Sunday's Obituary - Charles Niehaus

This obituary was published in The Celina Advocate in Ohio on July 28, 1906.

OLD RESIDENT

Passed Away Last Tuesday Night at His Home in This City

   Charles Niehaus, aged 75 years, died at his home on the corner of Sugar and Wayne streets, last Tuesday evening after an illness with stomach trouble. Deceased was born in Alderburg, Germany, and for forty years, twenty-five of which were spent in Celina, he has been a resident of Mercer county.  He was greatly respected by a large acquaintance, was a kind neighbor, a devoted husband and indulgent father, and his death is mourned by a large number outside of the family circle.
   He leaves a wife and five children-- Henry and Barney, of this place, Mrs. Joe Schratz, of Pocahontas, Arkansas; Mrs. John Brock, of Coldwater, and Mrs. Ed Fetters, of Dayton.
   Funeral took place from the Catholic church on last Friday morning and interment was in the Catholic cemetery.

Charles was my 3x great-grandfather and his son Henry was my 2x great-grandfather. Charles was married to Catharina Margaretha Panschard in Germany. She died in 1874 in Mercer County. From the obituary, the family settled in Mercer County, Ohio around 1866.

I found the obituary on the Coldwater History Archive site. It's a great resource for Mercer County newspapers.

Sunday's Obituary - Susan A. Godwin Sparks

Susan A. Godwin gravestone

This obituary was published in the Centreville Record on November 15, 1902 and was originally transcribed by Trish Surles in her book Obituaries from Maryland Newspapers Queen's Anne County for 1902-1903:

Mrs. Sanuel A. Sparks, wife of the late Samuel A. Sparks, died at the home of her son in law, Mr. J. W. Councill, November 2nd, after a long and lingering illness in the 72nd year of her age. She leaves four children, Charles G. Sparks, of Kent Island, Daniel Sparks, of Ravensdale, Washington, and two daughters, Mrs. R H. Councill, and Mrs. J.W. Councill, of near town.

Susan And Samuel A. Sparks were my 2x great-grandparents. Their daughter Ariana Sparks and son-in-law John Wesley Councill were my great-grandparents. Susan is buried in the Chesterfield Cemetery in Centreville, Queen Anne's County, Maryland next to her husband Samuel A. Sparks. 

Thanks to Corey and Douglas Marshall-Steele for taking the gravestone photo and posting it on Find A Grave.

Sunday's Obituary - Timothy Coakley

Timothy Coakley was born in Ireland and lived in Clinton County, Ohio by 1852. He was one of the oldest Irish residents in the county when he died on October 22, 1912. I found three obituaries for Timothy with different dates and stories on his immigration to the US. Details on the obituaries for Timothy Coakley are below.

Clinton County Democrat, October 24, 1912

From the Clinton County Democrat obituary, Timothy was 83 years old at his death placing his year of birth around 1829. This obituary states that he came to the US with his father Jerry, but it appears that they didn't know exactly when since the year is given as 18--! I don't think I've seen that before, but it's repeated in one of the other obituaries. This obituary mentions Timothy being present at the first mass celebrated in Clinton County and says he is survived by three daughters and two sons.

 

The Wilmington Journal, October 30, 1912

The Wilmington Journal, October 30, 1912  part 2

The second obituary is from the Wilmington Journal and states that Timothy was 82 years old at the time of his death. This obituary states that he came to Ireland at the age of 18 which would've been around 1848. It gives some details on his work history at Patrick Denver's farm and the railroad. It says he married Catherine Powers on January 3, 1853 and that they had ten children, five that were still living. It also gives Catherine's year of death as 1909 and says that Mrs. John Burke is the only surviving member of the older family. Timothy's sister Mary was married to John Burke. 

An interesting difference between the obituaries is that this one says Timothy's parents and sisters didn't come over until later, but says the family arrived in the early 40s. That doesn't add up with Timothy's age at death and arrival in the US at the age of 18.

