Iowa Old Press

Emmetsburg Democrat
Emmetsburg, Palo Alto, Iowa
Wednesday, August 11, 1920

A WORTHY WOMAN PASSES TO REWARD
Mrs. Matthew Ryan, Local Resident for Thirty-four Years.

Mrs. Matthew Ryan of this city, whose health was in poor condition for more
than two years, died last Saturday morning. March 25, 1918 she received a
stroke of apoplexy. In two or three weeks she rallied and was for eighteen
months able to be about the house most of the time. Last November she was
taken victim of a second stroke but her condition was not, for any length of
time, considered dangerous. A week ago last Saturday she became seriously
ill and it was evident to those abut her that death was close at hand. The
final summons came early on Saturday.
The funeral was held Tuesday morning, Father Farrelly celebrating a requiem
high mass. There was a large attendance. The interment was in St. John's
cemetery. The pall bearers were Joseph Mulroney, John Dooley, Daniel Burns,
J.J. Deneen, M.F. Brennan and P.C. Neary.
Jane Brown was born in Ulster county, New York, March 1, 1847. Her age was
73. January 15, 1886 she was married to Matthew Ryan. They subsequently made
their home in this city. Mr. Ryan died a number of years ago. Mrs. Ryan is
survived by two sons and one daughter. The sons are John B. of Central City,
Iowa, and William J. of Emmetsburg. The daughter is Mrs. C.J. [Mary]
Stillman of Vernon township. M.F. Ryan, Postmaster of Mobridge, South
Dakota, Mrs. Dr. Hession of Peoria, Illinois, and Miss Margaret Ryan, our
former county superintendent, were children of Mr. Ryan by his first wife.
Two sisters of Mrs. Ryan live in Milwaukee.
Mrs. Ryan never underestimated the duties or the responsibilities of the
Christian wife and mother and she did her best to perform them wisely and
well. She was industrious, frugal and provident. She never undertook
anything with a frivolous motive. In the years of her health and strength,
she willingly shared with her good husband the hard labors of her station in
life that those depending upon her might have the best spiritual and
temporal opportunities that our community could give to them. She did not
spare herself until advancing years, declining strength and failing health
forced her to request others to relieve her of the burden that became too
heavy for her to bear. She was an attentive, kind, loving, dutiful mother, a
true helpmate in all that the word implies, and a generous, considerate,
obliging neighbor. She was a woman of strong faith and of Christian fervor.
She could see in her own life and the lives of those about her a constant
need of divine guidance and assistance. She realized that blessings from the
bestower of all good gifts to the human family are most generously given to
those who humbly seek them and she realized the ??? of faith, hope,
sacrifice and good deeds. That her worthy purposes and ennobling example has
borne abundant fruit is well shown in the edifying lives of those who were
the first beneficiaries of her zeal and her efforts. All have the profound
sympathy of our many citizens.

Emmetsburg Democrat
Emmetsburg, Palo Alto, Iowa
Wednesday, Aug 25, 1920

MICHAEL A MUGAN DID THE LETTERING
On Tombstone of Yankee Robinson, the Pioneer Circus Man

(Jefferson, Iowa, Bee)

Jefferson, Iowa, a nephew of Marshal M.F. Brennan of this city recently
received an inquiry from a New Jersey party concerning the grave of Yankee
Robinson, America's first and leading clown and showman, who died here on
the 4th day of September, 1884. The letter received by Mr. Mugan was as
follows:
"Glassboro, N.J., July '31-My dear Mr. Postmaster: Between the years 1885
and 1890 there died in your city the celebrated circus proprietor, Fayette
L. Robinson. Friends here desire to erect a monument over his grave. Will
you do me the great kindness to let me have the official name of the
cemetery in or near Jefferson, where, about 1855, Yankee Robinson could have
been buried. I shall be grateful to you. Wm. J. Bok."
Mr. Mugan wrote quite at length, giving detailed facts concerning the
history of Yankee Robinson as it is connected with Jefferson, conveying also
the information that a nice monument was erected over the grave. Visitors at
the local cemetery are familiar with the last resting place of the showman,
and the stone which was erected to his memory. This monument was purchased
of Mr. W. F. Laidley, and the lettering thereon is the work of M.A. Mugan,
of Emmetsburg, who was in the employ of Mr. Laidley at that time.
Postmaster Mugan's reply, in part, is as follows:
"Your card carries with it the impression that you have doubtless received
from some reckless newspaper article, quite a few of which have been
published to the effect that "Yankee Robinson" is buried in an unmarked and
uncared for grave. Such articles are quite far from the truth and imply an
unjustified slur against such characters as constitute the organizations of
the Sells Brothers and the Ringling Brothers shows together with the local
Masonic bodies and the local cemetery association.
My own recollections of the circumstances surrounding the death of "Yankee
Robinson" are somewhat hazy. However, partly from recollection and partly
from talking with others it may be said that the deceased had lost his
earthly riches. Some say that he was taken from the train at this point
because of his sickness while others say that at the time he was traveling
with Ringling Brothers as an attraction and really as sort of a pensioner
for what he had been to the circus world. However, he was taken sick and the
show went on. He was left in the Head hotel and his identity not revealed.
This because of his personal desire, because of the humiliation he felt
because of having lost his fortune and being down and out. His condition
grew worse and the local Masons, who were looking after him, informed the
show, when a representative of the show returned, identified him, and stayed
until after his death and funeral, when she returned to the show. The
funeral was in keeping with his high personal character and what would be
due to a man who had done so much for others and the world.
The burial took place in the Jefferson cemetery, located about a mile from
the court house and to the edge of the city, and in a lot owned by the
Masonic order.
Some time after the death of "Yankee Robinson" and at different times, Sells
Brothers shows and Ringling Brothers left money in the hands of a local
committee for the purpose of a monument which was bought and place over the
grave, the Masonic order, I believe, making up some deficiency.
It must be said that, while the erosion of the stone is not bad at this
immediate time, it will not probably improve with age. At the time the stone
was erected it was all that could be expected, yet when it is considered in
the light of his great life and mind and what he did for others, and in the
light of the present day standards, this monument should be substituted by
one more suitable for the commemoration of the memory of a great character.
On several occasions after the death and burial of the deceased, his son,
Silas Robinson, came here at the head of theatrical organizations and on
such occasions went broke and his company disbanded. Each time a number of
local talent joined him in putting on one or two local talent plays for his
benefit and let him out, and each time we heard a few weeks after that he
was on the road with a company. The last heard of the son, was some years
ago when we heard of his death at Seattle or Tacoma."




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