Michael Deagan was born between 1820 and 1824 in the Catholic Parish of Youghalarra Burgess,in the Townland of Burgesbeg, North Tipperary County, Ireland. about 15 miles east of Limerick and 4 miles west of the town of Nenagh. His parents were Patrick and Judith (Ryan) Deegan. His family records spell the name as "Deegan" although a few times it is found as "Dugan" and "Duigan".

It has been difficult to determine exactly when he was born since no records of him give the same birth year and the church records do not start until 1830. According to the 1900 census, Michael and his wife, Mary Maher both came to the United States in 1840 although an autobiography written by their daughter, Frances in 1886 says that they met in this country and a niece wrote a letter saying that they met in Jefferson County, New York. Michael "Dagan" was naturalized on 16 September, 1856 in the Court of Common Pleas, Mahoning County, Ohio. It is uncertain when the spelling of the name became "Deagan". The Youngstown City Directory started used Dagan and Deegan until about 1886 and then the name was always found as Deagan.

Michael's age on the 1850 census was given as 24. In 1860, he was 35. In 1870, his age was given as 50; in 1880, as 60; and in 1900 as 86. When he died in 1902, cemetery records at Calvary cemetery give his age as 92.

The earliest record found of Michael in the United States was on the 1850 census. He was living in Hector, Tompkins County, New York where he was listed as Michael Dagen, a laborer, age 24. Michael was probably married shortly after this time to Mary Maher.

Mary Maher was born about 1825 in the Catholic Parish of BorrisO'leigh (civil parish of Glenkeen), Tipperary County. She was orphaned and her uncle, Father Maher, looked after her. She attended convent school in Thurles. She was a very devout Catholic and was described by a granddaughter as a devout and holy woman. Mary died on 7 October 1901 and is buried in Calvary Cemetery in Youngstown, Ohio. She was a member of the Third Order of Saint Francis and was buried in the brown habit, or shroud, which she had prepared for herself.

Michael and Mary lived in Hector, New York for a few years and then moved to Syracuse, New York. Somtime between 1855 and 1856, they moved to Youngstown, Ohio. Michael worked there as a teamster. He died 18 August 1902 in Youngstown and is buried in Calvary Cemetery.

Children of Michael and Mary (Maher) Deagan:

1. John Calhoun Deagan was born 6 November 1851 in Hector, NY. Married Sophia Katherine Funcke. Died 28 April 1934 at Riverside, CA.
   
   
2. Mary Ann Deagan was born 13 January 1853 in Syracuse, NY. She was baptized there on 30 January 1853. Sponsors at her baptism were Joanne and Maria Kelly. She married Jonas Hafele. They lived in Youngstown, OH. She had three children, Elizabeth, Julia and Henry.
   
   
3. From Syracuse Baptimal records, it appears that there was a daughter, Elizabeth, born on September 22, 1953 and baptised on September 24th. She was probably premature and died as an infant. Sponsors at her baptism were Thomas Nisdale and Catherina Kelly.
   
   
4. Thomas F. Deagan was born 12 March 1855 in Syracuse, NY. He married abt. 1879, Matilda Abigail Stoddard of Chautauqua County, NY. He died 14 July 1917 at Bradford, PA.
   
   
5. Bridget Agnes Deagan (known as Agnes) was born about 1856 in Youngstown, OH. She married Nicholas Carroll. They had nine children, William, Nicholas Jr., Mary (Young), Alice, John, Emma, Isabel, Agnes and Edward. Agnes died on or abt. 20 April 1906.
   
   
6. Elizabeth Deagan was born in October 1857 in Youngstown, OH. She married William J. Dowlin. They lived in Youngstown where Elizabeth owned and operated a millinery shop. In 1891, she went back to Ireland and brought her cousin, Hannah Deegan from Tipperary to be a housekeeper and to help in the shop. Elizabeth and William had no children. She died 7 June 1925 in Scranton, PA at the home of her brother, Charles.
   
   
7. William M. Deagan was born about 1859 in Youngstown, OH. His wife's name was Mary Ann, her surname is not known. William lived in Youngstown to at least 1899. He ran a boarding and livery stable there. Their descendants lived in the Akron, Ohio area. They had three sons, Ward, Paul and Edwin and a daughter, Betty.
   
   
8. Emmaline "Emma" Deagan was born in March 1862 in Youngstown, OH. She married Edward A. Mooney who had a saloon and sold choice wines, liquors, etc. Emma worked with her sister, Elizabeth in her millinery shop. They had one child, a daughter, Josephine.
   
   
9. Charles J. Deagan was born about 1865 in Youngstown, OH. He married Mollie Grimes. In 1886, he was working as a fireman on the P.C. & T. railroad in Youngstown. He then moved to Scranton, PA. They did not have children.
   
   
10. Frances Winifred Deagan was born 30 April 1871 in Youngstown, OH. She married Peter Rowe. He was a book salesman. They made their home in LaGrange IL and spent their summers in Florida. In 1920, they moved to California. They had children, John F. "Jack" , Lucille and Elizabeth. Frances died 16 June 1955 in Los Angeles, CA.