The third obituary was published in the Clinton Republican on October 24, 1912 and is available on the Ohio History Connection website. This obituary states that Timothy was 82 when he died at his home in Wilmington. It adds some new details about Timothy being from Cork, Ireland and that "with other of his people he came to this country about the year ----". So, this time the year is a complete blank! A few more facts are added including that he worked in New Orleans for some time before coming to Wilmington and that he was Street Commissioner and a fireman after his work on the railroad ended. This obituary names his surviving children as Mary, John, Timothy and Elizabeth living at home and Mrs. Katherine Murphy of Cincinnati. 

I often can't find even one obituary, so finding three is a bit unusual. They agree roughly on Timothy's age, work history and surviving relatives, although some provided more detail than others. They disagree on when he came to the US and whether or not he came with other family members.

The 1900 census says Timothy's year of immigration was 1860 and the 1910 census says 1836. Nether of those years seem correct based on the other information about Timothy. I wasn't able to find a Timothy Coakley in the 1850 census for Ohio or New Orleans and haven't found Timothy in any passenger lists so far. Based on the information I have, my guess is Timothy came over between 1847-1852.  I know he was in Clinton County by 1852 when the first mass was celebrated and also that he was married in Ohio in 1853.

Sunday's Obituary is a prompt developed by Leslie Ann at Ancestors Live Here.

Sunday's Obituary - Opal Mary Creeden Wagner

Opal Mary Creeden Wagner was the daughter of W. P. Creeden and Mary Catherine Snyder. She was born in the Jackson township of Darke County, Ohio in late October or early November 1899. The entry for her birth in the Ohio County Births ledgers for Darke County appears below and gives her date of birth as November 8, 1899. The ledgers are available to browse by county on FamilySearch.org.

I posted the obituary for Opal's father last week. His name was given as W. P. Creeden in his obituary and Wm. Creeden in the birth entry for Opal. In Opal's obituary, his name is given as Patrick Creeden, so that might be a little more evidence that he was Patrick William, the son of Patrick Creedan and Hannah Hoover of Clinton County, Ohio. It's also possible that this was just an error by the newspaper or person that provided the obituary information.

Opal also went by her middle name. In the birth register, her name is given as Mary Opal and she appears in the 1900 census in Darke County as Mary O. After that, the records show her name as Opal or Opal Mary.

Opal's obituary was published in the Hutchinson News in Kansas on Friday, September 7, 1990. The cities referred to in the obituary are in Kansas with the exception of Greenville, Ohio.

Opal was married to James Maurice Wagner in 1947 when Opal was 46 years old. I haven't found any records of the couple having any children.

OBITUARY:

COLDWATER - Opal Mary Wagner. 90, died Thursday, Sept. 6, 1990, at Comanche County Hospital, Coldwater.

She was born Oct. 28, 1899, at Greenville, Ohio, the daughter of Patrick and Mary Catherine Snyder Creeden. She graduated from Fort Hays State Teachers College, Hays. A former resident of Stafford and Gravette, Ark, she was a homemaker and retired school teacher.

She was a member of the Baptist Church, Ye Olde Tyme Club, Vashti Chapter No. 64 Order of the Eastern Star and the Rebekah Lodge, all at Stafford.

On Aug. 17, 1947, she married James Maurice Wagner at Sublette, he died Jan. 3, 1983.

Survivors include: a sister-in-law and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral service was 2 p.m. Saturday at Peacock-Milton Funeral Chapel, Stafford, with the Rev. Glen O. Morford officiating. Burial was in the Stafford Cemetery.

Sunday's Obituary is a prompt developed by Leslie Ann at Ancestors Live Here.

Sunday's Obituary - W. P. Creeden

The following obituary was published in The Pratt Republican in Kansas on September 30, 1909.

   W. P. Creeden died at his home in the second ward last Monday, of consumption. The remains were interred at Green Lawn Tuesday. Mr. Creeden has lived in Pratt but a short time, having come from Meade.

William P. Creeden is buried in Greenlawn cemetery in Pratt, Kansas. William was only in his 40s when he died. He was married to Mary Catherine Snyder in Clinton County, Ohio in 1885. The family was living in Darke County, Ohio when the 1900 census was taken. By 1905, William and his family had moved to Sedgwick, Kansas. Children listed in the 1905 census were Minnie, Elsie, Orval, Ralph, Ellsworth, William, Opal and Violet.

