Coughlan, Henry Irving 1861 - 1896

COUGHLAN, CANNON

Posted By: volunteer
Date: 12/16/2006 at 21:55:27

Newton (IA) Journal
Wednesday, April 8, 1896

In Memoriam

Henry Irving Coughlan was born at Mingo, Jasper County, Iowa, September 23, 1861, and died at Iowa City, March 12, 1896, of typhoid-pneumonia, after an illness of twelve days.

His early education was in the rural schools. Not satisfied with this he attended the Hazel Dell academy at Newton which he soon changed for the Iowa City academy where he was graduated in 1883. He then entered the State University of Iowa from which he was graduated in 1888 in the philosophical course.

He chose teaching as his lifework, filling in a most satisfactory manner all positions to which he was called. Before graduation he taught in the country schools of Jasper county and was for one year principal of the high school at Collins. The year after his graduation he taught his home school at Mingo. A severe attack of typhoid fever in 1889 prevented him from filling the principalship of Solon schools to which he had been elected. In 1890 he was elected principal of the grammar school in Iowa City, which position he was holding at his death.

On September 6, 1888, he was married to Miss Carrie Cannon. His loving wife, aged father and mother, and two brothers live to mourn his untimely death. He was an earnest sincere Christian during all his adult life. He became a member of the M. E. church during the pastorate of Rev. Dr. R. D. Parsons at Iowa City in 1883. In 1890 he became an active member of the I. O. O. F. all of whose chairs he filled with dignity and honor to himself and to his fraternity.

Length of years alone do no measure a man’s life. The representatives of each of the six generations before Enoch lived from six to nine hundred years. It is said of each, “He lived, begat sons and died” until we come to Enoch, of whom it is said when he was not half the age of his fathers, “He walked with God and was not, for God took him.” So it can truly be said of H. I. Coughlan, “He walked with God and God took him.” We dare not question why so rare and useful a soul would be taken and apparently worthless ones should be left.

God hath His mysteries of grace,
Ways that we cannot tell.
He hides them deep like the secret sleep
Of him he loved so well

The profession of teaching has lost one of its richest ornaments: the boys and girls, a sincere friend and a rare teacher; the community, an honorable citizen; the church, a consistent communicant; and his family, a loving and beloved member.

One who knew him most intimately for years said; “I believe that he never knowingly or willingly injured anyone in his life.” The great concourse of people who thronged about his bier attested the high esteem and respect in which he was held by old and young. The good of such lives lives after them. It can be more truly said of him than of whom it was originally said:

His life was gentle; and the elements

so mixed in him, that nature might stand up

and say to all the world, “This was a good man.”

In addition to this, the Iowa City “Republican”, from which we take the above, contains resolutions from the School Board, the High School, and from the Eighth Grade, all testifying to the eminent worth, excellent qualifications and high character of Mr. Coughlin [Coughlan].

---------------

Mr. C. H. Coughlan, of Mingo, returned home from Iowa City a few days ago, where he had been staying ever since the death of his son. He was detained there on account of the illness of his wife, who, since her son’s death, has been unable to make the journey home, the terrible shock having prostrated her.