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The Quincy Daily
Journal
Aug 15, 1892
Page 7
William Shannahan
WM SHANNAHAN DEAD,
Another of Quincy's Pioneer Settlers
Called Away.
Mr. William
Shannahan, aged eighty-six years, died of old age at noon yesterday.
By his death Quincy's list of pioneer settlers grows one smaller.
Fifty-four years of residence here truly entitled him to the name of
pioneer. His career was an active and interesting one. He was a true
Irishman, born in the same month in which he dropped into his
eternal sleep, in the County Waterford, Ireland, the year of his
birth being 1806. When twenty-three years of age, or in the year
1829, he sailed from home and friends to seek his fortune in the new
world.
After a
voyage of forty-three days he landed at St. Johns, New Brunswick. He
remained there a short time, and then removed to New York, whence he
traveled to Baltimore, where he was engaged in the bakery business,
delivering bread and crackers through the streets of that historical
city. In 1838 he came to Quincy, which was a metropolis of the west,
comparatively speaking. Shortly after his arrival he engaged in the
contracting business, first as superintendent for Timothy Kelly, a
prominent railroad builder in those days. In 1851 together with
Thomas Redmond and Samuel Holmes, he took the contract of grading
for the old Northern Cross railroad, which is now the C. B. & Q.
After this contract he and Amos Green and Samuel Holmes took a big
contract for the Iron Mountain railroad. His last work of note was
the building of the approaches to the Hannibal bridge and the tunnel
on the Missouri side.
Mr. Shannahan also did much street work in Quincy. It
is said that he and the late Thomas Redmond did the first grading in
the city.
Surviving him is his wife, brother, Mr. James Shannahan,
and sister, Mrs. Troy, both of this city. He leaves two adopted
children, Mrs. Torrence, nee Mary Ann King, Mrs. Michael Kelly, nee
Rosa Fay, and two stepsons, Wm. Rooney and James Rooney. Mrs.
Torrence and Wm. Rooney are at present living in the city. Mrs.
Kelly lives near Liberty, and James Rooney is out west somewhere.
Deceased was a member of St. Peter's Roman Catholic
church, where the funeral services will be held
to-morrow morning at 9 o'clock. He formerly resided on Broadway,
east of Twelfth, but of late has been residing on the north side of
Jersey street, between Eighth and Ninth.
Although having lived out the allotted life of man the
news of his death was learned with general regret, and everywhere
the old and young in discussing the news expressed a feeling of
deepest sorrow over his demise.
Mr. Shannahan was a good man, respected and esteemed by
all. His name and qualities are known throughout this section. Peace
to his ashes.
The Quincy Daily
Whig
Aug 16, 1892
Page 3
OBITUARY
Died, at noon
Sunday, Aug. 14, 1892, at his home in this city, of old age and
general debility, after a short confinement to his bed, Mr. William
Shannahan, aged 86 years.
Mr. Shannahan was an old and highly respected citizen
of Quincy, and although he had lived many years beyond the allotted
span of human existence, his life and character was such that his
death will be sincerely mourned by all who knew him during his long
residence here, and who still survive him. Few, if any of the many
who have lived and died since Mr. Shannahan cast his lot with the
people of Quincy have earned him a reputation for king and
charitable deeds to their fellows, the equal of that which will
follow William Shannahan to the tomb, and linger in the recollection
of a vast number of his fellow citizens long after his body shall
have mouldered into its native dust.
If only the survivors of his liberal bounty – the
widows and orphans raised from penury and want to self-sustaining
independence and happiness, and in some causes to affluence and
power, through Mr. Shannahan's beneficent and persistent efforts for
the improvement of their condition in life, could surround his
corpse as it is laid to rest, a concourse would be assembled there
not often seen on such occasions. No higher tribute could be paid to
departed worth.
William Shannahan was born in County Waterford,
Ireland, in August, 1806, where he received the meagre education the
parish schools of that day afforded. He sailed for America in 1829,
landing at St. John's, New Brunswick. After a short stay in New
Brunswick, he proceeded to New York, and thence to Baltimore, where
he remained until 1898, when he came west and soon after located in
Quincy, where he has since made his home. In the earlier years of
his residence here he followed railroad and other contracting. In
connection with the late Thomas Redmond be built a good portion of
the old Northern Cross railroad, and later in company with Amos
Green and Samuel Holmes had large contracts on the St. Louis & Iron
Mountain road. The writer believes that his last contract work was
the grading of Elm street from from Third to Front, and Second
street from Vermont street to Broadway, which work was done in 1868.
In all his undertaking in Middle-life Mr. Shannahan was
a most energetic, driving business man, who earned money rapidly,
but with his liberal disposition and charitable habits seldom
allowed it to accumulate.
After retiring from business he purchased a small farm
on East Broadway where he made a delightful home, and spent many
years in endeavoring to show his neighbors how to make a model farm,
but never succeeded in convincing them that his plan was a
profitable one. Becoming too enfeebled to properly care for his
farm, some four years ago he sold it and moved into the city, where
he has since passed his days as pleasantly as his declining years
and straightened circumstances would permit, in daily intercourse
with his many friends, almost up to the hour of his death.
Mr. Shannahan was thrice married, and his last wife
survives him. A son by his first wife died in early manhood while
attending school in Baltimore.
His funeral will be attended this morning at 8:30 from
his residence on Jersey street between Sixth and Seventh, and at 9
o'clock from St. Peter's church.
[Transcribed by Debbie Gibson]
His Wife Susan E.
Shannahan |
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