John Shea 1831-1919

SHEA, MILLEA, DUNPHY

Posted By: Joe Conroy (email)
Date: 8/14/2010 at 23:16:52

The Democrat
Emmetsburg, Iowa
3 Dec 1919
Page 1

Another Pioneer Called To Reward

John Shea, Who Came to Our County in 1857.

John Shea, one of the oldest and best known citizens of our county, passed away at his home in Nevada township last Thursday. He was ill about 24 hours. He was able to be about until a few days or so before the final summons. When he became ill medical assistance was called but it seems there was a rupture of one of the blood vessels and some time later he became unconscious. He never rallied.

The funeral was held on Monday. There was a large attendance of friends and old neighbors. Services were conducted in the Assumption church, Very Rev. P. F. Farrelly officiating. The burial was in the family lot in St. John's cemetery. The pall bearers were Joseph, Peter and Robert Mulroney, Robert Laughlin, J. P. Downs and Thomas Dawson.

John Shea was born at New Ross, in the county of Kilkenny, Ireland, June 28, 1831. His age was 88. In 1850 he came to the United States. He lived for some time in Pennsylvania. In 1851 he came to Palo Alto county. The members of the family were located for several years on a farm southwest of the Burn's bridge but later moved to Nevada township. In April, 1862, Mr. Shea enlisted in the army. He served in the Twenty-Fifth Iowa Infantry for three years. He was in the memorable battles of Gettysburg, Shiloh and Chicamauga and towards the close of the war he participated in Sherman's historic march to the sea. He was never wounded. A brother James was in the service from Wisconsin. Mr. Shea was united in marriage in this city on May 1, 1873, to Mary Millea, who, with three sons and five daughters, survives him. The sons are W. J., who is at home; J. M., who recently returned from service in France; and T. E., of Big Timber, Montana. The daughters are Miss Bridget, who is a trained nurse at Denver, Colorado; Mrs. W. J. Dunphy of Wibaux, Montana, and Misses Margaret, Katherine and Josephine, who are at home. One of Mr. Shea's sisters, Mrs. Anastacia Wogan, resides at Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, and an only brother, Thomas Shea, lives at Ayrshire. Three other brothers, Robert, William and James, all of this county, died a number of years ago.

Mr. Shea was one of the fine old gentlemen of Iowa. He was large, robust and energetic and he had a manly bearing. he was one of Palo Alto's best known and most substantial pioneers. When he came to our county he saw little more than a wilderness of prairie and sky. What a wonderful change he witnessed before he closed his eyes in death. For 62 years he was an active and a conscientious worker in the wonderful transformation that was wrought. When the supremacy of his country's flag was threatened, he sacrificed the opportunities and the pleasures of youth and did everything within his power to uphold and defend it. His efforts, with those of thousands of others who fought with him, brought victory to our arms. As a husband, he was faithful and devoted; as a father, he was provident, loving and indulgent; as a neighbor, he was considerate, obliging and helpful; as a citizen, he was upright, manly and law observing. He never neglected his obligations to his God or to his church. Until a few months before his death he usually came ten miles to church every Sunday and was generally present at early Mass. He was well aware of the pitfalls into which so many well meaning people fall and he fortified himself carefully for life's trying labors. He realized fully the necessity and the helpfulness of religion in life's temptations and uncertainties and he sought the guidance and the assistance of Providence in all of his undertakings. He prized good in others and he appreciated friendship and sympathy. He had only admiration for clean living. Throughout his long, active and eventful life he toiled diligently and zealously for the happiness and welfare of his home and the good of religion and society and he died honored and beloved by all who knew him. To his faithful companion of many decades and to the several highly esteemed sons and daughters, the profound sympathy of hundreds of neighbors and friends is extended in their hour of sorrow.