Iowa Old Press

Palo Alto Reporter
Emmetsburg, Palo Alto, Iowa
May 10, 1895

CYLINDER
    The farmers are busy planting corn.
    The lightning killed fiver head of cattle for Ole Govig on the P.O. Petersoe place.
    Jake Thompson's barn was blown down last Friday evening and Cullen's barn was also badly racked.
    M.N. Olson is running out of new corn planters, this season.

VERNON.
    Rev. Bailey held services at the Tod and Doughty school houses last Sunday. The Sunday school at the Doughty will be at ten and the Tod at two o'clock every Sunday, and preaching every two weeks.
    A little girl was born to Mr .and Mrs. Henry Temple on Wednesday, May 1.
    Miss Tollison closed her school Tuesday of this week as her bruises received in the runaway are more serious than she at first thought.
   

MEMORIAL DAY
And How it Should be Observed.
    We are to think about the importance of Memorial day and how it differs from other holidays. The lesson it teaches is one of reverence for those who died in defense of this country. It suggests that we should pause in our business and pleasure to "reflect on the consecration of human life to the cause of human liberty." A patriotic and pathetic sentiment. It is not in keeping with the spirit of the day that the day should be given over to revelry- races, athletic matches, picnics and prize shooting. May all citizens join the Post of Grand Army of the Republic in efforts to prevent a desecration of Decoration day:
    "Those silent tents of green
    We deck with fragrant flowers.
    Yours has the suffering been,
    The memory shall be ours.
    When all are gone who marched and countermarched,
    Who left their youth upon the battlefield,
    Who trod the dusty highway, worn and parched,
    And in old age are left without a shield-
    When these are gone then monuments will spring
    Flags will be unfurled and praises ring."

    Everyone is interested in the report of our Memorial stone to the unknown. "Dum facent clamant" (While silent they speak, or cry out) is the inscription thereon.
    Price of stone, $250, cost.....................225.60
    Collected and paid as follows:
    Ballard & Godden donated...................  20.00
    Public schools collected........................  25.82
    Womans' Relief Corps donated............   25.00
    From collections from citizens..............   83.08
    Amount realized from dinners, socials,
         and suppers by the W.R.C..............  56.40

    We hope soon to receive the small sums due. The dedication of the monument, your tribute to the unknown but not forgotten dead heroes of the civil war, Thursday, May 30 at eleven o'clock. Address by Rev. Bagnell.
    Respectfully,
        MRS. MARIA MCCARTY, Sec.
        MRS. CORDELIA HARRISON
        MRS. ETTA BROOKS.

OBITUARY
Died of lung fever, at his home in Booth township, at 9 o'clock p.m. Friday, May 3, 1895, Michael Fitzgerald, aged 24 years, 5 months and 28 days.
    Deceased was the eldest son of J.P. and Honora Fitzpatrick and was born in Allamakee county, Iowa, Oct. 7, 1879. At the age of thirteen he came with the family to the farm in Booth township, where he has since resided.
    His illness was of fourteen days duration, during which time all that medical skill and unremitting attention could do was done for his relief.
    Anticipating the possible approach of death three days before he died, he called the members of the family to his bedside, addressing to each words of counsel and admonition.
    The end came Friday evening, and ere all the members of the family could be summoned, the spirit of the Christian son, brother and friend had returned to God who gave it.
    The funeral took place at 9:30 a.m. Sunday when a procession of over seventy teams attended his remains from his home to the Catholic church, in Ayrshire, where services were conducted by the Rev. L.J. Carroll, who spoke on "Preparation for Death." his sermon was instructive and highly appreciated by all, and very consoling to the members of the bereaved family. His remains were laid to rest in the Ayrshire Catholic cemetery. May his soul rest in peace.

[Note: the surname on Michael is Fitzpatrick, I believe, not Fitzgerald as listed in the first sentence of obituary.]

Submitted by: #000525