Mexico weekly ledger., 1896-03-05

CAPT. SHEA DEAD.
One of Our Old and Prominent Citizsns
Passed Away-A Short History
of His Life.

FasSeu AWay-A SnoIt uistOIy
of His Life.
Capt. D. E. Shea, for many years
q citizen of Mexico, and one of our
prominent business men, died on
Wednesday night, February 26, 1895,
from cancer of the face, from which
he had been suffering for about three
months. The funeral was held at ten
O'Clock Friday morning at st. Bren-
dan's Catholic Church and was con-
Quoted by Rev. Father Dempsey. To
the sorrow stricken family and rela-
tives the LEDGER joins the community
in extending heartfelt sympathy.
Capt. Shea had been resident OF
Mexico since 1878, and was, by nativ-
ity, of Ireland, having been born near
Ennis, in the County Glare, on the
2Sd of May, 1888. He was reared in
his native county until fdxteen, and
by this time had received the eie-
ments of an ordinary English educa-
ton in the local schools. In 1854
Capt. Shea came to the United States,
and located first in Fulton County,
New York, where he engaged in
cheese making for about year. He
was then employed in paper mill un-
til his removal to Wisconsin. In the
Badger State, Capt. Shea located at
Racine, where he learned the carpen-
ter's and joiner's trade, and worked
at it until the war was well under
headway. During this time he at
tended normal school, and afterwards
took a course at commercial college.
Making his home in the North, and
becoming identified with its people
and interested on the Union side, he
naturally espoused the c2use of the
Government when the rebellion broke
out, and early in the war he enlisted
in the Federal service. He was frs:
a private in Company A, FIRST U. s.
Mechanic Fusiliers, in which he serv-
ed term of three months. He then
enlisted in Company K, of the S3d
Wisconsin, of which he was made
Second Lieutenant, and served with
conspicuous gallantry until the clos e
of the war. He participated in no less
than twenty-one regular engage
ments, and was wounded but once
during the entire war, and then only
slightly. At the seige Of Vicksburg
he was promoted to the first neuten-
ancy of his company. After the bat
tie of Tupelo, Mississippi, in July,
1864, he was placed in command OF
Company M, First Missouri Light Ar
tillery, on detached service, and after
about six months service with the
battery, joined his regiment in time
to take part in the battle Of Nashville
Tennessee, where he was made adju.
tant of his regiment. Such an army
record any soldier might be proud tt
boast of, and although it is one O
great credit, Capt. Shea was not the
man to plume himself on his own ex-
after the close of the war, and re-
turned to Wisconsin.
Prior to this, on the 18th of Novem
ber, 1868, Miss Mary Rowan, of Ra
cine, Wisconsin, had become his wife
The union proved one OF much do
mestic happiness. The Captain anC
Mrs. Shea have had nine children
Martha c., Sarah F., Alice j., Edward
L., Daniel Emmett, Nellie (deceased)
Kate R., George F. and Mary B. II
October, 1865, Capt. Shea moved t.
Audrain County, and followed farm
ing for about eight years. He thel
moved to Mexico, and engaged in tn
real estate and insurance business
Capt. Shea was public administrato
for some twelve years. In 1882, will
some other gentlemen, he organized
military Company at Mexico, o
which he was elected captain, AM
upon the organization of the Sixtl
Regiment National Guards of Mis-
souri,, he was commissioned Major
his commission bearing date Januar
8, 1884. Capt. Shea was engaged 1
mis- last business for a number G
years, and as man of high character
marked influence and business quail
fcations, he took a position anon
the foremost men in the real estate
J insurance and loan business in Mex
| leo. Capt. Shea had lately been ar
pointed Private Secretary to Con
gressman W. M. Treloar. He was
member of the Romano Catholic Churcl
r The beautiful burial service of tt
Catholic church was read and Requiel
J Mass was sung by a quartette cho
! composed of Miss West, Mrs. Upha
and Messrs. Laforce and Kimble, wit
Mrs. Gardner as organist.
The pail bearers were Thos.
i, Roden, Richard Moore, Robt. Kerna
: w. T. Keath, A. F. Reid and Micha
O'Brien.