James W. Furlong, December 24, 1843 - February 24, 1921

FURLONG, HURLEY

Posted By: Ava Simmons (email)
Date: 2/24/2005 at 19:55:58

Obituary taken from Marengo Republican of Marengo, Iowa, dated Wednesday, March 2, 1921:

"JAMES FURLONG ANSWERS CALL TO BEYOND
WAS A PIONEER IN RAILROAD BUILDING, BEING ACTIVE IN NEW CONSTRUCTION WORK
CAME HERE IN 1864
Worked for C.R.I.&P. R.R. for 43 years, Retiring in 1913

James Furlong passed away at his home in the east part of town, Thursday morning, February 24, 1921, after a lingering illness.

Mr. Furlong was born at Kinross in County Kerry, Ireland, December 24, 1843. He came to America when a young man and located in Marengo in 1864, where he continued to reside up to the time of his death.

On January 8, 1882, he was united in marriage to Harriet Alice Hurley. To this union were born 4 children, 3 boys and one girl, who with their mother survive; Peter C., James L, Winifred Agnes, and Francis L, also a granddaughter, Rosa Harriet, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James L. Furlong.

Funeral services were held from St. Patrick's church Saturday A.M. at 9:00 o'clock with interment in the Calvary cemetery.

Mr. Furlong's name has been linked to early railroad building all along the line of the Rock Island. In the early days of construction work, Mr. Furlong came into prominence with his employers by his ability to handle men in laying out and completing new track. He was invariably picked to head gangs, where new work was to be put thro. Finally he accepted the section at Marengo, and remained in constant service until 1913 when he retired on account of poor health, after completing 43 years continuous service.

Mr. Furlong lived to see Marengo grow from a small village to a modern up-to-date city. For the past seven years he has been confined to his home, practically all of the time, suffering from rheumatism and asthma. Altho ailing, his death was a surprise to the family as he had been up and around the day before."