Sunday's Obituary - Timothy Creeden

This obituary for my 2x great-grandfather Timothy Creeden confirms a lot of the information I'd pieced together from probate records. Finally, some proof that I have the correct family! While it doesn't mention his father Patrick by name, it mentions his sister Julia. An unexpected surprise was the story of his immigration to the US. Timothy was only 3 years old when he arrived at the Port of New Orleans with his 7 year old sister Julia. The two children traveled under the care of a friend. That places their immigration date somewhere between March 1849 - March 1850.

The obituary was published in the Celina Democrat on December 21, 1899. Much thanks to the Ohio History Connection for scanning the microfilm pages for me. The Celina Democrat is available online at Chronicling America for the years 1910-1918. The Ohio History Connection has additional years available on microfilm, starting with 1898.

          
  Timothy Creeden, a well-known citizen of this city. died last Thursday. Dec.14 of consumption. He was born In Ireland March 23. 1846. Mr. Creeden's father was a sturdy Irishman. who sought relief from the oppression of England. and came to this country to prepare a home for the wife and children. Shortly after he arrived in this country the wife died and the children were sent for. Timothy Creeden was three years old when. In company with his sister Julia. they sailed for America under the care of a friend. They were met at New Orleans by their father and they came up the river and settled at Wilmington. Ohio. Here the early youth of the deceased was spent and the character moulded. On December 10, 1868, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Matson. Rev. Father Donahue officiating. Of this union ten children were born, eight of whom survive him -- Mrs. Mary Fischer, Daniel, Dennis, Edward. Charles, Julia, Idabelle and Joshua. In 1883? they moved to this county and have resided here ever since.  He was a kind and loving husband and father and an upright citizen. Funeral services were held at the Catholic Church last Sunday.
  Mr. Creeden had heen a member of the Catholic Knights of Ohio for the past six years and his heirs will draw from the organization the sum of two thousand dollars. He was the first member of the local organization to die.

    Dear father, thou hast left me.
      Hast gone to thy eternal home.
    Where we expect to meet you.
      And meet to part no more.

  Mrs. Mary Creeden and children desire to express their heartfelt thank to those who so kindly assisted them during the illness and after the death of their husband and father.

Source:  Timothy Creeden obituary, The Celina Democrat, Celina, OH, December 21, 1899, p.1, col. 6, para. 6, Microfilm Roll: 24013, digital images scanned by The Ohio History Connection on October 21, 2015.