Obituary

  John Mack, Sr., of two miles west of Viola, a well known and prominent pioneer of Mercer county, died at his home today of pneumonia. He was sick less than 24 hours, having visited in Aledo the latter part of last week, when he was enjoying good health. The funeral will be held at 10 o'clock Saturday morning at the Catholic church at Viola and burial will be in Preemption cemetery.
(Aledo Times Record, March 11, 1926, p. 1)

John Mack, Sr.

  At his home near Viola, at 12 m., Thursday, March 11, 1926, occurred the death of John Mack, Sr. He was in good health until the day preceding when he was stricken with pneumonia and his condition was considered serious from the first. He was a patient sufferer and resigned to God's holy will and received the last rites of the church he loved so well and passed to his eternal home peacefully.
  John Mack, Sr., was born in County Clare, Ireland, May 4, 1847. He was left fatherless at a very early age and came to America at the age of five years with his maternal grandmother, Mrs. Conway. They resided in Pennsylvania for two years where his mother had located two years before their arrival in this country. They moved to Rock Island where they resided two years. His mother then bought forty acres of raw land in Preemption township, which Mr. Mack improved with the assistance of his two brothers. With additional land purchases in Greene township and with prosperity attending his efforts and at his death he was owner of a thousand acres or more. He has resided in Greene township since 1880. He has also been connected with the financial development of the community as a founder, director and vice president of the Viola State bank.
  In Rock Island county, on February 17, 1873, Mr. Mack was united in marriage to Miss Mary L. Kelleher. She died in Greene township on Mar. 18, 1883. To this union was born three sons and one daughter, namely: James I.; John M.; T. Edward; all of Viola; Mary Elizabeth died in infancy. Mr. Mack was again married in Guthrie county, Iowa, June 5, 1893, to Miss Anna McManus, who preceded him in death Jan. 31, 1926.
  Mr. Mack was a member of St. John's church of Viola. Funeral services were conducted at this church with Solemn Requiem Mass with Father C. J. Higgins celebrant; Father L. V. Daugherty, deacon; and Father Gordon sub-deacon. Richard Lemon was acolyte.
  Interment was made in St. Joseph's cemetery in Preemption, where he was laid gently away by his three grandsons, Louis, Frank and Charles Mack, three nephews, Bert and Walter Mack and James O'Brien.
  Mr. Mack is survived by three sons, James, John and Edward, eight grandchildren and two great grandchildren, all residing within a mile of the parental home.
  Out of town people present at the funeral were: Mike McManus of Lenox, Iowa; Tom and James O'Brien of Stuart, Iowa, Mrs. Mary Sackville, Stephen and John Dormady of East Moline; Mrs. John Leahigh, Miss Jennie Thomas, B. L. Christy, all of Galesburg, Ill.
(Aledo Times Record, March 18, 1926, p. 15)