Source: From: "Portrait and Biographical Record of Sheboygan County 1894"; page 321

Contributed by: Connie Michaels-Lipp

Lawrence O'Reilly has been a resident of this county since 1846, when he located on section 34, in the town of Mitchell, which has since been his home. He is a native of the Emerald Isle, born August 10, 1817, in County Meath and is a son of John and Mary O'Reilly. The mother died in the Old Country, but the father came to America and made his home with his son, where he died.

Lawrence O'Reilly was reared and educated in his native country and on reaching manhood wedded Miss Margaret Farley. The date of the celebration of their marriage was May 1, 1844. Mrs. O'Reilly was a native of the same town and county as her husband, and a daughter of Patrick and Margaret (Ward) Farley.

On the 6th of May, 1844, Mr. O'Reilly sailed from Liverpool for New York, arriving at the latter place June 12, 1844. He first worked in the iron works at West Point. In 1846, he came west on a steamer to Milwaukee, coming from that point to Sheboygan County, where on July 8, 1846, he entered four eighties, three in Mitchell and one in Scott Township. The latter was taken for his brother, but the former has been his home since. The land was in its natural state, covered with heavy forests, but our pioneer was not daunted by the outlook. With a will to succeed and energy to execute, he has made out of the wilderness a beautiful farm, now under a good state of cultivation, and with the necessary buildings thereon.

Mr. and Mrs. O'Reilly have been blessed with a large family, they have seven children living and having lost six. John married Catherine Crogan, and resides in the Town of Scott; Michael wedded Mary Martin and is a resident of the same town; Mary became the wife of John Murray of Scott; Thomas chose Agnes Murray for a companion and resides in Ft. Howard; Margaret is the wife of John Henry of the town of Mitchell; Ann became the wife of John Kelly of Lyndon; Lawrence Jr. died at the age of fifteen years; Elizabeth died at the age of eighteen years; Catherine died at the age of eleven; Philip died aged nine; Rose Ellen died at five years of age and Rose died at the age of two years; and Janie, the youngest, is at home.

In his political views, Mr. O'Reilly is a reliable Democrat, and in religious faith he and his wife are consistent members of the Catholic Church.

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