Edward Courtney, 1880

COURTNEY, DOYLE, WALKER, LEYDEN, CLARDY, NEVINS

Posted By: Robert W. Hutchins (email)
Date: 12/28/2015 at 13:54:04

The funeral of Edward Courtney took place last Monday. The remains were followed from the family residence in Vernon township to the Monastery cemetery by a large concourse of sorrowing friends who knew deceased when living to honor and respect him for the many virtues of head and heart. Among those present from the city was John Nagle, O. Fleming, Samuel and David Kennedy, Mrs. Lynch and daughter, and others, who braved the bitter elements to pay the last tribute of respect to a dear friend. He was 62 (sic, actually 65) years of age and a better man never lived. He was honest and upright, posessing all the able traits of character a neighbor or friend could desire.
Mr. Courtney was a native of County Cavan, Ireland, and emigrated to America when a mere lad to eventually find himself in the west. During the years 1855 and 1860 he was the owner of property back of the Diamond House. During his residence in the city he followed the occupation of plasterer, a trade he was skilled in. Among other buildings in the city, he plastered the Julien House. Some fifteen or twenty years ago he made a trade of his city property for the Dixon farm, in Vernon township, near Julien. The farm was run down, but by his industry and energy he soon brought it up to a high state of cultivation, draining low lands and erecting substantial barns and buildings. Several years ago, he revisited Ireland and the place of his birth, and more recently Bridgeport, Ct., where lives a sister he has seen but once in forty years, the family becoming separated soon after landing in America. He frequently recalled those visits abroad with pleasant recollection, and the trip appeared to do him much good. For several years he has been in poor health, but not until recently did he consider his end near. Becoming convinced of that fact, and receiving no encouragement from the attending physician, he arranged his worldly affairs by ordering accounts settled up and bills paid, to leave the estate as clean as possible for his wife and family, all of whom are at home except George, a rover in the west, and his daughter in Davenport, married to a man named Germain.
Thus has passed away a good man, whose virtues and good deeds will keep his memory green long after men of greater distinction are forgotten. (Dubuque Herald, Dec. 29, 1880)