Iowa Old Press

Emmetsburg Democrat
Emmetsburg, Palo Alto, Iowa
Wednesday, Dec 3, 1919

THE LATE MRS. GEORGE KENT
She Was a Daughter of Patrick Gorman of Emmetsburg
(Graettinger Times)

     The funeral of Mrs. George Kent, mention of whose death was made in
last week's Times, was held Friday morning. Services were conducted at the
Catholic church, Rev. Father Kelly officiating. Interment was in the
Catholic cemetery north of town. The pall bearers were Roy Hood,
M.Weinholzer, Jr., George Truesdell, V.L. O'Connor, Vincent Kelly and P.J.
McCarty. Many relatives and friends of the deceased were in attendance at
the last sad services.
     The death of Mrs. Kent occurred Wednesday morning. She had not enjoyed
the best of health for the past couple of years, but she was not considered
seriously ill until a day or two before her death. Some time ago she went to
Rochester for treatment but the specialists of that place advised they could
not benefit her. Last winter her husband was stricken with paralysis and
passed away in March. This, too, was a severe blow to her. Her health
gradually failed and the past few weeks her sounds realized their mother
would soon be called to her eternal reward.
     Mary Gorman was born at Rockford, Illinois, February 25, 1855. When she
was nine years of age her parents moved to Badger, Iowa, and settled on a
homestead. In February 1891, she was united in marriage at Estherville to
George L. Kent. They resided in that locality for sometime, later moving to
Livermore. A few years ago they moved back to Emmet county and subsequently
went to Louisiana where they remained for a year, moving to the Graettinger
vicinity about two years ago. Mr. Kent passed away March 28th of this year.
Mr. and Mrs. Kent were the parents of two children-John and William, both of
this locality. The deceased is also survived by her aged father, P. Gorman
of Emmetsburg and four brothers and sisters. The sisters are Mrs. Peter
Jones of Emmetsburg, Mrs. Dan Fitzgerald of Fort Dodge, and Elizabeth and
Jennie who are at home. The brothers are Ed of Laurens, William of
Emmetsburg....[rest of article not copied]

THREE SISTERS ARE BRIDES.
Two of Grooms from Mallard and One from Garner.
     Thanksgiving day a triple marriage was performed at the M.E. parsonage
in this city, Rev. Norman McCay officiating. The brides are all sisters and
are accomplished and worthy daughters of Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Jolliffe, who
are among the old and respected citizens of Ellington township. The unions
were Mr. Senious Christiansen of Garner and Miss Bessie Jolliffe, Mr. Elmer
Nicol of Mallard and Miss Sadie Jolliffe and Mr. Howard Reese of Mallard and
Miss Mabel Jolliffe. The brides were gowned in white satin and georgette. A
triple ceremony was performed. Messrs. Charles and Ray Jolliffe accompanied
them as witnesses. The three couples enjoyed a splendid Thanksgiving dinner
at the Waverly hotel in this city.
     Mr. Christiansen recently returned from overseas and Mr. Nicol and Mr.
Reese are well and favorably known in the vicinity of Mallard. Mr and Mrs.
Christiansen will make their future home at Garner. Mr. and Mrs. Nicol left
on the evening train for Assumption, Illinois, to visit the groom's parents.
It is not very often that three sisters are brides on the same day. The
Democrat extends hearty congratulations to the honored parents as well as to
the contracting couples. We sincerely wish the young folks health and
happiness.


WERE MARRIED AT OMAHA.
Mr. William Murray and Miss Josephine Wiggen
(Ayrshire Chronicle)
     The wedding of Miss Josephine Wigen and Mr. William Murray, occurred at
Omaha, Neb. on Wednesday, Nov. 12. No one but the relatives and friends in
Omaha were present when the ceremony was solemnized. We have been unable to
gather any further particulars.
     The bride is the charming daughter of our respected towns-people, Mr.
and Mrs. George Wigen.  She was born and has grown to womanhood in this
community. She graduated from the public schools since which time, up until
about two years ago she stayed at home and at odd spells clerked in stores.
About two years ago she took a course in commercial work, since which time
she has worked as stenographer at Sioux City. She is a fine young lady and
all who know her respect and love her for her beautiful traits of character
and her kind disposition and cheerful manners.
     The groom is an entire stranger to the writer hence it is impossible
for us to say anything about him, although we do know that he is an expert
pharmacist and has a responsible position with a large drug concern in
Omaha. He made a short visit here recently and all who saw him were much
impressed with his appearance.

