Cain, Patrick Joseph 1850 - 1918

CAIN, CROWLEY, MELARY

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 11/12/2021 at 11:39:40

Elkader Register & Argus, Thur., 25 Apr. 1918.

Patrick Joseph Cain was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, March 17, 1850, a son of Patrick and Bridget (Crowley) Cain. His death occurred at his home in Elkader at five o'clock in the morning of Sunday, April __th after an illness lasting only six hours. At his death he was 68 years, 1 month and 3 days of age. The cause of death was heart trouble.

Patrick and Bridget Cain moved from Cincinnati to a farm near Littleport while Joseph was only eight years old, and since then he has been a resident of this county without a break. Later on the family moved to Communia and bought the farm known as the Jans Tieden place. From here Patrick, in 1869, with his parents, moved to the farm now owned by his youngest brother Joseph.

On Dec. 5th, 1882, he was married to Margaret ______, and the same year they bought and occupied the farm that they owned until in April, 1912. This was located in Boardman township, three miles northwest of Elkader on the West Union road. It was here that the three children came to bless the home for this couple - Anna, Margaret and Lucy. Anna was at home at the time of her father's death, but the two younger sisters were attending school at Mt. St. Joseph Academy at Dubuque, and the first intimation they had was that the father they loved so well had passed away.

Mr. Cain has been a resident of the town of Elkader for six years, since selling his farm, and has been closely identified with the business life of the community.

Besides the wife and three daughters there are three brothers and a sister who mourn his death: Dr. J. R. Cain, of Waukon; James F. Cain, of Cincinnati, Ohio; Joseph F. Cain, of Elkader; and Mrs. Dennis Melary, of Hettinger, N.D. The father had died in 1891 and the mother in 1910.

The funeral of Mr. Cain took place Wednesday morning from St. Joseph's Catholic church, of which he was an honored member. Solemn requiem high mass was held over his body, with his pastor, Rev. J. P. Taken, as celebrant, while Rev. D. T. Minogue, of Garber, was deacon. The subdeacon was Rev. Father Hetherington, of Volga City. The master of ceremonies was Rev. Albert Peickert, of Dubuque College. The pall bearers were D. D. Murphy, H. H. Hagensick, J. F. Becker, J. K. Molumby, James McLaughlin and F. J. Uriell.. Burial was in St. Joseph's cemetey.

Mr. Cain, while a man of considerable political power in this section, never sought an office of any kind and his public activities were confined to holding the assessorship of Boardman township for a period of thirty-eight years and secretary of the school board of the township until his removal to this town. He was one of the prime movers in the organization of the Elkader State Bank in 1892, being elected a director of that institution when it was incorporated on Oct. 1st of that year. He has held the same office with the bank ever since, and the other officers are free to say that it was with the help of his sound judgement that it has become the power in the financial affairs of this county; that it is Associated with him in that first organization, were H. H. Hagensick as President, D. D. Murphy as Vice-President, H. G. McGarhan as Cashier. The other directors were F. D. Bayless, J. J. Kann, F. J. Uriell and Ole Johnson.

Another activity that brought out the sound judgement of the man was the building of the St. Joseph's church in 1897, when he was associated with Father J. P. Reilly and Ed Hofer in this important undertaking. He was also for years a trustee of the church.

An index of the sterling character of P. J. Cain is easily found in the commendation of the men who have been associated with him in business for many years. Hw is described as a man of scrupulous honesty and integrity, thoroughly reliable and loyal to his friends in all circumstances. He was conscientious and fearless in his thought and conduct, and his friends could depend upon an unbiased judgement on any subject that he was interested in, regardless of the effect on them or him. His unassuming manner was such that his true worth was not apparent to any but those who were associated with him, and many a young man has had occasion to feel eternally grateful to him for the substantial and real help he extended to them at times when others would hesitate to extend it. He was a keen judge of humanity, and he relied more on this trait in his advice on business matters to the bank than on a man's worth in money. Many a young man has had occasion to thank Pat Cain for his help and advice on serious matters where he could and did render most valuable service.

That the people, the bank and his family have sustained an irreparable loss, is the feeling of all who knew him, and it will be a long time before the memory of his just, honorable, charitable and loyal influences will grow dim.