Palo Alto Reporter Emmetsburg, Palo Alto, Iowa Friday, May 15, 1896 OBITUARY. Mrs. Ellen Tobin, wife of Thos. Tobin, died at their home in this city, Monday evening, at 10 o'clock. The cause of her death was heart failure. For years she had been ailing, and for eight or ten years she and Mr. Tobin have spent the winters in California for the benefit of her health. They spent last winter there as usual in various places in California and returned to this city, Monday, April 11. The first day after getting home Mrs. Tobin was out of doors, but the next day she did not feel well and gradually grew worse until death summoned her hence, Monday evening. Mrs. Tobin's maiden name was Ellen Laughlin and she was born in the county Kilkenny, Ireland, in the year 1841, consequently was 54 years old at the time of her demise. In 1847 she came to this country with her father and the balance of the family and settled for short time in Massachusetts, but subsequently moved to Illinois, where they resided for about four years. In 1856 the family moved to Palo Alto, being among the very first settlers of the county, and of course shared with others the privations and hardships incident to pioneer life. In 1860 she was married to Mr. Tobin, the ceremony taking place in Ft. Dodge. The young couple started life together on the farm in Nevada township, but in 1893 Mr. Tobin entered the mercantile business in the old town of Emmetsburg, and when the present town was started moved his business over to its present location, thus making them residents of this city since its beginning. Mrs. Tobin was an exemplary woman in many respects. She was quiet and ladylike in her demeanor, always striving to live a conscientious christian life, being a devout member of the Catholic church. She was loved and respected by all who knew her, and her deeds of charity and kindness were proverbial to all but were hampered by failing health. Her death is a severe blow to Mr. Tobin as it deprives him of the companionship of one so dear to him and leaves him to travel down life's pathway along. She also leaves two brothers, Messrs. Lot and John Laughlin, to mourn her loss. The funeral took place Wednesday morning at 10 o'clock from the Catholic church, where solemn requiem high mass was celebrated, Rev. J.J. Smith celebrant assisted by Fathers Costello, Kelly and Carroll. In his remarks Father Smith took occasion to commend Mrs. Tobin for her deeds of love and charity, and said that the beautiful altar in the church dedicated to the blessed Virgin Mary, was the gift of her hand, and that while she had lived she requested him to refrain from making it known to the congregation. At the close of the solemn service the body was laid in its final resting place in St. John's cemetery. [Note: brother Lot's obit states he was born in Castle Warren, Co. Kilkenny in 1839 and that they lived in Worcester, Massachusetts and Elgin, Illinois. Parents were Martin and Mary Laughlin. Corpus Christi RC Church marriage records list date of marriage for Ellen Laughlin & Thomas Tobin as 7 Jan 1860.] FYI-Not related. 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/