Marshall County KS Archives Obituaries.....Shaughnessy, Michael June 21, 1906
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/ks/ksfiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Crystal Schulte crystal.schulte@gmail.com November 18, 2006, 8:42 am

Axtell Anchor, Thursday, June 21, 1906
Answers Death's Call.

Michael Shaughnessy Passes Away at the Age of Eighty-One.

Death claimed another one of our old and most respected settlers on Wednesday
evening, June 13, in the person of Michael Shaughnessy, who died rather suddenly
at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Barney Myers, south of St. Bridget.

Mr. Shaughnessy apparently enjoyed good health until a few hours before his
death, when he seemed to suddenly collapse from a weak heart, the result of old
age.

The funeral services were conducted at the St. Bridget Catholic church on Friday
morning at 10:00 o'clock.  Requiem High Mass was celebrated by Rev. P.R. O
Sullivan.  While delivering the funeral sermon Father O'Sullivan took occasion
(for the benefit of the living) to speak in the highest terms of the integrity,
kindness and great christian charity of his former friend and parishoner.

Interment was made in the St. Bridget cemetery beside his beloved wife, who
preceded him twenty years to the home beyond.

Deceased was born in County Galway, Ireland, in 1825, and came to the United
States in 1849.  he was married to Miss Ellen Ryan in Madison, Ind., in 1852. 
To this union eight children were born.  The eldest died in infancy, and Edward,
who was one of the foremost citizens of St. Bridget, died about eight years ago.
 The remaining children are: Michael Shaughnessy, of Kansas city, Mo.; James
Shaughnessy, Mrs. Barney Myers, Mrs. Patrick Lynch, Mrs. Wm. T. Gossin, all of
St. Bridget, and Mrs. Patrick Loob, of Axtell.

All the children of the deceased and their families and the family of the
deceased Edward, including all together forty two grandchildren, attended the
funeral which was one of the largest ever witnessed in St. Bridget.

Mr. Shaughnessy, like many other hardy youngsters of his time, who were full of
energy, hope, ambition and indomitable courage, took Horace Greeley's advice and
came west.  he, in company with his young wife, settled on a farm near St.
Bridget fifty years ago, when that part of the country was a howling wilderness,
with all kinds of native wild animals and treacherous Indians roaming through at
will.  In this wilderness there was at that time no railroad, no town, no
school, no church, no doctor nor resident clergyman nearer than the Missouri
river.  It was under such adverse circumstances as these that he and his
estimable wife raised a good, christian family.

The sacrifices of personal comforts be made and the hardships of the pioneer
life, which necessarily he endured for more than a quarter century, while
contributing the flower of his manhood in helping to convert this part of Kansas
from the wilderness that it was to the garden spot that it now is, with all its
modern conveniences, can never be realized by his grandchildren and the modern
settlers.

Mr. Shaughnessy was noted for his integrity, industry, kindness and charity. 
His word was his bond.  By frugality and good business judgment he succeeded in
securing a goodly share of this world's goods.  his generous helping hand was
never closed against the needy, nor refused assistance to any worthy cause or
request, and was often extended voluntarily where he anticipated i would do good.  

He died full of years and honor, beloved by all who knew him.  

May he rest in peace.

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ks/marshall/obits/s/shaughne367ob.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/ksfiles/

File size: 3.9 Kb