Mulick, Patrick 1834 - 1914

MULICK, MCCORMACK

Posted By: Janice Sowers (email)
Date: 12/22/2006 at 13:58:21

From the Scrapbook of Newspaper Articles by Mrs. Lilliam Wheeler

1834 PASSING OF A PIONEER 1914

"Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28

Patrick Mulick was born in Rose Commons, Ireland, January 1, 1834. When only fourteen years old he and a young sister came to America to make their way in this great land of promise, his parents having died when he was a little child.

He settled in Port Jervis, N. Y., where he was married to Miss Mary McCormack, Oct. 24, 1854. But the opportunities of the great west kept calling him, and with his young wife he went to Watertown, Wis., in 1855, and from there to the dear old homestead east of Riceville in 1865, where he was a pioneer with the pioneers, doing his very best with what he had at hand, all who had the good fortune to know him intimately will declare. A kind, thoughtful neighbor, a loving husband, and through all the trials of pioneer life a thoughtful Christian father, and at all times a bountiful provider.

He was a man of whom it can be truly said that he was generous to a fault, who though jocular by nature never passed a thorn into the side of his fellow.

"Who never did a slander forge,
His neighbor's fame to wound,
Nor hearken to a false report
By malice whispered round."

His farm under his judicious painstaking care made a life competency for him and his loved ones. How he loved this home! The work and the play! His horses were his personal friends, and his flocks and herds received his special constant care, making an ideal farm home where love and honor abided.

But into all lives sorrows must come, and August 6, 1903, a heavy hand was laid on him when his loyal loving wife departed this life, leaving him alone! His faith made him brave, but things were never quite the same, the blossoms not quite so bright, the song birds not quite so sweet, less interest in the farm, less interest in life.

So in 1905 he and Anna moved to Riceville where this true daughter was unsparing in her devotion, and where after many months of patient suffering on Nov. 8th at 8 p.m. he laid his burden down.

Four boys and four girls came to bless this home. Dr. Joseph Mulick and Sister Mary Lenontine, whose deaths occurred close together in 1909, with the sainted mother were waiting to welcome him home. John and Dr. James Mulick of Elma, Sister Mary Seratina of Waterloo, Sister Mary Mark of Fort Dodge, and thoughtful, patient, devoted Anna, all at his bedside eager to honor and sustain him. Patrick of Rockford, N. D., was unable to be present.

The funeral of Mr. Mulick took place Tuesday, Nov. 10, from Immaculate Conception Church, Riceville, where solemn high mass of requiem was celebrated for the repose of his soul. The celebrant was the Reverend Father O'Brien, the restor; the deacon, Reverend Father Gunn of Elma; sub-deason, Reverend Father Martin of Osage; Dean Slattery of Waterloo, master of ceremonies; Reverend Father Norris of Lourdes and Reverend Father Collins of St. Cecelia in the sanctuary.

The sermon was preached by Father O'Brien to a large earnest concourse of people. Father O'Brien had been his friend and neighbor, been with him through all his joys and sorrows, through all his hopes and fears for a quarter of a century, eminently fitting him to pay a timely tribute to the departed soul, and his sermon to the living was a masterpiece! Truly a masterpiece! To hear this sermon was to hear a trumpet-call to a larger life. This sermon proved to be a burst of splended pity, charity, an imperative demand for justice. Not to every man is it given to tell other men truth which they abhor in such a way that they are compelled to hear, compelled to understand. The breathless attention of this large audience showed plainly that they heard, that they understood.

Four grandson and two nephews acted as pall bearers. Father O'Brien officiated at the grave, where in beautiful Calvary they gently laid all that was mortal of our dear friend and neighbor.

Those who came from away to pay their last tribute were, Thomas Mulick of Fargo, N. D., Mrs Ward, Mrs. Regan, Mr. and Mrs. Hurley of St. Paul, Minn., Chas. Peppard of Minneapolis, Minn., Mrs. Thos. Bohen of Austin, Minn., besides friends and relatives from Lourdes, Bailey, Stacyville, Osage, Cresco, Chester, Elma, St. Cecelia and Newhaven.