DEATH OF MRS. J. T. O'NEILL

(Gettysburg Herald, June 21, 1894)

This community was startled on Friday afternoon last by the announcement of the sudden death from heart disease of Mrs. O'Neill, wife of J.T. O’Neill, at her home two and a half miles west of town.

The immediate circumstances surrounding this sad happening are related as follows: Mr. and Mrs. O’Neill were alone at the farm, the children, a girl and boy, aged about 10 and 8 years respectively, being at school.  It was about 2 o’clock that Mr. O'Neill was pumping at the well for the horses when he asked his wife, then standing on the porch, what time it was. He then went to the barn and returning to the house within a few minutes heard someone moaning and looking hurriedly around for the wife discovered her lying at the foot of the cellar stairs not indicating by her position that she had fallen down them; on going to her she seemed to recognize him but did not speak and died within a few minutes after being brought up into the house. Mr. Converse, who chanced to be passing on the road was sent in haste for a physician but it was all over before he could arrive. A number of sympathizing neighbors immediately assembled at the residence, from whence at 2 o'clock on Sunday a funeral procession full half a mile in length wended its way to the Catholic cemetery southeast of town, after brief services at the house by Rev. Fish, in the absence of Rev. Father Victor of Hoven, who was expected to officiate but did not arrive.  The pall-bearers were Messrs J. B. Ennis, C. W. Dean, J. B. Clark, A. D. McMaster, W. A. Herron and W. B. Ogden.

This fatal and unexpected event has saddened many hearts in this community aside from those bound to the deceased by ties of blood and marriage, who was everywhere esteemed for the genial and good qualities apparent in her nature, and many a tear will rise in the eyes of sympathizing friends of the family as they reflect on the irreparable loss to an affectionate husband and little children. We are informed that, altho' a person of energy and activity, Mrs. O'Neill was not what she seemed in point of health, but had, had frequent admonitions of the malady that caused her death.

Nellie G. O'Neill nee Delany, was born at Manchester, Wisc., Oct. 27. 1857; moved with her parents to Blue Earth City, Minn., in 1861 and to Pipestone County Minn., in 1878. Married at Flandreau, S. D. Nov. 6, 1881.  Came to Potter County in April, 1885.  Died at 2 p.m. June 15, 1894, aged 36 years 7 months and 19 days.

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