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From: "Cathy Joynt Labath" <>
Subject: [IA-IRISH] Dawson Obit and Flynn Trip - 1904
Date: Sun, 26 Nov 2006 17:05:30 -0600

Emmetsburg Democrat; Emmetsburg, Palo Alto, Iowa; Wednesday, July 20, 1904

Another Pioneer Passes Away.
Mr. Thomas Dawson, one of the pioneers of Palo Alto county, died at
his home at mallard Thursday evening, at 7:00 after a brief illness, though
he had not been in good health for seven or eight months. The funeral was
held Saturday. Services were conducted at the Catholic church of that place
by Father Roesler, the pastor. There was a large turnout, many friends and
neighbors from this city being in attendance. The pallbearers were Patrick
and J.T. Mulroney, William and Thomas Shea, W. Lodes and John Mertes, all of
whom had been devoted friends of the deceased for many years. The remains
were laid to rest in the Catholic cemetery at that place.
Thomas Dawson was born in the county of Kilkenny, Ireland, in 1819,
making him 85 years of age at the time that he was summoned to eternal rest.
He left his native land at the age of 19, shortly before the great tide of
emigration to the western world. He landed at Halifax. He was married at
Mineral Point, Wisconsin, in 1852, to Mary Brophy. Previous to that time he
had lived for awhile at Milwaukee. Six years later MR. and Mrs. Dawson came
to Palo Alto county and located on a farm in Nevada township. This was but
two years after the original Irish colony was founded on the banks of the
Des Moines northwest of this city. There was one settlement at the latter
named place, one in Nevada township, which was known in the early days as
"28", because of the number of the section where the first location was
made, and one in West Bend township. The following year the census was taken
and there were only 131 people in the entire county. The total products of
the county that year were 2507 bushels of corn, and 2965 bushels of
potatoes, with possibly some wheat and oats. Such was the section now known
as thrifty and populous Palo Alto when Mr. and Mrs. Dawson came here to make
their home. Those were times when friends were prized and when acts of
neighborliness were not likely to be forgotten. And they have not faded from
the memories of the few who still survive to relate the trials, the
hardships and the triumphs of those years that wil live in local history.
The county was organized in 1858 and in the first election, which was held
in October of that year, Mr. Dawson was elected a member of the board of
supervisors. He served his fellow citizens conscientiously and faithfully
and ever retained the confidence of those who mingled with him in pioneer
life.
Thirteen sons and daughters were born to Mr and Mrs. Dawson seven of
whom survive. There are two sons, Thomas and P.F., who are among the
respected and substantial business men of Mallard. There are five daughters.
They are Mrs. J.J. Mullen and Mrs H. Frost, of Waterloo, Mrs. J. Dawson, of
Colorado, Mrs. P. Duffy, of Mallard, and Miss Kate, who is still at home.
All were present to attend the funeral except Mrs. Mullen and Mrs. Frost,
who could not be present.
For 46 years Mr. Dawson toiled tirelessly and judiciously to build up the
county of which he was one of the founders. He was among those who led the
way of progress. He lived to see his fondest hopes crowned with success.
What achievements those 46 years witnessed in the world about him. He did
his part cheerfully and without ostentation. He was a manly, upright citizen
and was one of the most provident and dutiful of husbands and fathers. All
who knew him honored him, because he was a man of the highest integrity. The
community that knew him so long and so favorably mourns his death in union
with those whose hearts have been saddened by his passing from the scenes of
eartly care and weariness.

WRITES OF EMERALD ISLE
Charles Flynn Writes a Most Interesting Letter Concerning his Visit to
Ireland.
HIS RETURN TRIP DELIGHTFUL.
But Crew Was Made up of Mostly Foreigners, Which is Not So Agreeable to an
Iowan.

