Sarah (Conroy) White 1831-1915

WHITE, CONROY, CAVANAUGH, OREILEY

Posted By: Joe Conroy (email)
Date: 11/5/2010 at 20:31:48

Williamsburg Journal-Tribune
Williamsburg, Iowa
28 Oct 1915
Page 1

Mrs. Sarah White

Pioneer Resident of Hilton Answers Final Call.

A Grand Character

Mrs. Sarah White died at her home in Hilton township on Thursday morning, October 21st, 1915. She was in her 85th year and had been a resident of Hilton township for fifty six years and was widely known throughout Iowa County.

The funeral services were held at St. Mary's Church, Williamsburg, Saturday, October 23d at 10:30. The High Mass of Requiem was celebrated by Father Glenn, with Father Carroll, of Marengo, as deacon, and Father Caule of Holbrrok as sub-deacon. Father White, of Winterset, was master of ceremonies and preached the sermon. The church was filled with relatives, friends and neighbors of the deceased. Nearly every community in the county was represented.

The sermon by Father White was a master's production; for many years he was an intimate friend of the deceased and the sermon was a magnificent tribute to a faithful daughter of the old church to whose teachings and precepts she was obedient for four-score years.

The interment was in the family lot in St. Mary's Cemetery beside the body of the husband who died ten years ago. Father Glenn officiated at the grave.

The pall bearers were J. P. Doherty, J. J. Glenn, William Hogan, Frank Mulherin, John Mahan and J. P. Gallagher.

Sarah Conroy was born at Woodford, County Galway, Ireland, in February, 1831. She came of good stock and was well educated in a famous school in her native land. When a young woman she came to this country with her brother and sisters and Ottawa, Illinois, became their home. Here she was united in marriage on February 13th, 1854, to Mr. Peter White and the home was continued at Ottawa until 1859 when the family moved to Iowa County, Iowa, locating on the old homestead in Hilton township, and which continued to be the home during all the years since then.

To Mr. and Mrs. White were born eight children. One died in infancy and the remaining seven are John, of Chicago, Senator J. A. White of the home; Atty. Mathew White, of Ida Grove; Judge Peter White, Wahoo, Neb.; Miss Sarah, Chicago, and Mollie and Nellie of the home.

Besides these she leaves two sisters, Mrs. Cecelia Cavanaugh, of Chicago and Mrs. R. O'Reiley, of Portland, Oregon.

Mrs. White was a grand character, a woman of the old school, a type apparently made for the founding of a commonwealth on the Iowa prairies. Gifted with a mental highness and a courage stamped with the traits of an heroic race, she met and filled every responsibility of the wife and mother. The trials of the pioneer never daunted her spirit and she shared every sacrifice that fitted her children as useful and honored members of the social fabric. As friend and neighbor she was all that these demanded and through and around all her actions there was ever present that great precept of Christian charity, the divine ornament of the devout and consistent Catholic. She was blessed with long years, and through them all she wore the crown of womanhood unsullied, and when she died the community lost its greatest exemplar of the Christian wife and mother.

To the bereaved children the sincerest sympathies are offered.