The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1902-04-17

embraced the entire state of Iowa.
His first mission was at Elkader, in
Clayton county. He changed theme 9
to Claremont, then to McGregor, and
then as the ability of the father be-
came more apparent to the heads
Of the diocese he was sent to the
larger and more important parish of
st. Mary's at Oskaloosa. He entered
upon his work in this parish August
IA, 1879, and has been continued in
the work here and in the neighbor.
hood for almost twenty-three year,.
The deceased has two brothers living,
Father John O'Carroll, of Queens
county, Ireland, and Michael o'Car-
roll, of Stony Ford, birthplace of the
deceased. Miss Kate White, a niece,
was the only resident relative of the
! deceased.
The work of Father o Carroll in st.
Mary's parish has been of charac
! ter tn at makes it monument TO his
mem ory. He has builded better than
he knew and his name will go down
in the history of the Catholic church
of Iowa as one of the greatest priests
that has ever lived or worked in the
diocese.
Father O'Carroll went to Knoxville
last Thursday on call to administer
the comforts of the church. He was
taken severely i'll at that time with
what was thought to be lumoago. He
grew gradually worse and upon his
arrival at his home in this city he was
Frustrated with the aiIment that
caused considerable suffering. His
condition rapidly became alarming
and consultation of physicians was
held. For years the Father had suf-
fered with kidney trouble. 1t now
became plain that uremic poisoning
had been established and that the life
of the man was scarcely to be hoped
for. The Reverend Father John
O'Farrell, of Ottumwa, who had
known the sick man since his college
days back In 1866, and who has since
been his constant, close and intimate
friend and advisor, administered the
last rites of the church on Tuesday
morning and was at his side as the
deceas ed went peacefully to rest in
that last long sleep. Father Bollar,
of st. Joseph's church, What Cheer,
was also present with the deceased at
the time of death.
The deceased was probably better
known than any other Father in the
state. The nature of his great work
and his general active ways and dis
position had carried him into all parts
of the state upon his missions of
mercy. He was of strong personality
and was always remembered by those
with whom he came in contact. He
was ever ready to assist any brother
in any work, no matter how arduous,
and he heard the cry or wish of his
most humble parishioner coming
from any part of the state. The great
ness of his work is scarcely to be ap-
preciated or fully understood. Since
he has been confined to his home 10
mis- last illness the calls for his ser
vices have been so repeated and go
numerous that his attendants have
been surprised at the work that the
man had been doing. He was quiet
and unostentatiuus in his goings and
comings. He Stunned publicity above
all other things. What he did was
from the fullness of his great heart
and was in all sincerity and earnest
ness, and never with the idea of show
and parade.
Father O'Carroll's work is done.
He had accomplished much, but the
community and the people can but
lily spare him. So much was yet to
be done, 80 much accomplished, that
the man seemed just entering upon
his ripest period of usefulness in our
midst.