TERNAHAN, John

TERNAHAN

Posted By: slm
Date: 11/25/2012 at 08:46:23

Van Buren Co. Genealogical Society Obituary Book, Page 251, Keosauqua Public Library, Keosauqua, IA

John Ternahan, who formerly resided east of Birmingham, but who moved to Colorado ten or fifteen years ago, died last week at the latter place, and was brought here and was buried in the Smith cemetery, east of town. He was 86 years of age and had spent a large part of his life on his farm, now owned by John Crawford, just over the line in Jefferson county.

About a year ago he visited here and erected a family monument in the Smith cemetery, where his wife was buried many years ago, and where he made arrangements to be laid to rest when the call should come.

Mr. Ternahan was a generous large-hearted man, whose religion was to do good, and who fully exemplified it in all his dealings with his fellow man.

This is the last of five men who were more or less connected with the early settlement of this country, and all hailing from the Emerald Isle. The were John Ternahan, Christopher Kerr, Uncle Richard Workman, Uncle John Topping, John Locke and John Hastings. These men, although not living in one immediate neighborhood, were fast friends and visited at each other's homes, and quite often, by previous arrangements, all would be come the guest of some one of their number, where the day would be spent in talking over the
struggles through which they passed in their first years in their new home and among strangers.

They came to this country in early manhood, and without any financial assistance, commenced as farm bands and on public works, and by honesty, economy and an earnest desire to succeed, made good, and left a handsome competence and a good name to each of their respective families. To-day their sons and daughters located in this vicinity and other parts of the state, and in the west, have done credit to their early teachings, and are counted among the solid and substantial citizens of their respective communities.

(Volunteer transcription. I am of no relation.)