Callahan was born on a farm near
Milford, Illinois in
Iroquois County, Illinois. He graduated from the Mitford Township High School in 1912 and served in the
United States Army during
World War I. Callahan was a farmer; he also raised cattle and hogs. He served as president of the Illinois Farmers Union. Callahan was involved with the
Democratic Party and served as the Chairman of the Iroquois County Democrats for twenty years. Callahan was one of the 177 members elected in the subsequent statewide election. He served in the
Illinois House of Representatives from 1965 to 1967. During his term he served was assigned to the Committee on Agriculture; the Committee on Industry and Labor; and the Committee on Public Utilities, Railroads & Aviation.
John P. Touhy, as
Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives, appointed Callahan to the Water Resource Management Commission. In 1965, a map was drawn which placed Callahan and longtime Democratic incumbent
Joe W. Russell of
Piper City. The 42nd district included all of
Kankakee,
Iroquois,
Ford, and
Grundy counties as well as southwestern
Will County. Callahan did not run in the 1966 general election. Republicans
James R. Washburn and
Thomas R. Houde, and Democrat
Joe W. Russell won the 42nd district's three seats. Callahan died at the Iroquois Memorial Hospital in
Watseka, Illinois. ==Family==