Nearey, Edward 1850-1884 and Margaret Gallagher Family

NEAREY, NEARY, GALLAGHER, STEPHENS, CAULFIELD

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 3/21/2022 at 04:41:28

Nearey, Edward 1850-1884 and Margaret Jane Gallagher

This story was taken from pages 130-131 of the Rock Valley St. Mary’s Catholic Church Book written for the centennial of the church in about 1982(?). The story was transcribed for this BIOS by Beth De Leeuw of the Greater Sioux County Genealogical Society. Some research notes were added.

MARGARET JANE GALLAGHER was born on the Island of Iniskea, off the coast of County Mayo in Ireland. EDWARD NEAREY was also born in Ireland. They came with their parents and families to Pennsylvania. Maggie and Ed were married in Girardsville, Pennsylvania and from this marriage came six children; Anna, who died in infancy, Catherine Ellen, Marie, Margaret, Andrew and Edward.

When Eddie, the youngest child was three or four, the family moved to Vail, Iowa, where the Gallagher families were already farming. For many years, Margaret had been concerned about her husband’s health and was relieved to get him out of the coal mines.

Katie, the eldest, was only 12 years old when her father died. As mentioned in the Gallagher account, Katie Nearey came to Sioux county to teach at the age of 15. Two years later, Marie graduated from St. Ann’s and the whole family came to Rock Valley. Marie taught at the Stephen’s school, Margaret became a milliner, Edward a telegrapher and Andrew a barber.

After her husband’s death, Mrs. Nearey, an expert seamstress, “sewed for a living”. Daughter Kate’s and Hannah Rielly’s (Tuynman) wedding dresses, pictured in this book, were among the many designed and stitched by her.

1. ANNA died in infancy.

2. KATIE married Harry M. Akin. (see page 36 of the St. Mary’s chuch book for the family of Harry Akin family).

3. MARIE married Vere Okey, and moved to Wilmar, MN. They had three children, Madelaine, (Mrs. Herbert Denis of Detroit, Michigan), Louis and Edward. Edward lived with his grandmother Nearey as a child and attended St. Mary’s.

4. MAGGIE married Vic Nelson and lived in Cooperstown, North Dakota and later moved to Duluth, Minnesota. They had one son, Victor, who died at age 17.

5. ANDREW moved to Stockton, California, and later to Los Angeles, where the Nearey’s families lived. He married later in life and had no children.

6. EDWARD, who never married, worked as a telegrapher in St. Paul and Omaha. He died in 1911, age 28.

Daniel Gallagher, Mrs. Nearey’s brother, made his home with his parents, his sister Maggie and his niece Katie. After years in the mines in Pennsylvania, on farms in Wisconsin, Nebraska and Iowa, he served many years as night watchman in Rock Valley.

Margaret Jane (Gallagher) Nearey, her parents, Andrew and Mary (Stephens) Gallagher, her brother Daniel, and son Edward are buried in St. Ann’s Cemetery in Vail.

REASCHER NOTES: by Wilma J. Vande Berg
From a family report on ancestry.com (done by other than submitter)
Edward Neary (Nearey) was born 1850 County Mayo Ireland and died 29 Oct 1884 Vail IA. His parents were Edward Neary 1810-1875 and Catherine Caulfield 1810-1855.
He married Margaret Jane ‘Maggie’ Gallagher born 19 May 1848 Island of Iniskea, Mayo Ireland and died 7 Apr 1938 Rock Valley IA buried Vail Crawford IA. She was the daughter of Andrew Gallagher 1823-1911 and Mary Stephens 1820-1904.
Children listed for Edward and Margaret Nearey were:
1 . Andrew John Neary born 8 Dec 1875 Girardville PA died 20 Nov 1931 Los Angeles CA
2 . Marie Neary Okey born abt 1876 Girardville PA died 15 Aug 1943 Detroit MI
3 . Katherine Ellen Neary Akin born 19 Oct 1878 Girardville PA died 17 Sep 1961 Rock Valley IA
4. Margaret Neary Nelson born abt 1879 Girardville PA died 8 Jun 1969 ND
5 . Edward F. Neary born Oct 1882 Girardville PA died 7 Oct 1911 Rock Valley, Sioux Co. IA.

The Life Summary of Edward Nearey
Edward Neary was born in 1850, in Ireland as the son of Neary. He married Margaret Gallagher about 1872, in Ireland. They were the parents of at least 2 sons and 5 daughters. He lived in Butler Township, Schuylkill, Pennsylvania, United States in 1880. He died in Iowa, United States.

