HEALY, Thomas Francis, died 1873

HEALY, DUNLEVY

Posted By: S. Ferrall, IAGenWeb volunteer
Date: 5/8/2011 at 07:44:10

T.F. Healy, county supervisor of Allamakee county, died at Waukon this morning of lung disease. His death was sudden and unexpected, caused by hemorrhage of the lungs.

~Dubuque Daily Herald, May 25, 1873

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added by S. Ferrall 5/10/2022:

Death, the grim monster, has again visited our midst and taken from among us another of our valuable and highly esteemed citizens. This time his icy hand has fallen upon Thomas Francis Healy, School Superintendent of Allamakee County, who died at Waukon about three o'clock last Saturday afternoon, after an illness of thirteen days.

His remains were bro't to his home in this city and were deposited in the tomb on Sunday afternoon in accordance with the rites of the Catholic church of which he was a member. The funeral was attended by a large concourse of the best citizens of our county who had known the deceased only to honor and esteem him for his many good qualities of hand and heart, and sorrowfully they followed the lifeless form to the grave and mournfully saw the cold corpse consigned to its mother earth there to rest forever more, while the soul has gone to the God who gave it.

Mr. Healy was born in the county of Cork, Ireland, and came to America, in company with his brother Michael and two sisters, when he was about 14 years old. He remained in the vicinity of Boston a number of years, then came west, and finally went south, making his home for about four years at Indianola, Texas, where he was married to a widow named Mrs. Dunlevy, who is now again left to wear a widow's weeds, and mourn the loss of an affectionate and good husband.

It was while at Indianola Mr. Healy first took up the cause of education. It came about in a peculiar manner. He was sitting near his window one day instructing his two sons, John and Thomas, both of whom are not printers, the former in the 'Mirror' office and the latter in the 'Journal' office, when a boy in passing happened to notice him. He came in and asked Mr. Healy if he would not teach him also, as the school in the town was but a poor affair. He consented. This boy told others of his acquaintance, and it was but a short time until applications began to come in thick and fast, and finally Mr. Healy decided to open a regular school, which he did, and soon found himself presiding over about a hundred pupils.

In 1864, during the rebellion, Mr. Healy and his family left Indianola with the Union troops and went to New Orleans, where they remained a short time, and in August of that year they arrived in this county where they had relatives. As might be expected he was not in the best of circumstances financially, but nothing daunted Mr. Healy went to work with a firm determination to better his condition.

In the winter following he opened a select school, and ever since he has labored assiduously in the cause of education. Two years ago at the coming fall election he was elected by the Democratic party for County school Superintendent which office he has filled with the highest credit to himself and the approbation of our citizens generally.

He has brought education in this county up to a higher standing than it ever was before and took a warm and decided interest in the teachers throughout the county, and sought to advance their grade and bring them up as near as possible to the high position their responsibilities entitle them. He always had encouraging words for them, and was a favorite with them all. He will be missed from the teacher's gatherings and his visits to the school rooms in the county will no more be hailed with that joy and gladness which met him from the scholars.

He was a good man. Faults that he may have had we know not of; but of virtues he had many, and praise is spoken of him by everyone. But he is gone forever, and long will his goodness remain fresh in our memories. Rest thou in peace, goo, noble man.

The deceased leaves a wife and five children, whose sorrow is intense at the great loss they have sustained.

~North Iowa Journal, Tuesday, June 3, 1873; pg 3