In the 1900 census, William and his family were living next to John Creedan and his family. John was the son of Patrick Creedan and Hannah Hoover of Clinton County, Ohio. I suspect that John and W. P. were brothers or cousins. Patrick and Hannah had a son named Patrick William that may have gone by William. I lose the trail of Patrick William around the time that W. P. married Mary Snyder. 

My sister and I have several DNA matches to descendants of John and William, so we're related to both of these families. The matches are similar in size which indicates our relationship to John and William could be the same. John was a half-brother of my 2x great-grandfather Timothy Creeden.

I've seen several Ancestry.com trees giving William's parents as Timothy and Ellen Creeden from Hamilton County, Ohio. An obituary for Timothy and Ellen's son William shows he died in 1901. This William was married to Margaret Nolan and some of their children were born in the same years as W. P. and Mary's children.

Related posts:

• Patrick William Creedan
• Which William is which? 
• Which William is which? - Part 2
• Obituary for Timothy and Ellen's son William 
  

Sunday's Obituary is a prompt developed by Leslie Ann at Ancestors Live Here.

Sunday's Obituary - William Creeden of Cincinnati, Ohio

The following obituary was published in The Cincinnati Post on 11/21/1901.

William Creeden, 37, a carpenter living at 3554 Haven Avenue, Avondale, died late Wednesday at the City Hospital from injuries received by being struck Monday night by a Zoo-Mt. Auburn car at Vine and Shields Streets. His skull was fractured, and he never regained consciousness. He leaves a wife and three children. Coroner Schwab is investigating. Creeden will be buried Saturday morning at Reading, O., near which place he was born.

A death notice was also published on the same day:
CREEDEN -- William, beloved husband of Margaret Creeden, suddenly,
Wednesday, Nov. 20, at 9:30p.m. Funeral from residence, 3554 Haven Avenue, Avondale, Saturday, Nov. 23. Requiem high mass at St. Andrew's Church at 8 a.m.

This is one of the William Creedens that I've been researching in the hopes of identifying the correct families for each of them. This is a quick tree I've done for this William on Ancestry.com:

 

A baptism record shows that William was born on 22 Feb 1863 and baptized on 15 Mar 1863 at the Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Reading, Hamilton County, Ohio. The parents were given in Latin as Timotheus Creeden and Helena Callaghan. One of the sponsors was John Creeden. 

William married Margaret Nolan on 31 May 1883. There is a note on the marriage license where his father Timothy gives his consent for the marriage. The civil record is shown below. A church record shows that the marriage was at Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Reading, Ohio and one of the witnesses was Daniel Creeden.

 

 

William and Margaret had 3 sons: Thomas W. born in 1886, Michael J. born in 1888 and Lawrence born in 1892.

After William's death in 1901, Margaret appears in several Cincinnati city directories and is named as his widow.

Margaret and Thomas Creeden, 1903 Cincinnati City Directory

Margaret and Michael Creeden, 1913 Cincinnati City Directory

Margaret eventually moved to California where her son Lawrence and other relatives lived. She lived there until her death in 1930.

Updating to add that none of the records I have show the middle name or initial for this William. I think I can rule him out as being my Patrick William or the William Patrick Creeden that went to Kansas.

Related posts:

• Patrick William Creedan
• Which William is which? 
• Which William is which? - Part 2
  

Sunday's Obituary is a prompt developed by Leslie Ann at Ancestors Live Here.

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks 2021 - Week 8 - Power

The 52 Ancestors prompt for this week is Power.

This is a new prompt in the 52 Ancestors series this year and it reminded me of an article I came across about the power of Mother Nature. The article tells the story of a young girl who was struck by lightning in her home in Clinton County, Ohio. My Creeden family also lived in Clinton County, but had moved to Mercer County, Ohio by the time of this story.

The following article was published in The Journal Republican in Wilmington, Ohio on March 26, 1913. Mary Creeden was dressing for school when a lightning bolt struck the house and knocked her unconscious. The article mentions that she was in the house of Mrs. John Creeden.and that Mary was the fourteen year old daughter.

