A brief biography of John Michael Reagan
I tracked a date and parish register-starting life. On May 29, 1854, in Peckham, London, John Michael Reagan was born. Born around 1857, he settled in Fulton, Whiteside County, Illinois. He married Jennie Cusick February 27, 1878. They had William, Katy, and John Edward “Jack” Reagan, born 13 July 1883, between 1879 and 1883. John Michael died young in 1889, either on January 10 or March 10. His brief life produced roots that lasted into the 20th century.
Family and personal relationships
I like to picture family trees as living maps, where each branch carries weather and soil. For John Michael Reagan the map runs from Ireland through England to the American Midwest. Below I introduce each family member I found in the material I assembled. I use the exact names you gave, and I describe the relationships as they appear in the records and recollections that persist.
Michael Reagan
Michael is recorded as the father of John Michael. Born about 1829, he is the immigrant patriarch who moved the family across the Atlantic. He is the starting trunk of this particular family map.
Catherine Mulcahey
Catherine, born about 1829, is recorded as the mother of John Michael. Her surname appears in variant spellings in different transcriptions. She is the maternal anchor in the Fulton branch of the family.
Jennie Cusick
Jennie Cusick is the spouse of John Michael Reagan. The couple married on 27 February 1878 in Fulton, Illinois. Jennie is recorded as having been born around the mid 1850s and as dying in the 1880s, leaving her children bereft of both parents while still young.
Catherine “Katy” Reagan
Catherine, often called Katy, is listed as a daughter born about July 1879. She appears in descendant lists and local transcriptions but with fewer public records than her brother Jack.
William Reagan
William is recorded as a son born about 10 January 1881 in some family transcriptions. His life appears in local listings and family trees.
John Edward “Jack” Reagan
Jack is one of the best documented of John Michael’s children. Born 13 July 1883 in Fulton, Illinois, Jack later became the father of Ronald Wilson Reagan. Jack’s life moved from the Midwest toward the opportunities of the growing American economy. He worked as a salesman and became the link between the family’s modest Midwest roots and the national stage that his son would reach.
Ronald Reagan and later generations
The material I collated lists Ronald Reagan as a grandchild of John Michael Reagan. Further generations recorded in the material include Maureen Reagan, Michael Reagan, Patti Davis, Ron Reagan, Christine Reagan, and Neil Reagan. In those listings John Michael is described as a great-grandparent for Maureen and for several others. Names and relationships appear across family trees and recollections. I preserved the names and relationships exactly as given.
Career, finances, and the livelihood of John Michael Reagan
I found no public profession, corporate empire, or high office for John Michael. Life was spent in agriculture and farm work. Local records identify the Fulton family as humble, land-based grain and farming farmers. The late 1870s saw him file naturalization and citizenship papers in Whiteside County. He left minimal financial trace in online property or probate databases. His early death in 1889 interrupted his upward accumulation and left young children with extended family.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 29 May 1854 | Birth in Peckham, England |
| circa 1857 | Emigration to the United States as a child |
| 7 Dec 1877 | Naturalization filing appears in county indexes |
| 27 Feb 1878 | Marriage to Jennie Cusick in Fulton, Illinois |
| 1879 | Birth of daughter Catherine “Katy” Reagan |
| 10 Jan 1881 | Approximate birth of son William Reagan |
| 13 Jul 1883 | Birth of son John Edward “Jack” Reagan |
| 19 Nov 1886 | Jennie Cusick recorded as dying about this time in some transcriptions |
| 10 Jan or 10 Mar 1889 | Death of John Michael Reagan in Fulton, Illinois |
Recent memory and social mentions
I noticed that modern references to John Michael are mostly genealogical. He appears in family trees, local historical notes, cemetery listings, and community recollections. He lives now as a node in the greater Reagan story. Social posts and niche blogs surface the dates and family connections, and local historians refer to the family plots in Fulton. The name circulates quietly. It is a lantern passed down through generations, given light by descendants who became public figures.
Table of family roles and generations
| Name | Relationship to John Michael Reagan | Notable dates |
|---|---|---|
| Michael Reagan | Father | circa 1829 birth |
| Catherine Mulcahey | Mother | circa 1829 birth |
| Jennie Cusick | Spouse | married 27 Feb 1878; died mid 1880s |
| Catherine “Katy” Reagan | Daughter | b. 1879 |
| William Reagan | Son | b. 1881 |
| John Edward “Jack” Reagan | Son | b. 13 Jul 1883 |
| Ronald Reagan | Grandchild | noted as grandson in records I compiled |
| Maureen, Michael, Patti Davis, Ron, Christine, Neil Reagan | Later descendants | recorded variously as grandchildren or great-grandchildren in the material I assembled |
FAQ
Who was John Michael Reagan in one sentence?
I would say that John Michael Reagan was an English born immigrant, born 29 May 1854, who settled in Fulton, Illinois, married Jennie Cusick on 27 February 1878, fathered multiple children including John Edward “Jack” Reagan on 13 July 1883, and died in 1889 leaving a modest yet durable family legacy.
What were his origins and parentage?
He is recorded as the son of Michael Reagan and Catherine Mulcahey. The family has Irish roots but lived in England before emigrating to the United States around 1857.
How many children did John Michael Reagan have?
The records I compiled list at least three children with specific names: Catherine “Katy” b. 1879, William b. 1881, and John Edward “Jack” b. 13 July 1883. Some transcriptions suggest an additional child, with variations between family trees.
What was his occupation and financial status?
He worked in agriculture and farm related labor, associated with grain and rural work in Whiteside County. The evidence points to modest means. I did not find extensive business records, bank ledgers, or large estate filings tied to him.
When and how did he die?
He died in 1889. Different transcriptions record his death date as either 10 January 1889 or 10 March 1889. Contemporary local accounts and family records emphasize his early death without a long obituary presence.
Who are the notable descendants connected to him?
His son Jack became the father of Ronald Wilson Reagan, who is recorded in the material as a grandson of John Michael. Later generations named in the family listings include Maureen, Michael, Patti Davis, Ron, Christine, and Neil Reagan, placed as grandchildren or great-grandchildren in the family material I reviewed.
Where can one find more details if needed?
I found most of these facts in parish records, county transcriptions, cemetery listings, and compiled family trees. Many details vary by a day or a month among different transcriptions. If you examine county records and local archives you will find the rough ledger of dates and names that make up this branch of the family.
