The Scannell Family of Ireland and Iowa

Florence George Scannell and family, about 1895

Florence George Scannell and family
about 1895

Back row: Will, Dennis, John (J.W.), Florence Jr., Tim

Middle row: Raleigh, Abigail Casey, Florence Sr., Dollie, Anna

Front row: Hugh, Paul, Emmett, Joe

Florence George Scannell immigrated from County Kerry, Ireland around 1861. He arrived in either Boston or Quebec, possibly with two brothers, and then made his way to Canton, Lawrence Co., New York. Here he enlisted in the Union Army on 14 February 1865. He served in Company B of the 193 NY Infantry until 21 June 1865.

In 1867 he married Abigail Casey in Potsdam, St. Lawrence Co., NY. She was also a recent immigrant from Cork County, Ireland. They had at least 12 children in 21 years. Sometime shortly after the birth of Florence George, Jr. (1870) but before the 1870 census was taken on 4 August 1870 they moved from New York State to the vicinity of Fairfield, Jefferson Co., Iowa. Florence and at least two of his sons (Tim and Dennis) were stone masons.

As an adult, William Edward Scannell became the owner of the Scannell Home Coffee and Tea Company which sold "Teas, Coffees, Spices, Extracts, China, Glassware" in Fairfield. For at least six years after his death in 1917 his wife Mary Hickey ran the business, but by 1929 she had closed it down.