An Historic Farmland Preservation Project for a 4th Generation Minnesota Family
History
In 1855, Patrick McCarthy's great-grandparents purchased the land where the family farm currently resides. They purchased it from General Henry Hastings Sibley three years before Minnesota became a state and before General Sibley became the state's first governor. Patrick could relay from what he learned as a boy those areas of the farm where bison used to roam. The McCarthy farm was well known to the Minnesota Historical Society, since in the not too distant past, it was known to have the state's last working old-time thrasher.
McCarthy Family Tree
Patrick's great-great-grandparents
Dennis & Mary (Curtain) McCarthy
(1785 - 1861) (1794 - 1861)
Dennis was born in Ireland in 1785
Dennis died in Douro, Petersborough, Ontario CANADA
Patrick's great-grandparents
James Sr. & Julia (Mahoney) McCarthy
(1812-Feb. 23, 1905) (1826-1871)
James was born in Ireland in 1812.
They married in Chicago in 1856.
They had three sons, one of whom was John, who was born in Eagan.
James died in Eagan in 1905.
Patrick's grandparents
James Jr. & Ellen (Brennan) McCarthy
(27 May 1860 - 5 Aug. 1943)* ( July 1859 - 21 March 1948)*
Ellen was born in Ireland
Married 1884
Patrick's parents
Michael James & Rose R. (Graham) McCarthy
(12 March 1891 - 11 Feb. 1966) (11 Dec. 1894 - 12 April 1958)
Married 1927
Had four sons, Eugene, Thomas, James, Patrick
Michael had one brother, Dennis H. McCarthy, buried beside him, born 8 Dec. 1888, died 9 Aug. 1981
Michael had one sister, Julie McCarthy Naughton, born 9 April 1885, died 27 Oct 1912 (27 years old)
Patrick's generation
Patrick Owen McCarthy
(30 Sept. 1935 - 21 April 2023)
Had three older brothers, listed above
All three brothers served in the U.S. Military (Air Force, Navy, Army) and are buried at Fort Snelling National Cemetery
Sources: St. Peter's Catholic Church, Mendota, Minnesota and Robert J. Conrad using Ancestry.com.
* Originally had 7 Oct. 1943 for James Jr.s' date of death and 24 March 1948 for Ellen's date of death, from Ancestry.com.
The following gravestones are from St. Peter's Catholic Church historic cemetery, Mendota, Minnesota.
McCarthy Family Reunion: Patrick & brothers, cousins (front center) (circa 1940)
James Jr. McCarthy
(1860-1943)
Ellen McCarthy
(1859-1948)
Michael J. McCarthy
(1891-1966)
Rose R. McCarthy
(1894-1958)
Tom, Jim, Eugene McCarthy
Pat, Tom, Dad, Eugene, Jim McCarthy
Pat, Jim, Tom, Eugene McCarthy
Patrick Owen McCarthy
(September 30, 1935 – April 21, 2023)
Eagan, Minnesota
Patrick Owen McCarthy, born on September 30, 1935, and a lifelong resident of Eagan, Minnesota, passed away on April 21, 2023, at the age of 87. Patrick, the son of Michael and Rose McCarthy, grew up on the McCarthy Family farm alongside his three older brothers, Eugene, Thomas, and James. His life was defined by an unwavering commitment to the land that had been a cornerstone of the McCarthy family for four generations.
Patrick was a man of true grit, dedicating his entire existence to the family farm. His tenacity and stubborn nature were evident in his occasional clashes with local government, notably his opposition to the use of eminent domain to claim a portion of the farm for the construction of Glacier Hills Elementary School. This dispute bothered him through the years, and yet, Patrick persevered, standing as an on-going stalwart defender of his family's agricultural legacy.
In an effort to secure the future of the farm, Patrick worked with Dakota County to protect a significant portion of the farm at a time when Dakota County's Farmland and Natural Areas Program was in its infancy. In parallel with this initiative, he protected 29 acres of the property north of Wescott Road by placing a conservation easement on it, ensuring the permanent preservation of this land. Patrick's commitment to conservation demonstrated a dedicated character, combining his determination with a profound love for the land.
In more recent years, Patrick fostered a mutually beneficial relationship with the local Hmong community, recognizing the shared agrarian roots between them. Much like the McCarthys, the Hmong were a family-focused agrarian people, and Patrick found joy in renting out much of his farm to them. This collaboration provided the Hmong community with tillable farmland in the midst of a Twin Cities suburb, creating a bond that transcended cultural differences.
Beyond the fields and negotiations, Patrick's soft side shone through in his endearing affection for children. Welcoming them onto the farm, he at times allowed them to participate in the chores of feeding pigs and cows. This gesture not only bridged generational divides but also added a touch of warmth to Patrick's character, revealing a man who was happy to foster connections with the younger generation.
As Eagan mourns the passing of Patrick Owen McCarthy, the community remembers him not just as a farmer but as a guardian of the land, a resilient spirit, and a bridge-builder between cultures. His legacy lives on in the fields he tended, the acres he preserved, and the relationships he nurtured, embodying the enduring spirit of a man who found purpose, fulfillment, and love in the soil beneath his feet.
Published in the Eagan Sun-Thisweek newspaper, April 12th, 2024