DOUGHERTY, James 91860-1932)

DOUGHERTY, GORMAN, WADE, ORMSBY, SWEENEY, MOLLOY, OCONNELL, COLLINS, MURPHY, OHAGEN, OLINGER, MCMANUS, CONNERS, WIEGLAND, HASS, RYAN, SOLBERG, MCLAUGHLIN, CUNNINGHAM

Posted By: Marilyn O'Connor (email)
Date: 12/5/2011 at 17:44:46

Scrap Book
Jan. 1932

Jame Dougherty, Prominent Citizen of Dougherty, Dead

Member of Prominent Pioneer Family; Mayor of Town; President of the Dougherty Lumber Co.;
Funeral at St. Patrick's.

James Dougherty, prominent citizen of Dougherty, Iowa was called away in death on Wednesday morning January 6 at the age of 72. During the past year he suffered from the effects of a stroke but it was only in the past four months that these effects developed into the serious conditions which finally resulted in death.

Mr. Dougherty was a son of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Dougherty Sr., founder of the community which bears their name. He was born in Clayton County, February 3, 1860. In 1883 he came with his parents and his brothers and sisters to Dougherty and from time of his earliest manhood until his death, he was outstanding among the members of that community in his business activites and in his relation to the church.

On January 9, 1883, he was united in marriage to Miss Bridget Gorman and to this union were born five children, all of whom are yet living. Mrs. Dougherty died May 10, 1920. The children are Mrs. Robert Ormsby, Mrs. Edward F. Sweeney, William and Edward G. of Dougherty, Iowa and Peter F. of Clarion, and twenty-two grandchildren.

From 1914 to 1921 Mr. Dougherty was mayor of Dougherty. In 1900 he was elected president of the Dougherty Lumber Company and was general manager for several years. He was also president of the Dougherty Implement Company and for many years, in company with his brother Johm Dougherty, he owned and operated one of the grain elevators of that place. He dealt extensively in Iowa and Minnesota real estate and at the time of his death was associated with his brother John Dougherty in the Dougherty Implement Company which is being conducted there.

In addition to these business interests, he owned and operated the farm where he resided and where his family was raised, until shortly before his death. In his business relations he enjoyed the respect and the confidence of all with whom he came in contact and his death brought forth expressions of regret from a large circle of friends and acquaintances.

As a member of St. Patrick's parish where he was so well known and honored he merited by his long years of unselfish devotion to be considered one of the foremost. He was a charter member of the local court of the Catholic Order of Foresters and an active member of the Knights of Columbus.

The funeral was held from the old home in Dougherty Friday morning, January 8. It was the occasion for attendance on the part of non-Catholics and Catholics alike who came from far and near to pay the last sad tribute of their affectionate regard and their sincere respect to his memory. A solemn Requiem High Mass was offered in St. Patrick's church for the eternal and happy repose of his soul. The Mass was celebrated by the Very Rev. E. J. Dougherty of Cresco, brother of deceased, with Rev. P. Molloy of Belmond, deacon and Rev. F. Leo O'Connell of Cresco as subdeacon; Rev. John Collins, pastor of St. Patrick's Church, master of ceremonies. Father Collins also preached the sermon. Assisting at the solemn obsequies in the sanctuary besides the priests above mentioned were the Very Reverend Deans, P. S. O'Connor of Mason City and Rev. Fathers R.P. Murphy of Mason City, E. A. O'Hagen of Rockwell and Father Olinger of Mason City.

The sermon by the pastor Father Collins, was a beautiful tribute to Mr. Dougherty's years of service and devotion to the cause of religion which always predominated throughout the course of his life. His assurance of sympathy to the bereaved was an echo of the feelings which filled the hearts of the large audience in the church, and throughout the community. Father Collins sermon was also a forceful and splendid exhortation to all present to be prepared against the last moment which we must all meet.

The active pallbearers were his two grandsons, Joseph and Francis Sweeney and his four nephews, Charles Dougherty, Robert Dougherty, Everett Dougherty and Martin J. Wade. The honorary pallbearers were the Hon. Thomas McManus, Thomas Conners, George Wiegland, Carol Hass, T. C. Ryan, John Solberg Sr., D.J. McLaughlin and James Cunningham.

Besides Father Dougherty, the surviving brothers and sisters are Daniel J., John, Bernard of Dougherty and Joseph H. of Butte Montana and Mrs Mary Wade of Chicago, Margaret and Theresa of Dougherty.