Family Tree Maker's Genealogy Site: Genealogy Report: Descendants of Owen McCollow

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Descendants of Owen McCollow

Generation No. 2

2. Owen² McCollow (Owen¹)^1,^2,^3,^4,^5,^6,^7,^8,^9,^10,^11,¹¹ was born 01 Nov 1824 in Collon, County Louth, Ireland ^12,^13,^14,^15,^16,^17,^18,¹⁸, and died 01 Mar 1900 in Oak Grove, Dodge, WI ¹⁹. He married Margaret Atfield^20,^21,^22,²³ 05 Mar 1848 in Jersey City, NJ, daughter of Unknown Atfield and Alice Unknown. She was born 25 Mar 1822 in Grange Greet, County Westmeath, Ireland ^24,^25,^26,²⁷, and died 17 Sep 1908 in Neosho, Dodge, WI ²⁸.

Notes for Owen McCollow:
Juneau Tribune March 9, 1900

A Well Known Pioneer Passes Away

Mr. Owen McCollow, a resident of the village of Oak Grove for the past fifty years and its present postmaster, died at his home there, last Thursday evening, March 1, 1900, at 7:00. His death was an event wholly unexpected and was the result of a sickness of about four days duration. On the Previous Friday he complained of not feeling well but attended to his duties at the post office, besides giving no small share of his time to the care of his wife who was, at the time, considered seriously ill but is much improved at the time of this writing.

On Sunday, February 25, Mr. McCollow was quite suddenly and almost completely prostrated while at the bedside of his wife. He fell into what seemed to be a fainting spell and was helped to his room. Dr. Hallock was called and, upon investigation, found that it was a case of paralysis of the throat, and of the vital organs. He grew weaker from day to day and from hour to hour was not able to take any nourishment, and finally passed away on the day and at the hour above stated.

The funeral services were held at St. Mary’s Church in Juneau, on Monday last at 10 o’clock. Rev. J.J. Salentin was the celebrant of the Solemn High Mass. He was assisted by Fathers Condon of Madison, and Collins of Janesville, as deacon and sub-deacon. Rev. Father Klaser of Beaver Dam officiated as Master of Ceremonies. Rev. Father Bertram of Hartford and Rev. M.J. Ward of Beloit were also present.

Father Ward delivered the funeral oration which was one of the most eloquent and the most logical ever heard in this place. It seemed to reach the heart of every listener and there to find a hearty amen. The Rev. Speaker seemed to have taken a deep inspiration from the life of him over whose remains he stood. He paid a most eloquent and feeling tribute to the life and character of Mr. McCollow as a Christian, as a Catholic, as a husband, father, and neighbor. His eulogy was a strong one and his manner of speech left no doubt of his sincerity. Furthermore, he was conscious of the fact that all who heard him and knew the deceased in his life time could heartily endorse and corroborate every syllable that fell from his lips.

The Church was filled to its utmost capacity by Catholics and non-Catholics and the sermon has been a topic of conversation and a subject of thought ever since. At the conclusion of the services at the church, the remains were conveyed to the Catholic cemetery and laid to rest in the presence of the family of the deceased and a large concourse of neighbors and friends.

The pall bearers were Messrs. Jeremiah Mahoney and Edward J. Collins of Clyman, Charles Owen and Edward Drake of Oak Grove, and Solomon Rudolf and John Solon of Juneau.

The date of Mr. McCollow’s funeral, March 5th, happened to be the date of his marriage, which event took place in 1848, fifty-two years ago. Two years ago, Mr. and Mrs. McCollow celebrated their golden wedding, with appropriate religion exercises, at St. Mary’s church in this city. At that time we published, in connection with an account of the ceremony, the following interesting biography of Mr. McCollow:

“Owen McCollow was born on a farm in Collon, county of Louth, Ireland, Nov. 1st, 1824, and was the youngest of fourteen children, of whom he is now the sole survivor. He was given a very liberal education in a private school. At the age of 17 he began an apprenticeship as a shoemaker in the city of Drogheda, and after a service of four years, came to America when 21 years of age. He worked at his trade in NY City for three years. On the 5th day of March, 1848, he was united in marriage with Miss Margaret Atfield, and the couple came to WI in the summer of that year, settling first in Milwaukee. In 1850 they came to Oak Grove, this county, which place has been their home ever since.

