Iowa
Old Press
Iowa Recorder
Greene, Butler Co, IA
March 22, 1905
In Memoriam
Died, at his home, near Greene, Iowa, March 17, 1905, Thomas
Hanley, in the 70th year of his age. The above brief notice comes
with a weight of sorrow into the hearts and homes of hundreds who
for many long years have known Thomas Hanley and whose warm hand
has pressed there own in days of trouble and in days of cheer. He
was a genial, warm-hearted man who made friends of all with whom
he came in contact.
In the early days, when all our pioneers were equally poor, the
needy found in him a friend and brother. Thomas Hanley was born
August 8, 1835, at Roscommon, Ireland. His parents died while
deceased was yet a child and at seven years of age the little boy
came to America and made his home with devoted sisters at
Oshkosh, Wisconsin. In his Wisconsin home he grew to manhood and
engaged in the lumber business. In 1868 he came to Butler County
and was married to Miss Mary Higgins, who survives him. To this
happy union ten children have been born, all of whom reside at
home. As the deceased drew near to the end of life's journey, and
the dew of death gathered upon his brow, a noble wife and ten
devoted children surrounded his cot. While it was doubtless sad
for him to leave so large and gifted a family, yet he had made
few if any mistakes in life, had been a true husband and kind
father, and with a husband's and father's blessing, and with no
duty to man or God unperformed, he could close his eyes in
peaceful rest, and thus ended the life of this grand and good old
pioneer. For many months he had been a great sufferer and it has
long been known that he was slowly but surely nearing the Valley
of death. All that a devoted family could do was done, but to no
avail and the battle is o'er and death is crowned victor. His
death has called forth the warmest feelings of regret of more
than ordinary character. There are too few Thomas Hanley's in
this old world. All who were intimately acquainted with him knew
him to be a man in the highest sense. His friends were made for
him by his real character. He was a man in the highest sense of
all the word implies. As husband, father, neighbor, friend and
citizen, Thomas Hanley was as near without a fault as human
nature can get. He leaves to his ever devoted wife and large
family, a beautiful home and broad acres of rich land which he
has accumulated by honest toil, but better than all this he
leaves them a name for all that is honorable and good. The
funeral was held at St. Mary's church Monday, March 20, at 10:30,
and this large and commodious church was filled with those who
desired to pay a last tribute of respect to one they had long
known and honored. One could but notice among the large audience
were many from a distance who had traveled longs miles to show a
mark of honor to the silent sleeper in casket. The floral
decorations were profuse and beautiful. The Catholic Order of
Foresters contributed a cross of the most beautiful and fragrant
roses, while other friends came laden with earths choicest bloom.
Father Sheehy paid a fitting tribute to the memory of the
deceased after which the body was tenderly conveyed to the
funeral car and a long procession of mourning relatives and
friends followed to the Silent City where was consigned to the
grave all that was mortal of Thomas Hanley. The pall bearers were
men who had known him and been close friends for a quarter of a
century, and their eyes moistened as they lowered their old
pioneer friend into his last resting place. The Pall bearers
consisted of J.E. Downing, John O'Brien, Thomas Grady, B. Ramker,
J.W. Williams and John Anderson. Around the new grave was the
aged wife and ten children, namely: Matt, Anna, Albert, Nellie,
Sarah, Walter, Emmett, Joseph, Grace and Mercy. To this large and
gifted family the Recorder unites with the entire
community in extending warmest sympathy and would remind them
that the separation is only temporary. So at the tomb, surrounded
by his family let us drop the curtain and not think of our friend
as dead, but in peaceful sleep.
[transcribed August 2003]
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Iowa Recorder
Greene, Butler, Iowa
March 29, 1905
State News in Brief
- Triplets were born the other day to Mr .and Mrs. Martin Faktor
of Mason City.
- Samuel Bowlby, a pioneer resident of Muscatine, is dead at the
age of 83 years.
- Henry Alterkruse, a farmer living near Muscatine, fell from a
wagon box and was severely injured.
- S.F. Miller of Shellsburg, whose elevator was destroyed by fire
last fall, is making preparations to build a new one.
- N.D. Wilson of Coon Rapids was seriously injured by a colt he
was caring for. The colt knocked him down and dragged him a short
distance.
- Rev. A.W. McNeal has resigned as pastor of the Congregational
church at Garden Prairie and has accepted the pastorate of the
church at Cawker City, Kan.
