Died August 21st, At The Advanced Age Of Eighty-Two Years

At 11:30 o’clock Monday evening, August 28, 1905, Prof. Catherwood’s earthly career came to a peaceful end and his brave spirit passed out over the bar into the boundless ocean of eternity.

His death was not unexpected for it was a natural dissolution of a worn out body and a spirit that was as young and buoyant as a youth’s. He had no disease only decay of the physical structure that houses the ego, the self, the soul.

And his ever active soul had been so hampered by his poor body for so many years we should have liked to be able to hear the shout of triumph it must have given when it was finally freed from mortal dust and bounded into the pure atmosphere of the world beyond.

His was a splendid mind and missed true greatness only by the ruthless hand of Fate. The brain power was there but it was not nourished in the proper environment. He was born of poor and ignorant parents in Ireland away back in March or April; he was not sure which, 1824. In fact, so little did he know of his home or family that he was not even sure of the year in which he was born.

He says, no, said, for his saying is done, he never heard a kind word from his father and as soon as he was able to work he was sent out into the world to shift for himself. Of his mother we have never heard him speak nor or any sisters or brothers.

He had no schooling whatever and could neither read or write up to the time he was 21 years of age. He worked his way to this country when he was about eighteen years of age and lived the life of a tramp for several years, working when he could get work, often sleeping on the streets with only the blue canopy of Heaven for a cover.

While still a raw, young Irishman, he enlisted in the famous Walker army which made an expedition down into Nicaragua to try to conquer that state. He fought with this band of ragamuffins until the disease breeding tropics undermined his health and he was released and sent back to the States.

He landed in New Orleans and developed a case of yellow fever and you can imagine what the authorities would do to an emigrant in those days who brought a case of yellow fever into the city. He was put in a pest house and treated like a dog. But he was not to die here and finally recovered and was released.

He then worked his way north into New York state making speeches as he went, for a returned filibusterer was some pumpkins to a crowd on the street. He always had a quick wit and a ready tongue, dispute his lack of education, and the collection he got after one of these curb stone talks helped him farther north.

His success at speech-making fired him to try to obtain an education and away up in good old York state found the opportunity of his life, a chance to work for his keeping and go to school. This was a little academy at Lima, and what of the rudiments he was able to pick up there in a short time, changed the whole course of his life.

He went out into the country, as far as he could get, where he thought the people knew less than he did and got a country school to teach. He was more fearful of his ability to teach than those who employed him at first, but he soon caught on and was right in his element.

Such a brain as his needed exercises along this line and the problem in arithmetic that he could not solve would baffle many a college professor. Anyone who knew “rithmetic” in those days knew it about all and so this witty Irishman went away out into Illinois, to Jacksonville and essay to teach a city school.

He had hard work convincing the board of his fitness for the place, for he had defects a plenty, but he could outwit the board every time and they finally hired him. He not only conquered the school board but he conquered the school and, to tell the truth, several of the subjects he was called upon to teach.

From there he went to Litchfield, Ill. and there met Miss Laura Sheppard, also a teacher. She was a bright and buxom girl and he was married to her after a short acquaintance. They never had any children of their own but took Adelle Sheppard, a daughter of Mrs. Catherwood’s brother, when she was but two years of age, to raise.

Mr. Sheppard was a wealthy but a dissipated man and Adelle was never legally adopted for she was the sole heir to his fortune. But alas, for all concerned, particularly for Mrs. Catherwood, for he lost everything at the age of 52 and committed suicide.

Mrs. Catherwood had counted so much on getting this money with which to educate Adelle that her reason was dethroned from the disappoint, and since 1894 has been confined in the asylum at Pueblo, Colo. She is now in excellent physical health at 60 years of age and may live many more years yet.

In 1876, now “Professor” Catherwood applied for the principalship of the Blair High School and was employed “unsight and unseen” as the boys trade knives. It was not long before he had developed some strong friends and also some active enemies. And, this was not unnatural for as we said before, he was woefully ignorant on some subjects, such as grammar and composition, and arithmetic, had begun to lose its sway.

