The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1901-02-16
IN Memoriam.

10 the Editor of the irish Standards:
Dietl-In Murray township, Murray
county, Mimi. Jan. is, 1901, Thomas
Conner, aged 65 years.
Thus we record the last of earth for
a Victorian exile of Erin. EARLY in his
young manhood he beheld the roof that
had sheltered him and his forefathers
scattered to heavens four winds, and
all that were near and dear to him left
to the chilly blast on the roadside in
the county Roscommon, all in the
great. good name of "Victoria, Regina"
and by the power of her "noble" army
because. forsooth, they owed few
months rent for the soil that that rob-
hcr-butcher, Cromwell had wrested
from their kingly grandfathers. and be-
slowed on the stranger.
Thrown thus rudely on his own re-
sources he had no way to live outside
the poOrhouse. but to take the fateful
Saxon shilling and sail over the world
and march through the desert soli-
tudes and storm the teeming cities of
India, to carry death and carnage there
with that ensign that so many of
earth's millions have learned to hate.
After many years Of blood and Of tears,
and Drawing death on the fields of La
hore. and in every other battle his regi-
ment fought, there was never charge
against him by comrade or commander.
At last his day Of freedom came, and
ere he turned his face forever to this
land of freedom he fastened back
to the land of his birth, to
look his last on the dear old
hills. For none of the friends of his
youth were there. He told me one
wintry night long gone that all he
found Of his native village was green
pasture, wide. filed with fat cattle,
owned by the absent landlord, sur
rounded by high wall which with diff
ficulty he climbed to kneel once again
even on the holy sod he still called
''home."
Thick and fast came the burning
tears from bursting heart that never
knew fear, and was ever generous to a
fault. AS he told me, the only mark
of his fathers home was bunch of
thistles where their hearth had been,
out from which ran n startled hare.
And there was his greatest hour of
grief, when all the memories of his
loved ones gone came rushing back to
that heart of sadness, that maddened
brain. But there he could not stay;
so In 1866 he landed i'll America, work.
ing for time in Illinois and Iowa. He
settled awhile in Frecborn county,
MINI. But pushing on west about the
to locate in Murray county, and lived
on his homestead in Shetik township
till his sudden and unexpected death.
He was married first to sweet girl
named Lcary when he came to the
county. She bravely cared for their
children through years of frontier hard
ships. She often had to be alone while
he Went with an OK team for flour to
New Tin or Madclia. IS miles to the
east, the trip requiring many weary
days and nights. At last when she
had some ncighbors and could look
! ahead to brighter days, she was called
home from earth. Then. as he had
several children. he resolved to marry
again i'll order to raise them together,
and he married an estimable lady from
'rrempcleau, Wis. who was a noble
partner in his labols ever since. She
is patient, industrious and true and
with his six children and grandchildren
sincerely mourn him who is 10 more.
Mr.. Conner served almost continuously
on the townboard or school boards of
the township and perhaps he served