The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1902-07-11
DEATH OF FATHER. McALpIN
Vail Observer.

vail observer.
We chronicle this week the
death of Mr.. Patrick McAlpin, one OF
the pioneers of Crawford county. He
passed away Tuesday evening aad 5he
news of his death is received with deep
regret. To write full accountsof Mr..
McAlpin's life would mean to write a
history of Crawford county, We are
enabled to give sketch of his life.
Patrick McAlpin was born in County
Mayo. ireland in 1918, and died at his
nome in Vail, Iowa, on July s, 1902,
aged 81 years. He was the son of John
and Cecilia Gibbons McAlpin, natives
also OF the Emerald Isle. In 1881 the
family sailed from Sligo to Quebec,
Canada, on the sail vessel Eleanor, and
five weeks and three days were con
sumed on the voyage. They resided
at Sherbrooke. Canada, for five years
and while there our subject assisted in
clearing the land where that city now
slards. The family then came by team
10 the United States, locating in Low
| ell, Massachusetts, crossed the Catskil
mountains, loaded their wagon and
goods on the boat, and their horses
| helped pull the boat on the Hudson &
| Delaware Canal. Mr.. McAlpin worked
] for three years on the Chesapeake &
Ohio Canal tunnel, anG then started
for Ohio via Pennsylvania and Vir.
ginia. He was at Wheeling, West
| Virginia, for a time. crossed the Ohio
river, was at Zanesville, Ohio, in
Brown county, in Jennings county,
Indiana, where they found friends
from Mayo and remained there nine
years. They then came to Scott coun-
ty, Iowa, eighteen years later removed
TO Clinton county, Iowa, and in 1874
Mr.. McAlpin bought $50 acres of raw
Land in this county, which was i'm
proved and made one of the incest
| farms in this vicinity. Our subjects
father died in Maryland and the
mother in Vail. the latter at the age OF
ninety five years. They reared fam
lily OF three sons and two daughters, OF
whom Patrick, our subject and Maria
jenkins, now of Ell Reno, Okla, re.
sided in Vail
He was married in Jennings county,
In lima, January 81, 1913, to Mary
Ann kehoe, who was born near Dub
lin, Ireland. On January 81, 1893, they
celebrated the tiftieth anniversary OF
their marriage. There are left tc
mourn besides the faithful wife, seven
children as follows: Mrs. Catherine
| Quigiey, Thomas ,J., and Charles. oi
Elk City, Okla, w. P. of Ell Reno, O.
T., M. NJ, of Denison, Frank and Mrs
Mary Frances Mcguire of Vail. They
lost five by death as follows: Michael
who died some five years ago; one, de
ceased when baoe: John, at the age
of six months: Cecilia, at three
weeks; and baby girl All the child
rem living were at the bedside except
T.. j., who was detained by an accident
Mr.. McAlpin, or "Uncle Mac as he
was known, was man of unusual in
teligence, and it was a pleasure te
talk with him, as his varied expert
ences and close observation of affairs
furnished "a veritable encyclopaedia q
the early history of this country. He
was man of keen Judgment and of the
highest integrity as is shown by the
fact that for seventeen years he served
as treasurer of Jackson township, anG
, was also trustee. He always had good
health, up to about three weeks ACC
when he went to bed. Mr.. McAlpir
was life long and consistent memtel
of the Catholic church. The funera
will be held at St. AIMS church, Vail
on Thursday, July 10. 1909, at II a. m
Rev. Father Murphy will officiate.