The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1876-05-14
Arrival of Hi, Remain. in HI. Native Town.
IU!ster Examiner, April 2s.h.I


DUNsIvES, Monday. April oath, 1876.
The solemn event, with ell its associations o
4 melancholy, which yesterday afternoon broke
In upon the holiday oalm Of this quiet village
revived in the memory of many rey-haired
inhabitants once his playm stes, early recolleo
lions of Hugh McCloskey, and around many a
homely froeide on Sunday evening those who
may be counted of the next generation heard
the gossips tell of how one of Dungiven's SONS
went abroad into the world, made a name 1T
we'll as q fortune and turned in death to he
village to which he owed his birth. The re-
mains of the late Mr.. Hugh McCioskey, accom-
panied by those of his frst wife, also those OF
Lis child by his second wife, arrived here yes
teIday evening about four o'clock, having been
removed from their tenn porary resting place in
New Orleans The incident il not without it's
moral, and n moral which strikes the attention
without looking for it. His life tells the old,
old story of honesty being the best policy but
in death he gives us lesson which, fortunately.
the Irish abroad are scarcely needful of, and
sets an example OF love of country whist
struggling amongst strangers in another Lar d.
A brief sketch of his career may be interest Tin &
IS furnishing evidence of the value of perseve-
rance, and an honest reliance upon ones own
liabilities to run the race of life. On the Nth of
September, 1914, Hugh McCloskey was born in
the picturesque town of Dungiven. Possessed
Of mind of more than ordinary activity, he
could not long rest within the lovely but con-
tracts d borzon of his native mount aims. Having
early lost his mother, he pushed his way to
Belfast, and there obtained, through his own
industry, o sound and solid education at the
Catholic Seminary. High aspirations soon told
him that Ireland was not the fittest ED for an
ambitions young man with an empty purse but
endowed with more than ordinary talent and
pluck. He started for America-the adopted
home of Ireland's best sons-in 1887. There he
endeavored to make living by teaching both
in New York and Philadelphia His Fl Irts not
being crowned by that success which his ardent
nature led him to expect, he set out the follow.
ling year for New Orleans. where he was mar
ried to his first wife in 1s4l For n considera-
BILE time he there struggled manfully against
adversely, and his perseverance, at last had its
reward, as eventually he succeeding in estab-
fishing himself securely in business His first
step towards real prosperity was the procuring
of an engagement with gentleman named
Stephenson, celebrated in New Orleans as a
soda-water manufacturer on an improved sys-
tenn. In 1851, having already saved a consid-
cradle sum of money by hard work, thrift and
industry, Hugh McCloskey purchased the in
terest of Stephenson in the establishment, and
thus laid the foundation of his future fortune.
The sun of prosperity had now dawned upon
him. warm advocate of the Confederacy, as
soon al the war broke out he espoused the cause
Of the South with ardor, and though unable
himself TO take the field, he spared neither
money nor health in maintaining what, in |
common with his fellow citizens, he considered |
his country's Independence. In 1865 he was |
elected member of the Legislature and in the |
capacity of law-maker served the city of his |
adoption with zeal and energy. He WAS, from |
the time of his election, constantly in his seat |
and determ inedly, constantly and persistenty |
resisted each and every scheme that would en-
rich individuals at the expense of the public, |
or that he Thought might be calculated to
plunder New Orleans under the guise of the |
general good. On the death of his first wife he |
was married a second time to Miss Alice Grant, |
of Kilkenny who is cousin germane to the |
Rev. NJ. II. Cahill, ST. Patricks, Belfast, and
the Rev. NJ. Hennessy Holy Trinity, Cork. His
lsst illness was caught on q journey during
winter to Washington, whittier he had Travelled
TO plead the cause Of the down-trodden South
and the popular rights of louisiana He died
in January, 1873, at the age of fifty. nine
Always cherishipg the hope of breathing bis
last in Ireland and resting beside the beautiful
and historic Roe, his dying Injunction to his
executors was to have his remains removed
from New Orleans and laid beside the new Ca,
tholic church in Dungiven, which his munif-
cent btquest is to have erected. His funeral
was one of the largest ever seen in New
Orleans. The sad procession was more than q
mile in length and the most prominent public
men Joined in the solemn trair. An influential
organ of Louisiana thus concludes lengthy
notice of the deceased by addressing it's readers
after this fashion on the day of his interment
Assemble around these cold rem aims, - people
of New Orleans! Here lies all that il left of o
man who both lived and died well. Women of
the land, strew your flowers and shed your
tears upon him He has left example be-
hind him the halo of " hich shall fall around
your beartbstones and save your offspring from
evil. The bell tolls, the procession ves, aud
all that remains of the honest tho brave, the
humble Hugh McCloskey is borne to The grave
by governors, by Legislators and mayors, by
priests, By citizens, by widows and throngs of
orphans. by high and low, by rich and poor.
He deserves this tribute of respect for never
will anything truer be uttered than that Hugh
MoCloskey died fer his people" This certainly IS
. high tribute, but we believe not undeserved
Generous and charitable during life, he failed
not at his death to remember the various
phanages asy lums and charitable nstitutIous
of his adopted home. Besides leaving the
residue of his property, amounting to five or
six thousand pounds, to build church to his
memory in his native parish, Dungiven, he be-
queathed to various charities more than five
thousand pounds.
In accordance with a dying wish, his re-
mains together with those of his first wife and
of his child, were now removed to DupRiven
to rest beneath the shadow of the new church,
which his generous bequest will go to erect.
Well has he earned that quiet sleep beneath
the copsecrated shades of Dungivcn Church,
and when We will have passed away bis me-
mory shall still live amongst the faithful as
the founder of the magnificent memorial to
overlook his grave. On the gath of March the
remains left New Orleans by tue steamer
Mississippi of the Dominion Line. They
arrived in Liverpool on Easter Monday, and
from thence were conveyed by one of the cross
nl,ayNF oil Of 70 ~