Michael Egan was the child of an immigrant father. His father left Ireland in 1836 with his then wife and infant daughter. There is no information as to why his father came to the United States but it can be assumed that he left with his family to have a better life than what he would have gotten if he stayed in Ireland. After the death of his first wife, Michael's father remarried. At only 10, Michael lost his mother and his father had to marry again so that someone could raise the children since he spent the majority of his time with farm work. Michael was constantly moving which kind of effected him. His father died in 1856 while they were traveling to relocate. Nothing is known about Michael from that time until he enlisted in the Fourth Iowa Cavalry on September 2, 1862. A little over two months after enlisting he was admitted to Mound City Hospital in Illinois which was staffed by the Sisters of the Holy Cross.

Life after the death of his parents had been very hard for Michael and through the Sisters of the Holy Cross he was finally having an easier time. I believe that he was displaced after the death of his parents because he could have felt as is he was no longer being cared for. Although he had a stepmother, it is not the same relationship that you have with your actual parents. Through the Sisters, he could have been taken care of similarly to how his parents took care of him. Due to the army, he was moving and did not have a home. I believe that he lost his home once his father died. He no longer had parents who were going to watch out for him. He could have joined the army to help him financially, but no matter the reason he was able to succeed in his life because of the Sisters. They helped him become healthy again, and through that relationship he feels indebted to them. His father moved to the United States for a reason and although Michael had a rough beginning he eventually made a good life and being a well respected person.