James Hugh Kerwin

KERWIN, MULLANY, WOOD, DUNN, WANGLER, BENNETT, DOTSON, OCONNOR, DONOVAN, MITCHELL, BRANGAN, LENAHAN, OBRIEN, LOIZEAV, MULING

Posted By: Gregory Kerwin (email)
Date: 1/20/2002 at 18:13:40

J. H. Kerwin Obituary

Surname: Kerwin, Mullany, Bennett, Donovan, Mitchell, Wangler, Bran_gan, Dotson, Lenahan, Dunn, O'Brien, Loizeav, Mulling

J. H. Kerwin was born on the site of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, August 17, 1843 and passed away at his home in Oelwein at 6 p.m., November 22 (1915), at the age of seventy-three years, three months and five days. His parents had been residents near Buffalo, NY and came west the year before his birth, locating on a farm where the city of Milwaukee now stands. A short time later they moved back to their former New York home and Mr. Kerwin grew to manhood there, receiving his education in the public schools.

In 1866 the family again came west and located near Fairbank, Iowa, so that Mr. Kerwin has been a resident of Iowa for fifty years.

On June 25, 1872 he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Mullany and they resided near Fairbank until 1873 when they came to Oelwein and conducted the first hotel in this city, the Jefferson House, for a number of years.

Later he engaged in the general merchandise business in the firm of Bennett & Kerwin for several years. Next it was the firm of Kerwin Brothers, in the same business til failing health obilged him to enter on a less ----- occupation, that of a traveling man for a wholesale clothing firm of Chicago. In this he was a success and was on the road for seventeen years.

Nineteen years ago the firm of J. H. Kerwin & Sons was established, which has continued up to the present time, the firm conducting one of the largest clothing establishments in this section. A few years ago the business was extended and Mr. Kerwin also became the president of the Dotson-Kerwin Co., clothiers, of Waterloo.

Besides making a success of his own business interests in Oelwein and in Waterloo, Mr. Kerwin was always known as a progressive citizen of his home city, giving of his time and money for its advancement. When it was a question whether or not the Great Western shops were to come to Oelwein he was one of the number of citizens who put energy into the project which finally brought them to Oelwein. He was the president of the electric light company when established, a leader in installing the telephone and in making possible the park system. In everything in the line of improvement he devoted time and money.

He had semingly been in his usual heath up to a week before his demise. For a number of years he had been a sufferer from rheumatism and for the past few years in the company with Mrs. Kerwin he passed the winter in California and had planned to leave for the coast on the night of November 16 when he was taken ill and was unable to go. Following an illness of less than a week he passed away. He is survived by his wife and two sons, W. P. and Leo T., with whom he was associated in business.

Perhaps no man in Oelwein had a wider acquaintance than Mr. Kerwin. A resident of this section for half a century, and of this city for more than two score years, coming here when the city was a hamlet, he was aquainted with the majority of the people in this section and was held in high esteem by them. He was of a genial disposition and his friends often enjoyed a social chat with him as he sat behind his desk in his place of busines. A great reader, he took a keen interest in all the current news local and general and was well informed along various lines, historical and otherwise.

He was a faithful member of the Catholic church and was one of the most prominent laymen of the Sacred Heart Church, of this city, from which the last services were held Wednesday morning at 10 o'clock. The High Mass was conducted by Rev. P. S. O'Connor. The business houses of the city were closed during the hour of the service as a token of respect for this pioneer citizen.

Besides his neighbors and friends in the city and surrounding country present, there were the following parties from out of town who were present: Mr. and Mrs. Ed Mullany, Mr. and Mrs. John Mullany, Stephen and Ray Mullany, D. J. Donovan, Mr. and Mrs. William Mitchell, Mrs. C. A. Wangler, R. C. Wangler, A. L. Wangler, Gertrude Wangler, Mrs. Agathia Brangan, Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Dotson and Rev. Lenahan, of Waterloo, E. G. Dunn of Mason City; Sister May Agatha of Cedar Rapids; Mrs. Richard O'Brien _ence, Mrs. Ed Loizeav and Mark Muling of Dubuque.

From Oelwein Register, December 1, 1915