Costigan, Patrick 1831 - 1913

COSTIGAN, MCMORROW, MEEHAN

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 6/19/2019 at 08:59:24

Elkader Register & Argus, Thur., 3 Jul. 1913. Elkport and Vicinity column.

Patrick Costigan was born at Ballyconra, in the county of Kilkenny, Ireland, Dec. 27th, 1831. A courageous lad was he, brave and full of jollity and a good natured lad and so, when in 1850 he set sail for the U.S.A., many a farewell was said and many good wishes followed him to the then sparsely settled country. At this time the deceased was but 19 years of age.

He remained in New York a short time, and then settled in Bellefontain, Ohio, and four years later moved to East Dubuque, Ill. In 1860 he moved to Elkport, Ia., settling on the farm, where the remainder of his life was spent and where the last look on earth gazed on the home he loved so well, while he was surrounded by his loved ones. In 1864, he took unto himself a wife, Miss Mary McMorrow,, to whom he was a true and faithful husband and loving father to the seven children who came to bless this happy couple, as they toiled and jointly shared the ups and downs of pioneer days. Not very many are left of those who then were settlers in this country. Two of these children died in infancy, a son Dan and a daughter Lucy. On Feb. 19th, 1909, the faithful wife was called to the Great Beyond and he, who had become so accustomed to that dear voice to welcome him home, could not entirely recover from the shock of the separation and his life's vitality slowly but as surely, waned until on Thursday, June 26th, 1913, the clock, which had unceasingly ticked for 81 years, five months and twenty-nine days, suddenly stopped and those who surrounded the bed, knew that his soul had taken its flight. All that loved ones could do was done to make the sufferer as comfortable as possible.

The children who survive him are: Mrs. Con Meehan, St. Paul, Minn.; John of Lawler, Ia.; William, of Elkport; James, of Ossian; Michael, of Elkport; and Dan, of Blooming Prairie, Minn. Also 31 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren mourn his departure.

Rev. Father Minogue conducted the services at the burial and briefly but emphatically pronounced a beautiful eulogy on the life of the deceased, also at the grave, where burial took place in the Catholic cemetery. The many sympathizing friends escorted the remains to its last resting place. May he rest in peace ! The floral offerings were beautiful.

The pallbearers were: Ed. Jennings, Joe Meyer, Conrad Putz, Peter Dunn, Mike Flaherty and Mike O'Connor.