Mary (Costello) Lillis 1791-1894

LILLIS, COSTELLO, FREANEY, SMITH

Posted By: Joe Conroy (email)
Date: 3/14/2010 at 13:36:57

Davenport Daily Leader
15 August 1894
Page 5

A Centenarian Departed.

Death of Mrs. Mary Lillis at the Age of 103 Years.

Another life has gone out in Davenport, that linked the last decade of the nineteenth century with the century before. Mrs. Mary Lillis died at 6 o'clock Tuesday evening at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. M. J. Freaney, 2126 Ripley street. Mrs. Lillis was the widow of John Lillis, Sr., of Marengo, Iowa, whose death occurred in that city on July 8, 1873. She was married to him in Ireland 71 years ago, and on coming to America settled in Kingston, Canada, in the year 1840. They removed to Iowa and settled in Marengo 26 years ago. For the last twelve years Mrs. Lillis has made her home with her daughter, Mrs. Freaney, in this city. Mrs. Lillis was the mother of eight children, five of whom survive, being Mrs. Margaret Smith, of Utica, N.Y.; James, at Shoshone, Idaho; Michael, at Toronto, Iowa; John, at Marengo, Iowa, and Mrs. M. J. Freaney of this city.

Mrs. Lillis, whose maiden name was Mary Costello, was born in County Clare, Ireland, in 1791. She had therefore reached the remarkable age of 103 years. When the Irish liberator, Daniel O'Connell was elected for the first time member of parliament from Clare, she was then 37 years of age, and was 38 years old when Catholic emancipation was granted to Ireland by the British parliament. When Gladstone was born she was a hearty maiden of 18 years. It is indeed a remarkable series of events that might be chronicled in connection with the period of the life of the centenarian departed.

Up to about a year ago Mrs. Lillis was able to go about the house rather sprightly and active, and she retained control of her mental faculties to the last. She suffered from no bodily ailment and her death was due to the final wearing out as it were of the bodily machine, not to disease. Her end was the peaceful close of a respected and virtuous life.

The funeral takes place Thursday morning from the residence 2126 Ripley street with services at St. Anthony's church at 9 o'clock. Interment will be in St. Marguerite's cemetery.