O'Brien, Thomas 1847-1920

OBRIEN, CUNNINGHAM, FARLEY, DEVINEY, DELVING

Posted By: PETER R. O'BRIEN (email)
Date: 7/1/2007 at 14:28:43

Prominent Farmer Found Lifeless

The entire community was deeply shocked on Thursday last upon learning that Thomas O'Brien, a pioneer resident and widely known farmar, had been found lifeless in his farm yard in Hanover township. His remains were discovered by George Durant of this city who had called at his place on a business errand. Not knowing the man, Mr. Durant quickly hailed Burt Hendrick and Ed Calvin of this city, who chanced to be passing at the time, and Mr. Hendrick at once recognized the remains.

Deceased was a bachelor and lived alone. Upon investigation it is believed that Mr. O'Brien died the day previously, having been sudden stricken with heart failure. He was observed at work haying at his place on Tuesday and in the evening he had called the home of his nephew Willard Cunningham, and was then in his usual pleasant mood and apparent good health.

An inquest was held at the home of Corner Heucher and after an investigation by the jurors. Theo Schwarzhoff, David Dickson, and Harry Marindale, their verdict was that death was occasioned by heart failure, due to natural causes.

Mr. O'Brien was 72 years old and was born in (Kilkenny) Ireland. He came to America with his parents when he was a few years old and they became residents of Allamakee in the pioneer period of the County in 1854. This had been his home ever since. Where by industry and keen business perception he had amassed a fortune of considerable over $100,000, at farming and stock raising. he owned 400 acres of section of land up near Craik, Saskatchewan Province, Canada .

He was honest in all business dealing, was a man of well founded opinion and was active in the interest of the community. He was liberal in support of all chartiable affairs, and a devote member of St. Patrick Church from where the funeral was held Saturday, with solomn requiem mass by Father Norton celebrated, assisted by Father Roach and McNamara. The remains were accompanied by a large funeral cortage and laid to rest beside his parents in St. Mary's Cemetary at Lycurgus.

One sister MRS. JOHN CUNNINGHAM, preceded him in death. MRS. JAMES FARELY of Union Praire and PATRICK O'BRIEN of Park River N.D. are a surviving sister and brother. He also leaves a number of nephews and nieces, one of who is MRS. James Deving of this city.

Note: Thomas parents, John O'Brien,b.1807-d. 1870
and mother, Mary O'Brien,b.1811-d. 1885 are also buried at St. Mary's cemetary, Lycurgus, Allamakee Co. Iowa - Both parents born in Ireland

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Posted By: Sheila Mellick
Date: 8/19/2009

Thos. O’Brien Found Dead In Dooryard

Prominent Allamakee County Farmer Dies from Apoplexy

Thomas O’Brien an old settler of Hanover Township, a few miles north of Waukon, was found dead Thursday noon on his farm where he lived alone. He had doubtless been dead for twenty-four hours or longer and but for a mere accident he might not have been discovered for several days longer. He had been advertising that he had a hundred bushels of corn for sale and George E. Durant of this city, wanting to buy some of the grain, went out there Thursday forenoon to see him. Mr. Durant was not acquainted with Mr. O’Brien but upon finding where he lived he went into the yard and started toward the house looking for the farmer, when he suddenly came upon the form of a man lying apparently dead. Not knowing the man, Mr. Durant quickly hailed Burt Hendrick and Ed Colvin of the city, who chanced to be passing at the time and Mr. Hendrick recognized Mr. O’Brien’s body. They notified Corner Heucker at once who immediately drove out and summoned a jury and several witnesses, including some neighbors and held an inquest at the house.
It developed in the testimony that Mr. O’Brien had complained to neighbors a few days before that he had difficulty in breathing lately. It was shown also that he had just about finished putting up sixty tons of had all alone. The jury returned a verdict as follows: “Accidental death from heart failure, due to natural causes.” That he had been dead for at least twenty-four hours was apparent from the condition of the body. He was at work about his place on Tuesday, called on his neighbors during the day, and in the evening was at the home of his nephew Willard Cunningham and was in his unusual pleasant mood and apparent good health.
The coroner’s jury consisted of Theodore Schwartzhoff, David Dickson and Harry Martindale.
Mr. O’Brien was born in Ireland and came to America with his parents being three years of age at the time. After one year’s resident in New York they came west locating in Allamakee in 1854, where he resided since. He followed the occupation of farmer and stock man. He was about seventy years of age and never married and had lived alone for years. He owned four hundred acres of land on his home place and also a section of land in Canada, which was making him good returns and for which he had refused to sell for $20,000. His estate is worth at least $100,000, and perhaps more than that. He is survived by a sister Mrs. James Farley of Union Prairie Township and a brother Patrick who resides at Park River, North Dakota. The late Mrs. Cunningham’s mother of James and Willard Cunningham, who own property adjacent to his, was also a sister. He also leaves a large number of nephews and nieces of whom one is Mrs. Jas. Deviney of this city.
Deceased was a man of well founded opinions, honest in business dealings, always took an active interest in welfare of his community, and liberal in support of all charitable affairs and a devoted member of St. Patrick’s church form where the funeral was held Saturday, with solemn mass of requiem, Father Norton celebrant, assisted by Fathers Roach and McNamara. The remains were laid to rest beside his parents in St. Mary’s cemetery Lycurgus.

Waukon Paper August 11, 1920