The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1903-11-05
Dennis Freel.

One of the best known men in South
ern Iowa departed this life Tuesday
evening after a busy career of II years
and II days. Dennis Frecl was the old
est son of Dennis Freel, born in Mullin-
gar, County West Meath, Ireland, Oct
ODER Is, 1892 At the age of three years,
the deceased came to America. His
father was the first on the boat to sight
land and the point off the coast of New
Foundland where the boat anchored,
was named Freels Cape in honor there
of. The family located at Montreal,
Canada, and lived there five years,
thence to Chicago for a few months,
after which they took up their residence
in Joliet, Ill. There on the 22nd Of Nov
ember 1854, Mr.. Freel married his COM
panion of almost q half century, Miss
Elizabeth Coonan. In 1856, they came
to Davenport, where Mr.. Freel made his
headquarters while he labored as a
bridge contractor. He build the first
bridge across the Mississippi river be-
tween Davenport and Rock Island, and
was the first man to cross the same.
Later he constructed the first bridge
over the Des Moines, at Eddyville. In
1861 he entered the employ OF the G. B.
& G., serving first as baggage man, then
promoted to the position Of conductor
In 1875 Mr.. Freel ran the first train
over the Abba and Des Moines branch
In 1879 the family came to Charlton
where they have ever since been es
teemed citizens, and where until 1896
Mr.. Freel served the Company's best
| interest as road master for seventeen
years and in his Office many prominent
railroad men of to-day learned the first
lesson in their chosen vocation.
For the past seven years Mr.. Free
had a conductors run on the soutl
branch passenger train, until sickness
overlook him during the latter part O
this summer. Cancer of the liver was
the cause of his illness and death, which
an examination after death revealed
The last rites over the remains of the
husband, father, friend and neighbo
were held at st Mary's church thi
morning. Mr.. Freel was trained in tn,
Catholic faith by devout parents, and al
his life had lived in that faith. Father
Leonard, of Muscatine, Waldron of Oska
loosa, and Brownrigg Of Melrose, con
Quoted the solemn service and held re
QUEEN high mass at 1920, after whic
the body was laid to rest in Calvar
. cemetery. Eight children were born il
the family, two sons having preceede,
the father to the great beyond. Tw
sons, Edward of Memphis, Tenn, an
Dennis of Dunsmuir, Cal, four daugF
{ tiers, Mesdames Abbie Synder of Staples
Minnesota, Rose Mucher of Dunsmuil
CAL, Misses Mollie and Margaret Free
of this city, all of whom ministered t
their fathers comfort in his illness, wit
the mother and nine grandchildren, ar
bereft. The deceased was the sevent
Dennis Freel, it being family custor
for eight generations to give the frs
born son his fathers name, and all hav
been of a mechanical turn Of mind. Til
subject of this sketch was possessed Q
, unusual intelligence in this direction
: and was the inventor of many convent
/, ences in mechanics, and tie plate an
ditching machine originated by hin
are now in use on the Burlington road
i, constant reminders of the skill and in
5 dustry of well spent and useful life
Charlton Herald.