Patrick Hand 1866-1909

HAND, ROACH, EGAN, OBRIEN, MURRAY

Posted By: Bonnie Hand (email)
Date: 8/10/2008 at 04:42:58

From The Democrat August 4, 1909

DEATH OF P.V. HAND
Funeral Was Held Last Thursday Morning

Brief mention was made in last week's Democrat of the death of P.V. Hand at a hospital at Colorado Springs, on Tuesday morning, July 27. The remains reached Emmetsburg Wednesday evening, a day or two sooner than was anticipated. They were at once taken to his home. The funeral was held Thursday forenoon. A requiem high mass was celebrated at Assumption church by Father Murphy, Very Rev. J.J. Smith chanting the office of the dead and officiating at the grave. The Knights of Columbus, of which he was a member, attended in a body, marching ahead of the procession from the residence to the church and thence to the cemetery. There was a very large attendance from all parts of the county, the deceased having been widely known, and he had many and intimate personal friends. There were several beautiful floral offerings. The pall bearers were Messrs. Edward McNally, J.K. Benda, Joseph Mulroney, M.E. Conlon, John J. Steil, and J.J. McDonald.
The deceased was born in Allamakee county, Iowa, January 26, 1866. When he was five or six years old his parents moved to Great Oak township, this county. He attended the neighboring school and grew to manhood on the farm. He studied law for some time, but later decided that he would prefer another pursuit. He spent some time in Montana, but subsequently returned to this county and engaged in the mercantile business at Ayrshire in company with J.H. Martin. They enjoyed a large patronage and prospered. April 27, 1896 he was married to Miss Celia Roach, who, with two sons and two daughters, Melvin, Joseph, Leota, and Ruth, survive him. In the fall of 1898-(hard to read; unsure of the date), Mr. Hand was nominated by the republicans for county auditor. He was elected by a safe majority. Two years later he was re-nominated and was re-elected by a large majority. He proved to be a capable and obliging officer and he made many friends. Before the expiration of his second term he was elected cashier of the Farmer’s saving bank and became one of the principal stockholders of the institution and he grew steadily in the confidence of his fellow business men. Something over two years ago his health failed and he had to resign. He was taken with a severe attack of pneumonia, which practically shattered his rather frail constitution. He went to Colorado for a short time, but he never fully recovered his strength. He assisted in the county auditor's office more or less during the past two years and last fall entered the store of his brother, F.E., of this city. In June he was forced to five up work and went to Colorado Springs, still hoping he might prolong his life, but the journey was fruitless. Mrs. Hand and his oldest son, Master Melvin, were called to his bedside a week or two later. He failed steadily and had to be taken to a hospital. He was never able to return to his home to greet his other three little children or his numerous relatives and friends. Death claimed him and, far from the scenes that were dear to him, he passed to the great beyond. Besides his wife and four children, the deceased is survived by his aged mother, three sisters and four brothers. The brothers are John, James, Peter and Frank. The sisters are Mesdames, T.C. Egan, Patrick O'Brien, and John S. Murray. Mr. Hand served for several years as secretary of the Palo Alto County Agricultural society was chairman of the republican county committee for one or two terms, and he also held other local positions of honor and trust. He was a member of the Woodmen, Redmen, and Elks as well as the Knights of Columbus.
The deceased had just reached the year when men are, as a rule, capable of their best service to society. He was a keen, judicious observer and he kept in close touch with business and political affairs. He was a good student. He was usually well posted on all matters of general and local importance. He was frank and outspoken. He was loyal to his convictions, and he willingly conceded to others the same right he asked for himself. He was kind, obliging, and ready. He made few positive enemies. He was socially a favorite, because he could, without difficulty, adopt himself to different environments. He was generous. He gave as much as his means would allow to every worthy local cause. He was public spirited. He always did his best for the material welfare of Emmetsburg. He was morally above reproach. He had only contempt for those who place a low estimate on public and private morals. He was a man of well defined convictions on religious subjects and he kept them constantly in mind in the various pursuits that claimed his time and his attention. He was fond of his home and family and he enjoyed the most abiding affection that the wife and children can give in return for connubial and paternal tenderness and solicitude. He retained to the last the confidence of those who knew his as an innocent child and who watched his development year by year into helpful and useful manhood. This is one of the best tests that can be applied in determining the true value of citizenship. He was patient forbearing to the end, willing anxious, if need be, to make a sacrifice of all that was sweet and dear to him if, in so doing, it was necessary for him to conform with the will of Providence. The sympathy of all is extended to those who have reason to feel his loss most keenly and to the many others whose hearts were united to his by ties of tenderness.