Peter Mullen was born in Ireland in 1821 and died in Dubuque County in May, 1882. He married Margaret Thornton who was also born in Ireland in 1821. Peter came to America in 1831 with his mother and the remainder of the family, first settling in Maryland, then Pennsylvania, and then in Jackson County Iowa in 1837 where he built the first jail there. In 1849 they sold out and went to California. In 1851 they came to Dubuque County Iowa to homestead, although Peter Sr went back to California from 1852 to 1854. [source: 1891 History of Harrison County Iowa]
Peter Mullen and his immediate family farmed in Washington Township, Dubuque County, Iowa. They were noted there in the census records from 1854 to 1880. It was near here that Peter married his first wife, Margaret Thornton, a daughter of Patrick and Mary Thornton. Like the Mullens, the Thorntons are said to have come from County Louth in Ireland. After his first wife's death in the early 1860s, Peter next married Margaret Cunningham, a native of the Dubuque area and a daughter of John and Margaret Cunningham. The Cunningham family also came early to the Dubuque area from Ireland.
Some of the members of the next generation of Mullens moved west and farmed in places like Harrison County, Iowa; and in Custer County, Nebraska.
Three Generation Chart - Descendants of Peter Mullen
1 Peter Mullen b: Abt. 1819-1821 in Parish Dromin, County Louth, Ireland d: May 25, 1882 in Washington twp, Dubuque Co., Iowa Burial: St. Theresa, LaMotte, Prairie Springs twp, Jackson Co., Iowa
+Margaret Thornton b: March 1821 in County Louth, Ireland d: Abt. 1863 in Dubuque Co., Iowa m: July 10, 1847 Dubuque County, Iowa Father: Patrick Thornton Mother: Mary ?? Burial: Mount Olivet Cemetery, Key West, Iowa
2 Mary Jane Mullen b: 1849 in Dubuque County, Iowa d: Bef. 1870 in Dubuque Co., Iowa
2 Peter Richard Mullen b: February 21, 1852 in Washington Twp, Dubuque County, Iowa d: January 16, 1918 in Harrison County, Iowa Burial: Mount Carmel Cemetery, Harrison Co., Iowa
+Ellen Margaret O'Rourke b: January 08, 1850 in Table Mound twp, Dubuque County, Iowa d: February 16, 1926 in Harrison County, Iowa m: February 02, 1875 Harrison Co., Iowa Father: John Joseph O'Rourke Mother: Bridget Sloan Burial: Mount Carmel Cemetery, Harrison Co., Iowa
3 John Francis Mullen b: February 27, 1876 in Lagrange twp, Harrison County, Iowa d: May 16, 1895 in Lagrange twp, Harrison County, Iowa Burial: Mount Carmel Cemetery, Harrison Co., Iowa
3 James Patrick Mullen b: March 31, 1877 in Lagrange twp, Harrison County, Iowa d: June 18, 1958 in Broken Bow, Custer Co., Nebraska Burial: St Josephs Cemetery in Broken Bow, NE
+Rose Mary Sweeney b: July 20, 1877 in Oil City, Venango Co., Pennsylvania d: May 08, 1971 in Broken Bow, Custer Co., Nebraska m: June 01, 1910 Nebraska Father: Michael C Sweeney Mother: Mary R Zink Burial: St Josephs Cemetery in Broken Bow, NE
3 Peter William Mullen b: July 06, 1878 in Lagrange twp, Harrison County, Iowa d: August 03, 1963 Burial: St Josephs Cemetery in Broken Bow, NE
+Anastasia Juliette Ryan b: July 17, 1886 in Rockford twp, Pottawattamie Co., Iowa d: April 23, 1978 in Kearney, Nebraska m: October 05, 1909 Missouri Valley, Harrison Co., Iowa Father: John J Ryan Mother: Julia Ann Sennett Burial: St Josephs Cemetery in Broken Bow, NE
3 Mary Anastacia Mullen b: April 27, 1880 in Lagrange twp, Harrison County, Iowa d: November 25, 1915 in Neola, Pottawattamie Co., Iowa Burial: Neola, Iowa
+George Patrick Sweeney b: June 11, 1878 in Armstrong Co?, Pennsylvania d: June 15, 1952 in Hawthorne, Los Angeles Co., California m: April 10, 1907 Missouri Valley, Harrison Co., Iowa Father: Daniel Sweeney Mother: Jane Mary McMurrah Burial: Holy Cross Cemetery, Los Angeles Co., California
3 Charles Maximus Mullen b: November 27, 1881 in Lagrange twp, Harrison County, Iowa d: November 29, 1934 in Missouri Valley, Harrison Co., Iowa Burial: Mount Carmel Cemetery, Harrison Co., Iowa
