William Shea 1829-1911

SHEA, MARTIN, EGAN

Posted By: Joe Conroy (email)
Date: 7/25/2010 at 16:45:31

The Democrat
Emmetsburg, Iowa
6 Sep 1911
Page 4

Wm. Shea Is Dead.

Passed Away at His Home in This City Last Thursday.

Thursday afternoon William Shea passed away at his home in this city after an illness of some duration. He had not been well for several months, though his own relatives did not realize that his condition was serious. Five or six days before he passed away, a change for the worse set in, after which time it was apparent that the end would soon come. He was conscious to the last and he gave special attention to all his spiritual and temporal affairs before the final summons came.

The funeral was held Sunday. Services were conducted at the Assumption church. Very Rev. J. J. Smith officiating. The interment was in St. John's cemetery. The pall bearers were Thos. Kirby, M. F. Brennan, Joseph Mulroney, John McNamara, C. J. Berger, and W. I. Branagan. There was a large procession. Many came from Ruthven and Ayrshire to be present at the last obsequies.

Mr. Shea was born in the county of Kilkenny, Ireland, May 12, 1839. Hence he was in his 73rd year. He came to the United States with his parents when he was twelve years of age. The family lived in Pennsylvania for some time and later became residents of Ohio. Mr. Shea followed mining for some time. In the spring of 1866 he came to Palo Alto county. The old family homestead is now the property of Thos. J. Miller of Great Oak township. June 7, 1874, he was married to Miss Mary Martin, sister of John S. Martin of this city. Mr. and Mrs. Shea made their home on a farm in Nevada township until 1902 when they became residents of Emmetsburg, after which date they lived in this city. The deceased is survived by his wife, four sons and one daughter. The sons are Attorney Thomas F. Shea of Deer Lodge, Montana, and Joseph and Leo of this city. There whereabouts of one son, William, is unknown. The daughter is Mrs. C. C. Egan of Great Oak township. One brother -- John -- lives in Nevada township and another brother -- Thomas -- at Ayrshire.

Mr. Shea held front rank among the most deserving men of our county. Neighbors who knew him intimately for 45 years and who had the best of opportunities to know his shortcomings as well as his redeeming qualities have only words of praise for him as a father, husband and citizen. He was a man of humble pretentions. Success never caused him to change his democratic ways. He was as plain and unassuming during the closing years of his long and successful career as he was when a pioneer of limited circumstances. He had only contempt for those who were continually seeking honor. True merit always appealed to him as being worthy of recognition. He had the courage of his convictions. He was self-willed, determined and outspoken. He had a wholesome regard for the opinions of others, but he was very seldom influenced by them. His views on local and general affairs always counted with those who had occasion to meet him in business or community affairs. He was a man of most exemplary habits. He had learned early in life to place the highest value on sobriety and purity in thought, word and act and the older he grew the more devoted he was to the ideals which he had learned to love in manhood's prime. Our community has been greatly benefited by his industry, his lofty motives, his Christian zeal and generosity and his unflinching, manly devotion to duty. Those who mourn the loss of the respected and beloved father are fortunate in having shared, to a degree that is comforting in their hours of sorrow, the fruits of his exemplary and enobling career. The sympathy of all is extended to them in their bereavement.

The Palo Alto Tribune
Emmetsburg, Iowa
6 Sep 1911
Page 4

William Shea.

William Shea died at his home in the third ward at 1.45 p.m. Thursday August 31 after a severe and continuous illness of about six weeks.

His sickness was of a peculiar nature and to some extent baffled physicians. Funeral services were held at the Assumption church Sunday and the remains laid away to rest in St. John Cemetery. The services were conducted by Very Rev. J. J. Smith. The pall bearers were W. I. Branagan, Thomas Kirby, John McNamara, Martin Brennan, Joe Mulroney and Chas. Berger.

William Shea was born in Kilkenny, Ireland, May 12, 1829, and there his early childhood was spent. When twelve years of age he came to America with his parents and settled in Pennsylvania. The following year his father died. This sad incident, of course, threw early responsibilities upon the family, but Mr. Shea was sturdy, strong, and courageous and did not shrink from the tasks imposed upon him. He worked in the Pennsylvania mines and later in the Iowa mines having come to this state in the spring of (?). He enlisted in the service of his country during the (four lines illegible). ...years they resided in Nevada township where they owned an excellent farm. In 1902 they erected a comodious home in this city and moved here to reside. Here they lived comfortably and happy until his recent illness. Seven children blessed this union, two of whom, James and Mary, died in infancy. The other four sons, William, Tom, Joseph and Leo and one daughter, Mrs. C. C. Egan, survive their father. Thomas is an attorney and is located at Deer Lodge, Mont., Joseph at Northfield, Minn., Leo and Mrs. Egan reside in this vicinity. Mr. Shea is as well known to our readers, perhaps, as any man in the county. He is one of the pioneers of Palo Alto and one of the ones who toiled earnestly and cheerfully to rear his family and aid in the growth and development of the county. He has experienced the toil and hardships of pioneer days and was forced to practice the economy necessary to exist upon the meager necessities of life. But by economy, earnest and honest endeavor he accumulated enough of the world's goods to live in ease and luxury during the latter period of his life besides having raised his family and having given them excellent educational opportunities. Mr. Shea was an exemplary man in many ways. He was not only kind and devoted to his family but he was of a cheerful disposition and always aided making his home a happy one. He was agreeable and helpful to his neighbors and friends. He was candid and honest and we dare say did not possess a single element of deception. He had strong personal opinions and was frank and outspoken though not offensive. He was charitable to all. No one ever came to his door that was not made to feel the warmth and welcome of a hospitable home. He was a thorough christian and a devout catholic. He lived well and served his God, and fellow men as best he knew. In this death a good man and an excellent citizen has been called to his final reward. His wife and children will long mourn the loss of a devoted husband and father while he will not soon be forgotten by his other relatives and many friends. Besides his wife and children he leaves two brothers, John of Nevada township and Tom of Ayrshire and one sister Mrs. Nicholas Wogan of Beaver Falls, Penn. While our sympathy goes out to all of the relatives and especially to the daughter and sons, yet the one who will ever miss him and who will never again have life mean to her quite the same is his companion of 37 years. We trust that the Divine Power, that has seen fit to bereave her will extend strength to her to bear her burden of sorrow and lend her comfort in her declining years.