Person:Michael Urell (2)

Obituary

Again it is the sad duty of the Pioneer to chronicle the passing of a pioneer of the Dakotas. This community was shocked when the news was spread from lip to lip Monday morning of the death of Michael Emmet Urell, which occurred at the home of his son, M. D. Urell, at 8:30 A.M. Monday, May 9th. Mr. Urell had be suffering from ills due to his advanced age for several years but on Sunday said that he had never felt better in his life. He retired in his usual good spirits and it was not until nearly 8 o'clock the next morning that his family was awakened by the fatal attack of heart trouble that brought death in a few minutes.

Michael Emmett Urell was born Dec 9th, 1845 in County Kerry, Ireland, his parents being Irish. At the age of 7 he was brought to New York City and while still very young enlisted in the 19th U.S. Regular Infantry and saw service during the Civil War. A cousin, Emmett Urell, who was at one time Commander in Chief of the G.A.R. and the Chief Clerk of the War Department in Washington, D.C. wished to place him in school but his adventurous spirit led him to enlist under the name of Charles Welch. Welch was his mother's name and he was known as such all over the West for many years.

At the close of the war he was sent to Fort Smith, Ark. where he served his country well in suppressing the guerrilla warfare that harrassed that country for several years. He passed through on of the severest yellow fever epidemics that the southwest ever saw and in it nearly all the men of his company died. He was then sent north as Sergeant in Co. K 17th. Infantry and was stationed at Fort Bennet, S.D. where he was promoted to First Sergeant. At one time during his stay here, the post was about to be attacked by Sioux Indians and the soldiers threw up a line of entrenchments around the fort. A missionary was killed a few miles north of Cheyenne Agency, which adjoined the post, and a party brought the body down and hailed the post asking for an escort. Sergeant Welch volunteered to go out to meet them and brought them through the lines. This was an exceptionally daring undertaking as the enemy was suspected of attempting to draw the soldiers into ambush.

His company was moved up river to Fort Yates and in 1877 it went to Fort Pembina where he as honorably discharged in 1882. He returned to Fort Yates as civilian employee of the government and resided here until 1905 when he moved his family to his ranch 7 miles west of Shields. During the last few years of his life he and Mrs. Urell have made their home with their daughter Mrs. Burt Ladue at Carson, N.D. and Mr. Urell served as a deputy sheriff of Grant County, being his last official work for his country.

Environment is largely the making of a man and Sergeant Urell measured up in full to the requirements of his environment. It took a man of great personality to handle a company of soldiers and Indian fighters in the early days, and one who has known Mr. Urell could see that he was equal to the any occasion. He knew no fear and proved it by readily joining Buffalo Bill's party when they went out after Siting Bull in the fall of 1890. The best remembered men who were on this trip were Buffalo Bill, White Beaver, Pony Express Bob, Con. Malley, Steve Burke and "Bully" Welch as Mr. Urell was called. With the passing of Mr. Urell, all have gone to the Great Beyond.

On May 21st., 1878, at St. Peter, Emerson, Manitoba, there occurred the marriage of M. E. Urell and Kate McDonald. Of this union, Mrs. Urell, three boys, and one daughter survive. The children are Donald (our Dan), Frank, James, and Catherine (Mrs. LaDue).

Frank and James are at Ponca City, Okla. and were preparing a new home for their parents who expected to go down this summer. But Mr. Urell wished to be buried here, and last Sunday picked out a lot in the Catholic cemetery and gave instructions that this should be his last resting place, where he had seen the most prosperous part of his life.

The funeral took place Thursday from St. Peter's church, with the Ref. Fr. Bernard officiating. ^S2

Beware: there is another Michael Emmett Urell also born in Ireland about the same time and also had a lengthy military career. Be careful not to get them confused! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micheal_E._Urell

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} Michael Emmett Urell, in Find A Grave.
2.   Obituary, Sioux County Pioneer.

   Found an image of this on the Find A Grave entry (q.v.)