OBITUARY OF MARGARET JANE NEAREY
From the Sioux Center News, April 14, 1938:
PIONEER ROCK VALLEY LADY PASSES ON
ROCK VALLEY:—Mrs. Neary, a pioneer of Rock Valley and vicinity passed away from this life about 9:30 o'clock Thursday night.
Mrs. Neary was born in Ireland on May 19, 1848 and passed away on April 7, 1938, having attained the ripe old age of 89 years, 10 months and 19 days. She was confined to her home much of the last few years but was always cheerful and glad to see friends drop in. She was a very staunch adherent of the Catholic religion.
Her husband and two sons preceded her in death and her earthly remains were laid beside them in the family burial plot at Vail, Iowa. Funeral services were held at the St. Mary's Church at 8:00 o'clock Saturday morning and interment made at Vail, Iowa the same day. Rev. W. Hyland of the local parish conducted the services and accompanied the relatives with the funeral cortege to Vail.
She leaves to mourn her passing, a brother Daniel Gallagher of Rock Valley, three daughters, Mrs. Mary Oakey of Fargo. N.D., Mrs. Victor Nelson. Duluth, Minn., and Mrs. Kate Akin of Rock Valley, beside several grand children and great grandchildren .
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From the Rock Valley Bee, April 15, 1938:
MARGARET NEARY PASSED AWAY
Mrs. Margaret Neary passed away at her home in Rock Valley last Thursday evening, April 7, following a lingering illness. Mrs. Neary was born in Ireland, March[sic] 19, 1848, and had attained the advanced age of almost ninety years. She came to this country with her parents when she was about twelve years old. The family located at Girardville, Penn., where she grew to womanhood.
She was united in marriage with Edward Neary January 29, 1874. They resided at Girardville about ten years and then moved to Crawford county, Iowa, where Mr. Neary died. Later Mrs. Neary moved to Rock Valley where she resided until her death, a period of about forty years.
Mrs. Neary was a woman who was highly thought of and respected by all who knew her, and her death is much regretted by her children, who were all here during her late illness, and she will also be missed by many friends and other relatives.
[Survivors and funeral information as in the Sioux Center News obit.]
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RESEARCH NOTES
A similar obituary was published in the Alton Democrat, April 15, 1938, Rock Valley news.
Her death certificate gives her full name as Mrs. Margaret Jane Neary; birth date May 19, 1848 in Ireland; parents Andrew Gallagher and Mary Stephens; resident of the U.S. 78 years and of Rock Valley 40 years; last worked as a housekeeper in March 1931; died at 9:30 a.m. April 7, 1938; causes, “arteriolar sclerosis with gangrene of extremities; senility.”
Researcher Wilma J. Vande Berg found this information: Mrs. Neary had a son, Edward, who died in 1911; see his obit. Her husband was Edward Neary, born about 1850 died Oct 29, 1884 Vail, Crawford, IA. In 1880 the family was living in Bulter, Schuykill, PA. Ed was 30, Margaret was 29, children were Katie 6, Andrew 5, Mary Agnus 4, and Maggie 1. Son Edward was born 1881.

