McKay, Cyrus 1826 - 1897
MCKAY, PORTER, EDDY, BOWEN, BOWMAN
Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 8/24/2013 at 19:29:03
Postville Review, Friday, 31 December 1897.
Cyrus McKay, an old and respected citizen of Decorah, died the first of the week. He was county recorder about twenty-five years ago.
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Submitter is not related.
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Added by Joy Moore Dec. 24, 2020
Source: Decorah Republican Dec. 30, 1897 P 4 C 4
OBITUARY.
Cyrus McKay, another of the pioneers, passed to his final rest on Monday evening, Dec. 27th, 1897.
Deceased was born in Waterford, Erie County, Pennsylvania, August 7th, 1826, and remained a resident thereof until 1845, when he removed to Columbus, Pa. In May of the following year he married Miss Livia Ann Porter. In 1856, they removed to Iowa, making the journey overland, by wagon, settling at first at Freeport, and in 1858 coming to Decorah, where he opened a cabinet shop in the building where the Dickerman block now stands.
All the remainder of his life has been spent in this city except some six years between 1880 and 1886, when he was employed for part of a year at Sheldon, and the remainder of the time in the banking house and real estate office of J. B. Edmunds & Co., at Spencer. For a clerkship of this kind he had been fitted by some ten years spent in the Recorder’s office in this county. For four years he was deputy under John E. Powers, and six years as principal. In earlier years he was the one Justice of the Peace who did the larger portion of the business sent to that officer. He was also an assistant in the Trea{r}urer’s office, in 1865, under A. K. Bailey, and was A. W. Brownell’s deputy for four years and-a-half.
When the war of the Rebellion broke out Mr. McKay was one of the first to enlist in Capt. Willett’s Company, that became Co. D. of the 3d Iowa Infantry. He was mustered into the U. S. service at Keokuk, June 8th, 1861, and was discharged on account of physical disabilities on the 11th of June, 1862. He was a Past Post Commander of Annett Post No. 124 of Spencer, Ia., and joined Col. Hughes Post No. 168 on transfer card from Annett Post July 2d, 1886. He was installed as Quartermaster in January, 1887, serving in that capacity continuously until his death. He was a faithful and efficient officer, an enthusiastic G. A. R. man, one who never failed to be present at his Post meetings when his health would permit him to be there.
Deceased was also a member of the Masonic fraternity, and valued its affiliations most highly.
In May last year the members of these two societies united in assisting the deceased and his wife in celebrating their 50th, or golden wedding day. It was a day long to be remembered by all who participated. The wife and six of their eight children survive him. One child died in infancy, and one daughter—Mrs. Rush Eddy—died a dozen or more years ago. The survivors are Arthur L., the eldest son, a resident of Seattle; Mrs. Eva Bowen, the eldest daughter, of Bernardo, in the south-west corner of California; Charles, is a traveler with no permanent home: Frank is a letter carrier in U. S. service at Minneapolis; Mrs. Nellie Bowman at Sioux City, and Miss Jessie is the only daughter at home.
Deceased has been a sufferer from heart difficulties and other infirmities for many years. His serious Illness began on the week following the fall election, since which time he has been confined to his home. The fatal result came from dropsy of the heart.
Phelps Cemetery
Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Jeff Getchell.
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