John Donovan 1825-1910

DONOVAN, GILL

Posted By: Joe Conroy (email)
Date: 6/26/2010 at 21:26:46

The Democrat
Emmetsburg, Iowa
30 Mar 1910
Page 4

Death of John Donovan.

Called to His Eternal Reward Thursday Afternoon.

John Donovan, whose dangerous illness was mentioned in last week's issue of the Democrat, passed away at his home in this city last Thursday. He had the best of medical attendance and at first his ailment did not seem to be of a particularly serious nature, but his age was against him. He simply did not have the vitality to recuperate.

The funeral was held Monday forenoon. It was largely attended. There was a solemn requiem mass at the Assumption church. Very Rev. J. J. Smith was celebrant, with Fathers Murphy, Kelly, and McNerney as the other participating priests. Father Carroll of Ayrshire was also present. Miss Coonan of Minneapolis rendered a couple of solos during the services with most impressive effect. She is a grand-daughter of the deceased. The pall bearers were M. J. Kirby, Thos. Kirby, M. F. Coonan, John Dooley, Henry Selle, and T. J. Duffy. There were a large number of beautiful floral offerings, the gifts of sorrowing friends and neighbors. The burial was in St. John's cemetery.

Mr. Donovan was born in the county of Cork, Ireland, June 21, 1825. In 1848 he came to the United States. January 18, 1851, he was married at Thompsonville, Connecticut, to Mary Gill. In 1854 they came west and settled in Clayton county. In 1870 they located in Palo Alto. They lived on a farm in Freedom township until 1883 when they became residents of Emmetsburg, subsequently living in their neat home on the south side. Mrs. Donovan died December 18, 1909, just three months before her beloved husband. They had been married for almost 60 years. Though the passing of both the father and mother within such a short space of time is a great loss to any home, there is some consolation in the knowledge that death did not separate them long and that neither lingered for any length of time to mourn the passing of the other.

Mr. Donovan was one of the best known citizens of our county. He was among the early pioneers and he made friendships that were strong and lasting. He was genial and warm hearted and he was hospitable to a degree that was self sacrificing. He was regular and moderate in his habits, fully realizing that the blessings of health and strength were given to him, not to abuse, but to use wisely and conscientiously for his own good and that of his family and of his community. His caution and his decision in this particular alone were rewarded by a career of vigor and activity that are enjoyed by comparatively few. He loved dearly his native land, spoke often and feelingly of its sufferings and sorrows, and had ever an earnest interest in its people in this and in other countries. He was devoted to his faith and he practiced it with earnestness and regularity. He was among the most helpful and obliging of neighbors. He was tireless in his industry. Though his age was more than four score years, he never believed in loitering. He was always busy at something that would benefit himself or some one else. No husband and father gave to his wife and family greater attention or more loving care than he did, and his zeal for the comfort and happiness of those who were most dear to him increased as he advanced in years. It is needless to say that his parental solicitude was fully reciprocated by those who were the objects of his deep regard, and especially his daughters, Misses Maggie and Anna, who, during the late years, were the only members of the family at home. All that the anxiety of loving daughters could suggest and provide was done to prolong his days and to make them peaceful and happy, an obligation when worthily performed is among the most consoling of family duties to which the memory in after years fondly and gratefully clings. The Democrat joins the many citizens of our community and our county in extending all the sympathy that sorrowing friends can offer to the surviving members of the family.