DOONAN, Thomas – 1842 – 1922

DOONAN, KANN, SCHOOLES, HICKS, DUN, COWEN

Posted By: Pat Hochstetler, Volunteer (email)
Date: 4/18/2013 at 15:54:24

Thomas Doonan was born in Ireland, May the first, 1842, and died at the home of his son, John near Brooklyn, May 17th, 1922, being at the time of his death a little more than 80 years of age. He came to America in 1865 when he was twenty-three years of age. He first settled in Illinois, but two years later he came to Iowa, locating on a farm about four miles southwest of Brooklyn, in the community near the Fairmont church.

It was while in this community that he was unfortunate enough to be in the path of the Grinnell cyclone, during which he sustained injuries from which he never fully recovered. He was for two years in Missouri and on returning, purchased a farm three miles west of Brooklyn where they lived for many years.

He was united in marriage to Mary Jane Kann. To this union there was born but the one child, John William, of Brooklyn. Mrs. Doonan’s death occurred May 30th, 1921, just about a year ago. Besides the son and family he leaves to mourn his loss, seven brothers and four sisters. Robert, Thompson and James of Montezuma, Frank and John of Cedar Rapids, Ia., William of Slayton, Minn., Sam of Ireland, Mrs. Jane Schooles, Mary Hicks and Susan Dun of Ireland and Mrs. Ellen Cowen of Cleveland, Ohio. He is also survived by two step sons, James and Frank Kann of Brooklyn, Iowa.

It was during a special meeting conducted by the last Bishop Matt Hughes at the Fairmont appointment on the Malcom charge that Mr. Doonan and wife were converted and united with the Methodist church. He has continued active in this faith during the 35 years that has elapsed since then. It would seem that Job was speaking of his brother’s death when he said, “Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age like a shock of corn cometh in his season.”

The funeral service was conducted from the Methodist church in Brooklyn May 19th and was in charge of a former pastor W. S. Kight of Des Moines, assisted by Rev. John W. Pool.

Source: Unknown newspaper clipping found in scrapbook belonging to my great grandmother, Edith (Kann) Newton. Date of birth differs from gravestone.