Michael C. McCarthy, BiographyPorter County biographical sketches . . . .
Transcribed biography of Michael C. McCarthy
MICHAEL C. McCARTHY. Now one of the prosperous farmers and stockmen near Kouts and the owner of a beautiful country residence in that vicinity, Mr. McCarthy has been a resident of Porter county for nearly twenty years and found a home here after a long and successful career as a contractor. Mr. McCarthy has had a long and varied career, passed among many different localities, and in the latter years has chosen one of the finest regions in the country for his home.
He was born in Canada, in 1829, a son of James and Nora (Ryan) McCarthy, both of whom were natives of Ireland. They were married in their native country, where three children were born, and then in 1817 immigrated to Canada, where the father continued his occupation as a substantial farmer. There was a large family of fourteen children, ten sons and four daughters, named as follows: Dennis, John, Catherine, Patrick, James, Mary, Margaret, Daniel, Thomas, Charles, William, Bridget, Peter and Michael. They were all educated in the schools of Canada and some finished in the College of Montreal.
Michael McCarthy during his early youth in Canada learned the trade of stone-mason, and with that as the basis built his subsequent career. He was employed for some years in that trade in Canada, and in 1863 was married and established his own home. His wife was Miss Natalie Roy, who was a native of Canada and a daughter of Charles and Amelia Roy, who were the parents of five sons and four daughters.
After his marriage Mr. McCarthy spent another year in his native country, and then located with his young wife in Chicago. Previously as a journeyman at his trade he had spent a number of years in the United States -- in California and the southern states. For thirty years Mr. McCarthy was among the prominent contractors of Chicago, and was known for his reliable performance and straightforward business dealings. In 1894, when the conditions affecting his own and every other business were at the lowest ebb, he determined to leave the city and the business which he had followed so long and find an ideal home and life in the country. Near Kouts in this county he was fortunate in securing a splendid farm of one hundred and ninety-three acres, and he bought it with the crops and stock and took immediate possession. To his new pursuits he brought many years of successful business experience and broad travel and observation, with the result that his estate is now considered one of the finest in the county. His residence is ideal for the enjoyment of the comforts of country and town, situated in a grove of trees, with a spacious porch and Boston ivy overrunning the pillars of cement blocks. A cement-block garage is one of the most recent additions, and in all its surroundings and atmosphere one could hardly imagine a pleasanter home place.
Six children have been born to Mr. McCarthy and wife, and they have been well trained and fitted for responsible and honorable careers. They are Mary, Louise, William, George, Roy and Marie Louise. All of them graduated from the Chicago high schools, and Louise became teacher in the public schools of that city. Mary studied music under Dr. Ziegfeld in the Chicago Musical College, and taught music in Chicago. She is now the wife of W. R. Beckwith, and their three children are Marie, Louise and Charles. Louise died at the age of eight years. Marie was educated in Indiana, taking a scientific course in the Valparaiso University, and is now one of the teachers in her home school at Kouts. Charles lives with his grandfather and is the successful superintendent of the farm. Louise, the second daughter of Mr. and Mrs. McCarthy, married J. E. Gilmore, of Chicago, and their three children are Margaret, Roy and Marsh. William McCarthy, whose home is in Philadelphia and who travels for the Philadelphia Brass Works, married Mary Sullivan, a sister of Roger Sullivan, of Chicago. George McCarthy, who is in the undertaking business near San Francisco, married Nellie Burns, a teacher in the high school of Sacramento. Roy McCarthy, who is an engraver in Chicago, married Viola Mayo, of Chicago, and their two children are Roy and Mayo.
Mr. and Mrs. McCarthy are members and liberal supporters of the Catholic church at Kouts. In politics he has given his support to the Democratic party since taking up his home in this country. His daughter Mary and the grandchildren Marie and Charles reside at home. Honorable success has crowned his career, and no citizen in Porter county has a greater wealth of esteem than this retired business man and farmer.
Source: Lewis Publishing Company. 1912. History of Porter County, Indiana: A Narrative Account of its Historical Progress, its People and its Principal Interests. Chicago, Illinois: Lewis Publishing Company. 881 p.
Page(s) in Source: 602-603
This biography has been transcribed exactly as it was originally published in the source. Please note that we do not provide photocopies or digital scans of biographies appearing on this website.
Biography transcribed by Steven R. Shook