Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-01-09


Sketch of the Deceased Mrs. Eve
McKinstry Breathes Her Last Saturday
Night-Other Obituary.
Death came to T. j. Medill. the
venerable father of Rock Island
mayor, at his home in Milan at II As
today, after weeks of suffering from
pneumonia, an attack of which was
superinduced by grip and the ills Of
old age; in fact Mr.. Medill had not
been himself since the demise of his
devoted wife last February. The
earthly separation of their lives was a
blow. the telling effect of which
daily grew more pronounced on him,
until finally the ravages of the pre-
victim, and while at times his condi-
ton improved perceptibly, it was
only temporarily. r.r
During last night it was apparent
that Mr.. MediIl was slowly but surely
sinking, and Mayor Medill, who had
been at his father side during the
entire night, although fully realizing
that dissolution was near at hand.
felt that he could leave the parental
home a brief period this morning to
come to the city to transact urgent
official business, but the news of his
fathers death preceded him by tele-
phone to town, and notwith standing
he realized fully the inevitable, the
shock bore no less heavily upon him
when it came.
Thomas J. Medill, Sr., was born in
county of Cavan, Ireland, of Scotch
Irish parentage, March 30, 1918. His
family subsequently moved to county
of Monaghan, where his youth was
spent. In 1S49 he came to America,
first locating at Galena, H., and a
year afterward found him "a Rock ISL
and. Here on May 81, 1851, he was
married to Elizabeth Ann Dixon. Nine
children were born to them. two of
whom are deceased, William and David
d., the survivors being Alexander and
George, of Milan; Mrs. Elizabeth
Cleveland, Kansas City, Kas. Thomas
j.. mayor of Rock Island: Miss Mar
garet, of Moline, John d.. North Va
kima, Wash; Cyrus D., Oakland, Cal.
There are also three grandchildren.
Mr.. Medill was for years engaged
in the general merchandise business
in Milan. which was known in the
earlier days as Camden. and later
turned his attention to agricultural
pursuits, conducting a farm in Bowl
ing township. In 1880 he determined
to retire from active life, and returned
with his family to Milan to spend his
declining days.
In Mr.. Medill's death passes away
the last member of an interesting
family of four brothers and two sis
ent parts of the globe, one brother
going to the island of St. Thomas. in
the West Indies: another to South
America, while the third remained on
the old homestead in Ireland. One
sister died in Glasgow, Scotland, and
the other in Wilmington, S. c. The
father of the family visited America
in 1916, and ''Medill's History of
America was the result
Mr.. Medill was PRESBYTERIAN all
his life, tracing his religious belief
back to the days of John Knox. He
was devout member of the Milan
church. He was one of those pio-
neers whose every move in the path
way of life might well serve as an ex-
ample worthy of emulation. Mr..
Medill was a member of the Rock Isl
and County Old Settlers association
Mr.. Medill was a man as sturdy as
his Scotch-Irish ancestry. Firm in
his faith, strong and unflinching in
conviction, unfailing in his devotion
to principle and to duty, he was every
inch a man. In his every relation to
life and to his fellow men he so con-
Quoted himself as to merit and to win
the greatest measure of confidence
and esteem of all with whom he came
in contact. Milan is plunged in sor-
row over the loss of one whose life
had been for so many years like an
open book before those among
whom he had daily walked
while throughout the county the
tidings Of his death will carry
sadness to NAV hearts.
The funeral arrangements are yet
incomplete.
Othe Obituary.
Mrs. w. A. Nourse, of Moline. died
today, aged 63 years.
for many years guard at the main en-
trance of Rock Island arsenal, died at
his home in Davenport yesterday,
aged 90 years.
Mrs. Eve McKinstry. one of Rock |
Islands venerable ladies, succumbed |
TO infirmities at 11:45 Saturday night |
at her home, 1I11 Seventh avenue.
Aunt Eve, as she was affectionately /
known to her neighbers, had attained /
the age of SO years, having been born