O'Brien, Bridget (Cunningham) died 1896

OBRIEN, CUNNINGHAM, BURKE, CARROLL

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 4/12/2022 at 11:44:56

Elkader Register, Fri., 21 Feb. 1896. McGregor column.

Mrs. O'Brien, a very old lady, died in North McGregor and was buried Wednesday. The funeral procession was the longest we have ever noticed here and showed in what esteem Mrs. O'Brien was held. She was the grandmother of John Burke.

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Added by S. Ferrall 4/14/22:

Once more has our little town been the scene of a funeral procession. This time a very old settler was laid to rest in the person of Mrs. Bridget O'Brien, who died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Carroll, last Wednesday evening at 11 o'clock.

The deceased, whose maiden name was Bridget Cunningham, was born in Tipperary county, Ireland, about the year 1810 or '11. She was married when about 25 years old to John O'Brien, who died about 8 years ago.

She was the mother of 5 children, two of whom died during infancy.

Over 45 years ago, they with their three surviving children, Mrs. Carroll, Mrs. Burke, and Mr. J.A. O'Brien, who was killed by a tramp at Mason City a short time ago - and settled in Pennsylvania where they lived for about five years. Not satisfied with Pennsylvania, they started for the west and finally brought up at Dubuque, and then Mendon and Giard townships, Clayton county, where they decided to settle permanently. That was almost forty years ago, so that would entitle them to be called "old settlers."

Mrs. O'Brien left but one child as a survivor of her three children who came to America with her, Mrs. Carroll.

She was a kind, generous soul, a thorough christian and a devout Catholic, in which faith she died, surrounded by all the blessings of the church.

About 2 1/2 years ago, while on a visit to a grand daughter, she fell and broke a bone in her thigh from which she never recovered, but was bed-ridden ever since. Everything that loving hands could do to ease her was cheerfully done and altho' she was cared for every moment of her time, night and day, yet her death was a severe shock.

She was buried in the Catholic cemetery at McGregor last Friday. May she rest in peace.

Mrs. Carroll and family desire to extend thanks to their many friends who so kindly aided them in the last sickness, and death, of her mother.

~McGregor News, Wednesday, February 19, 1896; pg 2, North McGregor column