Patrick Dunn 1862-1918

DUNN, DREVIKOVSKY, CARSON, COOPER, MURPHY

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 3/2/2023 at 10:00:50

18 January 1918 - The Clinton Advertiser

Patrick T. Dunn for many years a resident of Cedar Rapids, Ia., died at his home in that city on Tuesday, January 15th, after an illness covering a year's duration. His condition however, did not become acute until last Thursday.

Mr. Dunn was born March 7, 1862, in Clinton. He was married to Miss Mary Drevikovsky, Nov. 26, 1892. He is survived by his wife, his daughter, Mary Dunn, and two sons, James of Hartford, Conn. and Edward of Des Moines, Ia. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Dunn, of Clinton, five brothers, David J. of Chicago, Ill., Thos. E. of Fargo, N.D., William of Anaconda, Mont., John E. of Dallas, Tex. and James of Wichita Falls, Texas, and three sisters, Miss Nellie and Mrs. Thos. Carson of Chicago and Mrs. Wm. E. Cooper of this city.

For many years Mr. Dunn was very active in labor and other circles, in Cedar Rapids. For 16 years he was president of the Plumber's' Union. He was a member of the Building Trades Council, and one the executive board of the State Federation of Labor, Fuel Commissioner, Woodmen of the World and a devout member of St. Patrick's church.

Funeral services were held from St. Mary's church in this city this morning, with interment in St. Mary's cemetery. The pallbearers were Charles McHugh, Joseph Erlacher, Harold McDonald, John Coburn, Frank Rollins and Charles Berwinkle, all of Cedar Rapids and for many years business associates and personal friends of the deceased.

David J., a brother, of Chicago, was unable to attend, being confined to his home through illness. Three other brothers, William of Anaconda, Mont., John E. of Dallas, Tex., and James E. of Wichita Falls, Tex., were unable to arrive in time for the funeral owing to delayed train service.

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Dunn, the parents of the deceased, came to Clinton in 1861. Eleven children were born to them, one of whom died in infancy. A daughter, Mrs. James M. Murphy, died two years ago. Eight children remain to comfort the aged parents, together with a host of lifelong friends.

The Cedar Rapids Gazette speaks editorially of Mr. Dunn as follows: P. T. Dunn's Death a City Loss.

By the death of Patrick T. Dunn, Cedar Rapids has sustained a grievous loss that affects the entire municipality and all it represents and which is appreciated by those who had the benefit of his acquaintance.

Editors of papers published in other cities will possibly inquire who he was. Not nearly all the people of Cedar Rapids know. He was just P. T. Dunn--"Pat", plumber, so far as name and occupation go. But he was a man--such a man as glorified his occupation and confers strength on the city and state.

P. T. Dunn was the superior type of a class of superior citizens who are little known. He worked quietly but he worked all the time. He gained an education that was all information, a mental equipment that many a university man might wish to possess. Other men were his books. Their needs were his reasons. Their well-bring was his personal cause. The world was his school room--facts were his library. The many books he mastered afforded him only the working formulae of thought. He studied authors but he remained as P.T. Dunn, the individual, and he developed as P. T. Dunn. Labor had in him a staunch and wise friend. He opposed evil conditions for their correction and for general betterment. It was not in his mind so much to oppose those who were wrong as to aid those who were right. He reasoned that if proper measures triumphed, there was little need to indulge in further worry over the fate of improper measures.

An entire city composed of such men would stand as the marvel of the world. A nation formed only of such material would be impregnable. The great good that he wrought survives in other minds. His character has left its impress on all with whom it came in contact. He labored on he foundation of the school, the church, society, and state. He helped to place the cornerstone and cared less as to whom might design and place the ornamental work. He was the symbol of civic strength and moral force. To him and to his kind the world is indebted for much of its happiness and prosperity and for the chief part of its security.