Mrs. MARTIN (Margaret Graham) GLEASON - died 1905

GLEASON, GRAHAM, MOONEY, THORNTON, HAWES, DUNCAN

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 5/20/2005 at 19:26:04

"Mrs. Gleason is dead." were the words that passed over the 'phone after 11 o'clock Friday a.m. the 28th ult., words which sent a thrill of sorrow to the heart of many a loving friend.

Margaret Graham left there native place, County Galway, Ireland, sixty- three years ago at the age of seventeen, to seek her fortune in a foreign land, meeting her future husband, Martin Gleason, in the state of New York. They were in due course of time married and with the flowing tide of emigration drifted westward, living for a time in each of the following places: Janesville, Wis.; Iowa City, Iowa; Buffalo Creek, Buchanan county, and in 1853 moved to Allamakee County, where they bought two quarter sections of land, but from drawbacks of various kinds, foremost being the unsettled state of this country at that time, they became discouraged and moved again to Janesville, when again after some time they became restless and desirous of building for themselves a permanent home. They returned is 1857 and finally settled in Lafayette township, where they lived until after Mr. Gleason's death in June, 1895.

In the spring of 1896 Mrs. Gleason, with her son M. J., moved to Harpers Ferry where she lived for over four years, when a longing seized the old lady to return to the homestead, where she lived until the time of her death.

Any words of ours are but a feeble effort to portray the grand and noble traits of character of which this good woman possessed. She was certainly a generous giver and so broad minded that her deeds of kindness and generosity were not confined to creed or nationality, thereby making friends for herself among the old and young.

Out of a family of eight children, five survive, Mrs. John Mooney, Mrs. John Thornton, Mrs. Nie Hawes, Mrs. James Duncan and one son, M. J., all of whom were present excepting Mrs. Hawes of Nebraska and are to be commended in their efforts to soothe and comfort her during her tedious illness. Besides she leaves twenty-five grand children and fourteen great grand children.

T. Thornton, M. J. Thornton, J. F. Mooney, M. Mooney, Ed Duncan (five grandsons) and John Powers acted as pall bearers. The vehicles comprising the funeral procession numbered about 150 and the large concourse of people that paid the last tribute of respect to her memory gave full evidence of the esteem in which she was held. The Harpers Ferry choir was in attendance. Father Laffan celebrated a Requiem High Mass at the conclusion of which he delivered a fine sermon and in part paid fitting tribute to the dead.

Peace to her ashes; and may her soul shine as bright and beautiful before God as her life was pleasing to all while here below.

Allamakee Journal, April 1905 - contributed by Jerry Brennan