ANOTHER PIONEER CALLED TO REWARD
John Shea, Who Came to Our County in 1857
     John Shea, one of the oldest and best known citizens of our county,
passed away at his home in Nevada township last Thursday. He was ill about
24 hours. He was able to be about until a few days or so before the final
summons. When he became ill medical assistance was called but it seems there
was a rupture of one of the blood vessels and some time later he became
unconscious. He never rallied.
     The funeral was held on Monday. There was a large attendance of friends
and old neighbors. Services were conducted in the Assumption church, Very
Rev. P. F. Farrelly officiating. The burial was in the family lot in St.
John's Cemetery. The pall bearers were Joseph, Peter and Robert Mulroney,
Robert Loughlin, J. P. Downs and Thomas Dawson.
     John Shea was born at New Ross, in the county of Kilkenny, Ireland,
June 28, 1831. His age was 88. In 1850 he came to the United States. He
lived for some time in Pennsylvania. In 1851 he came to Palo Alto county.
The members of the family were located for several years on a farm southwest
of the Burns bridge but later moved to Nevada township. In April 1862, Mr.
Shea enlisted in the army. He served in the Twenty-Fifth Iowa Infantry for
three years. He was in the memorable battles of Gettysburg, Shiloh and
Chicamauga and towards the close of the war he participated in Sherman's
historic march to the sea. He was never wounded. A brother James was in the
service from Wisconsin. Mr. Shea was united in marriage in this city on May
1, 1873, to Mary Millea, who, with three sons and five daughters survives
him.  The sons are w.J., who is at home; J.M. who recently returned from
service in France; and T.E. of Big Timber, Montana. The daughters are Miss
Bridget, who is a trained nurse at Denver, Colorado; Mrs. W.J. Dunphy of
Wibaux, Montana, and Misses Margaret, katherine, and Josephine who are at
home. One of Mr. Sheas's sisters, Mrs. Anastacia Wogan, resides at Beaver
Falls, Pennsylvania and an only bother, Thomas Shea, lives at Ayrshire.
Three other brothers, Robert, William and James, all of this county, died a
number of years ago.
     Mr. Shea was one of the find old gentlemen of Iowa. He was large,
robust and energetic, and he had a manly bearing. He was one of Palo Alto's
best known and most substantial pioneers. When he came to our county he saw
little more than a wilderness of prairie and sky. What a wonderful change he
witnessed before he closed his eyes in death. For 62 years he was an active
and a conscientious worker in the wonderful transformation that was wrought.
When the supremacy of this country's flag was threatened, he sacrificed the
opportunities and the pleasures of youth and did everything within his power
to uphold and defend it. His efforts with those of thousands of others who
fought with him brought victory to our arms. As a husband, he was faithful
and devoted; as a father, he was provident, loving and indulgent; as a
neighbor he was considerate, obliging and helpful; as a citizen he was
upright, manly and law-observing. He never neglected his obligations to his
God or to his church. Until a few months before his death he usually came
ten miles to church every Sunday and was generally present at early Mass. he
was well aware of the pitfalls into which many well meaning people fall and
he fortified himself carefully for life's trying labors. He realized fully
the necessity and the helpfulness of religion in life's temptations and
uncertainties and he sought the guidance and the assistance of Providence in
all his undertakings. He prized good in others and he appreciated friendship
and sympathy. He has only admiration for clean living. Throughout his long,
active and eventful life he toiled diligently and zealously for the
happiness and welfare of his home and the good of religion and society and
he died honored and beloved by all who knew him. To his faithful companion
of many decades and to the several highly esteemed sons and daughters the
profound sympathy of hundreds of neighbors and friends is extended in their
hour of sorrow.

Emmetsburg Democrat
Emmetsburg, Palo Alto, IA
Wednesday, 30 Dec 1919

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS OF SACRIFICE
A Most Creditable Record Made by an Emmetsburg Lady

Monday was the twenty-fifth anniversary of the taking of the final vow as a
Sister of Charity by Sister Mary Placentia, formerly known by the people of
Emmetsburg as Miss Anna Fitzgerald. During the day many old friends called
on her to extend congratulations and give her a few valuable presents which
she will prize highly. She is director in music in St. Mary's Academy.
Sister Mary Placentia has had a very active and useful career as a member of
the great teaching order to which she belongs. She was on duty at Mt.
Carmel, Dubuque, for two years, was in St. Bridget's school in Chicago for
two years, and was one of the five sisters who opened the new school in the
Sacred Heart parish at Fort Dodge when Father Heelan, now bishop of Sioux
City, was appointed its first pastor. She was next transferred to Our Lady
of Victory academy at Waterloo where she remained for a year. From there she
returned to the Sacred Heart School at Fort Dodge. Five years later Sister
Placentia was sent to the Visitation Academy of Des Moines. She was next
assigned to duty as sister superior in Holy Name school at Marcus, Iowa,
from which institution she went to Chicago where she was placed in charge of
the Sacred Heart school and convent. September, 1919, found her installed in
her alma mater as music instructor. She has excellent ability, is a zealous,
tactful, tireless worker. She has given training to hundreds of young ladies
in one of the most treasured of the five fine arts. The Democrat offers
hearty congratulations and sincerely hopes she may have the happiness to
celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of her entrance into religious life which
she has proven herself so helpful to education and society.

[Transcriber note: Sister Placentia was born Hanora Finn, dau. of David Finn
and Hanora Joynt Finn. Her mother died in chilbirth and she was subsequently
adopted by James Fitzgerald and Theodosia Warren Fitzgerald.
See also  Emmetsburg Democrat, 8 May 1908:
"Sister Mary Placentia, of Ft. Dodge, was an Emmetsburg visitor during the
past week. She came to see her father, David Finn, who has been very ill for
some time. She has charge of the music department in the Sacred Heart
Academy. She will be remembered as Miss Annie Fitzgerald."]



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