Joseph O'Brien, 1837 - 1922

OBRIEN, AMES

Posted By: Clay County IAGenWeb Coordinator (email)
Date: 11/7/2011 at 15:01:04

JOSEPH O'BRIEN, PIONEER, IS DEAD

Passed Away Sunday at his Home In Spencer; Funeral This Afternoon

Joseph O'Brien, a veteran of the Civil War and one of the oldest settlers of Clay county, died very suddenly at his home on West Fifth street Sunday morning, April 2, 1922. He was apparently in his usual health until about nine o'clock Sunday morning when he complained of a pain, in his chest and immediately lapsed into unconsciousness. Medical aid was summoned but human hands could do nothing and at ten o'clock he peacefully passed away.

Joseph O'Brien was born March 19, 1837; at Plymouth, Luzerne county, Pennsylvania. His father Michael O'Brien worked in the hard coal mines at Wilkebarre, Pennsylvania, and at the tender age of nine years, Joseph O'Brien was left an orphan. His educational advantages were limited. From the time he was nine years old until he enlisted in the Union Army, he was engaged with his brother in operating a canal boat on the Susquehanna Canal, transporting anthracite coal from Scranton, Pennsylvania, to Baltimore, Maryland. He enlisted in Company K of the 187 the Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry on March 31, 1861, and was present at Cold Harbor, the mine explosion which resulted in the capture of the Weldon railroad, and in other engagements in Virginia in 1864. In the fall of 1864, the regiment was ordered to Philadelphia where they did guard duty. They were stationed there the spring of 1865 when Lincoln was assassinated. He helped to control the crowd while the great Emancipator lay, in state in old Independence Hall and acted as guard of honor in escorting Lincoln's remains from Independence Hall to the railway station. He served until the close of the war, making a most creditable military record for he never faltered in the performance of any task and thus gave proof of his loyalty to the Union and was honorably discharged at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, at the close of hostilities. Soon after his discharge, he located in Dane County, Wisconsin, and was engaged in farming with his brothers until 1870 when he came to Clay county, Iowa, locating on a homestead in Summit township.

While living in Dane county he was married on the 30th of September, 1869, to Miss Emily B. Ames, a native of Toledo, Ohio, who was reared in Wisconsin and was a teacher prior to her marriage. A year after coming to Clay county he sent for his wife and son and on the 26th day of June, 1871, he went to Newell, Iowa, the nearest railway station, to get them. The trip was made in a covered wagon and a yoke of oxen was used. Mr. and Mrs. O'Brien experienced all the hardships of the pioneers being here eight years when Storm Lake was the nearest railway. Mr. O'Brien took pride in the fact that he still owned his homestead and was the last survivor of the Summit township pioneers. His wife taught the first school in Summit township, the school house being the little frame house he had built for his family. It was the only frame house in Summit township at that time. Mrs. O'Brien did her full share of helping to lay the foundation off the Clay county we enjoy to day. She passed away on Many [sic] 19, 1894.

Mr. O'Brien was the father of four children, one son, Charles A., died in infancy, the others are Mrs. Nellie Marr, Mrs. Gertrude Simmington and Frank O'Brien of this city. Besides his two daughters and his son, he is survived by three grandchildren, one brother, Daniel O'Brien, of LeMars, Iowa, and numerous nephews and nieces in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. The family have lost a kind and indulgent father, the community an upright citizen and a Christian gentleman.

Funeral services were held from the residence on West Fifth street Wednesday afternoon, April 5, at two o'clock, with the Rev. E. Merle Adams officiating, under the auspice of Annett Post of the Grand Army of the Republic. Members of Randall Camp, Sons of Veterans acted as pall bearers and Glen Pedersen Post No. 1 of the American Legion had charge of the services at Riverside cemetery where internment was made.

Souce: Spencer Reporter, Spencer, Clay County, Iowa; April 5, 1922.

Interment in Riverside cemetery
 

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