Editor Democrat: I returned from Ireland Thursday morning after an
absence of six weeks. I found the return trip most agreeable. The weather
was bright and pleasant and the ocean was smooth. Not more than a dozen on
board were sea sick on the voyage However, the trip was in some respects
more agreeable going than it was returning. In going the passengers were
mostly Americans or people who had become accustomed to our habits and
customs In returning the passengers were largely foreigners and as such were
not so companionable. Nor were they as well cared for by the ship's crew,
though I will say as a whole the officers and the people who work on the
boat are as civil as one could expect. They are punctual and sympathetic and
everything goes like clock work.
I wish to speak at length of many things in Ireland that came under my
observation and which may prove interesting to your readers.
Conditions, of course, have changed greatly since I left my native
land 25 years ago. The people have more advantages and more privileges. The
world has been moving onward and England could not keep the people under her
flag entirely out of the procession. The readers of the Democrat are aware
of the new land bill that was recently enacted. Some have already made
purchases under this measure, though as a rule, private ownership has not
yet made much headway. This will come in the course of time. But the land
holders are stiffening in their demands and will be benefited by the people's
delay. The average farm in the county of Cork, where my people live,
comprises from 30 to 60 acres. A farmer with 60 acres keeps perhaps 20 cows.
He sells his calves when they are from six to eight months old, at good
prices, and he sends his milk to the creamery twice every day. He also
raises considerable grain and hay and plenty of potatoes. The land is well
tilled and everything is saved. Hay is now stored in barns on many farms.
The only wonder is how people have saved their fodder so well heretofore
because of the frequent rains. Some hay had been made when I left Ireland
and I ate some new potatoes the day I was at Hollyhead, but they were very
small. Grain will be ready to harvest about September 1st.
The past six weeks have been the finest that Ireland has had for a
year. There was very little rain while I was there and people were feeling
encouraged. They credited me with bringing them warmth and enthusiasm.
I found the climate delightful. I perspired only once while on my
visit, which shows how mild the temperature is.
One thing I noticed in particular and that is the irregularity of the
people in doing their daily work and their chores and in going to meals.
They have their own time and, while many of them toil hard, they are not
obliged to do everything at the right time as is the case in this country.
Besides, they do not always work to the best advantage. There is a great
deal in knowing how to make time and effort count. This is where the
American excels. I reminded my old neighbors and friends of this fact and
they felt thankful to me for my suggestions. I understand that this is true
of working people in most countries of Europe. They do not do their work
with anything like the ease that the Yankee does. You should not forget that
we are all called "Yanks" on the other side of the water. Imagine what I
would have said had some one called me a Yankee before I left Emmetsburg.
However, you will see a great deal of American farm machinery in
Ireland. I noticed McCormick, Deering, Plano, and other familiar farm
implements at various places, but of course they are not in use to such a
general extent as they are in this country, for as a rule the Irish farmer I
far behind the Palo Alto tiller of the soil. American implements sell there
at about the same figures that they do here.
I did not notice any clothing stores in Ireland. Every small town has
several tailors who will take your measure and make you a suit. N this
account clothes are not any cheaper there than they are here, because in
this country they are made in large quantities and largely by the aid of
machinery. The same is true of boots and shoes, though I noticed American
ready made shoes in several stores. The Irish shoe makers and tailors do not
give you as good a fit as our American tradesmen, for the reason that they
are not so closely in tough with the world of change and fashion as is the
Yankee.
Laborers are scarce in Ireland because of the great emigration to this
and other countries during the past thirty years. Hence wages are pretty
good, comparatively speaking and living is cheap because personal needs are
not so many as on this side of the Atlantic.
I felt an interest in the creameries in the section I visited. They
are operated and conducted very much on the same plan that they are here but
there seems to be half a dozen people working in each plant. This is more
evidence of the ease, readiness and cheapness with which Americans do their
work.
The Emerald Isle has splendid macadamized roads. They were made to
last and are very substantial. I had the use of a speedy horse and turnout
while there and I traveled a great deal through the country viewing old
familiar scenes and visiting relatives and friends. Throughout the world
the Irish people are noted for their friendship and their hospitality, but
nowhere have I observed them so genial and open hearted as in their own
country My stay was one continued round of pleasure.
Ireland is covered with villages, which are from two to four miles
apart. Every village has its own post office, a few business houses, a
church and school. Of course the great majority of the churches are
Catholic. The schools are mostly in the villages. Male teachers have charge
of the boys and the girls are taught by ladies. In many places there are
excellent Catholic schools taught by the religious orders, but they are not
so numerous as one would think in a country whose people are almost
exclusively of one faith. The ordinary schools are national schools and are
supported by public taxation. The discipline in these schools is good and
the rules exacting. Ireland has made great progress in educational affairs
during the past thirty years. A couple of centuries ago, history tells us,
it was a crime punishable by death for a school master to follow his calling
in that country because of the English penal code.
But Ireland has some advantages not possessed by us. It has the postal
telegraph system. You can send a message from a postoffice in the island and
have it delivered to a farmer or any one else living within a radius of
three miles of the office for the small sum of twelve cents. In our own
country the Western Union Telegraph company does what the government ought
to do and the expense of such service costs from $1.75 to $2.50 and $3.00,
depending on the distance it is to be sent after it is received. The Irish
farmers also have had free rural mail delivery for many years- a blessing