- George Kinney, a resident of Cedar county for nearly half a
century, passed away at his home in Fairfield township after a
long illness at the age of 75 years.
- Mrs. Susan J. Glaspell, a resident of Scott county since 1836,
being the second oldest settler in the county, is dead at her
home in Davenport, at the age of 89 years.
- Mrs. John S. Wolf, a pioneer resident of Ottumwa, is dead at
the age of 82 years.
- Mrs. F.A. Taylor, a pioneer resident of Parkersburg, is dead at
the age of 72 years.
- Mr. and Mrs. George Turner of Bedford have just celebrated
their golden wedding.
- The country residence of Will Pierce near Green Mountain, was
entirely destroyed by fire.
- Ed Walker and W.P. Leek fought with knives in a Des Moines
saloon, but neither was seriously injured.
- Three frame buildings on the levee at Chariton, two of which
were liquor joints, were destroyed by fire.
- John A. Carlson, a C., B. & Q. fireman, fell from his
engine at Ottumwa and was almost instantly killed.
- Ray Nyemaster, cashier at the Atalissa Savings bank, has been
appointed Congressman Dawson's private secretary.
- George Krekel of Burlington, who attempted to assassinate
ex-Congressman Seerley, has been sent to the insane asylum.
- Marshall Fielding, who shot and killed his wife at Buxton last
fall, has been found guilty of manslaughter at Oskaloosa.
- Arthur Wyatt, the Des Moines young man who was accidentally
shot while hunting, has died from the effects of his wounds.
- J.S. Goss of Atlantic has been named by Gov. Cummins to succeed
the late Fletcher Howard on the pharmacy commission.
- Levi Eckel, a resident of Muscatine for forty-two years, died
at his home in that city from the effects of a fall, at the age
of 82 years.
- It is reported that D.W. Junkin will soon resign as postmaster
at Rock Rapids and already there is a great scrambling among a
number of candidates.
- The first injunction taken out under the mulct law in Scott
county was put on record when the saloon of Walker & Merchant
at Davenport was closed.
- Willie Purcell, a Des Moines boy, while hunting, accidentally
discharged his gun and lost both hands. Amputation below the
elbow was necessary.
- George M. Binks, after an illness of one month, passed away at
his home in Ottumwa. He was 69 years old and was a pioneer
Methodist minister and lecturer.
- Isaiah Idle, a farmer living near Letts, was thrown from his
buggy and badly hurt. He is 60 years old and on account of his
age it is feared the injuries will result fatally.
- A train en route from Walcott to Davenport ran down a peddler
about six miles out of Davenport. The horse was killed, the wagon
smashed to pieces but the peddler escaped unhurt.
- Charles C. Conkling, of Des Moines, who was recently injured in
an accident, was arrested at Council Bluffs on a charge of
forgery. An examination developed the fact that he was insane.
- The following Iowa people have received appointments: John A.
Nelson of Webster City, appointed a carpenter at Fort Belknap
Indian school, Montana; Gabriel Steele of Sioux City, appointed
assistant engineer in Genoa, Neb., Indian school.
- Frank M. Leet, president of the Commercial bank at Audubon,
fell in some manner in his back yard and broke his leg. When his
family returned home they found him lying on the ground in an
unconscious condition. His condition at present is critical.
- Fred B. Hoffman, of Des Moines, who killed his wife a couple of
weeks ago and then attempted suicide, is dying of remorse. His
wound was not a fatal one, but it served to demonstrate to him
the enormity of his act and he has been overcome with remorse
since.
- Mrs. Serl Fields, a little girl of but 15 years old, was
arrested in Ottumwa, having run away from her home in Oskaloosa.
The poor girl told a sad tale. Two or three years ago her father
and mother were divorced and the mother was married a second
time. Her stepfather insisted on her being married and last fall
she was married to a drunken miner, whom she left after a few
weeks. This miner secured a divorce on the ground of desertion
and the step-father again insisted that the girl should marry. To
escape him she ran away from home. She probably will be returned
to Oskaloosa.
- Wilbur Beem, a small boy at Harlan, with other boys ran up a
long stairway to take a peek at a dance which was in progress.
When they gained the top of the stairway the door opened and the
boys started down the stairs. Young Beem fell and rolled to the
bottom and was seriously injured.
[transcribed by C.J.L., March 2007]