Austin McNally 1843-1901

MCNALLY, QUIGLEY, LYNCH

Posted By: cheryl Locher moonen (email)
Date: 3/9/2020 at 17:48:36

Cascade Pioneer, December 20, 1901, page 7, columns 4 - 5

Austin McNally

Cascade mourns the loss of a respected and honored citizen in the death of Austin McNally. A citizen and businessman who was identified with the welfare and advancement of the community since the day of his location in the town twenty-one years ago. Always a factor in every public movement and a staunch advocate of every enterprise that tended to turn the wheels of process Mr. McNally’s death is a public loss and the keen sorrow that befalls his bereaved family descends alike upon the community. Genial, whole-souled, and generous, Austin McNally was known and held in high respect by all his fellow citizens. His friends were numberless and the expressions ofsorrow and regret on account of his demise are common on every hand. Years of daily intercourse with the public, as a business man had widened his acquaintanceship until he was known far and wide, and his retirement after his sickness befell him was an innovation to those who expected to see his familiar form in his usual place of business, and now that death has removed him from the scene of life's activity the thought is a sad one to his numerous friends that he is no more among them. Mr. McNally's illness, which culminated in his death last Sunday afternoon, December 15, at 3:00 o'clock dated from the 20th of last July, when he was seized with a serious attack of kidney trouble, which subsequently developed cancer of the kidneys. Skilled physicians, both local and others, were consulted, and beyond a temporary relief failed to affect a permanent cure of the malevolent disease. After treatment here, with a view to securing the benefit of a hospital treatment he was removed to the sanitarium at Anamosa on the 25th day of September last. The change for a time seemed beneficial and some improvement was noted in his condition, so that on November 9 he was brought home again, from that time to the last hours of the deceased his condition was more or less changeable, though from day to day it was evident that the malignant disease was gradually consuming the vital spark of life. The final depressing attack which ended in his death began on Friday last and continued to be very discouraging the succeeding day, and Sunday, in the afternoon of which day Mr. McNally breathed his last, surrounded by the members of his family.

Austin McNally was born in Washington township, Jones county, in what was then known as the territory of Iowa, on the 24th day of May, 1843. His parents Mr. and Mrs. Thos. McNally were among the early settlers of the county, having settled there the year before Austin was born. The latter's boyhood and manhood were passed upon the old homestead farm and for sixteen years after attaining his majority ho assisted in the material development of his father's estate. He continued to live there until his marriage to Miss Mary Quigley, of Anamosa, which took place at the above town April 20, 1880. In December, 1880, Mr. McNally came to Cascade and opened a hardware store and undertaking establishment, which business he followed almost uninterruptedly for twenty-one years, or until, the first of last October, when the business was sold to Devaney & Son.

Early in the 80’s Mr. McNally associated in the undertaking business with S. B. Beatty, but continued under his own name his hardware concern, and in order to take care of the latter properly be built a fine new store building, which was completed in the fall of 1890 and is still owned by his estate. Always popular and liberal in his dealings he enjoyed an immense trade in the hardware line. In 1898, when Mr. Beatty sold out and removed to Cedar Rapids the undertaking department was included in the sale, and Mr. McNally retired from that branch of business until last year, when he again added it to his business, taking a partner P. A. Koob, who had served his apprenticeship with himself and Mr. Beatty.

Mr. McNally, always a public spirited citizen, served his town in the capacity of alderman and was a member of the town board during the period when Cascade made several important additions to its municipal improvements, principally the construction and installation of the water works system, in which purchase and establishment he was an important factor. Politically, Mr. McNally was a consistent and unswerving democrat. He was a member of St. Martin's Branch R. C. M. Protective Association and an honorary member of St. Gonzaga's court, Catholic Order of Foresters. He was a devout Catholic and a God-fearing man, whose last earthly days wore consoled by the faith of his fathers and the grace-giving sacraments of his religion.

Besides his sorrow-stricken wife he leaves a family of five daughters and one son, namely Bessie, Mac, Irene, Genevieve, Evelyn and Harry. Four children died in infancy. He is also survived by his brothers Robert and James McNally, of Richland and Washington townships, and sisters Miss Ann McNally of Washington township, and Mrs. James Lynch of Eagle Grove, Iowa.

The funeral took place at 10 o'clock Tuesday morning from the residence to St. Martin's church, and was attended by the R. C. M. P. Society and Catholic Order of Foresters, whose members marched in advance of the funeral cortege, followed by the many fellow citizens and friends of the deceased. Solemn High Mass was celebrated with Rev. J. J. Brogan, Placid, celebrant, Rev. L. Roche, pastor, deacon, and Rev. J. Kelly, Garry Owen, sub-deacon. Rev. L Roche delivered a very touching address, and referred feelingly to the deceased to whose character as a man and citizen he paid high tribute. At the conclusion of the services the remains were conveyed to the Catholic cemetery and laid to rest. The floral offerings were very beautiful and were contributed by the Catholic societies, the Protective society, the Foresters, and the Dubuque Casket Co.

The pallbearers were: James A. Hayes, James McCue, T. H. McQuillen, J. D. Devlin, T. D. Fagan and P. L. Devaney.

Contributor: Joseph Cahill