Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1923-05-03
Ann O'COnnOr, Pioneer
Resident, Passed Away
HER DEATH OCCURRED AT EAU
CLAIRE, MONDAY, APRIL 80
AT AGE OF 80


Mrs. John O'Connor, one OF the pio-
neer residents of Eagle River, passed
away Monday night April 80, at the
advanced age of over 80 years, at the
home of her daughter, Mrs, E. H. Don
neIlan of Eau Claire. General debility
due to old age was given as the cause
of her death, although up until the
last two months the aged lady had
enjoyed exceptionally good health
The remains were brought here
Wednesday afternoon and laid to rest
in the village cemetery beside her
husband who preceded her in death
twenty-four years ago. Funeral SER
vices at the graveside were conducted
by Rev. Arthur Shank Of st. Peters
Catholic church. Pail bearers were the
three sons, Don, Walter and George,
w. ]. Walsh, G. F. Sanborn and Finn
Lawler.
Ann Golden, daughter of William
and Molly Flatley Golden, was born
in Parish Templeboy, County of Sligo,
Ireland, on October 10, 1888. The fam
lily came to the United States in 1847
and lived in New York for two years,
moving west to Green Bay Wisconr
sin in 1S49 It was at the latter place
that Ann Golden was married to John
O'Connor in the old French church on
November 27th, 1854.
From Green Bay the family moved
to Eau Claire and made their home
there until 1883. In April of that year
John O'Connor and his son George
came north to Eagle River seeking a
location to which the family was
brought the following August
Ten children we're born: Mary,
(Irs. A. M. McArthur) Elgin. Illinois;
William Edward, deceased and buried
here; Ellen Belle, (Mrs. Dr. G. M. Cal
bert) deceased and buried at Eau
Claire; Anna (Mrs. E. H. Donnellan)
Eau Claire; George Edward, district
attorney Eagle River; Matilda, (Mrs.
A. H Hayden) Chicago; G. H. O'Con-
nor who died in 1910 and was buried
at Rhinelander; twin brothers, DR..
Walter F. of Ladysmith, and DR.. Don
j. of Appleton; and Harriet, (Mrs. d.
E. Riordan) Milwaukee.
The record of the O'Connor family
is indelibly linked with the early day
history of Eagle River. John O'Con-
nor built the first log school house in
the village. He donated the site and
was instrumental in securing the first
4-room school and later Groom
school on the site where the high
school now stands. Through all these
years he had a worthy and influen-
tial helpmeet in Ann O'Connor. Their
influence extended to the three church
es then here, the Catholic, Congre-
gational and Lutheran, sites being do
mated by the O'Connors for their use
and Mrs. O'Connor contributed in
many other ways to the welfare Of
their work. A large portion of the vii
lage is now included in land once own
ed by them, being recorded now as
Ann O'Connor's Addition
John O'Connor died July 4th, 1899.
Ann O'Connor was a type of the
sturdy pioneer whose influence and
unflinching devotion to her family and
their welfare did great deal towards
making the community, then in the
height of the logging industry, bet
ter place in which to live, Physically
she was a strong able woman, and
the same may be, said of her mental
powers. In spite of her advanced age
of SO years she took great interest in
current affairs and until the two
months preceding her death was ac-
tive in many circles. Her mind was
clear to the end. For thirty years
Eagle River was her home, she TAX
ing up her residence with her chill
dren continuously about ten years
ago, spending some time with each.
Death occurred at the home OF her
daughter, Mrs. E. H. Donnellan at
Eau Claire.
Of sturdy Irish descent and living
through periods of history of this
country that meant so much to its
present day development she had a
true conception of patriotism, the real
ization of which was brought home
forcibly to those surrounding her dur
ing the trying times of the late war.
BY her many acts and her deep in
terest in her country at all times she
has earned the title of the true pat
riot And with that must be said that
she was a Christian, devoted to the
welfare of her frineds and neighbors
with the true womanly spirit. Hers
was a life long lived and well spent.
The community she called her own
was bettered by her living in it.
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