   During the hard thunder shower that prevailed for several hours Tuesday morning, the house of Mrs. John Creeden in south-east Wilmington was struck by lightning and the fourteen-year-old daughter, Mary, was very seriously injured. The sharp dash of lightning came at about twenty minutes of 8 o'clock as many people about town remember. Mary was in her room dressing for school when the bolt struck the house. She was rendered unconscious and for a time it was believed that she had been killed. Others of the family in other parts of the house did not feel the effects of the lightning to any serious extent. It seems that the full force of the bolt was directed upon the room in which Mary was dressing and she alone of the family felt its deadly power. Some members of the family were at the church and they, with Rev. Father Higgins, hastened to the home. Dr. Austin was summoned and rendered medical aid to relieve her sufferings. Though she was badly burned about the face and the right side of the body, it is believed that she will recover. The fright and great pain have produced a nervous condition that augments the gravity of the danger.

Given how severe Mary's injuries were, I wondered what became of her. From census records for Clinton County, Ohio, Mary was the daughter of John Creeden and Margaret Ann Dooley. Mary's father died in 1909 in Clinton County according to Ohio death records. In the 1920 census, Mary is living with her sister Sarah in Washington DC and both are working as clerks for the government. Mary is working for the Department of the Treasury. In the 1930 census, Mary is living in Alexandria, VA with her mother and has a government job as a clerk. Her brother Joseph is also living with them and is a fireman. 

In the 1940 census, Mary is again living with Sarah and still working as a government clerk. She owns her home and is making a salary of $2000 a year. The census shows that she completed 4 years of high school and that Sarah completed 4 years of college.

A short obituary for Mary appeared in The Cincinnati Enquirer on March 8, 1976. It appears that she moved back to Ohio maybe to be closer to family after retiring.

 

 #52Ancestors is a series of weekly family history prompts developed by Amy Johnson Crow. Newspaper articles are available on Newspapers.com.

 

Sunday's Obituary - Jeremiah Creeden (1841 - 25 Nov 1916)

Jeremiah Creeden came from Ireland and settled in Indianapolis, Indiana with his wife Mary Toomey. I have a DNA match to a descendant of Jeremiah, but don't know for sure if they connect to my Creeden family. I don't recognize any of the other surnames in the trees I've seen for Jeremiah, so he seems like a possible connection for this match.

This funeral notice for Jeremiah was published in 1916 in The Indianapolis News. From the notice, Jeremiah died on November 25, 1916 and was buried at the Holy Cross cemetery.

I did a little digging in other newspaper articles and found that Jeremiah and Mary had a large family including the following children: Daniel G., John B., Catherine, Jeremiah M., Nora Gertrude Mosher, Rev. Leo Francis, Hannah R., Mary, Margaret A. Finn and William Henry Creeden. Most of them also lived in Indianapolis and were buried at Holy Cross.

Sunday's Obituary - Arianna Sparks Councill

Arianna Councill was the daughter of Samuel Sparks and Susan Godwin, both of Queen Anne's County, Maryland. She was married to John Wesley Councill. The couple lived in Queen Anne's County, Maryland for many years, but later moved to Baltimore. I haven't been able to locate an obituary for her, but a death notice was published in the Baltimore Sun on December 19, 1929. The notice is available on Newspapers.com.

COUNCILL -- On December 16, 1929, ARIANNA, age 65 years, beloved wife of the late John W. Councill. Funeral from her late residence, 749 East McCabe avenue, Govans, on Thursday afternoon at 2 o'clock. Interment Baltimore Cemetery. 

Sunday's Obituary is a prompt developed by Leslie Ann at Ancestors Live Here.

Sunday's Obituary - John Shawler

This obituary was published in the Celina (Ohio) Advocate on August 11, 1906 and is available on the Coldwater Library site.

  John J. Shawler was born August 20, 1829, near Pittsburg, Pa. He left Pennsylvania at the age of four years with his parents, coming to this state where he resided until his decease. He departed this life at noon of July 30, 1906, aged 76 years, 11 months and 10 days.
  Deceased was married to Trian Matson October 21, 1868. To this union were born seven children, six sons and one daughter. He was a volunteer of Co. E. 59th Ohio regiment, serving until the close of the war. His life of many years was spent in hard labor caring for his family, to which he was sincerely devoted. Although the family and friends feel the deepest regret at losing a faithful husband and father, as also an old comrade and friend, yet they are wholly submissive to God's will. The last words he was heard to utter were praises to his Heavenly Father. May the Lord bless and comfort the bereaved family and grant them all a home in the Father's house.
  The funeral was conducted by Rev. J. L. Buyer of the Evangelical church. Interment was at Hopewell cemetery.

