Posted on: PaloAlto County Obituaries Reply Here: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Ia/PaloAltoObits/485 Surname: Crowley, Jackman, Nolan, Mulroney, Shea, McEvoy, White, Kirkwood, Carter, Laughlin, Ingham, O'Connell ------------------------- Emmetsburg Democrat, Thursday, December 20, 1928 J. P. Crowley Last Border Brigade Survivor Passes Came to County 1856. Resided Here 72 Years. Had a Long, Interesting Career. Early Thursday morning our citizens were painfully surprised to learn that J. P. Crowley who had not been able to be about for some time, had passed away during the night. The funeral was held Saturday forenoon. Services were conducted in the Assumption church, Very Rev. J. G. Murtagh officiating in a requiem high mass. He spoke at some length concerning Mr. Crowley's active association with the organization and early growth of our county, his loyalty and generosity to this church during his long and interesting career, his patriotic defense of the early settlers of this section of the state against the Indian uprising during the Civil War and his many redeeming qualities as a citizen. The burial was in the family lot in St. John's cemetery. There was a large attendance of relatives and friends, a number coming from Mallard, Whittemore, Graettinger, Humboldt, Algona and other places. The pall bearers were P. V. Nolan, Joseph Mulroney, P. C. Jackman, Frank Mulroney and Leo Shea of this commuinty and E. J. McEvoy of Algona. J. P. Crowley was born at Brandon, County Cork, Ireland, November 29, 1844. His age was 84. He came to the United States with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jeremiah Crowley in 1846. They located in Walnut township, this county, in the fall of 1856. They lived on a farm northwest of the site of the original Irish colony. Mr. Crowley attended the first school taught in our county by James P. White and Mrs. P. C. Jackman. Many other young people of the community, who are now aged men and women were pupils. The school building was located on the Wm. Jackman farm west of the Des Moines river. Mr. Crowley, whose father aided in the organization of our county, joined the Northern Border Brigade, which was organized in 1862, by S. R. Ingham of Des Moines, under the direction of Governor Kirkwood. Other members from this county were Fayette Carter, P. R. Jackman, Lott Laughlin, Keiron Mulroney and Joseph Mulroney. They served under Captain W. H. Ingham, father of Harvey Ingham of the Daily Register. They were stationed at Ft. Defiance where Estherville now stands. They made trips regularly when necessary to points east and west. They guarded carefully the early settlers of this section of the state from the Indians, who were active and very troublesome in southern Minnesota. At that time there were less than 150 inhabitants in our county. Many of them were of course women and children. Mr. Crowley was united in marriage in the old church in this community May 3, 1875, to Miss Mary E. White. They subsequently made their home in this city. For a number of years they conducted a hotel north of the Milwaukee depot near the present location of the Simonsen oil station. Later Mr. Crowley followed other lines of activity until advancing years compelled him to retire. Mrs. Crowley passed away on March 27, 1922. Mr. Crowley's death is mourned by four daughters - Mrs. Peter Mulroney of Mallard and Misses Julia, Catherine and Sara, all of whom are well known to our many local citizens. Miss Sara has of late been teaching at Corning, Iowa, while Miss Catherine has been on the Emmetsburg public schools teaching force for many years. His death is also mourned by one sister - Mrs. Ellen O'Connell, of Redfield, South Dakota. Mr. Crowley was one of the few surviving gentlemen who located in our county 72 years ago. He went through all of the hardships that were experienced by the many men and women of his time and he contributed willingly, cheerfully and generously towards the development and upbuilding of northwest Iowa. In the dark days of 1862-65, when Palo Alto and neighboring counties required military protection from the dangers that threatened them, he offered heroically his services to the great state of which he was a citizen. He served as a soldier with distinction and with high honor. He is probably the last of the survivors of the historic Northern Border Brigade. Mr. Crowley, during his long and eventful life, met every requirement of uplifting society and of good citizenship. He was a provident homemaker, a faithful husband, a loving, considerate father and a most exemplary and dutiful member of the church to which he belonged. The high standing of his four daughters speak more for his worth as a member of society than can be penned in a few short sentences. Our citizens all learn with deep regret of Mr. Crowley's passing and their sympathy goes out to the sorrowing members of his good family.