Iowa Old Press
Emmetsburg Democrat
Emmetsburg, Palo Alto, Iowa
Wednesday, April 12, 1916
Lot Laughlin Died Early Friday Morning
Was Member of Irish Colony-Lived in County About Sixty Years
Thursday night about 8 o'clock our citizens learned of the death of Patrick
Mulroney, mention of which is made elsewhere in this issue of the Democrat.
In the morning it was announced that Lot Laughlin, his next door neighbor
and intimate personal friend for fifty-five years, had also passed away
during the night. Their deaths occurred about eight hours apart. Wednesday
Mr. Laughlin called to see Mr Mulroney, who was very ill, and speaking to a
friend after the left the house, he remarked that he did not think his old
neighbor would live very long. Mr. Laughlin arose as usual Thursday morning
and ate a hearty breakfast. He was feeling quite strong. During the forenoon
he was taken very ill and towards evening the members of the family became
greatly alarmed about his condition. He passed away at four o'clock in the
morning.
The funeral was held Monday forenoon. Services were conducted at Assumption
church, the Very Rev P.F. Farrelly officiating. The burial was in St. John's
cemetery. There was a large attendance of neighbors and old friends from
distant parts of the county. The pall bearers were J.J. Mahan, Charles
Nolan, M.T. Washington, Edward Ryan, Thos. Kirby and J.P. Crowley.
Lot Laughlin was born at Castle Warren, in the county of Kilkenny, Ireland,
January 1, 1839. When he was nine years old his parents came to the United
States. They located at Worcester, Mass. Four years later they came west and
settled at Elgin, Ill., where they lived for four years. In 1856, in company
with James and John Nolan, John Neary, Edward and Myles Mahan, Martin
Laughlin, Thomas Laughlin and Patrick and Michael Jackman, practically all
being men of families, started for Iowa. After crossing the Mississippi
river by ferry they came to Iowa City and thence to Fort Dodge. During the
summer they brought a surveyor to Palo Alto county to locate claims. They
settled near the Des Moines river about one and one-half miles northwest of
the present town of Emmetsburg. There was made the first settlement in our
county with the exception of the Carter family near West Bend. Lot
Laughlin's mother prepared the first meal of victuals in the new colony.
During the season all secured land and built humble homes.
Fort Dodge was the nearest market. The new comers had to buy all of their
supplies and dispose of their products at that place. The Irish families
never had any difficulties with the Indians. At the time of the Spirit Lake
massacre the Emmetsburg colony was not molested.
In 1862 Mr. Laughlin, in company with Joseph and Kern Mulroney, J.P.
Crowley, P.R. Jackman and Fayette Carter of West Bend, joined the North Iowa
brigade at Estherville-an organization formed by the state for the
protection of the early settlers from the Indians who had massacred many
people near New Ulm, Minn. Capt. Ingham of Algona, father of Harvey Ingham
of the Des Moines Register & Leader, was in charge of the company. The
territory from Chain Lake, some distance from Armstrong, west to Spirit Lake
and southwest as far as Cherokee had to be guarded. There were U.S. soldiers
at Spirit Lake, but the members of the North Iowa brigade had to protect the
posts at Estherville, Chain Lake, Cherokee and other places The Estherville
post was called Fort Defiance. Mr. Laughlin had an excellent picture of it
in his home. The Emmetsburg soldiers served from August, 1862, until
January, 1865. They were never obliged to come in contact with the red men.
Mr. Laughlin was married in the old Catholic church northwest of this city
November 27, 1874, to Miss Rose Campion, Rev. J.J. Smith performing the
ceremony. Four sons and three daughters, besides the mother, survive. They
are Martin of Graettinger, William of Emmetsburg, Lot of Taylor, Texas, and
P.J. who is employed in the Denver National Bank of Denver, Colo. The
daughters are Mrs. Wm. Kane and Misses Nellie and Rose of this city. Miss
Nellie is assistant county superintendent and Miss Rose is a trained nurse.
There was perhaps no citizen of this section of Iowa who was better known in
pioneer days or who was more highly respected during hsi residence of sixty
years in the county than was Mr. Laughlin. He was modest and quiet and was
as gentle as a child. He esteemed it a privilege to perform an act of
kindness. Though he had well defined purposes and was ever loyal to them, he
avoided bitter disputes and was at all times on the best of terms with his
neighbors and associates. For many years he was an employer of laborers. he
invariably had the highest consideration for their rights and interests and
many of them-people of nationalities and creeds-who are now old, substantial
and prosperous farmers of our county, recall with pride his fairness and his
true sense of justice in his dealings with them. Mr. Laughlin enjoyed,
during his long and active career, the sincere regard of those who had
occasion to honor him during pioneer days. An old neighbor, Peter Peterson,
remarked on Monday, while in Emmetsburg, that a more upright, and deserving
man than Mr. Laughlin never resided in our county. This is the sentiment of
hundreds who knew him. He was hospitable to strangers and he would spare no
reasonable effort to aid those who were in need of assistance or sympathy.
His zeal for the welfare of members of his household was that of the
thoughtful, provident, warm hearted parent. His four devoted, affectionate,
upright sons and three loving, widely respected daughters will long
remember, with enduring gratitude, all that the did for them that they might
occupy positions of honor and trust in the busy world. The voice of religion
never appealed to Mr. Laughlin in vain. He listened humbly and attentively
to its wise counsels and he practiced obediently, conscientiously and
reverently its necessary commandments and precepts. His modest professions
as a Christian was backed by substantial and creditable deeds. He gave
hearty support to his church, its various institutions and to other
community undertakings that he deemed meritorious. His record in defense of
his state and fellow pioneers, during the troublesome and trying days of
1862 to 1865, showed that he was willing to give his life, if need be, for
the safety of others. The death of Mr. Laughlin will be generally and
sincerely mourned. Mr. Laughlin and the sons and daughters have the profound
sympathy of the people of our county and of other sections in their
bereavement.
Submitted by: #000525