Obituary

  Charles Sullivan, Sr. died of old age at his home in Mercer township on Friday, March 15, aged 81 years and 21 days. The funeral services were conducted Monday last at 11:00 o'clock, from the Catholic church in Corning, Rev. Father officiating, and burial was made in Calvary cemetery.
  The life history of Mr. Sullivan is a very interesting one, viewed from his experiences. He was born in county Down, near Dublin, Ireland, February 22, 1831, and came with his parents to Philadelphia when but three months old. Here he resided until he reached the age of 18 years. He followed the profession of printer for some years, and had the honor of being associated with Horace Greeley. From Philadelphia he went to California via the Isthmus of Panama, crossing where the present celebrated canal is being constructed. In California he worked in the gold mines and also at the printing trade in San Francisco, at a time when the city had only 300 people. Mr. Sullivan worked on the first newspaper established in that place. He crossed the plains and came to Dubuque Iowa, in 1856, purchasing a farm with money from the gold mines in California. Here he was married to Margaret Geary in 1857. To them were born eleven children, eight of whom are now living. They are John Sullivan, Carl, Nevada; Katie Sullivan, Otterburn, Iowa; Mrs. Anna Glew, Dubuque, Iowa; Mary Sullivan, of St. Joseph hospital, Kansas City; Dennis, Joe and Charles, of Corning, and Mrs. Maggie Scanlan, Brooks, Iowa. In 1875 Mr. Sullivan removed from Dubuque county to Adams county and purchased the farm on which he lived until the time of his death. His wife died in Adams county in 1881. In 1884 he was married to Anna Maney, who survives him. To them were born six children, Nellie, Lizzie, Nora, who is attending school at Shenandoah; Francis, William and Dan. Mr. Sullivan was a very successful farmer and at the time of his death owned some 500 acres of Adams county land. Friends of the family sympathize with them in their bereavement.
(Adams County Union-Republican, Wednesday, March 20, 1912)

Note; first wife Margaret, born in Ireland.