McAllister Alexander

MCALLISTER MCCLEMMONS

Posted By: Marilyn O'Connor (email)
Date: 3/19/2005 at 12:03:48

PIONEER SETTLER PASSES AWAY

Sunday morning March 17, Alexander McAllister passed away at the home of his grandson, Will McClemmons in West Fork Township.
His death was not entirely unexpected as he had been ailing for several months. His sickness was principally due to his advanced age having reached the unusual age of ninety-eight years.

Mr. McAllister was born in the County Antrim, Ireland and had the distinction of taking the total abstinance pledge from Father Mathew and kept it strickly up to the time of his death.
He never used either intoxicating liquor or tabacco, and perhaps this had something to do with his long life.

The deceased emigrated to this country in 1852, and took up his residence in Norristown, Penn. from there moving to East Dubuque in 1858, afterwards coming to Iowa in 1875, and settling on a farm one mile north of the new town of Aredale.

Mr. McAllister was a good citizen, honest, upright and sincere in all his dealings and in his long and busy life always found time to practice his religion and prepare his soul for eternity. Much credit is due to Mr. and Mrs. McClemmons who cared for his in his feeble years rendering him every comfort withing their power.

The funeral took place on Tuesday for St. Patrick's church where a solemn high mass was said by Father Sheey of Rockford, Father O'Reilly the pastor preaching the sermon, in which he paid a high and eloquent tribute to the long and well spent life of the deceased.

May his pure soul find rest in the bosom of his Heavenly Father.