John was the brother-in-law of my 2x great-grandparents Timothy and Mary Matson Creeden. His wife's name is normally spelled as a variation on Terressa, Teresa or Trina and their last name was sometimes spelled Sholler or Shaller. In 1887, Timothy leased 10 acres of his property in Hopewell to John Shawler. After Timothy's death in 1899, Mary and her children moved to the town of Celina, but Mary may have continued to lease the property in Hopewell to the Shawlers.

Sunday's Obituary is a prompt developed by Leslie Ann at Ancestors Live Here.

Sunday's Obituary - John Creedan

The Coldwater Library of Mercer County, Ohio provides online access to several local newspapers from the early 1900s to 2018. This obituary of John Creedan was published in the Coldwater Chronicle on December 21, 1923. 

I was excited to find this since it's the first time I've seen anything in print that clearly states the connection between my Creeden family and Patrick and Hannah Hoover Creedan of Clinton County, Ohio. According to the obituary, my great-grandfather Sheriff Chas. Creeden was a nephew of John Creedan.

Charles' father Timothy Creeden was the son of Patrick and his previous wife Mary Coakley and was a half-brother to John. Patrick married Hannah Hoover in Clinton County, Ohio and had several children with her including John.

The obituary states that John was married to Ida Phillips, but doesn't mention a previous wife or children. In the 1900 census, John is living with Ida and his two daughters Flora and Stella. Flora married John Norris and Stella (Estella Catherine) married Issac Pyle. John also had a son named Hiram H. Creeden. The three children were from John's earlier marriage to Minerva McFarland.

Sunday's Obituary is a prompt developed by Leslie Ann at Ancestors Live Here.

Sunday's Obituary - Robert Creeden, Clinton County, Ohio

 Died. -- In Wilmington, on March 2, 1889, Robert, Infant son of Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Creeden, aged six months, three weeks and two days. Funeral services took place on Sunday, at St. Columbkille Catholic Church. Interment in Sugar Grove cemetery.

This obituary was published in the Wilmington, OH Clinton County Democrat on March 2, 1889. Digital images of the paper are available on FindMyPast.com.

Although the obituary says Robert's father is J.J. Creeden, the Ohio Births and Christening index on Ancestry.com lists his parents as Patrick J. Creedon and Mary Clark. An entry on FindAGrave has Robert's date of birth as 9/1888 and his date of death as 3/1/1889. It says that his plot in Sugar Grove cemetery was a charity plot.

I don't know if there is a relationship between this family and my Clinton County Creedens, but both my grandfather and father were named Robert. My Creeden family also attended St. Columbkille Church, so it's probable that the two families knew each other.

Sunday's Obituary - Ellen Creeden

  Mrs. Ellen Creeden, wife of Timothy Creeden, died yesterday morning at her home, a short distance north of this village. She was 65 years of age. A husband and seven children are left to mourn ?. The funeral will be held from Sts Peter and Paul Church, Reading. Wednesday morning.

This obituary was published in the Cincinnati Enquirer on July 7, 1891 under a heading of news for Lockland, Ohio. The scan is from Newspapers.com. Ellen would have been born around 1826 if her age is correct in the obituary. I've wondered if her husband Timothy Creeden was related to my Creedens. I've seen a picture of him on several Ancestry.com trees and the resemblance to my Timothy Creeden is pretty remarkable. Ellen's husband would've been about the right age to be a brother or cousin to my Timothy's father Patrick Creedan. I'd love to hear from anyone researching Ellen and Timothy.

Sunday's Obituary - Mary Catherine Hagedorn Gast

This obituary for Mary Catherine (Hagedorn) Gast was published in the Celina Democrat on November 12, 1915.  Mary Catherine was my 3x great-grandmother and was married to Mathias Gast. She was the daughter of Hermann Hagedorn and C. Maria Tebben.

