Mrs. Mary Irwin Killian

KILLIAN, ORENDORFF, FLANNIGAN, OMEARA

Posted By: Rebecca Foster (email)
Date: 7/20/2014 at 18:25:13

Obituary.

KILLIAN.

A PIONEER GONE

Mrs. Mary Irwin Killian Passes Away Last Night
Born in Roscommon, Ireland, in 1807, She Attained the Age of Eighty-Nine Years-A Resident of Davenport Since 1842-A Beautiful Life-The Funeral
Last evening at 8:30 o'clock at the home of her daughter, Mrs. J.T. O'Meara, 212 west Sixth street, occurred the death of Mrs. Mary Irwin Killian of senility, in the eighty-ninth year of her age. Her demise is a shock to her host of friends in this city where she has lived for the past forty-two years. The advent of death was sudden although anticipated. The deceased, although a hearty and robust old lady, had for the past several weeks showed evidence of a rapid decline. She went recently to retire at an unusually early hour, complaining of feeling tired. Shortly after, eating supper last night the old lady retired to her room. Nothing caused alarm to her daughter over her early retiring since it had become a usual thing for Mrs. Killian to go to bed immediately after supper. Along about 8 o'clock one of the children said that she thought grandma was calling. Her daughter, Mrs. O'Meara, went into the hall to the foot of the stairs and heard a moan. Hurrying up the stairs she found her mother in a state of collapse. She lapsed into unconsciousness and passed away in about twenty minutes. A physician was summoned immediately and found on arriving that nothing could be done. He announced that her death was caused by senility and the rapid breaking down of the tissue attendant upon such great age.

Mary Irwin Killian, relict of the late Daniel Killian, who passed away eleven years ago, was born in Roscommon county, Ireland on August 15, 1807. As a girl she was acquainted with the great minds then prominent in Irish affairs, and as an old lady was wont to tell of the early days of the century, its great men, the struggles of her race for national freedom and of the great days which followed the defeats of the last century. She was married to Daniel Killian in Ireland several years before starting for America.

On her first arrival in the United States she settled at Providence, R.I., where she remained for three years. In 1842 she came to Davenport, where she has since resided. Since the death of her husband in 1885 she has made her home with her daughter, Mrs. J.T. O'Meara, at 212 west Sixth street, where she died.

The deceased was the mother of five children, three of whom survive her-Mrs. William F Orendorff of Gilbert, Mrs. T.M. Flannigan of Williamsburg, Ia., and Mrs. J.T. O'Meara of this city. A score of grandchildren also survive.

The funeral will probably be held Monday morning at 9 o'clock from the residence of her daughter, Mrs. J.T. O'Meara, 212 west Sixth street, with funeral services at St. Anthony's church and interment in St. Marguerite's cemetery.

Source: Daily Times, Davenport, Scott, Iowa, 19 September 1896.