William McGovern, Sr. 1825-1900

MCGOVERN, HEERY

Posted By: Cheryl Locher Moonen (email)
Date: 12/31/2015 at 17:05:56

Cascade Pioneer, May 25, 1900, page 4, column 4

William McGovern, Sr., one of the oldest settlers of this vicinity, died last Sunday morning at the ripe age of 75 years. For the last few years Mr. McGovern had been in feeble health, and for several weeks his condition was not such as to warrant much hope of his recovery, but when the end came it was peaceful.

Mr. McGovern was held in high respect by his neighbors and friends, and his career was marked by industry and strict observance of the best rules of living. He was intelligent, kind and charitable, and a valuable citizen to the community.

Mr. McGovern was born in Newry, county Down, Ireland, on the 5th of June, 1825, and was nearly 75 years old lacking sixteen days. He received his education in the schools of Newry and for four years set type on the Newry Examiner. While never claiming any distinction Mr. McGovern was undoubtedly one of the oldest newspaper compositors in this section of Iowa. At the age of twenty years he came to New York where he worked for nine years in the ship yards, and on June 15, 1854, he was married to Miss Jane Heery. In the fall of that year they came to Iowa and settled on a farm in Washington township, Jones county, and lived there thirteen years. In 1907 he removed his family to the present homestead in Richland township, and as a farmer Mr. McGovern was industrious and progressive, and the reward of his labors was the accumulation of a comfortable competency for his family, to which he was devoted. On the 18th of September, 1882, Mr. McGovern's household was severely bereaved by the death of three sons and a daughter, all of whom died from an attack of black measles within a few hours of each other. It was a keen blow to the parents and the remembrance of it saddened their happy home. The names of the sons were Terrence, Eugene and James, and the daughter Frances Jane.

Mr. McGovern is survived by his aged wife and two sons, William Jr., and Thomas McGovern, both residents of Richland township.

The funeral took place Tuesday morning at 10:30 at St. Martin's church and Solemn High Mass was celebrated, in which Rev. M. S. Murphy of Argand was celebrant; Rev. J. Comerford of Placid, deacon; Rev. L. Roche, the pastor, subdeacon, and Rev. Father Kelly of Garryowen, master of ceremonies.

The pall bearers were R. H. McQuillen, John McQuillen, John McLees, T. W Heaney, John O'Brien, Patrick Rogers.

Compliments of Joseph Cahill