Luke T. Torpey 1839-1905

TORPEY, COLIHAN

Posted By: Joe Conroy (email)
Date: 6/26/2010 at 20:23:06

The Democrat
Emmetsburg, Iowa
4 Jan 1905
Page 4

Luke Torpey, of Ayrshire, Dead.

Luke T. Torpey passed away at 9:45 a.m. Wednesday, after an illness of 14 weeks. For the past 11 weeks he had been bedfast. Death was the result of a general breaking down of the system. About a year ago Mr. Torpey met with a mishap in alighting from a wagon, striking his side on the wheel and injuring himself internally. At the time of the accident no attention was given it and he suffered only a slight inconvenience from its effect. As time passed he complained of his side, which caused him great agony. When taken down it was decided to operate upon him as the only means of relieving his suffering. After the operation he improved slowly for a few days, but his vitality was not equal to the emergency and his life ebbed slowly until death relieved him of his sufferings. During his long illness he was conscious except for a few hours Sunday. He regained consciousness in the evening and talked to the members of his family and all who were in the room. From Sunday on his death was only a matter of a few hours and he breathed his last surrounded by his family. He realized the end was near and courted death that he might be relieved from his bed of pain.

Mr. Torpey formerly resided in Ruthven before moving ot Ayrshire and was well known throughout the county. He was unassuming in his manners, charitable and just, and his death will be mourned by his large circle of friends. The funeral will be held tomorrow (Friday) morning at 9 o'clock from the Catholic church.

Luke T. Torpey was born in the County Galway, Ireland, in 1839. He came to America in 1846, locating in Pennsylvania where he remained for 32 years. On November 13, 1864, he was united in marriage to Miss Bridget E. Colihan at Ashland, Pennsylvania, who, together with five children -- two sons and three daughters -- survive him. In 1878 he moved to Iowa where he has since resided. For the past five years he has lived in Ayrshire. -- Ayrshire Chronicle.