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Archiver > IRELAND-OBITS > 2007-11 > 1195346516


From: "Cathy Joynt Labath" <>
Subject: [IRELAND-OBITS] John Branagan; 1817-1905; Sligo>Mayo>ENG>VT>IL>IA
Date: Sat, 17 Nov 2007 18:41:56 -0600


Emmetsburg Democrat; Emmetsburg, Palo Alto, Iowa, Wednesday, January 11,
1905

DIED AT EIGHTY-SEVEN
Father of Mr. Branagan, Editor of the Democrat, Passes Away

John Branagan, father of W. I Branagan, died Saturday at Mercy Hospital,
Dubuque, where he was taken about a month ago for treatment. The funeral
took place at Lawler yesterday. The services were held at the Church of our
Lady of Mt. Carmel and were conducted by the pastor, Reverend father Leahy.

As the deceased was well known to many of our citizens, a few words
concerning his life and personal traits, given through the columns of his
son's newspaper will not be out of place.

Mr. Branagan was born in the parish of Kilmore, Ardnaree, in the county of
Sligo, Ireland, December 12, 1817. When he was a child his parents moved to
Baal, and were later residents of Ballina, both places being located in the
County Mayo. He was an only child and had hardly reached the years of
manhood with both his father and mother died and he was left to travel
life's journey alone.

In 1843 he bade adieu to his native land and went to Lancaster, England,
where he worked six years for the Jesuit fathers who conducted Stonyhurst
college. On April 16, 1849, he sailed for America and landed in New York
June 5, after a perilous voyage of seven weeks. He located at Burlington,
Vermont, where he lived until 1854, when he decided that the far west
afforded the best opportunities to those of limited means. He came to
Chicago which was then a small place and giving but little promise of the
splendor it has attained. Soon after his arrival in Chicago he moved to
Rockford, Illinois.

There he was married in 1856 to Margaret Gray. In the same year they came
to Clermont, Fayette County, Iowa, settling on a farm, where they remained
for 19 years. In 1875 they move to Chickasaw County where they lived on a
farm until 1896 when they retired from active work and moved into Lawler.

Their family consisted of six sons and three daughters -- Joseph C.,
Patrick, James A., William I., Mary A., Edward A., Margaret E., and Maria
B.. The oldest son died in 1892 and the oldest daughter passed away in
1901. The other sons and daughters survive and the wife and mother is at
present so ill that no hopes are entertained for her recovery.

Having known the family for so many years the writer had a fair opportunity
of forming an estimate of the career indeed of the deceased who lived and
toiled in the sunshine and storm for almost a century. Mr. Branagan was,
until about a year ago, a close, observing student of public affairs and
kept well informed on the topics of the day. He was a ready and interesting
talker and always took an active, earnest part in matters that demand the
attention of all good citizens. He was always very careful of his conduct.
He had no use for tobacco or intoxicating liquors, neither could he tolerate
the use of profane nor obscene language. He was a man of strong religious
convictions and he never failed to comply with the duties of the Catholic
Church of which he was a member. Few of the exiles of Erin felt more keenly
than did Mr. Branagan for trials and afflictions of the land of his birth.
Well may those who know him only as a loving son and daughter have found
this kind, exemplary and dutiful parent, treasure the recollections of a
long and ennobling life he spent.

The editor of the Democrat has spent almost twenty years in Emmetsburg and
the host of friends he has made in town and county would join in extending
to himself and his brothers and sisters the sincere sympathy tendered by
P.H. DONLON


Cathy Joynt Labath
Palo Alto Co, IA USGenWeb Project
http://www.celticcousins.net/paloalto/index.htm
Iowa Old Press
http://www.IowaOldPress.com/


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