Mohan, John T. 1853-1911

MOHAN, CONNESS

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, volunteer (email)
Date: 7/5/2023 at 18:25:45

LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel
Tuesday, May 2, 1911

A GOOD MAN IS GONE
JOHN T. MOHAN SUDDENLY SUMMONED BY DEATH
HAD NO WARNING OF APPROACH.
Dies While Engaged in Reading a Newspaper at the Elks Club, Where He Had Stopped for a Few Minutes on His Way Home.

John Mohan, one of the finest men in LeMars, answered to the final call on Friday afternoon about five o’clock. His sudden demise came as a shock to the community. The summons, although swift, it is safe to say, did not find him unprepared.

His life to those who knew him since his coming to LeMars had been an open book, and that he was ready to meet the Kingly Judge as well or better than the majorityh of me, is a thought which strikes his freinds, of whom he had legion.

To be considered eminently fair on any question of public interest which arose, to deal kindly with the faults and foibles of his fellowmen, to stand up for the absent when reviled, to give each man his just measure of appreciation, to devote himself to his wife and the upbringing of his children, to make of them noble American citizens is epitaph enough for any man. Added to this a delicious sense of the humorous, untouched by the suspicion of intention or malice, a genial companionship which won the hearts of his fellows, a gentle consideration of the feelings of others, a cordial mien and a sunny disposition which rebuffed the ordinary pessimisms, a wide and philosophic review of the transpirings of the day made him a man whom all were glad to meet.

The writer of these lines has consorted daily with him for many years, and the mutual friendship makes it the harder to pay tribute to his qualities.

John Mohan was a man absolutely averse to pomp and ceremony. Sincere and straightforward himself he could see through the veneer of things. Slow to pass judgement, his conclusions were always in accird with his best judgment and what his friends expected. He appreciated living, was whole-souled, loyal to home institutions, and in his death a distinct loss is felt by the people of LeMars and vicinity. But few are born to eminence, but of the everyday kind of people who help to make the world pleasanter and better John Mohan was one, and this thought of itself is consolation to the widow and fatherless and a solace to his intimates.

Mr. Mohan was about town on Friday, pursuing his ordinary avocations. He was feeling well and hearty and apparently no premonition of his untimely end was vouchsafed to him. He greeted friends and associates as usual with his kindly smile, was down to his office, discussed business and topics of the day. Along at the close of the afternoon, he sauntered homewards stopping in at the Elks Club on his way. Here, after passing the time of day with acquaintances and watching a game of billiards for a few minutes, he went into the reading room and was soon engrossed in the perusal of daily paper. A subdued sigh, the placing of the paper on a table and his spectacles in their case on the windowsill attracted the attention of T. W. Lewis, who was in the room. Hearing a gutteral noise and noticing Mr. Mohan’s appearance he said, “Are you ill, John? What is the matter?” Receiving no response, he approached nearer and noticing the deathly pallor on the face of his friend became alarmed, and going closer perceived Mr. Mohan was mortally sick.

He summoned medical aid at once and Dr. Clarke arrived in a few minutes. On examination he pronounced Mr. Mohan dead, death being due to heart failure. The dead man sat in a chair as if in sleep, his hands in his lap and no sign of death’s rigor was apparent. His end was peaceful, the death angel touched him lightly and his soul without warning as seen of men, returned to God who gave it life.

The news of his death was circulated quickly and the awfully sudden summons was topic of conversation on the streets and in households, coupled with fitting words of regret at the end of a good man’s life, and many expressions of sympathy went forth to the widow and the children.

John T. Mohan was born in LaSalle county, Illinois, on May 23, 1853. Here was reared, received a common school education and grew to manhood, when he engaged in farming. He was united in marriage in 1878 with Delia L. Conness, who with four children survive him.

To their union five children were born, one of whom preceded him in death. The children are, Dr. J. C. Mohan, of Sioux City; Lily Mae Mohan, who is a teacher in the Sioux City public schools; John Mohan, of Trumann, Minn.; and Walter Mohan, who is attending St. Mary’s college in Kansas.

One of his chiefest desires was to give his children the best that life affords and as a foundation for this he devoted energy and time giving them an education which would fit them for the battle of life.

He is also survived by his aged mother, who is 87 years old, three brothers and four sisters, Mrs. John Whalen, Anthony Mohan, Joseph Mohan, Mrs. Thos. Cumisky, Mrs. Will Janet, Miss Mary Mohan, all of LaSalle county, Illinois, and Patrick Mohan, of Hastings, Neb. All the relatives except his mother came to attend the funeral, which was held yesterday morning at St. James church, of which the deceased was a consistent member.

Mr. Mohan was a prominent Elk, being a trustee of the local lodge and was also a member of the Knights of Columbus, being grand knight of Trinity Council of this city. He always took a leading part in county and city affairs and served several terms as a councilman and at the time of his death was a member of the school board. The schools were closed yesterday morning out of respect to his memory.

Mr. Mohan with his family came to LeMars in 1883. He engaged in buying stock, and was in partnership with Sam Miller, Johnson Pemberton, S. Brunskill at various time, and later was a member of the firm of Clarke, Mohan & Co.

Mrs. Mohan was prostrated by the tragically sudden death of her husband. Miss Lilly Mohan, his daughter, is recovering from an attack of appendicitis, and was brought home from Sioux City last week, where she had undergone an operation. The sudden shock of her father’s death retarded her convalescence and she is seriously ill and under the care of a doctor and trained nurse.

The Knights of Columbus and the members of the Elks lodge attended the funeral in a body.

The funeral was largely attended and many were unable to obtain entrance into the church. Solemn requiem high mass was celebrated by Rev. Father E. Kerby, of Sioux City, Rev. Father E. T. McNally, of Maurice, and Rev. Father O’Farrell, of St. James parish. Father Kerby paid a fitting tribute to the virtues and character of the dead man. A hundred and fifty Knights of Columbus and over one hundred members of the Elks marched at the head of the funeral procession.

The honorary pallbearers were P. Farrell, R. H. Kain, Phil Conwsay, M. Kennedy, J. C. Kain and Thos. Gallagher. The pallbearers were John Heissel, Jos. Hickey, E. A. Dalton, Wm. Carel, A. Sartori, R. J. Koehler.

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Bayard Advocate, May 4, 1911
Bayard, Iowa

WELL KNOWN LEMARS MAN DIES SUDDENLY
John T. Mohan, Former Councilman, Expires While Seated In Chair In Elks Club.

LeMars, Ia., May 1.—While seated in the reading room of the Elks Club late yesterday afternoon and preparing to read a magazine, John T. Mohan, a former member of the council of this city, died suddenly of vertebral trouble. He was inured two years ago in a railroad wreck and had never fully recovered from the injury. He was 59 years of age.

Mr. Mohan was grand knight of the Knights of Columbus at the time of his death and was a member of the school board. He came to LeMars 28 years ago from Streator, Ill. The deceased is survived by his wife, one daughter, Miss Lilly Mohan, who teaches in the Hunt school; and three sons, Dr. J. C. Mohan, of Sioux City, John Mohan and Walter Mohan, the latter a student at St. Mary’s college, Kansas.

Mr. Mohan was well known in Sioux City and several of his friends from that city arrived last night. Among the number were Dr. and Mrs. P. B. McLaughlin, Albert Lynch, Miss Eva McHugh and Mr. and Mrs. P. J. Conway.

The funeral will be held Monday morning at 11 o’clock at St. James Catholic church and will be in charge of the Knights of Columbus.