Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1921-07-20
FORMER RESIDENT DEAD
John Mcmahon, a Pioneer Decorahian
Passed Away at Plainview,
Nebraska.

The death of John Mcmahon,
former Decorahian, occurred recent
in Plainview, Neb. He was brothe
in law of Mrs. Kate Wells, of De
corah, and will be remembered b
many of our older residents. TIL
News of Plainview gives the follow
ing particulars of his death:
John Mcmahon, Pioneer, Passes To
His Eternal Rest.
Died, at his home in this city,
Friday, July LIST, John Mcmahon,
aged seventy-four years. one
month and twenty-six days, after
an illness from chronic heart
disease covering period of about
six months.
John Mcmahon was born on the
9th day of May, lS47, in the town
of Killatee and Parish of Drum
COON, county of Cavan, Ireland.
He emigrated from Ireland to the
United States on the 9Th day of
MAY, 1865, when he was 81 years
of age, remaining in the eastern
states until the LIST of February,
1869. Then he moved to DEBORAH,
Iowa, where he was united in
marriage to Miss Sarah Mozart
on the 1st day of May, 1884. I'M
mediately following their we'd
ding they moved to Plainview,
locating on a homestead in Ante
lope county, where they made
their home prior to their removal
to this city. To this union were
born seven children, Florence A.
Mcmahon, Mildred Schultze of
Brunswick Mary Ellen Foft of
Douglas, Wyoming, Charles By
ron Mcmahon of Stanton, Colon
j. and John Edward of this city
and William Cornelius, deceased.
The funeral services were held
from the Catholic church in
this city Sunday morning at $3.50
o'clock, with Father Brady in
charge, after which the remains
were buried in the cemetery one
mile north of town.
He came TO this section of the
state penniless and withstood the
hardships of the early pioneer.
and through untiring efforts he
was able to amass comfortable
portion of this worlds goods. Ow-
ing 10 his advanced age, greater
portion of his late life was de-
voted to the writing of farm IN
surance, while the work on the
farms was left TO his sons.
Another name is stricken from
the ever lessening roll of our old
settlers, and a solitary woman IN
the sunset of life and lonely
home, are left to attest how sadly
they will miss him. 1t must be
so; these tender. human ties can
not be severed without a pang.
Yet in such a death there is
really no cause for grief. His life
work was done, and done well. He
had passed to a ripe old age, and
wearied with life's duties and
cares, weary of suffering and
waiting, he lay down to rest. He
was q man who united sound
sence with strong convictions, and
a candid outspoken temper, emin-
entity IlIteu TO lnOulu LIe Iudc ere
ments Of pioneer society into form
and consistency and aid in raising
q high standard of citizenship in
our young and growing state.
Hoy- much this community owes
him and such as he, it is inn
possible to estimate, though 1T
would be a grateful task to trace
his influence through some of the
more direct channels, to hold him
up in these degenerate days, in
his various characters of hus-
band, father, Of neighbor and
friend, to speak of the sons and
daughters he has reared to per-
petuate his name and emulate his
virtues. But it comes not within
the scope of this brief article to
DO SO. Suffice it to say, he lived
nobly and died peacefully.
In the death of. their beloved
one, the bereaved relatives have
the heartfelt sympathy of the en-
tire town and community