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Patrick McNamara
March 17, 1833–October 1915
Patrick McNamara was born in Co. Clare, Ireland, March 17, 1833. He emigrated to America in 1852 at the age of nineteen years and took up life's responsibilities alone in the new world. In 1868 he married Miss Ellen Kelley in Philadelphia. They came west on their wedding trip and decided to begin life together in Iowa. They located on a farm near Wyoming not far from the farm home of Mrs. Breheny, Mrs. McNamara's sister. Six daughters were born of this union, all of whom are living. Mr. and Mrs. NcNamara inspired in their children a love of learning, and nurtured that love by diligent effort on their part. The farm home was 1-1/2 miles from town but Mr. NcNamara never let bad weather prevent the regular attendance of the children at their studies. Every one of the six daughters are graduates of the Wyoming high school and all became teachers in the public schools of Jones County. Mrs. McNamara died March 3, 1900. In Feb, 1904, the family removed to Anamosa. Mr. McNamara lived to see his daughters all married and comfortably settled in their own homes. They are Mrs. John Chesire, Anamosa; Mrs. J. W. Conmey, Anamosa; Mrs. Geo. Hart, Stuart, Iowa; Mrs. Alfred Leresche, Chicago; Mrs. Maurice Fay, Anamosa; Mrs. Frank Hayes, Anamosa.
Mr. McNamara's 26 grandchildren were a pleasure and a delight to him. He made his home for nearly nine years with Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Conmey where passed away peacefully Oct. 11, 1915, after an illness of less than three weeks. His daughters were all present at his bedside.
The funeral service was conducted by Rev. Father Powers at St. Patrick's church, Tuesday morning, Oct. 13, after which the remains were laid away in the beautiful Holy Cross cemetery under the monument he erected above the remains of his wife.
Those attending the funeral from out of town were Mr. Geo. Hart, Stuart, Iowa; Mr. Tom O'Hara, Rock Island; Mrs. McGinn, Lost Nation; Mr. John Foley, Sr., Mr. John Foley, Jr., and Mrs. Snyder, Delmar Junction; John O'Hara, Ed. Nolan, Geo. Nolan, Mr. and Mrs. G. Franks and Miss Francis Franks, Wyoming, Mrs. Perrine, Monticello; Mrs. John Rhodes, Cedar Rapids; Pat Murray and daughter, Cedar Rapids.

Submitted by: Laura Kendall
Source: Anamosa Eureka, Oct. 14, 1915 and Wyoming Journal, Oct. 21, 1915

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