In the meantime the Professor had saved a little money and bought a thousand acres of cheap government land up near West Point. Wishing to be near that place he obtained the principalship there. But his health began to fail even before he left here and he was compelled to go to California.

He did not remain long but the move was disastrous to his finances. He sold the land out at West Point for only a portion of what it is worth now, and not being able to teach anymore, he was soon reduced to poverty. It was at about this time that Mrs. Catherwood lost her reason and the old Professor, for he was then 71 years of age, had much to weigh him down.

But, he did not lose heart. He threw pride to the dogs and started to buying butter and eggs on this market, and taking them to Omaha to sell them on a better market. This brought a meagre living for himself and daughter. Soon he obtained the agency from Rand, McNally & Co., of Chicago, to sell their maps and traveled the country over many times in this capacity. He liked Blair and had some good friends here and it was natural that when he was no longer able to travel about the country, he should settle down here. He had gotten together a little money once more and bought a lot on South street which he turned into a fruit and garden patch.

Only last fall he built a little home on this lot and there he spent his last days, alone most of the time, for he would not have anyone do anything for him he could do for himself.

He loved his garden and was greatly chagrinned when his strength gave away to such an extent that he could no long work it himself. Hired help was unsatisfactory and took most of the profits. But he also loved to read and think and his wonderfully retentive mind was a veritable encyclopedia, history and literature being his particular forte.

He was at his best when conversing with those who understood him, and his conversations scintillated with clever witticisms, with poetical imagery, or with profound thoughts along psychological or industrial topics. Under a different environment, he would have made much better use of these gifts, but Fate barred the way.

We shall miss him greatly for we were fortunate enough to be a friend, but for him to be freed from the tired and clumsy body that put such limitations even upon his mental activity, is far better. He is now a citizen of the world where mind is all and our best wish for him is that he may be guided by a more kindly Fate than here.

The funeral was held at his little home on Thursday afternoon, Rev. Marsh officiating. “Of it, his daughter, Mrs. J. O. Billick, said: “He was laid away so tenderly that I can never forget the many friends who were so kind to my poor, dear father.”

#2 Democrat 24 August 1905

Prof. Catherwood, who has been confined to his house for the past several months, died Tuesday night at 1:30 o’clock. Mr. Catherwood was born in Ireland about eighty-three years ago and came to American when about eighteen years old. After getting an education he taught school and a number of years ago was at the head of the Blair schools. Deceased had travelled all over the world and had often made his brags that there wasn’t a city in the United States that he had not been n at least once. His daughter is expected today, when the arrangements for the funeral will be made.

#3 Pilot Wednesday 23 August 1905

Prof. Catherwood Dead

Prof. Catherwood is dead. For the past year or more he has been failing in health and for the past four months it has been all that he could do to get down town once a day and often he found it a great relief when some friend was driving his way to be taken home. About three weeks ago he found it impossible to leave the house and he has since grown rapidly weaker. Mr. Catherwood was past eight years of age and, if we mistake not, he was eighty-six. He came to this country when a boy and until he was grown up he had no education-not even a common school. He formed the idea that a man without brains was no better than so as and he chose to get on the side of the man with brains and began to dig into his books. When he was of age and when he had so far mastered his studies as to be able to pass a teacher’s examination, he was so green pleasantly. Years ago his wife was adjudged insane and is now in the asylum at Lincoln. Mr. Catherwood has, all these years, clothed her and during this time has given his daughter a polished education-something that he considered better than gold. He had probably traveled more than any other man in Nebraska. He had been in every state in the Union and all the important cities. He was a great conversationalist, a deep thinker and a good writer, and whenever he set out to relate his experiences he was listened to with wrapt attention. He had many warm personal friends in Blair and Washington county and in his last sickness they were careful to see to it that he was properly cared for, though he protested to the last that he did not need so much attention. He was always worried that he might become a care to his friends.

~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~

Find a Grave # 9918580. Buried in Blair Cemetery.