Eugene Kerrigan 1849 - 1941

KERRIGAN

Posted By: Errin Wilker (email)
Date: 1/23/2009 at 17:51:31

Eugene Kerrigan, 92, passed away at the home of his son, John, in La Crosse, Wisconsin, Thursday, December 18, 1941, after a short illness. His remains arrived in New Albin on Sunday and were taken to the home of Mr. and Mrs. John W. Kelly until Monday when the funeral was conducted.

The funeral mass was celebrated at nine o’clock at St. Joseph’s Catholic church with the Rev. L. Hayes, pastor, officiating. Burial was in St. Joseph’s cemetery. Pall bearers were Patrick Burke, William Lager, Gustave Welper, Daniel Kelly, Reinhardt Jordan and Frank Morgan.

Eugene Kerrigan was born September 5, 1849, and was the son of Eugene and Jane Winifred Kerrigan, pioneers who came to Iowa in a covered wagon from Boston, Massachusetts, about 1860. Together with the other early settlers, they took up their homesteads in this vicinity. The Kerrigan farm was located in the Irish Hollow three miles southwest of New Albin. Scared out by the Indians, they fled to Potosi, Wisconsin, where they remained for two years.

Eugene was too young to enlist in the Civil War, but he joined the Iowa National Guard and remained a member for nine years. During his young days he worked on steamboats plying the Mississippi river. He took over the home farm after the death of his father, and remained there until 1897 when he moved to New Albin, where he resided until his death. He was a veterinarian and a well-known auctioneer.

He is survived by one daughter, Miss Elizabeth Kerrigan of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; one son, John of La Crosse; and one granddaughter, Mary Alice Kerrigan of La Crosse.

Out of town relatives and friends who attended the funeral were: Mr. J.K. Brophy of Dubuque, Iowa; Mr. and Mrs. J.C. Brophy of Lansing, Iowa; Miss Francis Brophy of New York City; Mrs. Leo Hufschmidt of Lansing; Mrs. Thomas Scanlan and Miss Bernice Caughlin of Milwaukee; Mrs. George Garrity and Miss Margaret Kelly of Austin, Minnesota; Miss Betty Jane Wright, Mr. Chester Riley and Mr. V.J. Smith of La Crosse; and Ben Hurley of Lansing.

TRIBUTE TO EUGENE KERRIGAN
Perhaps no character in New Albin was better known nor more affectionately regarded than “Kerrigan” and he was called. His gruff exterior was belied by the merry twinkle in his eyes.

Besides his many old friends, he leaves to mourn two surviving children, Elizabeth Jane of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and John Thomas of La Crosse, Wisconsin; and his granddaughter, Mary Alice of La Crosse.

His wife and two children, William and Mary, preceded him in death.

Source: Allamakee Journal, Lansing, Iowa; 24 December 1941