OBITUARY OF EDWARD NEAREY, YOUNGEST SON OF EDWARD & MARGARET NEAREY
From the Hull Index, October 13, 1911: Rock Valley news:
Again death has invaded our community and removed Edward F. Neary on the morning of October 7, 1911 of Brights disease, aged 29 years 11 months and 17 days. He was born in Girardville, Pennsylvania, October 20, 1881. He came with his mother to Sioux County in 1894 when a mere boy, and located in the vicinity of Rock Valley where he grew to manhood. He became a telegraph operator, and soon proved his efficiency in the art, and was employed at the time of his death, in the offices of the Union Pacific Railroad Co. at Omaha, Nebraska where he was held in the highest esteem by his associates. His untimely death was lamented and regretted by all who knew him, and he was of a genial disposition and courteous to all with whom he came in contact. Standing on the threshold of life with its bright prospects and beautiful visions of hope, he passed from the busy stage of action beyond the curtain of mortality.
He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Order of the Railway Telegraphers union. Many beautiful floral tributes were sent as an evidence of the high esteem in which he was held. Funeral services were held at the Catholic church Monday, conducted by Rev. Father O'Rielly, after which his remains were taken to Vail, IA. for interment. He leaves a mother, one brother and three sisters to mourn his death. Peace to his ashes.
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From the Rock Valley Bee, October 13, 1911:
Edward Fredrick Nearey died at the home of his mother, Mrs. M. Nearey in Rock Valley Saturday morning at one o'clock of brights disease after an illness of about six months.
Mr. Nearey was a telegrapher and was very skillful in the work. He was a young man of most exemplary habits and the best of character. He had many friends in Rock Valley and other places where he had worked and he commanded the highest respect for all his manly qualities. He came home from his work a few months ago in hopes that rest would do him good and restore his failing health. For a time he seemed to improve but later began to fail and he became gradually worse until the end came.
The deceased was born at Girardville, Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, October 20, 1881, and was at the time of his death 29 years, 11 months, 17 days old. At the age of 13 years he came with his parents to Rock Valley. Later he went to work as an operator in a telegraph office, a profession which he followed until a few months before his death.
Funeral services were held Monday from St. Mary's church in Rock Valley. The services were largely attended by sympathizing friends and the floral contributions were especially large and beautiful. Those contributing flowers were Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Kearns; Mr. and Mrs. H. M. Akin; Ray Dodds of Mitchell and C. W. Jacobs; Mr. and Mrs. S. A. Mitchell, Rock Valley; E. L. Stump, Denver, Colorado; A. J. Horton, Creston, Ia.; Aubrey Parks, Van Couver, British Columbia; Orders of Knights of Columbus of Rock Valley and of Council Bluffs; Orders of Telegraphers Department of Omaha and Denver, Colorado. Accompanied by members of the bereaved family the remains were taken to Vail, Ia. for interment.
Besides a heartbroken mother the deceased leaves to mourn his untimely death, a brother and three sisters, A. J. Neary, Los Angeles, California; Mrs. Kate Akin, Rock Valley; Mrs. Vere Okey, Wilmar, Minn.; and Mrs. V. F. Nelson, Cooperstown, N.D. The bereaved family have the sincere sympathy of hosts of friends in their time of sorrow.
(The Card of Thanks that follows is signed Mrs. Margaret Nearey and family.)
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From the Alton Democrat, October 14, 1911: Rock Valley news:
"In the midst of life we are in death," is a truism as old as mankind, and is again forcibly impressed upon us in contemplating the demise of Edward Fredrick Neary the morning of October 7th 1911 at the home of his mother Mrs. M. Neary at Rock Valley, of Bright's disease, after an illness of six months duration. The subject of this sketch was born at Girardville Pennsylvania October 20th 1881, aged twentynine years, eleven months and seventeen days. He came with his widowed mother to Sioux county in 1894 when a more boy and located in the vicinity of Rock Valley where he grew to manhood. He learned the art of telegraphy at the local railway station here and was so proficient in that line of work and his services were in such demand that he was holding a position at Omaha with the Union Pacific Co., when he was compelled to return home in the hope of recuperating his health, but after everything was done that loving hands and medical skill could do, his spirit took its flight to that unseen realm to live through the cycles of eternity. His death was untimely and exceedingly lamented and regretted by al who knew him. Standing on the threshold of life, in the radiant sunshine of hope with its golden opportunities, its bright possibilities, "His sun went down with [i.e., when] it was yet day," but hope it will rise again in that sun bright clime where parting is unknown. He was of a genial disposition, a man of upright character and has left an impression for good that can only be erased by time.
The funeral services occurred Monday at St. Mary's Catholic church conducted by the pastor Rev. John O'Reilly, after which his remains were taken to Vail Iowa for interment. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus at Council Bluffs and the Order of Railway Telegraphers union. He leaves a widowed mother, one brother Andrew of Los Angeles California, three sisters, Mrs. Kate Akin of Rock Valley, Mrs. Mary Okey of Wilmar Minnesota and Mrs. V. F. Nelson of Cooperstown North Dakota, also his aged grandfather Andrew Gallagher and uncle, Dan Gallagher, of Rock Valley, all of whom were present to pay the last tribute of respect to a departed son and brother. The bereaved ones have the sympathy of a large circle of friends in the loss they have sustained.
The floral tributes were many and beautiful. Knights of Columbus of Rock Valley, also Council Bluffs, Council of which he was a member, Order of U. P. Telegraph Dept., of Omaha Nebraska, E. L. Stump of Denver Colorado, Aubrey Parks with whom he was formerly associated at Vancouver British Columbia, Mr. and Mrs. S. A. Mitchell, C. W. Jacobs, and Ray Dodds of Mitchell South Dakota, Mr. and Mrs. H. M. Akins, Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Kearns of Rock Valley and A. J. Horton of Creston Iowa all sent flowers.
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Pictured is Mrs. Margaret, Mrs.Edward Nearey (Neary)

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