Edward Croker (ca. 1807-1901)

CROKER

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 9/21/2011 at 23:06:20

From Story County Watchman May 3, 1901

DIED:--Thursday, April 18th at 9:15 p. m. Edward Croker at his home one mile east of Colo at the advanced age of 98 years. Edward Croker was born near Enniskillen, county Fermanagh, Ireland. He was a farmer in good circumstances but the cruel tyranny of the Irish landlords at that time made like so unpleasant for him that he had to abandon his home. He lived after his marrage for a number of years near Carrick, on Shannon in the county Ross Common, Ireland. About fifty years ago along with four brothers and one sister he came to America and settled for atime near Burlington, New Jersey. Later he moved to Illinois where he lived for nineteen years. About thirty years ago he moved to Iowa and settled one mile east of Colo where he resided up to the time of his death. For the past few years he has been crippled with rheumatism which compelled him to remain at home but he bore his pain patiently and always showed a kind, nice happy and religious disposition. He leaves to mourn his loss after a happy married life of sixty three years a widow ninety four years old, six children, sixty three grand children and forty one great grand children. In all one hundred and eleven. One son, ten grand children are dead. His funeral took place from St. Mary's church, Colo, on the 20th at ten a. m. About fifty members of his own family attended the funeral, also a large number of friends and neighbors. The funeral was one of the largest ever held in Colo.

Father Nichols pastor of St. Mary's church spoke on the great virtues of the deceased, great faith, his temperate life, his honorable name, his love of home, of church, of country, of family. He was th great patriarch of his family. His 98 living descendants can look with pride upon his name and call it blessed.