Whilst peering at the computer screen this morning through my glasses, I thought of Ellen Quinlan, born in Ireland, married in London, who spent most of the last 30 years or so of her century in Russell --- without the need for specs in all of those 100 years.
That's the sort of detail that found its way into obituaries back in the good old days when the Russell Union-Tribune of February 17, 1927, published an account of her life and death under the simple headline, "Grandma Quinlan."
Ellen was buried in Chariton's Calvary Cemetery after funeral services at Sacred Heart Church, but doesn't have a tombstone. The obituary suggests that she's buried near the grave of her mother, Hanora O'Grady, who died during 1887 and does have a stone --- a large one once topped by a cross that has since tumbled to the ground (above left).
To put Ellen into context for Russell, the late Ivan Ford was her great-grandson. Ellen and her brother, Patrick O'Grady, and her son, John Quinlan, first appear in Russell census records during 1880 when they were living next door to her daughter and son-in-law, Mary (Quinlan) and Patrick Henry Ford. All three men were railroad employees and it probably was that line of work that brought them west from Mount Pleasant, where they had lived first after arriving from Ireland a few years earlier.
I can't account for Ellen's husband, Francis, mentioned only in passing in the obituary. He does not seem to have made it as far as Lucas County, however. Ellen still was living independently in Russell as late as 1914, but spending winters elsewhere with her children. Her final years were spent in Kansas City with Mary and P.H. Ford, who had moved there. Here's Ellen's obituary:
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Mrs. Ellen Quinlan, a resident of Kansas City, Kansas, for the last 15 years, died today at the age of 100 years at the home of her daughter, Mrs. P.H. Ford, 721 Armstrong avenue, Kansas City, Kansas.
Mrs. Quinlan was born December 16, 1826, in Limerick, Ireland. She came to America in 1874, settling in Mount Pleasant, Ia. Later she moved to Russell, Ia., where she lived 25 years before coming to Kansas City.
During her century of life, Mrs. Quinlan never wore glasses. She never had suffered sickness of any kind up until eleven weeks ago, when she contracted the illness which caused her death today. Until she moved to Kansas City, Kans., Mrs. Quinlan maintained her own home at Russell, Ia., taking care of her garden and chickens, and doing her own housework.
She leaves her daughter, Mrs. P.H. Ford; two sisters, Mrs. Katherine O'Brien, Lovilla, Ia., and Mrs. Mary Foley, Omaha, Neb.; a brother, Patrick O'Grady, Chicago; seven grandchildren, Mrs. Thomas Donnell, 356 South Baltimore street, Kansas, City, Kans.; Mrs. O.E. Adams, 215 Armstrong avenue, Kansas City, Kans; Mrs. C.H. McCan, 338 North 7th Street, Kansas City, Kans; Mrs. Harry Simpson, 4214 Highland Avenue; D.B. Ford, Russell, Ia.; J.J. Ford, Longview, Tex.; D.D. Ford, 721 Armstrong Avenue, Kansas City, Kans.; eleven great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services and burial will be held Monday at Chariton, Iowa. --- Kansas City Star.
The funeral services, consisting of solemn high Mass conducted by Rev. Father O'Connor, were held on Monday morning, February 7, at 9 o'clock at the Sacred Heart church in Chariton, and her remains were laid to rest in Calvary cemetery by the side of her mother, son and daughter who had preceded her. The pall bearers were Thomas McAloon, Mike Halpin, James McVey, James Lyons, Herman Steinbach and Frank Steinbach.
Those attending the last rites from a distance were Mr. and Mrs. P.H. Ford, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Simpson, Mrs. O.E. Adams, Kansas City, Kansas; Mr. and Mrs. D.B. Ford and daughter, Miss Carman Ford, of Russell; Mr. and Mrs. Harry O'Donnell and two children, Melcher, Iowa; Mrs. Richard O'Brien, Mrs. James O'Brien, Lovilla, Iowa; Mrs. M.C. Foley and Mrs. Henry Foley, Omaha, Nebraska.
Ellen O'Grady was the eldest of 11 children born to James and Hannah O'Grady. Her mother lived to the age of 96 years.
She was married in London, England, in 1853 to Francis Quinlan. To this union six children were born, all of whom except Mrs. Ford had preceded her in death. In early life they crossed the waters to America and since that time her adopted land has been her home. She was a lady of high character and courage and has left that imprint upon her descendants, belonging to that sturdy time to which we owe the greatness of our republic and the justness of its institutions.
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