Mr. McCollow was appointed Postmaster of Oak Grove in 1853, and held the position for about nine years. This was before the era of railroads and at a time when Oak Grove was the distributing office for numerous stage routes. The amount of mail handled daily sometimes exceeded twenty bushels. Mr. McCollow was again appointed Postmaster in 1885 and held the office for four years. Again in 1873 he received the appointment and still holds that position.

He has held office of Justice of the Peace for the past 31 years without interruption. He has been elected to the office of chairman, assessor, clerk, and treasurer of the town of Oak Grove and has served as a member of the county board. He was school district treasurer for 21 years, and was twice an unsuccessful candidate for member of assembly in a district in opposition to his political views.

No man has ever stood higher, nor does any man stand higher today in the esteem and confidence of his neighbors than does Owen McCollow.”

A lapse of two short years has not altered the above sketch except perhaps to add to the esteem in which Mr. McCollow has ever been held since he first settled in Oak Grove. In the presence of the death of this truly good man, it is difficult to select words that can exemplify his life. As Father Ward expressed it: “His life was a lesson of righteousness, and more impressive in its practice than can be made clear to the mind by any combination of words.”

Mr. McCollow is survived by his wife, five sons, and one daughter. The sons are Eugene, of Minneapolis; John M. of Neosho; T.J. of Ellsworth; Thomas A. of Hartford. The daughter (Mary) is a member of the order of the Sisters of Mercy, and is a teacher in St. Joseph’s Academy at Janesville. She is known in the religious order as Sister Mary De Sales. All were present at the funeral except Eugene.

More About Owen McCollow:
Arrival: 15 Jun 1846, New York, NY ²⁹
Burial: St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery, Oak Grove, Dodge, WI ³⁰
Custom: Ireland ³¹
Departure: May 1846, Liverpool^31,³²
Immigration: 15 Jun 1846, Ireland to New York³²
Occupation: Shoemaker ^33,³⁴
Residence 1: 1849, New York, New York ³⁵
Residence 2: 1850, Fairfield, Dodge, Wisconsin ³⁶
Residence 3: 1855, Dodge County, WI ³⁷
Residence 4: 1860, Oak Grove, Dodge, Wisconsin ³⁸
Residence 5: 1870, Oak Grove, Dodge, Wisconsin ³⁹
Residence 6: 1880, Oak Grove, Dodge, Wisconsin ⁴⁰
Residence 7: 1895, Oak Grove, Dodge, WI ⁴¹

More About Margaret Atfield:
Arrival: 1838 ⁴²
Burial: St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery ⁴³
Residence 1: 1870, Oak Grove, Dodge, Wisconsin ⁴⁴
Residence 2: 1880, Oak Grove, Dodge, Wisconsin ⁴⁵
Residence 3: 1900, Juneau, Dodge, Wisconsin ⁴⁶

Children of Owen McCollow and Margaret Atfield are:

+	3	i.	Eugene³ McCollow, born 1850 in Oak Grove, Dodge, WI; died in MN.
+	4	ii.	John M. McCollow, born 09 Aug 1851 in Oak Grove, Dodge, WI; died 08 Apr 1941 in Neosho, Dodge, WI.
+	5	iii.	Thomas Atfield McCollow, born 26 Feb 1854 in Oak Grove, Dodge, WI; died 26 Dec 1937 in St. Paul, MN.
+	6	iv.	Terrence J McCollow, born 1857 in Oak Grove, Dodge, WI; died in Ellsworth, Pierce, WI.
	7	v.	Mary McCollow ⁴⁷, born 1859 in Oak Grove, Dodge, WI⁴⁷; died 1936 in Janesville, WI.

More About Mary McCollow:
Alias: Sister Marie De Sales
Occupation: Nun
Religion: Roman Catholic
Residence: 1880, Shields, Dodge, Wisconsin⁴⁷

vi.

Edward A McCollow, born 1861 in Oak Grove, Dodge, WI; died 1944 in Hartford, Washington, WI.

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