Obit: O’Neill, Andrew #2  (1824-1911)

Contact: Ann Stevens

Email:  sdann88@yahoo.com 
 

Surnames: O’Neill, Sanford, Livingstone, Jones, McCormick, Dillingham, Rearden, Dawley, McArthur, Kellogg, McNaughton, Sparrowhawk 
 

----Source:  Neillsville Times (Neillsville, Clark County, Wis.)  04/27/1911 
 

O’Neill, Andrew (March 12, 1824-April 21, 1911) 
 

(from Lawrence Republican, Ogdensburg, N.Y.)

Andrew O’Neill of Lisbon, St. Lawrence County, New York, died at his home on the river road April 21, 1911 at the age of eighty-seven years.  The funeral occurred last Sunday, Rev. E.L. Sanford, rector of St. John’s Episcopal Church of this city, officiating.  Interment was in the family cemetery on the home farm where the father and mother of the deceased are buried.  The pall bearers were W.B. Livingstone, Frank Jones, Ward McCormick, Edward Dillingham, James Rearden and William H. Dawley. 
 

Deceased was a son of Andrew and Jane O’Neill, who were the first settlers in the town of Lisbon.  Andrew O’Neill, the elder, located on a farm on the bank of the St. Lawrence in 1798 and lived there until his death in 1840.  His wife died in 1846.  The son Andrew was born March 12, 1824 and resided on the old home farm until his death. 
 

The old house, now nearly one hundred years old and the oldest structure in Lisbon is still standing being used as a custom house.  The farm has been in the possession of the O’Neill family one hundred and thirteen years covering portions of three centuries. 
 

Andrew was the youngest of eight children, all the others are long since deceased.  He leaves surviving a widow Mrs. Catherine O’Neill, whose maiden name was Catherine McArthur, and three children, all of whom were with him when the end came.  The eldest James, graduated at Cornell, then at the Albany Law School where he was a classmate of Judge John M. Kellogg of this city, was principal of Ogdensburg Academy in 1870 and 1871, student in the office of Joseph McNaughton of this city and then practiced law at Neillsville, Wisconsin.  He is now serving his third term as Judge of the Circuit Court in Wisconsin.  Deceased leaves a daughter Mary J. who is the wife of Geo. W. Sparrowhawk of Lisbon, and a son, William Henry, who with his wife, lives on and operates the home farm.  Mr. O’Neill was an ardent Republican in politics and took a deep interest in public affairs.  He was a leader in his town and had been entrusted with positions of responsibility by its citizens.  He interested himself also in educational matters.  His home was open to ministers and school teachers.  He was all his life a member of the Episcopal Church and was active in building the stone church at what is called the Red Mills.  He was a great reader and in few farmer’s homes would one find a better library of the best books. 
 

He was a man of the highest character and integrity.  His record is one of honesty and fair dealing in all business affairs.  His life was full of kindly deeds and charities and unselfish service.  His neighbors sought his counsel and advice.  The adjoining farms have been in the same families for a hundred years and it is said there never was a quarrel nor the slightest discord to disturb the friendly relations between the deceased and those with whom he so often came in contact.  He was a peacemaker and dwelt among his fellows in perfect unity.  And now at the end of a life, luminous in its loves and friendships, in duty faithfully performed, he ceases from his labors and "like ripe fruit, drops into his mother’s lap."  His memory will long be cherished in the community where his life was spent and his example be an inspiration to those who shall appreciate his virtues.