Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 229, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 September 1913 — Obituary of Mrs. Martha Donnelly. [ARTICLE]

Obituary of Mrs. Martha Donnelly.

Mrs. Martha Donnelly was born in Manchester, England, June 26, 1836, being the daughter of John arid Jane Monaghan, and the oldest of nine children, all of whom are dead except two, Mrs. J. K. Sterns, of Hollis, Long Island, and Miss Susan Monaghan, of this city. On July 4, 1848, when twelve years of age, she sailed from Liverpool, England, and seven weeks later arrived in New York City, where she. lived for six years, moving thence to New Haven, Conn. In 1853 she was married to Patrick Donnelly, of Brooklyn. They moved to Jersey City, N. J., living thfh'e two years and then moved to Detroit, Mich., where they lived -for four years and then moved to Ypsilanti, living there nine years and coming to Rensselaer in 1868. After a residence of two months in this place they moved to the old Donnelly homestead, north of this city. Mr. Donnelly died here on June 28, 1880, and she continued to live on the farm until 1891, when she went to Chicago and resided for six months. Returning here in August, 1891, she had a house built'on Forest street, where her son, Ralph/ now resides, and lived iiuthis house until the time of her death, although she did not die there, having gone a few> days prior to death to the home of her daughter, Mrs. James Walter, on Main street. Her death was due to hardening of the arteries, bright’s disease and heart trouble. She died Monday night, Sept. 22nd, at the age Of 77 years, 2 months and 27 days. All of the ten children except Will were with her when she died and he arrived the next day. The funeral was held Wednesday morning, Sept. 24th, at St. Augustine’s Catholic church at .9 o’clock. Interment was made in Weston cemetery beside the grave of her husband. The children in order of age are: James and Alfred Donnelly, of Rensselaer: Mrs. Mary Ropp, of Barkley township; Mrs. Martha Butler, of Chicago; Frank Donnelly, of Rensselaer; Will Donnelly, of Houston, Texas; Mrs. Anna Kiper, of Plymouth; Mrs. Lucy Walter, Mrs. Etta Beck and Ralph Donnelly, of Rensselaer.