the Iowa farmer is just beginning to enjoy.
Cork, like Dublin, is a large, thirfty, neat, up-to-date city. Most of
the business buildings are modern and the streets are well paved and clean.
One can see as good a display in the window of a business house at Cork as
he can in Chicago or New York thought it would not be so large. The business
people are exceedingly courteous, though they quickly detect you, if you are
an American, and you need not be surprised if some of them charge you
American prices. In the hotels and restaurants, you pay practically the same
prices for meals that you do here, though the cooking will not please you
quite so well as will ordinary American victuals. Mutton is much more
plentiful than beafsteak.
Cork is a place of 80,000 people, but it has poor newspapers. The
editors are able, but the publisher has not the taste for news that the
American has. There is more real news in the Emmetsburg Democrat than in the
Cork Examiner and its advertisements are neater and better arranged. One don't
understand how to appreciate local journalistic enterprise until he has
traveled a distance from home.
Everywhere you find people interested in our great country. One
English gentleman whom I met ridiculed our divorce laws. I told him that I
did not approve of them. He informed me that there are no divorce laws in
Ireland. Release from the marriage bond in that country must be by a special
act of parliament. Though I was perhaps more opposed to divorce than he was,
it is not a pleasure to have American laws and customs criticised in a
foreign land. I got even with him by telling him that our country did not
have to be policed to maintain order. I told him that in my home city of
nearly 3,000 people we had only one day policeman, or marshal, and one night
watch, and that they were very seldom called into service. He seemed
astonished at this. I also made other comparisons that did not add to his
peace of mind.
After I had spent ten days with my father, who is 85, an and uncle,
who is 96, both of whom are strong and hearty, and with my brothers and
sister, I took the train to Dublin. I enjoyed the trip. The scenery was
beautiful and I saw some fine fields and pastures. In four hours and forty
minutes I reached the capital and as I alighted I ran across a gentleman
whom I had met on the Lucania. Greetings and a brief chat were of course
enjoyed. I took the belt line for the North Wall pier. I passed by
Glasnevin, that ancient Irish cemetery. It contain the resting place of many
patriots whose names will live in history for centuries to come. The place
is a most interesting one to visit, but as my time was limited, I could not
tarry long. By a little strategy, I was enabled to take passage on a
transport for Hollyhead, Wales. Dublin has a good harbor. In it can be found
two kinds of water, fresh and salt. The fresh is from the Liffey river and
the salt from the Irish sea which is almost about three miles distant. In
going out you can see the Hills of Howth on the north and the Wicklow
mountains on the west. It took us four hours and forty minutes to get to
Hollyhead. It was a pleasant trip and the sea was mild and beautiful. As
soon as you have lost sight of Ireland you can see the hills near Hollyhead.
When we reached there, I went to the Royal hotel owned by the London &
Northwestern Railway company. It is an immense structure and is conducted by
the company. About 70 people are employed in it. Miss Elizabeth Jones,
sister to Peter E. Jones, of Emmetsburg, has charge of it. I had a letter of
introduction and Miss Jones was quickly notified by the porter than an
American gentleman was in the hall and wished to see her. It is needless to
say that I was a welcome caller, because I was from Emmetsburg where her
brother is engaged in business. She is a cultured, benevolent lady and
spared no effort to make my brief stay agreeable I shall never forget my
pleasant trip to Hollyhead and the hospitable entertainment I received.
The next day I returned to Dublin and spent five hours in the capital.
I visited many places of business as well as historic interest. It is a
pretty city of 260,000 people. The streets are wide and clean. There are
some very fine public buildings and edifices in Dublin, among which might be
mentioned the Four Courts, Trinity college, St. Patrick's cathedral, founded
in 1190 and the church of St Savior. In the latter named edifice I saw the
sacrifice of the mass offered up on three different altars at the same time.
The city has splendid electric street cars that are run on the
American plan. In the business houses you can see American bacon, hams,
flour, etc. Dublin has the finest horse I ever saw. I thought New York took
the cake in this particular, but when I reached the city on the Liffey I
changed my mind. I visited Castle Yard and was courteously received, because
of being a "Yankee". Nelson monument to be seen on the streets of Dublin,
which is 134 feet high, is interesting to all travelers, but those of O'Connell
and Grattan were more pleasing to me. I had to hurry back to Milford, and
was unable to see other places I had planned on visiting. Besides, one soon
becomes weary of sight seeing and yearns to return to the familiar scenes of
home. Such was my experience.
Several days later I made adieu to the faces and scenes I may never
behold again and was soon on my way to Queenstown to set sail for fair
Columbia. I felt lonesome, of course, when leaving those whose love and
affection I had cherished so tenderly from childhood, but an American little
realizes the pride with which his heart swells as he starts back over the
depths of the mighty Atlantic or the land over which floats the glorious
stars and stripes.
CHARLES FLYNN.


Returned from Ireland Thursday
Charles Flynn returned from Ireland Thursday morning. He had a most
delightful trip, but is pleased to be home again He brought with him some
beautiful views of Dublin, Cork, Queenstown, and the lakes of Killarney, and
many other souvenirs that he will long treasure. He favored the Democrat
with a handsome paper weight showing St. Patrick's street in Cork. He also
brought us a copy of the Cunard Daily Bulletin, which is printed regularly
on the vessel on which he came It contains all the important messages
received on board by the means of wireless telegraphy, and other
information. It sells for five cents per copy. This is an advantage that was
not enjoyed by people who crossed the ocean two or three years ago.
Elsewhere in this issue appears a second letter from Mr. Flynn describing
his trip and the interesting things that came under his observation.


Cathy Joynt Labath
Irish in Iowa
http://www.celticcousins.net/irishiniowa/index.htm
Palo Alto Co, IA USGenWeb Project
http://www.celticcousins.net/paloalto/index.htm
Iowa Old Press
http://www.IowaOldPress.com/

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• [IA-IRISH] Dawson Obit and Flynn Trip - 1904 by "Cathy Joynt Labath" <>