Thomas O'Shea's life spanned more than six decades beginning in Ireland, through Canada, and finally into Saline Co., Kansas.
Thomas was born in Coolbaun Townland, Castlecomer Parish, Kilkenny County, Ireland a son of Henry Shee and Elizabeth Shore Shee. He, with a younger brother Patrick, immigrated to Canada during 1842/43 and worked in Peel County Ontario for several years before settling on their own farms. Thomas married Eleanor Trainor October 3, 1847 and raised their family of eight children in Simcoe County, Ontario south of Primrose. They lived there until 1871 when they migrated into Kansas following, or possibly coming with, a number of other Irish families from that area of Canada. The family settled in Pleasant Valley Township and homesteaded that location.
Thomas died at his home at 720 Gypsum avenue after several years of poor health.
It appears he kept a ledger of some of his life events, but the only page that has survived was one he penned which states the following.
"Born 1823 December the 19th, Thomas O'Shee, Coolbawn county Kilkenny Parish of Castlecomer, Aged 49 years 1871. I wish you to put a toomstone with the above inscription on it."
Seldom does a family find a hand written tombstone inscription generated by the deceased, and which appears to have been written nearly 20 years before his death, but in this case it worked because that is exactly what was inscribed on his grave stone.
Thomas was born in Coolbaun Townland, Castlecomer Parish, Kilkenny County, Ireland a son of Henry Shee and Elizabeth Shore Shee. He, with a younger brother Patrick, immigrated to Canada during 1842/43 and worked in Peel County Ontario for several years before settling on their own farms. Thomas married Eleanor Trainor October 3, 1847 and raised their family of eight children in Simcoe County, Ontario south of Primrose. They lived there until 1871 when they migrated into Kansas following, or possibly coming with, a number of other Irish families from that area of Canada. The family settled in Pleasant Valley Township and homesteaded that location.
Thomas died at his home at 720 Gypsum avenue after several years of poor health.
It appears he kept a ledger of some of his life events, but the only page that has survived was one he penned which states the following.
"Born 1823 December the 19th, Thomas O'Shee, Coolbawn county Kilkenny Parish of Castlecomer, Aged 49 years 1871. I wish you to put a toomstone with the above inscription on it."
Seldom does a family find a hand written tombstone inscription generated by the deceased, and which appears to have been written nearly 20 years before his death, but in this case it worked because that is exactly what was inscribed on his grave stone.
Thomas O'Shea's life spanned more than six decades beginning in Ireland, through Canada, and finally into Saline Co., Kansas.
Thomas was born in Coolbaun Townland, Castlecomer Parish, Kilkenny County, Ireland a son of Henry Shee and Elizabeth Shore Shee. He, with a younger brother Patrick, immigrated to Canada during 1842/43 and worked in Peel County Ontario for several years before settling on their own farms. Thomas married Eleanor Trainor October 3, 1847 and raised their family of eight children in Simcoe County, Ontario south of Primrose. They lived there until 1871 when they migrated into Kansas following, or possibly coming with, a number of other Irish families from that area of Canada. The family settled in Pleasant Valley Township and homesteaded that location.
Thomas died at his home at 720 Gypsum avenue after several years of poor health.
It appears he kept a ledger of some of his life events, but the only page that has survived was one he penned which states the following.
"Born 1823 December the 19th, Thomas O'Shee, Coolbawn county Kilkenny Parish of Castlecomer, Aged 49 years 1871. I wish you to put a toomstone with the above inscription on it."
Seldom does a family find a hand written tombstone inscription generated by the deceased, and which appears to have been written nearly 20 years before his death, but in this case it worked because that is exactly what was inscribed on his grave stone.
Thomas was born in Coolbaun Townland, Castlecomer Parish, Kilkenny County, Ireland a son of Henry Shee and Elizabeth Shore Shee. He, with a younger brother Patrick, immigrated to Canada during 1842/43 and worked in Peel County Ontario for several years before settling on their own farms. Thomas married Eleanor Trainor October 3, 1847 and raised their family of eight children in Simcoe County, Ontario south of Primrose. They lived there until 1871 when they migrated into Kansas following, or possibly coming with, a number of other Irish families from that area of Canada. The family settled in Pleasant Valley Township and homesteaded that location.
Thomas died at his home at 720 Gypsum avenue after several years of poor health.
It appears he kept a ledger of some of his life events, but the only page that has survived was one he penned which states the following.
"Born 1823 December the 19th, Thomas O'Shee, Coolbawn county Kilkenny Parish of Castlecomer, Aged 49 years 1871. I wish you to put a toomstone with the above inscription on it."
Seldom does a family find a hand written tombstone inscription generated by the deceased, and which appears to have been written nearly 20 years before his death, but in this case it worked because that is exactly what was inscribed on his grave stone.
Inscription
Thomas O'Shee
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