+Catherine Cecilia Ryan b: August 22, 1887 in near Neola, Pottawattamie Co., Iowa d: January 25, 1976 in Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie Co., Iowa m: September 25, 1907 Neola, Pottawattamie Co., Iowa Father: Edmond Bernard Ryan Mother: Mary Cecilia Zahner Burial: Mount Carmel Cemetery, Harrison Co., Iowa
3 Ellen (Nell) Margaret Mullen b: August 03, 1883 in Lagrange twp, Harrison County, Iowa d: June 20, 1957 in Broken Bow, Custer Co., Nebraska Burial: June 24, 1957 St. Josephs in Broken Bow, Nebraska
+John Joseph Ryan b: May 17, 1885 in near Neola, Pottawattamie Co., Iowa d: May 16, 1968 in Broken Bow, Custer Co., Nebraska m: April 10, 1907 Missouri Valley, Harrison Co., Iowa Father: Edmond Bernard Ryan Mother: Mary Cecilia Zahner Burial: May 20, 1968 St. Josephs in Broken Bow, Nebraska
3 Catherine Bridget Mullen b: November 05, 1885 in Lagrange twp, Harrison County, Iowa d: 1961
3 Martha Genevieve Mullen b: June 29, 1889 in Lagrange twp, Harrison County, Iowa d: April 23, 1968 in Cedar Falls, Iowa
+Francis Peter McBride b: March 18, 1888 in near Harrison County, Iowa d: September 12, 1968 in Cedar Falls, Iowa m: September 08, 1914 St. Patricks, Missouri Valley, Iowa Father: Owen Bernard McBride Mother: Elizabeth Ann Deur
3 Cecilia Jane Mullen b: April 07, 1891 in Lagrange twp, Harrison County, Iowa d: August 16, 1957 in Sacramento, California Burial: Neola, Iowa
+John Francis Doyle b: May 24, 1890 in near Neola, Pottawattamie Co., Iowa d: December 15, 1972 in Sacramento, California m: September 26, 1916 Missouri Valley, Harrison Co., Iowa Father: Michael Joseph Doyle Mother: Mary Ellen Flynn Burial: Neola, Iowa
2 James Patrick Mullen b: Abt. 1857 in Dubuque County, Iowa d: Abt. 1916 in Dubuque County, Iowa
+Mary Catherine O'Connor b: Abt. 1850 in Dubuque County, Iowa d: Abt. 1925 m: October 05, 1880 Dubuque County, Iowa
3 James Richard Mullen b: October 1883 in Washington Twp, Dubuque Co., IA d: 1920
+Eva M Darcy b: September 17 1889 in Custer Co., Montana d: in Oregon? m: September 17, 1917 Miles City, Custer Co., Montana Father: John J Darcy Mother: Sarah B Rooney
3 Francis Bertrand Mullen b: March 01, 1886 in Washington Twp, Dubuque Co., IA d: December 22, 1969 in Milbank, South Dakota
+Maybelle Angeline Heer b: September 01, 1897 d: April 06, 1964 m: June 24, 1916 Dubuque County, Iowa
3 Clement J Mullen b: May 11, 1888 in Washington Twp, Dubuque Co., IA d: December 1964 in Iowa
+Elizabeth Hoffman b: 1893 in Iowa d: 1971 in Iowa
3 Mary Margaret Mullen b: May 17, 1890 in Washington Twp, Dubuque Co., IA d: August 1972 in Dubuque County, Iowa
3 John Thomas Mullen b: August 19, 1892 in Washington Twp, Dubuque Co., IA d: August 1969 in Dubuque, Dubuque Co., Iowa
+Helen W Nelson b: 1897 d: 1950
*2nd Wife of Peter Mullen:
+Margaret Cunningham b: November 1841 in Dubuque Co., Iowa Territory d: June 29, 1906 in Dubuque Co., Iowa m: August 08, 1864 Dubuque Co., Iowa Father: uncertain Mother: uncertain Burial: St. Theresa, LaMotte, Jackson Co., Iowa
2 Catherine Agnes Mullen b: August 29, 1867 in Washington twp, Dubuque County, Iowa d: December 17, 1957 in Iowa? Burial: Mount Carmel, Missouri Valley, Harrison Co., Iowa
+James Patrick Rourke b: October 15, 1861 in Table Mound twp, Dubuque County, Iowa d: June 07, 1934 in Missouri Valley, Harrison Co., Iowa m: July 17, 1888 St Theresa's, Jackson County, Iowa Father: John Joseph O'Rourke Mother: Bridget Sloan Burial: June 09, 1934 Mount Carmel, Missouri Valley, Harrison Co., Iowa
3 Margaret Anastasia (Stasia) Rourke b: December 10, 1889 in Harrison Co., Iowa d: January 02, 1925 in of Dodge twp, Dubuque Co., Iowa
+Michael F Walsh b: July 03, 1889 in Washington Twp, Dubuque Co., IA d: June 07, 1963 in Park Co., Montana? m: September 03, 1917 Iowa Father: Robert E Walsh Mother: Mary Catherine Shortle Burial: Miles City, Custer Co., Montana?
