O'Brien, John P. 1844 - 1926

OBRIEN, ENRIGHT, MCCARTHY, RENIER, MCINTEE, CLANCY, HARRIS, RINN, FRANK, MCCARVILLE, SHANLEY

Posted By: Jan Ehresmann (email)
Date: 11/30/2001 at 23:31:40

On April 4, 1926, Easter Sunday, at his home in Paris Township, John P. O'Brien, one of the pioneers of Howard County, passed to the great beyond after a lingering illness lasting nearly three years, aged 81 years, 3 months, and 19 days.

He was born in Grey County, Ontario, Dec. 16, 1844. He came to Howard county, Iowa, in 1873, and was married to Catherine Enright at Cresco, Iowa, Feb. 27, 1876, by the Rev. Father McCarthy. They began housekeeping on the farm where he resided until the time of his death.

Mr. O'Brien was a man of many good qualities, upright, honest and industrious, and was never know to defraud anyone of their just dues and was widely noted for his generous hospitality. He was one of the typical pioneers who helped to develop this country in its early days and his memory will long be cherished by his many friends. In the passing of Mr. O'Brien the community has lost an honest citizen, the church a faithful member and the home a kind and devoted husband and father. His funeral was held Thursday at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Rev. Father Renier officiating and offering the Sacrifice of the Mass and preaching the funeral semon, and the remains laid to rest in the Lourdes Cemetery. His funeral was among one of the largest ever held in Lourdes.

He leaves to mourn his death his faithful wife and 8 children the two oldest, Michael Morris and John H. preceded him in death. The eight living children are Mrs Mary E. McIntee, Eden Valley, Minn; William, Thomas, Joseph, Mrs Elizabeth McIntee, Paynesville, Minn; Charles, David, Mrs. Bernetta McIntee, Northgate, ND.; who were present at the funeral; one sister, Mrs. Ellen Clancy, Minneapolis; three brothers, Richard, Eden valley, Minn; Wm. J. and C. J. both of Minneapolis; 28 grandchildren and a number of other relatives and friends. His pall bearers were John Harris, William Rinn, Julius Frank, Mike McCarville, Dan Shanley, Richard McCarville, all of whom were his old neighbors.