O'BRIEN, Mathew

OBRIEN, LAUGHLIN, QUINN

Posted By: Joan Laughlin (email)
Date: 10/12/2004 at 10:19:12

THE FREMONT COUNTY HERALD. October 12, 1921.
"MATT O'BRIEN IS CALLED TO REWARD.

Pioneer of the Early Days of Fremont County Answers the Last Roll Call."
Matthew O'Brien, pioneer in Fremont county, loyal and upright citizen, lifelong democrat and four-square man passed away Sunday, October 9, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. E. P. Laughlin near Percival, following a illness of several weeks.

Matthew O'Brien was born in Enniscorthy, County Wexford, Ireland, September 26, 1836, and passed to his eternal reward on October 9, 1921, aged 84 years and 13 days. He came to Canada with his parents when quite young where he remained until 1867 when he came to the United States and located on land just north of where Payne, Iowa, now stands. For many years he was connected with railroad work and later devoted his time to farming and stock raising in which he was very successful, accumulating much valuable farm land.

On June 22, 1869 he was married to Miss Bridget Quinn and to this union were born eleven children, three of whom died in infancy; one, the oldest son, John died at the age of 30 years. The following children, all grown, survive their father: Charles O'Brien of Hamburg, Mrs. T. P. Gilmore of Missouri Valley, Iowa; Mrs John Head and Matthew O'Brien of Imogene; James O'Brien of Omaha; Mrs. Otto Wirth of Nebraska City; and Mrs. E. P. Laughlin of Percival. Also 34 grandchildren and one great grandchild.

In 1906 Mr. O'Brien retired from the farm and moved to Nebraska City where Mrs. Laughlin passed away on February 15, 1908. His daughter kept house for him until her marriage seven years ago to E. P. Laughlin and he returned to the old homestead with them to stay until called above. The funeral services were held at St. Mary's Catholic church in Nebraska City with solemn requiem, high mass conducted by Rev. Father Saurer, rector, Rev. Father O'Donnell of Hamburg and Father Pix of Nebraska City. The pall bearers were Mart Gordon, Mart Dignan, Theodore Wirth, John Wirth, Tom Monaghan and Mike Ramold. All the immediate family and 20 grandchildren were present. Those from a distance were: Mrs. Archer of Shenandoah, Mr. and Mrs. B. J. Bradley of Shenandoah, Frank Bradley of Shenandoah, Mr. and Mrs. John Bradley of Shenandoah, Ernest Burkhizer of Hamburg, James, Joe and Miss Sophia Connell of Shenandoah, Mr. and Mrs. Matt Crilly of Shenandoah, Mr. and Mrs. Arnold Finnell of Omaha, Mike Gleason of Shenandoah, Herb, Mart and Miss Nellie Gordon of Hamburg, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Gordon of Hamburg, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Gordon, Sr., of Hamburg, Mrs. M. Head and Miss Nellie Head of Imogene, Mr. and Mrs. Lou Hilger of Hamburg, Mrs. Kate Johnson of Dunbar, Nebraska, Frank Laughlin of Imogene, James Laughlin of Imogene, Mrs. Mary Laughlin of Imogene, William McMahill of Shenandoah, Mrs. John Mullen and daughter of Dunbar, Nebraska, Mr. and Mrs. Denny Ryan of Shenandoah, Neal Ryan of Omaha, J. W. Shunick of Shenandoah, R. and Mrs. Martin Simms of Shenandoah, Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Slater of Imogene, James Sloan of Shenandoah, Mr. and Mrs. Ed Smith of Shenandoah.