  Mrs. Mary Catherine Gast, aged 92 years, the venerable mother of John Gast, sr., of this city, died suddenly early Saturday morning at her home at Maria Stein. as the result of a stroke of paralysis sustained u few hours previous. 
  Deceased was a native of Germany, but immigrated to this country when a young girl and had spent the greater part of her life in this county. She is survived by five children—John H. Gast, of this city; Mrs. Henry Schaefer, of St. Bernard,. Henry Gast and Mrs. Henry Feldhake of Lima; and Mat Gast, of Maria Stein. 
  One of her daughters, Mrs. Schaefer and her husband celebrated their golden wedding anniversary last Sunday at St. Bernard, and while the venerable mother was not able to be present, a portion of the wedding cake was sent her and she enjoyed eating it on the day previous to her death. 
  Funeral services will be held at the St. John Catholic church near Marla Stein, Monday morning.

The above article on the funeral was published in the Celina Democrat on November 19, 1915:

  The funeral of Mrs. Catharine Gast, the venerable mother of John H. Gast, of this city, who died on the 11th inst., was held at St. John's Catholic Church at Maria Stein last Monday morning and was attended by a large following of relatives and friends. Among those present were:
  Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Gast, daughters Jennie and Nettie and son Andy, Barney Gast, Nora Gast, Henry Tubben, Mrs. Holkman and Ferd Woesta, of Celina; Wm. Harting and family, of Desatur; Mr. and Mrs. John Schaeper, of Norword; Miss Cecelia Schaeper, of St. Bernard; Mr. and Mrs. Henry Feldhake, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Gast and family, of LIma; Mr. and Mrs. Woeste, John Holkman, of Coldwater; Frank Harting, of St. Henry; and Miss Armelia Roeckner, of Chickasaw.

Images of the Celina Democrat are from the Chronicling America site.

Sunday's Obituary - Kate Coakley Egan

The following obituary for Kate Coakley was published in The Wilmington Journal of Clinton, Ohio on September 26, 1906. I suspect that the Coakley family in Wilmington, Ohio was related to my Creeden family. Both families came to the US from County Cork, Ireland somewhere between 1849-1852. Patrick Creedan and Jeremiah Coakley were both present at the first Catholic mass held in Wilmington and Patrick's first wife was Mary Coakley.

Mrs. Kate Egan, wife of Patrick Egan, who for many years conducted a saloon at the corner of South street, adjoining the C.&M.V. Railroad, was found dead in the hallway of her home Tuesday morning at 9:30 o'clock. The obituary goes on to describe details of Kate being found several hours after falling down the stairs in her home.

The deceased was born in County Cork, Ireland, about seventy-two years ago, and came to Wilmington with her parents, Jeremiah and Mary Coakley, about 1852, since which time she has made her home here. Funeral services were held in St. Columbkille Catholic Church on Thursday morning. The rest of the obituary describes her estate, valued at $6,348.44. Her brother Timothy Coakley was appointed as administrator and Edward J. West was the attorney for the administrator.

Kate's first name was spelled Catharine in her marriage license. She was married to Patrick Egan on September 12, 1868.

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.

Sunday's Obituary - Mary Coakley

This short notice appeared in the Wilmington Journal on December 28, 1887.

  The widow of the late Jerry Coakley died at the residence of her son-in-law, Patrick Egan, in Wilmington, on last Friday, at the age of eighty-four years.

Mary Ryan Coakley was born in County Cork, Ireland and came to Wilmington, Ohio with her husband Jerry Coakley. According to her tombstone on FindAGrave, Mary died on December 23, 1887 at the age of 81 years. Her son-in-law Patrick Egan was married to Catherine Coakley on September 13, 1868. Mary is buried in Sugar Grove Cemetery in Wilmington, Ohio.

I've been researching this Coakley family since my 3x great-grandfather Patrick Creedan was married to a Mary Coakley. Patrick Creedan and Jerry Coakley were both present at the first Catholic mass held in Wilmington in 1852 and the two families seemed close. I'd love to hear from anyone with information on the Clinton County Coakleys.

Sunday's Obituary - L. D. Matson

This obituary was published in the Clinton Democrat in Wilmington, Ohio on June 14, 1917. Lorenzo Dow Matson was the brother of my 2x great-grandmother Mary Matson Creeden. He was married to Ruth Athey.

