McDermott, John 1829 - 1901

MCDERMOTT, GURREN

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 11/3/2018 at 14:31:00

Source: Twice-A-Week Plain Dealer Feb. 5, 1901, LP, C7

Death of John McDermott.

The Courier is called upon again this week to record the passing of another highly respected citizen who has made Kossuth county his residence for a quarter of a century. Mr. John McDermott passed away at his late residence on Call street Tuesday morning at about nine o’clock. His death was not unexpected as he had been confined to his bed for some weeks past and gradually failing all the time.
Deceased was born in the county Roscommon, Ireland, about 75 years ago, and came to America at an early age, taking up his residence at Lambertsville, New Jersey, where he met and was married to the good wife that survives him, They moved from New Jersey to southwestern Wisconsin in 1860, and deceased responded to President Lincoln’s first call for volunteers in ’61. At the close of his term of service he re-enlisted and served four years, receiving an honorable discharge in the summer of 1865. He returned to his pioneer home with the testimonials of an honorable record in the service of his adopted country, but with the burden of physical infirmities which remained with him to the last, and entered so largelp{sic} into his final illness.
He spent the prime of his manhood in building up a farm among the wooded hills of Wisconsin, but on a western trip in 1876, he purchased his present fine farm near Titonka, and removed to this county in 1878. Here he spent the remaining years of his active labor, and about a dozen years ago retired from the farm moving to Algona where he has since resided.
The funeral services were held at the Catholic church yesterday morning at 10 o’clock. The G. A. R. post, of which deceased was a member, attended in a body, and a large procession of friends followed the remains to their final resting place in the Catholic cemetery.
The family consists of three sons and two daughters, all grown to manhood and womanhood. Thos. G., is a prominent member of the Mason City bar, John ressides{sic} at Cresco, and Wm. is one of the well-to-do farmers of this county. Miss Mae has been for a number of years one of our successful teachers, and Mrs. E. W. Gurren of Armstrong, were all present at the funeral.— Algona Courier.

Transcriber’s Note: His gravestone in Calvary Cemetery indicates he was born in 1829.