Memorials › James Irvine Jr

James Irvine Jr

7 Oct 1846 – 16 Nov 1933

Birth7 Oct 1846
Death16 Nov 1933
CemeteryElmwood Cemetery
Saint Paul , Howard County , Nebraska , USA
Added byLF on 23 Aug 2006
FaGhttps://www.findagrave.com/memorial/13541399

Bio

The Phonograph=Press, St. Paul, Howard County, Nebr., November 22, 1933, Number 47, page 1. James Irvine is Called by the Angel of Death Pioneer of Howard County Dies Suddenly Thursday Night of Heart Failure LIVED HERE MANY YEARS _______ The citizens of St. Paul were shocked when they heard that James Irvine had quietly passed away into the Great Beyond last Thursday evening at 9:30 p.m. He had been in his usual robust health for a person of his years and retired early and went to sleep and quietly slipped away. Heart failure was the cause of his death. James Irvine was born in Lauderdale, Kirkhill Village, Scotland on October 7, 1846, and died at his home in St. Paul, Nebraska, aged 87 years, one month and nine days. Not many persons are allowed as long a life as this and very few could spend it as cheerfully and helpfully as he did. Being naturally of a sunny, cheerful disposition, he made life pleasant for his family and everyone with whom he came in contact. He came to America in 1869, landing in Montreal, Canada, on June the 8th of that year. He located first at Kalamazoo, Michigan, where he stayed several months; then went to Cascade, Iowa where he was engaged in farming, but after one year in Iowa, he came to Nebraska, stopping first at Omaha. Accompanied by his brother, George and two friends, James Baxter and Alex Lamb, they went west and came to Howard county, arriving about April 1, 1871, where they all filed on homesteads in the new country, then a part of Hall county, which was later to become Howard county. His homestead was on Oak Creek in Kelso precinct. He made that his home until 1900, when he sold it and moved to the Craven farm north of St. Paul, and lived there until 1921 when he moved to St. Paul and made that his home until his death. Mr. Irvine led an active life during the time he lived on the farm and was considered at one time to be the largest cattle feeder and most prosperous farmer in the county. He was elected county commissioner in 1884, was the chairman of the board, and served for two terms or six years with the ability and credit to himself and for the best interests of the county. He was married to Margaret Jane Welsh, November 27, 1866, and, lacking 11 days, they have had a pleasant, loving companionship for 57 years. Five children were born to them namely, Mrs. Martha J. Petersen of St. Paul, Adelaide B. Rickard of Nelson, George L. and Glen W. of St. Paul, and Clarence S. of Dayton, Ohio, a lieutenant in the air service of the United States, Being now inspector of the airports in 22 different states. These children are all respected citizens of our country and owe much to their father, who was their guide and counselor during his life. He also leaves eleven grandchildren. Mr. Irvine was a member of the Presbyterian church, being a member and elder of the First Presbyterian church on Turkey Creek, later moved to Farwell, and he helped to organize this church. He is now a member of the First Presbyterian church at St. Paul. The active pallbearers were: Thomas Baxter, James Irvine, W. G. Fairbairn, Robert Armstrong, W. H. Welsh, and George A. Welsh. Honorary pallbearers: L. H. Peterson, Frank Polansky, W. S. Paul, J. A. Haggart, E. D. Hoover, C. W. McCracken, Ed Bartle, S. M. Sonderup, and Robert Saling. The writer of the above has personally known and admired Mr. Irvine for over 60 years. We believe that Howard county is a better place to live in because of the example and precept of James Irvine. He joined the Masonic lodge of St. Paul, Nebraska in 1881, and the only reason that he was not a charter member was because he was in Chicago with cattle for sale at the time of that meeting. He was at the time of his death the oldest living member of St. Paul Lodge. The Masons of St. Paul had charge of the Obsequies at the grave in Elmwood cemetery at St. Paul where he sleeps until that time when at the call of the Master, the graves will give up their dead. May he rest in peace. To the members of his family, we extend our sincere condolence. We know how futile all words are to compensate their bereavement, but we can try to follow his example and be prepared to meet again in that realm of eternal bliss where there will be no more sorrow and no more parting. --- Written by (Judge) C. W. McCracken The funeral was held on Sunday afternoon, from the Presbyterian church. Rev. Wm. J. Primrose, local pastor, had charge of the same and delivered a very impressive funeral sermon. The members of the local Masonic order were present in a body to show their respect to a member who had had for more than fifty years taken an active part in their lodge affairs when health permitted. Music for the occasion was provided by a choir consisting of Misses Lillian and Helen Nelsen and Messrs Harry L. Lingford and C. E. Olson. John J. H. Bell presided at the pipe organ. Beautiful flowers were arranged about the beautiful casket and pulpit, a mark of esteem in which the deceased was held by the people of the community. Another mark of the high esteem in which James Irvine was held in this community was the large crowd of mourners who attended the funeral and followed the remains to the last resting place in Elmwood cemetery. In the obituary written by Judge McCracken, he closed by saying: May he rest in peace. The Phonograph desires to express the same wish. We also wish to voice the sentiment that a mighty good man has been called to his well earned reward. Many men may have lived in Nebraska as good as James Irvine, but there are none any better. He was a real man and this writer wishes to attest the fact that for the past quarter of a century we had been very good friends, and he was a man we admired a great deal. Mrs. Irvine is going to miss the man who was her constant companion for so many years, and we wish to extend to her especially, condolence and sympathy in the loss she has sustained at the hand of death.

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