Palo Alto Reporter
Emmetsburg, Palo Alto, Iowa
Friday, Dec. 17, 1897

OBITUARY
COONAN.

    Died at the residence of her son, in Emmetsburg, Iowa, on the evening of Friday, Dec. 10, Catherine M. Coonan, aged 73 years, 3 months and 25 days.
    The deceased-whose maiden name was O'Connell-was born in Cork, Ireland. Came to the United States in 1845, and in 1847 was married in Boston to Martin Coonan. A few years late they came to Morris, Ill, where Mr. Coonan was engaged in railroad work. In 1859 they came to Palo Alto county and settled on what is now known as the Riverdale farm. Here they opened up a general farm and endured all the struggles and privations of a pioneer life. In a little while their farm became one of the landmarks of the valley of the West Des Moines. As the settlers began to come in, their homestead, with the adjacent river crossing, formed the nucleus by which the original town of Emmetsburg was built and the farm house for a time became the village tavern and was constantly filled to overflowing with restless, moving humanity of every type, and each guest whether prince or peasant received from Mrs. Coonan a cheerful welcome on arriving, the best that was going while he stayed, and a hearty god-speed on departure.
    The told town began to take on village form about 1870-71 and all of the first settlers for a longer or a shorter period made their homes at the Coonan hostelry, and as we have heard them talk over those crowding, pushing, bustling times, in the later years the good-heartedness of Mrs. Coonan has almost invariably been spoken of. When the town moved, Mr. and Mrs. Coonan sold the old home farm and moved to the "eighty" that now forms the B. & R. addition, east of Emmetsburg, where she lived till sometime after the death of her husband in June, 1886. Her later years have been spent with her son William, at whose home she died. To the last her hospitable disposition stayed with her, and she would never hear to a hungry man being sent from the door.
    During this period she has been a sufferer from rheumatism and to some extent had passed from the general view, but whenever you came in contact with her, the warm heart and the cheery, "How are you," was there; she loved to talk over the old times, and to enquire after the welfare of those of her old boarders who had moved away. She had a good word for each and all of them, and always saw the good points, rather than their failings. But her life's work is done, and we believe that her purpose was to do all the good she could.
    The estimation in which she was held, was somewhat shown by the large number of mourning friends who followed her mortal remains to the church, and to their last resting place in the cemetery.
    We knew her well- she was more than an ordinary woman in her sphere and we feel that many sad hearts will join us in bidding her this last good-by.