Philip Masterpole 1847-1939

MASTERPOLE, CIAMARRA, MANOCHEO, CIRESE, CARMELLO, GALLO, SCHROG

Posted By: Dorothy Gosse (email)
Date: 2/4/2011 at 21:05:07

Philip Masterpole was born August 28, 1847 in
Fossalto, Italy, a province near Rome. He was the
oldest child of Mr. and Mrs. Vincent Masterpole in
a family of three sons and one daughter.

He was married November 10th, 1866 to Anna
Marie Ciamarra. This union was blessed with six
children, four daughters and two sons. He was
preceded in death two years ago by his oldest
daughter Mrs. Frank Manocheo and is survived by
the remaining children, Mr. August Masterpole,
Mrs. A. M. Cirese, Mr. John Masterpole, Mrs. M.
Carmello and Mrs. D. Gallo all of whom are residents
of Oelwein.

In his early age he left his native town and found
employment at Rome where he remained several
years. He first came to America in 1893 and
employed himself in railroad work which brought
him to Oelwein in the early construction of the
present shops and terminal of the Chicago Great
Western Railroad. Upon establishing himself at
Oelwein his family followed all of whom found
homes and opportunities for themselves and
children in Iowa.

He lived to be ninety-two years old, enjoyed
excellent health and led an active life to the
moment of his death. His collapse came suddenly
a result of gradual decline of old age. No illness
preceded his death however for at the time he was
actively engaged in his usual pursuit of gardening
at the home of a daughter.

In resent years, after his retirement in 1929 his
pastime has been mainly the company of his devoted
family, grandchildren and a few friends. He took
greatest delight and satisfaction in reminiscing to
his many grandchildren of past experiences in the
old country and his adopted land. These reminiscences
were enlivened by the company of a grandchild who
recently returned from several years study in Italy
in the localities which were so familiar to him. He has
also left to mourn his death four great grandchildren.

All through his long life he was devoted to his
religion and was a familiar figure to the members of
the Sacred Heart Parish, where he attended the
services faithfully.

Funeral services were held at Sacred Heart church
on Saturday morning at 9 o'clock. Services and
sermon were conducted by Father O'Hagen. Interment
was made at Woodlawn cemetery.

Those who attended the funeral from out-of-town
were Philip Masterpole, Racine, Wisconsin; Mr. and
Mrs. Howard Schrog, Waterloo; Miss Anna Masterpole,
Des Moines; John Masterpole, Fort Madison; Mr. and
Mrs. Earl Bauer and Dr. L. W. Gitten_, La Crosse,
Wisconsin; Kathleen Cirese, Rochester, Minnesota
and Mr. and Mrs. Dominick Manocheo, Cedar Rapids.

Oelwein Daily Register - 30 Oct 1939