SP Gazette 14 Aug 1907 Well Known Resident of Town of Buena Vista Passes Away – Funeral Held Tuesday Forenoon The announcement of the death of Daniel O’Connell, of Buena Vista, one of the best known and most highly respected farmers in Portage county, comes as a shock to friends and acquaintances wherever his name is known. For several months Mr O’Connell had not been in the best of health, and about two months ago, accompanied by his wife, went to visit his son, Rev. G. J. O’Connell, of Maple Grove, Manitowoc county. Previous to that time he was ill with the grip and seemed to gradually fail. It was therefore thought that a change in environment might prove beneficial. Physicians and specialist from Milwaukee, Manitowoc and elsewhere were consulted, his ailment at first being pronounced cancer, but later this idea was abandoned. The patient was unable to retain any food, constantly growing weaker, and members of the family were sent for, his son Charles, coming from Locke, Wash., where he had been for the past three years. On Monday of last week Mr O’Connell decided to come back, saying that if he could not live he wished to die at home. He arrived in Buena Vista that day, was able to be around the balance of the week, riding out nearly every day, and was feeling so well on Saturday that his son drove over to Bancroft on business and remained there a part of the afternoon. When he returned at about 6 o’ clock he found that his father was much worse and the latter gradually grew weaker until he passed away at 11:30 o’clock Saturday night. Daniel O’Connell was born in County Tipperary, Ireland, and was nearly 67 years of age. When a young man, about 16 years of age, he came to America, landing at New York, where he remained a short time and then went south to Newport, Ky., where he resided for about three years and enlisted in the Union army, serving for three years and four months in Company E, U. S. Artillery. After his term of service, at the close of the war, he went to Wilmington, Del., and was married to Miss Mary Tracy, at Philadelphia, Pa., May 28, 1865. Soon thereafter they came to Portage county and for the past 41 years had lived on the farm on which he died. Mr and Mrs O’Connell were the parents of nine children, two of whom died in infancy, and those who survive besides the widow are Rev. G. J. O’Connell, pastor of the Catholic church at Maple Grove, Mrs P. H Sullivan of Lanark, Mrs A F. Quaill of Hayward, Daniel O’Connell of Bayfield, Charles, who is at home, Mrs Edward Murphy of Montello and Mrs Chas O’Connor of Portage. A sister and one brother, David, neither of whom has been heard from for many years, are supposed to reside in New York city. During his army service Mr O’Connell took part in many battles of the civil war, being at the siege of Vicksburg for seven days, and at another time had his horse shot from under him, the animal receiving seven bullets in its body. He also had several other narrow escapes, but was never wounded. Mr O’Connell was a man of ready wit and dry humor, and being the possessor of a good education, kept abreast of the times with everything transpiring. He was wide-awake in business, a practical, progressive farmer, and was eminently successful, having one of the best farms in the county. He was also kind and courteous, a friend who never forgot a favor and always tried to do what he believed was right and just. A good husband and dutiful father, an obliging neighbor and honored citizen has passed to his reward. Being a man who always enjoyed good health previous to his late illness, and still less than three score years, and ten, his friends had hoped that he would be spared to enjoy a n umber of more years of usefulness, and are consequently the more grieved at his departure.

Looking for Haskett, Gleason, Howard, Commons all in Tipperary. Catholic parish of Balina-Bohr Civil parish Templeachelly. Dan Walker