Gourley, James Sr. 1853-1933

GOURLEY, MCNAUGHTON

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 1/27/2013 at 17:59:41

Hawarden Independent of April 27, 1933

James Gourley Sr. Passed Away Last Thursday Evening
James Gourley Sr., a long time resident of Garfield township, passed away at 9:20 last Thursday evening, April 20th, following a stroke which he suffered two weeks before.

Funeral services were held at 9:30 Saturday morning at St. Mary's church in Rock Valley. The church was filled with a large number of relatives and friends who came to do honor to as fine a man as ever lived. Interment was made in St. Mary's cemetery in Rock Valley.

James Gourley was born in County Antrim, Ireland, June 11, 1853, and passed away April 20, 1933, at the age of 79 years, 10 months and 9 days. He came to America when a young man about 17 years old and lived in Canada for a time and then came to Chicago where he worked for Armour & Co. until he was 33 years of age. At that time he came west and bought the homestead where the family still resides.

In 1886 he was married to Thressa Mc- Naughton at Rock Valley. After he had put the crops in he went back to Chicago and worked for Armour & Co. through the winter and in the spring he returned here. He put in the crops and harvested them after which he went to Omaha and worked for the Cudahy Packing Co. through the winter and the following spring he returned home and resided here continuously since that time. During Mr. Gourley's absence his wife's parents made their home at the farm. The deceased was; a hard worker, always cheerful and never more happy than when he could do a favor for a neighbor or friend.

He is survived by his sorrowing widow, two sons, Charley near Hudson and James Jr. at home; nine daughters, Mrs. John Walker and .Mrs. Charley Walker of St. Lawrence, S. D.; Mrs. Oscar Olson of Hudson; Mrs. Henry Vandermore of Hudson; Leila, Agnes, Irene, Pearl and Ruby at' home, and twelve grandchildren.

He had three sisters, all of whom preceded him in death. To the bereaved wife and family we tender our sincerest sympathy. They mourn the loss of a kind and loving husband and father, a man who was ever happiest in his own home. Men like him are an asset to any community and the whole vicinity sorrows with them.

Those from a distance who were here to attend the funeral were Mr, and Mrs. John Walker and Mrs. Charley Walker and two children of St. Lawrence, S. D.; Mrs. Maud Brown, Mrs. Rose Borsch and Miss Ann Hanley of Chicago, nieces of the deceased