EDWARD HALPIN

Taken from 29 Nov 1915, The Elgin Daily Courier, Monday Evening

Fifty years after Edward HALPIN, Confederate war veteran, had marched southward with his defeated comrades in grey, death who had passed the soldier by in the four years of the grim struggle, finally came for its toll at 12:45 o'clock, yesterday. The grey haired veteran passed away after 4 days of illness, his condition becoming serious on Thanksgiving day.

"Captain" HALPIN as he was called was 78 years of age. Born in New Castle, parish of Minalty, county of Methe, Ireland, he came to this country when he was 19 years of age. With his parents he settled on a farm east of St. Charles where he lived the greater part of his life.

During the last ten years he lived in this city where he became one of the best known characters of the city district. Almost every day rain or shine the captain would take his morning stroll and speak to his many friends about the town. Until he was confined to his bed of late he was active and an interested man in the affairs of the local administration.

Always he wore proudly a bronze badge awarded him by the state government of Mississippi for bravery, and good service. He served practically all of the four years under the flag of the south. His tale of experiences during the war time was perhaps better than could be found in the most graphic description printed in any book.

Thomas Delancy, one of Halpin's "Bluecoat" pals made while Halpin was in the northern jail where Delancy acted as guard, is one of the saddest of the Confederate's friends today.

The two vets were used to getting together and discussing how the war would have turned out if such and such had happened.

The argument usually wound up by Delancy declaring that he saw Halpin hide behind a sycamore tree in the battle of Shiloh, and Halpin's return was, "Well, the only reason ye weren't hidin' was because ye were so far in the rear."

Will be missed at Hospital -

But at the St. Joseph's hospital the cheery presence of the Captain will be missed by many of the patients who had made friends with him. He used to go from one room to another and have a chat during the morning before his sojourn thru the city. He had been confined at the hospital for the past year and a half.

Eight children survive. Mrs. Kate JONES and Miss Sylvia HALPIN of Chicago, Mrs. Joseph LAMBERT of Dennison, Texas, Mrs. Agnes KAUFMAN of Elgin, Miss Jane HALPIN of Galesburg and Miss Lucy HALPIN of Houston, Tex. and two sons, Edward of Chicago and William of Aurora. One sister, Mrs. M. TOWNEY and a brother James HALPIN, seven grandchildren and one great grandchild also survive.

The body will be taken from the residence of Mrs. KAUFMAN at 8:45 o'clock tomorrow morning in West Chicago where burial and services will be held at the Oakwood cemetery. Galesburg papers please copy.


Transcribed and submitted by: Raymond Jones on 15 Jun 2002 who can be reached at rayjones2@earthlink.net and would welcome contact regarding this family.

Return to Kane County pages using the "BACK" button on your browser.