, he erected a log building, which was the home of the family until 1868, in which year MR. McDONOUGH moved to Section 30, Maxville township, buying 200 acres, where his son, ANDREW, now lives. Later he purchased still more land to the extent of about 200 acres. On the original tract there was a log house and an old barn, the former of which became the new home of the family, then consisting of father and mother and five children: JOHN, now a resident of Idaho; JAMES, of Durand, Wis.; MAGGIE, HENRY and ANDREW. Another daughter, MARIETTA, was born in Maxville township, but met a tragical fate at the age of 5 years, in 1871, being burned to death, when she caught fire from the stove in the schoolhouse she was attending. MR. McDONOUGH was accompanied to Maxville township by his brother, JOHN, and his uncle, MICHAEL, and together they hauled supplies by keel-boat from Reed's Landing, Minn., making the trip in two days. After he had resided here a few years he built a frame house, and continued to improve his farm, on which he remained until 1896, when he sold it to his son, ANDREW, and moved to Durand. There he spent his last years, dying at the venerable age of 92 years, in 1914. His wife died in 1904, at the age of 76. During his active career in Maxville township he became recognized as one of its leading citizens, and served in various offices, being several times chairman of the town board, and by virtue of that office a member of the board of county commissioners. He was also for some time county coroner. He took a prominent part in the councils of the Democratic party in this locality and was a delegate at times to the conventions of the party. He always took a warm interest in the welfare and development of the town- ship and was one of the original stockholders of the Burnside creamery. ===========================================================================