Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1897-04-09
Obituary.

James Murtha, whose death occurred
March 26, 1897, was born in the coun-
ty Monaghan, Ireland. Married in
1916 to Alice Traynor, who survives
him. Their golden anniversary was last
May, now nearly 81 years since. Elev-
en- children were born of this mar
riage; four are dead, and seven nov
living were in attendance during his
last illness; Mrs. Mary McNevln,
Plymouth Rock, la. was born in his
own birthplace in 1S47. Soon
after this event he came to this COIN
try and settled in Ottawa, ILL.,; moved
to Arlington, ILL.,, where John was
born, thence back to Ottawa, where
James was born, thence to Chicago,
where first sorrow came in the death
of James; moved to Hun tley and to
Dundee, where Catharine, now Mrs.
P. F. Horan, Of Madison, S. D., was
born; returning again to Huntley, in
which place Elizabeth, now Mrs. NJ
F. McCabe, OF Plymouth Rock, Ia,
and Patrick and twin brother unnamed,
were born. From Huntly, ILL.,, to
their place in Orleans township, Win
neshiek county, Iowa. Alice, Mrs.
M. Whalan, Annie, Bridget, Mrs.
VIM. Mullany, of Plymouth Rock, and
Rosa were born here. Again sorrow,
the third and fourth time came by the
death of Patrick and Annie, when
both were laid to rest within one week.
He bore his illness patiently without
murmur or complaint, neither Of him
self or attendents, but heroically
sLrove to sustain lite by his own efforts;
conscious and clear OF mind he knew
Everybody and was perfectly resigned
TO the will OF Cur Heavenly Father,
christian like. aud when the end came
it was peaceful and happy. The fun
eral was on Monday and his rema ms
were laid at rest in the St. Agnes GEN.
etery, by all the loving members of
the family. May he rest in peace.
James Murtha was reared and served
his youth and early manhood in the
occupation Of farming in ireland. He
had what is here called common
school education; to say the least it was
exceptional, considering the oppor-
tunities for such in his native land. He
dreds of thousands of Irishmen who
preceded and followed him to this
country to find home. There was an
ideal home-it was not in their birth
land-not because of any imperfection
or disadvantages of soil or climate or
charms and attractions OF the mother
land, but because of the blighting
touches of the masters of monarchy,
aristocracy and caste. That HON,
dreamed of, longed for is here, not so
! much in city possessions or fine acres,
as a spot free. 70 them it was to be
more; it embodied possessions, citizen
ship, equality and justice. He ac-
complished his desire, also possession
OF home, having patent by james
Buchanan to his premption here, and
becoming citizen by choice soon after
coming to this country, casting the
first vote for James Buchanan-always
in the party with which he cast that
vote, never aspiring to any public po-
sition nor actively in politics. To
''live and let live' is an expression of
the measure of justice accorded to his
neighbors and associates without dis
tinction. If there is one quality we
feel grateful for and appreciate, it is
that OF the freedom and equality of re-
ligion in which he lived-in associa-
tion in voting and in business no dis
tinction, no issue because of religion
the resolution which impelled him to
migrate to this country was not
complete. .sThough spending few years
in Illinois at farming, mining and
and railroading, providing means, un-
til with an OK team and covered wagon
he brought his family to his late home
here in 1855, upon which he had since
resided. Fortune did not always smile,
adversity came and sorrow and priva-
tion, a repetition only of the first set
Elements of all of our forefathers from
the Atlantic westward. Thus briefly
told was his life, ending with desire
to become good citizen of heaven.
Con-.