Finnegan, Nicholas died 1911

FINNEGAN, SPENCE, BERG

Posted By: Ken Johnson (email)
Date: 8/5/2021 at 20:31:24

From the Thurs., 11 May 1911 issue of the “Register and Argus” (Elkader, IA), Obituary section page 2, column 5:

NICHOLAS FINNEGAN.

Nicholas Finnegan died at St. Anthony’s Home for Aged, at Dubuque, Iowa, on Thursday, May 4th, aged 75 years. Deceased was a native of County Monaghan, Ireland, and came to the United States with his parents in 1853 residing for two years in Boston, Mass. In 1855 he, with the rest of the family, came west and settled in Read township in this county.

In the early sixties he journeyed farther west, and worked for several years in the gold fields of California and Nevada. He returned to Clayton county in 1867 and was united in marriage with Miss Mary Spence. Accompanied by his wife he again journeyed west and settled on a farm in Palo Alto county, Iowa, near the town of Emmetsburg, where he and his faithful companion experienced many of the hardships that fell to the lot of pioneers.

In 1890 he again returned to Clayton County and engaged in business in Elkader in the building now occupied by Berg’s restaurant, where he remained for two years. He then moved to Whittemore, Iowa, where he resided for two years. Disposing of his business interests there he purchased a home in Lawler, Iowa, where he resided for a period of sixteen years. About two years ago the health of himself and wife, having failed, they sought rest and quiet in St. Anthony’s Home at Dubuque, where he passed peacefully away.

Deceased had always been a hard working, honest man, generous to a fault, firm in his convictions of right and wrong, devoted to his friends and generous to his enemies if indeed he had any.

He leaves to mourn his loss his companion of forty-three years, two brothers, Michael, of Osterdock, Ia., and Joseph, of Elkader, Ia., a number of nephews and nieces and a host of friends.

The funeral was held from the Catholic Church at Lawler, Iowa, on Monday, May 8th, and was attended by a large number of relatives and friends.

Peace and rest to his soul.