3 Mary Genevieve Rourke b: August 15, 1892 in Missouri Valley, Harrison Co., Iowa d: October 20, 1993 in Carroll, Iowa
+Frank John Kloser b: August 27, 1888 in Cassville, Grant Co., Wisconsin d: February 06, 1989 in Carroll, Iowa m: June 25, 1919 St Patricks Church - Missouri Valley, IA Father: George Kloser Mother: Bertha Pfiffner Burial: Mt Olivet in Carroll, Iowa
3 Francis Xavier Rourke b: January 02, 1896 in Harrison Co., Iowa d: February 06, 1913
3 Marie Gertrude Rourke b: March 07, 1900 in Harrison Co., Iowa d: June 27, 2001 in Missouri Valley, Harrison Co., Iowa Burial: Mount Carmel Cemetery
+Matthew George Gilmore b: August 09, 1904 in Iowa d: October 21, 1993 in Missouri Valley, Harrison Co., Iowa m: June 20, 1928 St Patricks Church - Mo Valley, IA Father: Thomas Patrick Gilmore Mother: Mary E O'Brien Burial: Mount Carmel Cemetery
3 Joseph James Rourke b: December 10, 1902 in Harrison Co., Iowa d: January 21, 1904 in Harrison Co., Iowa
3 Celestine Patricia Rourke b: November 29, 1904 in Harrison Co., Iowa d: January 07, 1980 in near Fort Lauderdale, Florida
+Wilson Doty b: December 09, 1904 in Harrison Co., Iowa d: Abt. 1975 m: September 06, 1927 Father: LeRoy Doty Mother: Harriet (Hattie) Louisa Longman
2 John J Mullen b: July 29, 1869 in Washington Twp, Dubuque Co., IA d: February 23, 1941 of Washington Twp, Dubuque Co., IA
+Elizabeth (Eliza) A Walsh b: September 08, 1872 in Washington Twp, Dubuque Co., IA d: July 12, 1968 in La Motte, Jackson Co, Iowa m: September 23, 1896 St. Joseph's Prairie, Dubuque Co., Iowa Father: Patrick Walsh Mother: Ellen Brennan
3 Maybelle P Mullen b: June 29, 1897 in Washington Twp, Dubuque Co., IA d: August 05, 1994 in La Motte, Jackson Co., IA
+Bert D Coakley b: November 25, 1889 in Iowa d: November 1980 in Zwingle, Jackson/Dubuque Co,, IA m: Abt. 1922 Iowa Father: Daniel Coakley
3 Joseph E Mullen b: 1899 in Washington Twp, Dubuque Co., IA d: 1945
3 Celestine M Mullen b: Abt. 1901 in Washington Twp, Dubuque Co., IA
+Thomas A Gibbs m: Aft. 1929 Iowa
3 Raymond F Mullen b: January 29, 1903 in Washington Twp, Dubuque Co., IA d: June 1982 in Dyersville, Dubuque Co., IA
3 Emmett A Mullen b: March 15, 1905 in Washington Twp, Dubuque Co., IA d: November 1972 in Dubuque Co, Iowa
+Agnes Melchoir b: November 06, 1903 d: September 1986 in Dubuque Co, Iowa
3 Francis J Mullen b: Abt. 1910 in Washington Twp, Dubuque Co., IA d: Abt. 1944 in France, WWII
2 Margaret Mullen b: June 1872 in Washington Twp, Dubuque Co., IA d: March 18, 1898 in Dubuque Co., Iowa
2 Louis P Mullen b: June 1872 in Washington Twp, Dubuque Co., IA d: July 02, 1901 in Iowa Burial: St. Theresa, LaMotte, Jackson Co., Iowa
2 Teresa Anne Mullen b: October 08, 1874 in Dubuque County, Iowa d: October 10, 1960 in Missouri Valley, Harrison Co., Iowa Burial: Mount Carmel Cemetery, Harrison Co., Iowa
2 Anna Marie Mullen b: 1875 in Dubuque County, Iowa d: July 17, 1895 in Dubuque County, Iowa Burial: St. Theresa, LaMotte, Jackson Co., Iowa
This Family Tree the surface on the desendants of Peter Mullen. There is more to be shared and discussed.
Compiled by Dennis Walsh, October 2004.