http://www.cooganresearchgroup.com/crg/index.htm 06 March 2009 COOGAN story appearing in "History of Logan County [Illinois]" (Pioneer Publishing Company, 1911) [PAGES 108-109]: MICHAEL COOGAN Michael Coogan, a well known and influential citizen of Lincoln, was born in this city on the 24th of April, 1858, and comes of old Irish stock, his parents, James and Jane (McMahon) Coogan, being natives of the Emerald Isle. In early life, however, they came to the new world and were married in Lincoln, where James Coogan still resides, having now reached the age of seventy- seven years, but Mrs. Coogan has passed away. Our subject is the eldest of their eight children, there being five sons and three daughters in the family. During his boyhood Michael Coogan attended the public schools of Lincoln, but his advantages were limited as the family were in rather straitened circumstances during his early life. Leaving school at an early age, he worked at various occupations by which he could earn an honorable living and for several years was successfully engaged in the ice business. Becoming interested in the political situation, he began taking a very active part in public affairs and his fellow citizens, recognizing his worth and ability, have honored him by election to various offices of trust and responsibility. At the early age of twenty-three years he was called upon to serve as street commissioner and he has also filled the offices of tax collector of East Lincoln township and county treasurer, his official duties being most capably and satisfactorily discharged. He has represented the fifth ward in the city council for sixteen years and the last election was the candidate of the liberal party for mayor of Lincoln. For the past eight years he has been in the employ of the Latham Coal Company and is now serving as superintendent. He is now serving his third term as a member of the board of education. Mr. Coogan was married in 1880 to Miss Rose Moore, who died in 1891, and the following year he married Miss Alice Ryan. By the first union he had five children and by the second three children, in order of birth being as follows: Ellen Mary, Elizabeth Jane, Rose Irene, Matthew James, William M., Alice, Gertrude and Thomas. __________________________________________________________________ http://books.google.com