OBITUARY OF JEREMIAH LUCEY Died, at the residence of Mrs. H. Deegan of Boone, Iowa, on Tuesday, October 25, 1897, at 3 o'clock in the morning, Jeremiah Lucey, aged 97 years, 10 months, and 12 days. Mr. Lucey was born in the parish of Carrigmond, County Cork, Ireland, December 14, 1799, thus living almost through the wonderful 19th century. At an early age he removed to London, England, where in 1834 he married Miss Bridget Doyle. Two years later, in company with his young wife and child, he turned his face towards the west and crossed the then perilous Atlantic waves to make a home in the land of the free. After a residence of two years in the great seaport of New York, he journeyed further towards the sunset and located at what is now White Pigeon, Michigan, where he remained until 1842, at which time he settled at Mishowaka, Indiana, where he remained until having purchased a farm at Freeport, Illinois. In 1846 he moved to it and continued its cultivation until 1850, at which date he again sought a point further west, locating six miles north of DeWitt, Clinton County, Iowa. He resided there until 1865, at which date he removed to another place, six miles north of Boone, Iowa, where he continued until the death of his beloved wife in 1885. She was buried in the Catholic cemetery at DeWitt, and Mr. Lucey has since resided with his daughter, Mrs. Henry Deegan at Boone. He leaves five daughters, of whom Mrs. Mary Donegan lives at Davenport, Mrs. Patrick Shannon of Washington Township, Clinton County, Mrs. Kate Micka of Carroll, Mrs. Bridget Lovejoy of Des Moines, and Mrs. Deegan. Four sons also survive their father: Edward and Jeremiah are well known and highly respected citizens of this city, John lives in Vail and Denis F. in Chicago. The entire number of lineal descendants is one hundred. The remains of the Christian patriarch, after the customary rites and blessings of the Catholic church had been administered by Rev. Father Maher at St. Joseph's Church, DeWitt, were tenderly and reverently borne to the consecrated ground set apart, and laid to rest by the side of the dear wife and mother gone before. Such a life, as that of Mr. Lucey, so long extended, so filled with all the manly virtues, so conducive to good society and good citizenship, as a thing unusual, and there are but few, if any remaining among us, who in their own personality and remembrance bind in one eventful group two centuries and two hemispheres. The old island land, all the dearer for the wrongs it has endured, the hopes it has cherished, and the newer land in which his children were born and his wasted body laid to rest. Though he loved and lived in the new land, he forgot not the old, no more than the orphaned boy forgets the tear stained face of his mother. Neither did he forget the faith he brought with him from beyond the great waters, but trained his children in it and gave them a treasure more priceless than rubies. And when the death angel called for him, when the sheaf was ripe to the reaper, and shadows crept ever onward over the little life remaining, the good old man who had fought the good fight, who had kept the faith, knew that his Redeemer lived, and smiling as when a babe on his mother's knee, slept with his father. May he rest in peace. publication unknown, hand copied it from a newspaper clipping by Mary Teresa (Shannon) Morrison and later typed by Lyman Morrison in 1994. note by D. Nicklaus: Tuesday was Oct 26, not 25th, 1897. DEATH OF A CENTENARIAN Tuesday morning as the clock was striking three the oldest person in the county passed away. Jeremiah Lucey was 99 years of age and had lived here since 1865. He was well known to our people, especially the older settlers who remember him for his many sterling qualities and his honest and upright character. He was born in the county of Cork, Ireland, December 12, 1798. He fought with the White boys in their uprising against British tyranny in the early years of the century. But for over seventy years he has lived in America, coming to Indiana as a youth. In March 1865 he removed to Boone county and lived on a farm in Dodge township until about 15 years ago when he moved to this city, where has made his home ever since. His wife died about 13 years ago. Ten children survive him, five boys and five girls. Edward and Jeremiah live in Carroll, John in Vail, Denis in Chicago and an adopted son Ed Daley lives in Carroll also. Mrs. Julia Shannon lives in Charlotte, Mrs. Mary Donegan at Davenport, Mrs. Ellen Lovejoy in Des Moines, Mrs. George Micka in Carroll and Mrs. Henry Deegan in this city, where he spent his last years and was tenderly taken care of. The remains were taken to DeWitt Tuesday night and the funeral held at 8 o'clock Wednesday morning at the Catholic Church in that city. Nearly all the family were present at the funeral. October 29, 1897 Boone County Democrat Typed by Lyman Morrison Jeremiah Lucey, Sr. Jeremiah Lucey, a former old settler of this county, coming to Welton township in 1850, died at the residence of his daughter, Mrs. H. Deegan at Boone, October 26, aged nearly, 98 years. His remains were brought to De Witt, where the funeral was held the 27th at St. Mary's church with interrment in the Catholic cemetery here. He was born December 12, 1800 in Macroom, County Cork, Ireland. He was married to Bridget Doyle Clinton Herald Tuesday, November 2, 1897 Jeremiah Lucey Tuesday's Daily. Died at his home, north Story, Jeremiah Lucey, aged 99 years. Mr. Lucey was born in county Cork, Ireland in 1798. He fought with the White boys in the old country in the uprising against the English when a young man and came to America over seventy years ago. He lived in Indiana and Illinois for a time, coming to Boone county nearly 40 years ago, where he has since lived. His wife died about 12 years ago and he leaves nine children, a daughter and two sons at Carroll, a daughter at Davenport and one in DeWitt, a son at Vail and one in Chicago, and one daughter, Mrs. Maggie Deegan living in Boone. In spite of his advanced age Mr. Lucey has been ill but a short time, the disease being asthma. The remains will be taken to DeWitt tonight at 12 o'clock where the funeral services will be held tomorrow and he will be laid by the side of his wife in the cemetery at that place. Boone Weekly News Friday, October 29, 1897 Typed 1996 by Monica Gieske Northcutt. Yes, it does say he was 99 and born in 1798. Note the Byline says Tuesday, so the dates are relative to then, apparently.