Bridget Donahue Sullivan 1844-1922

SULLIVAN, DONAHUE, CONWAY, MURPHY, HARTIGAN

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 10/10/2011 at 20:37:36

Mrs. Sullivan Dead
Mrs. William Sullivan died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Tom Conway of Estherville at 3 P.M. Saturday, May 20, after a brief illness. She had for sometime however, been feeble with age. Funeral services were conducted at St. Patrick’s church at Estherville on Tuesday morning at 9 o’clock. Rev. C.P. Conway officiated and was celebrant at a solemn high mass. He was assisted by Rev. M.J. Haddigan [Hartigan] of Washington, Ia., and Rev. J.N. Hadigan [Haritgan] of Rockwell, both of whom are relatives of the deceased. The body was taken to Ruthven for burial and was interred in Calvary cemetery beside that of her husband who died some years ago.

The deceased was born in the village of Hospital, county Limerick, Ireland, on November 11, 1845. She was married there to William Sullivan in the year 1867. The following year they came to America and located at Clinton, Iowa where they resided until 1888 when they came to Palo Alto county and established their home on a farm in Lost Island township. Mr. Sullivan died in 1907 and she then went to Estherville to live with her daughter, Mrs. Tom Conway.

Mrs. Sullivan was the mother of eight children, two of whom died in infancy. The others who survive here are John and Frank Sullivan, Mrs. Tom Conway and Miss Agnes Sullivan of Estherville, Mrs. J.E. Murphy of Clinton and William Sullivan of Emmetsburg. Four grandchildren also survive her.

The writer knew Mrs. Sullivan very well, for many years. She was a truly good woman, honest, earnest and sincere. She was a kind, faithful and devoted wife and mother and found her greatest, comfort and pleasure in the faithful performance of her home duties. She was a good neighbor, obliging and helpful; and was charitable in word and deed. She lived to a good old age, completed her life’s work and was ready and willing to meet the final summons. That she will be missed by her family cannot be doubted, for she was deeply loved by them. To the children who survive her the Tribune extends sincere sympathy. (Palo Alto Tribune, Emmetsburg, IA, May 24, 1922)

Ruthven Pioneer Dies at Ripe Age
(From Emmetsburg Democrat)
Last Saturday Mrs. Dennis Sullivan, an old resident of Highland township, died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Thomas Conway of Estherville. She was able to be about until the Monday previous to the final summons. While she had been ailing for years, her passing was rather unexpected. The funeral was held yesterday. Services were conducted at the Catholic church at that place, Father Conway celebrating a requiem high mass. He was assisted by Father M.J. Hartigan of Washington, Iowa, and Father John Hartigan of Rockwell, who are cousins of the family. There was a large attendance of relatives and friends. The burial was in the Calvary cemetery at Ruthven where the remains of Mr. Sullivan were interred in 1907. Mrs. Sullivan was born in the village of Hospital, the county of Limerick, Ireland, November 11, 1845. Her age was seventy-six. She was married to Dennis Sullivan in her native country.

Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan came to America in 1868 and located at Clinton, Iowa. They moved to Palo Alto in 1888, settling on a farm in Highland township. They were thrifty, prospered and built a fine home. Mr. Sullivan died in 1907. Mrs. Sullivan lived for several years before her death with her daughter, Mrs. Thomas Conway. She is survived by three sons and three daughters – John and F.E. Sullivan of Estherville, William of Highland township, this county, Mrs. M.E. Murphy of Clinton and Mrs. Thomas Conway and Miss Agnes Sullivan of Estherville. Two children died in infancy. There are four grandchildren.

Mrs. Sullivan was a quiet, modest, humble, sincere Christian woman. A large part of her exemplary, helpful life was spent in this county and her many worthy traits as a woman were highly appreciated by those who mingled with her in community and other activities. She was a thrifty, economical housekeeper and she was a careful, prudent helpmate of her devoted and upright husband. Her sons and daughters in their edifying lives, attest her numerous and redeeming virtues as a mother. The many Palo Alto friends of the surviving members of the household tender them their sincere sympathy in their sorrow. (Graettinger Times, Graettinger, IA, May 25, 1922)

Mrs. D. Sullivan Laid to Rest
Good Woman Who Has Resided With Her Daughter Past Few Years Passes Away
Mrs. Dennis Sullivan whose remains were laid to rest in this city [according to all other publications, buried in Ruthven] last week was born March 11, 1844 in County Limerick, Ireland. She was a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John and Nora Donahue. In 1868 she was united in marriage to Dennis Sullivan and the couple came to America to make their home. They settled in Clinton, Iowa where they remained for years, and reared a most excellent family of eight children four sons, and four daughters, one son and one daughter passing away while they still resided in Clinton. In 1888 they came to Palo Alto County to make their home on a farm where Mrs. Sullivan remained with her husband until the time of his death in 1907. On the following year she came to Estherville and made her home with her daughter, Mrs. Thos. Conway. Mrs. Sullivan was a most excellent neighbor, and greatly beloved by all who knew her, while her acquaintance was not broad here she was well known, and greatly beloved in her former home.

The children remaining are Frank, Agnes, Mrs. T. J. Conway, of this city, William of Emmetsburg, Mrs. J.E. Murphy of Clinton, Mrs. Nora Crowley of Madison. Mr. and Mrs. John Brown, Mrs. and Mrs. Wm. Brennan and Mr. and Mrs. T.J. Brennan of Ruthven, were here attending the funeral service. (Esthervi[lle Enterprise, Estherville, IA, May 31, 1922)