Morgan, Mary (Kelley) 1851-ca1935

KELLEY, KELLY, MORGAN, FLYNN, DONOVAN, BAKEWELL

Posted By: Bruce Owens (email)
Date: 1/19/2014 at 11:50:57

Obituary
Mrs Mary Morgan, 84 Died on Saturday

Again the Angel of Death has visited our town and taken another of our old and respected pioneer mothers in the passing of Mrs Mary Morgan, who died at there home here on March 9th after a few weeks illness.

Mary T. Kelley was born Feb 1, 1851, in County Wicklow, Ireland. She was the daughter of Charles and Margaret Kelley, and came to this country with her parents, and older sister, when a small child. They settled first in Wilmington township in Houston County, Minn, where brother James was born, the first white child born in that township. Later they settled on a farm in Waterloo township, Allamakee county Iowa, 1 1/2 miles west of Dorchester. Those were real pioneer days with all their sacrifices.

There she grew to young womanhood and was married to Lawrence Morgan Sept 1, 1867, at Caledonia Minn, churches and priests being very scarce then. They settled on the groom's farm in Iowa Township, four miles west of New Albin. Together they worked and succeeded in establishing a fine comfortable home.

To them were born six daughters and one son, the second child dying in infancy. Her husband died Aug 4 1883, leaving her with six young children and to manage the farm, a task she successfully accomplished as all her old friends can tell.

Courageous and with a strong trust in our Heavenly Father who takes care of the widow and the orphans, she never faltered. When all were grown and married she turned the farm over to her only son Francis. She moved to New Albin in 1906 and it has been her home ever since with the exception of two years spent in North Dakota on a homestead.

She leaves to morn her loss her daughters, (Mary), Mrs Matt Flynn of Dorchester; (Ella) Mars Dan Kelly, (Margaret) Mrs. Mike Donovan, (Theresa) Mrs Wm. Bakewell, all of New Albin; (Alice) Sister M. Claudia of the Franciscan Order at West Point, Iowa; and Francis, also of New Albin, all of whom were with her during her last illness and death.

She also leaves 22 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren; also one brother, Matthew Kelly of Dorchester, and legions of friends who will miss her happy jovial presence and her many kind acts and charities.

Her funeral was held Tuesday, March 12 at 9:30 o'clock at St Joseph's church with Solemn Requiem Mass sung by Rev. L. Hayes, assisted by Msgr. Haxmeier of Lansing and Rev. B. Denvir of Dorchester and was very largely attended by relatives and friends. An eloquent and consoling sermon was preached by her pastor, Rev. L. Hayes.

She died as she lived, consoled and strengthened by the rites of her church and no doubt has heard the consoling words of our dear Lord, "Well done thou good and faithful servant; enter thou into the Joys of heaven".