Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1882-03-22
DEATH of an Aged CttiSe,e.

March 18th, 1882, Charles Branigan, our
most aged citizen, passed from his long.
earthly career to the realms beyond at
his residence in the Second ward. The
deceased had indeed reached a ripe old
age, some claiming him to be 1O1 years
old, but from the best authenticated ac-
counts he was in his 9Sth year. Mr..
Branigan had resided here 81 years, for
the most of that time on his farm in the
town of Watertown. His funeral was
held Monday morning at o'clock from
St. Bernard's Catholic Church, and the
last sad rites over the remains were large
ly attended by his relatives, friends and
neighbors. The comparatively large
number of old people who were present
at the obsequies was quite notice able and
most fitting, The body was laid away
in the old Catholic cemetery there to re-
main until the resurrection summons to
the old and young alike
The Watertown correspondent of the
Milwaukee Sentinel, under date of March
18th, furnishes that paper with the fol-
lowing particulars relative to the life and
death of Mr.. Branigan:
This morning Charles Branigan, in ace
one of the patriarchs of Wisconsin, and
the oldest person in this section of the
state, died at his home in this CITY aged
nearly SO years The deceased was born
in the town of Monaghan, County Mon
Afghan, Ireland, December 26, 1884. Mr..
Branigan was married in 1919, and had
beenthe husband of only one wife who died
some twenty-five years ago. Nine chill
dren were born to them, five of whom
are now living, three daughters and two
sons. Mr. Branigan came to the United
States in 1920, settling in Vermont from
whence he removed to Ohio. where he
lived until emigrating to Wisconsin III
lS48. Up to the period of his death he
was in possession of most of his faculties,
age, however, telling considerably upon
his memory, but he was able to converse
freely and intelligently upon all subjects
with which he was acquainted. Consid-
ering the burden of his years bis carriage
might be called erect, and even within
| comparatively few years he walked occa-
sionally without cane The extreme
age Mr. Branigan had attained will be
more fully realized by the student of Irish
history when it is remembered that at the
time of the celebrated Irish rebellion Of
1898 Mr.. Branigan was well-grown lad
of II years and he remembers. with dis
tinctness the events of that stirring per
iod in his native land Among the cir
cumstances of those noted times that be
recollected, was that seeing Lord Corn
wallis, who commanded the English
forces in Ireland during the Irish rebel
lion, pass through the town of Monaghan
with what was called his "fying camp"
Until to-day, then, we had contemporary
with us person who saw the English
General that surrendered his sword at
Yorktown to General Washington in
1881, over 100 years ago. CORVALLIS
himself at that time was 43 years old. Mr..
Branigan was years older than our con-
stitution and child of ayearsi of age
when Washington was first elected presi-
ident. The great Irish Liberator, Daniel
O'Connell, was born only nine years be-
fore the subject of this sketch first saw
the light in the same Green Isle, and Mr..
Branigan remembered as but yesterday
O'Connelrs duel with D'Esterre in the
year 1915. The execution of the patriot,
Robert Emmett, whose memory was so
generally celebrated only few days ago,
and the intense excitement caused by
that deplorable event, were strongly i'm
pressed on his mind, although occurring
IN the almost misty past. When Napo-
leon ended his ambitious career at Water
leo Mr.. Branigon was in his 31st year,
almost In the prime Of his manhood, and
only 10 years the Junior of the renowned
Frenchman. But these comparative
notes might be carried to an unlimited
extent, sufficient have been given, how
eyer, to impress firmly upon the mind by
historical comparisons the venerableness
Of the deceased. From the strong con-
stitution Mr. Branigan possessed, his
friends had reason to hope that he might
live to attain his one hundredth year
One year and half ago. however, he
took to his bed, and although able to sit
up at times, he never since left his ROOM
The close Of his long life was made easy
and pleasant for him by the care, atten-
ton and solicitude of his youngest daugh
ter, Mrs. Edward Cary, of the Second
ward, with whom he had made his home
for some years past. He passed away
calmly and peacefully, in full communion
with the Catholic Church, and with the
burden Of his years resting, after all, light
ly upon him.
The Office ofthe Mutual Union Tele-
graph company will be removed about
the 1st of next month to the F. P. Brook
grocery store building portion of the
west side of which will be appropriately
and neatly fitted up for the use of the
company.
-Frazier's Magic Ointment is posi-
tive cure far all skin diseases. See adj
vertisement in other column. Price so
cents. Sold by druggists. 4y1