The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1906-07-21
PIONEER OF DUBUQUE.
Ausustin S. McDermott Who Lived
There 72 Years, Dead.


There ~ Years, Dead.
Dubuque, July Especial interest
attaches to the death of Augustin
Sylvester McDermott, who passed
away at his home in this city Friday
afternoon at O'Clock. The late Mr..
McDermott had the distinction of be-
ing the first male white child in Du-
buque. Eldest son of James McDer-
mott. who has long since been gath
cred to his fathers, Austin McDermott
first saw the light of day in Dubuque
in the year 1884. on Sept. 16, at the
;;old family residence on Grandview
avenue. The elder McDermott died in
1917.
There was one white child whose
birth ante-dated that of our subject
1t was Il girl, !; Miss Mary McGraney
She appeared on the scene less than
Dcrmott.
| Dubuque in 1894 may without quail
ilication. be said to have been wear
ing her swaddling clothes. Where now
stand substantial brick and stone
buildings We're rude shacks if any
form of habitation existed. Lanes and
and macadam that now furnish our
thoroughfares were in evidence Com
mercialism comprised barter and sale
and the Indian was an important ele-
ment in the affairs of the community
The iron horse and the steel shod
track were unknown and the river was
the great and only artery of traffic.
practically the only method of COM
munication With real civilization. st.
Louis was the market for the lead ore,
grain aud pelts that represented the
industries of the section.
Julien Dubuque. the reputed found
er of the city that bears his name.
had then been laid at rest little more
than IL score of years. Mr.. McDermott
had made the Key City and Dubuque
county his home throughout his life
time. He had seen it all but begun.
watched it's growth and participated
in the development through the stages
of the struggling village, the preten-
tious town to the splendid city. sec
ond in the state. and strictly modern
and progressive that marks it today.
Mr. McDermott was one of the
few remaining connecting links be-
tween the stage coach days when the
land WAS being converted from the
abnrigine and when the bare neces-
stiles of life were the object of Strug-
gle and the present highly cultivated
soil and commercial prosperity that
marks Iowa today.
While ii mere child, with his par
in Il neighboring township of the
county where he attended the bis
trict schools. 1t was on the farm that
Mr.. McDermott grew to manhood. In
1881 he returned to this city and
formed Il partnership known as Me-
Cam & McDermott for the handling
farm implements.
When Mr. Mccain was elected
sheriff, MIR. McDerrnott continued the
business representing in this section
Mccormick 4 Sattley and other man
ufacturers of farm machinery. He
continued the business practically up
hosts of friends by his square deal
ing and genial disposition. and his
business was Il success from the start.
1t was but Il year ago that the
weight OF his more than three score
years and ten began to tell on him.
A week ag" his ailment became SER
Ious ANA he passed peacefully away
as stated Friday afternoon.
Deceased is survived by his Wife.
whose maiden name was Margaret
MrDermott Il mere coincidence. no
relationship existing between the fam
ilies) and eight children. two 9TH
crs having been born to the couple
The survivors are: II. j., Baltimore:
j. A.. Sioux City: Mrs. J. n. F'itzgib-
bon. Davenport; and Miss Ida. Du-
buque. Seven brothers also survive
three having died. The former are:
Edward. William. Ambrose. J. l..
Michael. Joseph. and Matthias. all OF
Dubuque county save Ambrose. who
resides at Clare Iowa.
The funeral was held from the ca
thedral with interment at Mt. Oivet
MRS. r. F. MEAGHER.