L. D. Matson Dies of Paralysis. 

  L. D. Matson; well known farmer of Clinton county residing on rural route No. 5, passed away at 6:15 Friday evening, lune 8, at his home, paralysis being the cause of his death. Mr. Matson had been ailing for quite a while but was up and about until within a short time of his death, being confined to his bed but two days. Memorial Day he was in Wilmington to observe the exercises.
  Mr. Matson was 68 years of age and a life-long resident of Clinton county. He was one of the most highly esteemed farmers of his neighborhood, enjoying the respect of a wide acquaintance.
  He is survived by his widow and three sons, Henry, of Ogden, Lawrence and Roy, of Wilmington. Daniel Matson, residing on route No. 7, is a brother of the deceased, Mrs. Mary Creeden and Mrs. Theresa Shaller, both of Celina, are his sisters. Three step-children, Chelse and Walter Stoops and Mrs. Mary Laurens, are also living.
  Funeral services were held Sunday at the home and burial was made in New Antioch. Rev. Eliza Thorne, of  Sabina, conducted the services.

Sunday's Obituary - Catherine Desch Gast and grandsons in Celina, Ohio 1918

The Gast family of Celina, Ohio suffered the tragic loss of four family members to the Spanish influenza epidemic of 1918. Two sons of Mr. and Mrs. John Gast died on December 8 and December 11, 1918. That was followed by the death of John's mother Catherine Desch Gast on December 12, 1918. John's sister Antoinette "Mattie" Gast Ockuly died on December 23, 1918. It's hard to imagine losing so many in the family that quickly.

The following obituaries appeared in the Celina Democrat on December 13, December 20,  and December 27, 1918. I found them online at Chronicling America. The site has the weekly Celina Democrat available online for the years 1910 to 1918.

Celina Democrat, December 13, 1918

  GAST BOYS VICTIMS OF INFLUENZA
  Carl and Eugene Gast, ages 17 and 18, respectively, sons of Mr. and Mrs. John Gast, of North Cherry street, are both dead as the result of the dread Spanish influenza.
  Both were ill but a few days. Carl, the youngest of the two boys, passed away Sunday. Eugene's death occurred Wednesday. Medical science failed to stay the hand of the relentless reaper.
  Both boys were the pride and hope of their parents, were favorite among their fellows, and enjoyed the confidence and esteem of all whom they came in contact.

Celina Democrat, December 20, 1918

 THE GRIM  REAPER
  Mrs. John Gast, sr. (nee Desch), aged 64 years, one of the best known women of this city, died a week ago last night, after a week's illness of influenza. She had been at the home of her son John nursing the two grandsons,whose deaths were chronicled last week, until a few days preceding her death. Grief over the loss of her grandchildren and the absence of her youngest son Leo at Camp Merritt no doubt broke her spirit and hastened the death of the good woman. 
  The deceased was a daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Ferdinand Desch, and was born at St. Johns, April 23, 1854. She was married to Mr. Gast in 1871. Five years later they came to Celina. where they since resided. The deceased is survived by her husband and eight children—John. jr., Andrew, Leo. Matilda, Sister Margaret, Mrs. Geo. Pulskamp, Mrs. P. A. Ockuly and Mrs, Alex Miller, of Ottawa.
  Funeral services were held Monday evening and the remains deposited in the mausoleum to await the arrival of her son Leo before her interment. 

Celina Democrat, December 27, 1918

  Mrs. P. A. Ockuly (nee Gast), aged 32 years, died at the home of her father, John Gast, sr., last Monday night. Mrs. Ockuly had been ill for three weeks or more from an attack of influenza, and the deaths of her two nephews, followed closely by that of her mother, no doubt had a very depressing effect upon her and contributed much to her final dissolution. 
  The deceased for many years was employed at the Bote office, and was highly esteemed by a large circle of acquaintances. She was wedded to Mr. Ockuly only last April. Funeral services were held at the Catholic church yesterday.

Catherine Desch Gast was my 3x great-grandmother. Her daughter Mary married my 2x great-grandfather George F. Pulskamp in 1899. George Pulskamp was the publisher of the German Bote newspaper mentioned in the obituary of Mrs. P. Ockuly.

