OBITUARY

AN OLD SETTLER OF DANFORTH TOWNSHIP DIES - VICTIM OF TYPHOID FEVER

The death of Mr. Francis Cassidy occurred at his home in Danforth township Wednesday last just after noon after an illness dating from July 3rd. He had been sitting up with Mr. Dennis Kelly who died July 2nd and complained of a headache and from that time his condition grew steadily worse developing into typhoid. Death came without pain and a smile marked his last minutes. The news of his death was heralded to all sections of the county and was received with deepest regret by his friends who are legion.

Mr. Cassidy was a man who held the friendship of those whom he came in contact and as father and husband he was the prime of excllence. He was throughout his entire life a remarkably healthful man and had not sought the advice of a physician but once in forty years, that was about two years ago when he fell and broke two ribs.

Deceased was born in Strokestown County of Roscommon, Ireland in 1839 and came to America in 1864. He settled at Prairie Center for a year going from there to Toledo, Ohio where he married Miss Mary Fallon, who had come to America from his old home town in Ireland. They were married December 23, 1865 and removed to LaSalle County, Illinois where he worked on a farm.

Mr. Cassidy, while living, often said that "he landed in New York with 25 cents in his pocket." But he went to work with determination and energy until at death he was considered a rich, honest and influential farmer, having acquired 240 acres as a home farm where he has lived for 23 years, 80 acres two miles and 80 acres four miles north and 120 acres at Piper City, besides 240 acres he later let to his son in Ford County. He was a hard worker and his good wife abared half the burdens, helping in the fields and assisting in all his inborn.

Besides his widow, who is 61 years of age and of excellent health, he leaves fourteen children, the oldest Mrs. Henry Kerns, the youngest being Miss Agnes, who is now very low of typhoid fever having just become of age. Out of this large family of nine daughters and five sons, the death angel has never before called, Mr. Cassidy being the first of the family to pass away.

The daughters are Mrs. Kerns of Gilman; Mrs. Anne Gray of Ashkum; Mrs. Eliza (Elizabeth) Gerdes of Collis, Minnesota; Mrs. Mary Clark of Cullom; Mrs. Clara Coyne of Collom; Mrs. Theresa King of Milks Grove; and Alice Gertrude and Agnes Cassidy, who live at home. The sons are John of Danforth, Frank of Thawville; and Tom, Sylvester and Tim of Gilman.

Mr. Cassidy's ambition in life was to give each member of his large family a good start in life and he no doubt died feeling that he had fulfilled his every ambition.

The funeral was held in the Catholic church at 10 o'clock Saturday morning, Father Burke of Ashkum saying high mass in a beautiful sermon for the peace of the departed and the remains were followed to the Catholic cemetery by 130 carriages, perhaps the largest funeral procession ever witnessed in Gilman.

Those present from out of town were Thos. and Mike Cassidy, Thos. and Mike Moone; Mrs. Kate Clark and Miss Mary Mooney, all of Blackstone, Illinois; Mr. and Mrs. Lawler of Dwight; Mrs. Haggerty and son, and Mendamea Wm. McCormick and Wm. Kerns, all of Chicago.

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