Michael O'Connor (1838-1910)

OCONNOR, OCONNOR, TIGHE, BULSING, MCPHILLIPS

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 2/24/2025 at 18:20:59

From Jewell Record April 7, 1910 (page 4)

OBITUARY

Michael O'Connor was born in Cork 1838, and died at the home of his son J. B. O'Connor, in Jewell, on Wednesday, March 30, 1910, at the age of 71 years, 6 months and 1 day.

At the age of 17 he emigrated to America, and located in Batavia, New York, where he resided five years. He then moved to Rockford, Ill., and in 1861 was married at that place. Ten years later, in 1871, he moved to Iowa, locating five miles east of Webster City upon a farm. To Mr. and Mrs. O'Connor seven children were born. Four of them preceded the father to the Great Beyond and in 1884 and his loved wife passed away. The old homestead has always remained in his possession and until his death the old place was his home. There his children were reared to manhood and womanhood, and there with a son Mr. O'Connor made his home. During the past four or five years he had divided his time, living with his children at the farm, in Jewell and Des Moines. The three children who survive him are J. B. O'Connor of Jewell, T. C. O'Connor, residing on the home farm, and Mrs. Tighe, of Des Moines.

Mr. O'Connor, in the thirty-nine years he resided in Hamilton county, was always known as an honest and industrious man, a plain, rugged, hardworking, but always genial and kindly farmer, a good neighbor and a loyal friend. He had in generous measure the traits of the people of his nativity; generous, kindly, cheerful, optimistic, a loyal friend, he was esteemed by everyone as a good man and citizen.

Mr. O'Connor was faithful member of the Catholic church and his remains were laid at rest beside the body of his wife in the Catholic cemetery at Webster City. The funeral services were conducted at the Catholic church in Jewell by Rev. Father Renier of Ames, and at the cemetery brief services were conducted by Rev. Father Norton of Webster City. The services at Jewell were attended by a large crowd of friends and neighbors and the floral offerings spoke eloquently of the regard in which Mr. O'Connor was held. The pall bearers were J. E. Williams, F. J. Glaman, J. S. Smith, Nels Rierson, John Loder, and Peter Rushia. About thirty people accompanied the body to Webster City and attended services at the cemetery: John McPhillips and wife, Miles McPhillips and Herbert Bulsing and wife, nephews and nieces of Mr. O'Connor, and Patrick McPhillips, the husband of his sister, all of near Webster City, and Mr. and Mrs. F. M. Bibler of Kamrar, were among those from out of town who were here in attendance at the funeral services.