Sunday's Obituary - James Keefe - Civil War Vet of Clinton County, Ohio

This may be the most informative obituary I've ever seen for anyone connected to my family! The obituary was published in the Clinton County Democrat in Wilmington Ohio on January 13, 1916. James Keefe's mother was Johanna Creedon and his brother Timothy Keefe was the executor of my 3x great-grandfather Patrick Creedan's will. While I don't know the exact relation to my Creeden family, the two families seemed close. The Keefes were mentioned as being related to Patrick Creedan's daughter Julia in her obituary published in 1918.

OBITUARY.
On last Friday morning, January 1916, was written the final chapter in the life of one of our foremost citizens, when we consigned to their last resting place the mortal remains of a man, who, during a long and useful lifetime, was loyal to his God, his country and his fellow men. James Keefe was born November 16, 1844, in Macroom, County Cork, Diocese of Cloyne, Ireland. He was a son of John and Johanna Creedon Keefe, to which union were born six children—Patrick, who died while serving his country during the Civil War; Timothy, who died several years ago in Wayne township, Clinton county; James, the subject of this sketch, and three daughters, Mary, Julia and Honore, all of whom have preceded their brother into the Eternal Kingdom.

At the age of thirteen James Keefe, with his parents, emigrated to America and, landing at New York, went from there to Xenia, Ohio, and later came to Wilmington. Modern conveniences of travel were then unknown and the only conveyance obtainable for the trip to Wilmington was an ordinary road wagon. Upon arriving here the Keefe family located in the old home of the late Sheriff Smith, where James grew to manhood under the loving and watchful tutelage of his parents, acquiring those:sterling qualities of mind and heart which he displayed throughout his earthly sojourn. He received a good common school education, attending the school located where now stands the Friends Church. On the 10th of August. 1862, his patriotism led him to enlist and take up arms against the foe of his beloved country and for three years he faithfully and valorously served under the Stars and Stripes and was honorably discharged at Camp Dennison on June 17, 1865. 

The following year, 1866, James was united in marriage to Ann Shea, daughter of Michael and Margaret Shea, which union was blessed with five children, Mrs. Joseph Kuebler, John Keefe. Mrs. Thos. McDermott, Miss Honore and James M. Keefe, all of whom mourn the loss of a kind and
loving father. The early years of Mr. Keefe's married life were spent on the farm, but, upon moving to Wilmington, he was appointed street supervisor by the council, which position he capably held until 1910, when forced to retire by Ill health. Although endowed with a rugged constitution, he suffered in late years  from heart trouble, which, coupled with his advanced age, brought about his dissolution, and on Monday morn, January 3, 1916, at 8:30 he fell asleep in the Lord.

James Keefe was a kind and genial man, endowed with a keen intellect and an abundance of that ready wit found in so many of his race. To know him was to be his friend, for he was honest and charitable in his dealings with his fellow men. He will be missed by his immediate family, also by his few remaining comrades of the G. A. R., and last, but not least, by the members of St. Columbkille church, which he attended for over 50 years. "For God and Country" would be a fitting epitaph to inscribe on his monument, for he loved and served God from the days of his youth, and to his country he gave the best years of his life. At 7:30 Friday morning, after the G. A. R. had paid their last respects in his home to their deceased comrade, the remains were escorted to St. Columbkille church, where funeral services were conducted by Rev. Martin A. Higgins, his pastor, after which interment was made in Sugar Grove cemetery.

Farewell. dear father, your love for us 

Was tender, kind and true, 

And memory's surine will long preserve 

The warmest spot for you. 

Now gathered round your silent grave, 

While tears of sorrow roll, 

The fervent prayer springs from our hearts,

                                                          -God rest your noble soul."
CARD OF THANKS. 
Mrs. Keefe and family wish to express their heartfelt gratitude to all their friends for the assistance and sympathy extended them in their dark hour of sorrow, and also to Rev. Martin A. Higgins for his eloquent and consoling funeral sermon, and lastly to the G. A. R. for the honor accorded their deceased loved one. 
MRS. ANN KEEFE AND FAMILY.