SHANNON, Junius W. 1835 - 1899

SHANNON, FOURT, DANIELS, SPENCER

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 5/25/2021 at 20:23:27

Source: Decorah Republican
Apr. 27, 1899
Page 4 Column 1

Death of J. W. SHANNON.

Through the Marshalltown Statesman-Press information is given that J. W. SHANNON died at Fairfield, Iowa, on Thursday, last week, of general debility resulting from the grip. For twenty or more years SHANNON was regarded as one of the ablest editors in northeastern Iowa, and was engaged successively on journals printed at Fayette, West Union and Elkader. When the emigration to Dakota began he followed the star of empire, and landed at Huron where he made the Huronite a power in territorial politics. For a time he was at the head of the educational interests of the state as the president of the Board of Regents of the South Dakota State University and schools. Health failed him, and he came back to Iowa. For several years we had lost sight of him, and knew not his whereabouts until the item announcing his death came to hand. A brilliant, witty, forceful, yet erratic, sanguine, untiring and thoroughgoing newspaper man has finished his life-work and gone to his last rest.

Transcriber’s Note: Find a Grave shows he was born Feb. 19, 1835 and died April 20, 1899. He is buried in the Evergreen Cemetery.

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Added by Admin, September 2020 --

"The Fairfield Tribune"
Wednesday, April 19, 1899
Page 2, Column 3

... J. W. SHANNON, who for the past two years has made his home in this city with his daughter, Mrs. Frank FOURT, is very seriously ill. He had an attack of the grip last winter and his illness now is caused from complications arising from that disease. it is feared that recovery is impossible. Mr. SHANNON is an old newspaper man and is at present one of the owners of the Marshalltown "Press-Statesman."

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"Jefferson County Republican"
Friday, April 21, 1899
Page 4, Column 4

J. W. SHANNON, who for the past two years has made his home with his daughter, Mrs. Frank FOURT, in this city, died yesterday. His death was caused by complications arising from an attack of the grip. He was about 62 years old and was one of the owners of the Marshalltown Press Statesman. The funeral will be held at 2 o'clock ths afternoon.

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"The Fairfield Ledger"
Wednesday, April 26, 1899
Page 3, Column 4

Death of a Well Known Newspaper Man.

Julius W. SHANNON died at the home of Dr. Frank FOURT, a soninlaw, in this city the 20th inst. He was born at Plainfield, Ill., February 19th, 1835, the only son of Robert E. and Melissa DANIELS SHANNON. He grew to manhood in his native state, and removed to West Union, Iowa, in 1858, where, in 1859, he was married to Miss Laura SPENCER, who survives him. Three children by this marriage are living, Benjamin of Washington, D. C., Edwin S. of Hawarden, and Mrs. Fanny SHANNON FOURT of this city. Mr. SHANNON's remains were interred in the Evergreen cemetery Friday afternoon. Rev. A. M. Work, a former friend of the family now a resident of this city, conducted the funeral services. The remains wre borne to the grave by members of the Masonic fraternity, with which deceased had been connected for many years.

Mr. SHANNON had been engaged in newspaper work contimuously for nearly half a century, and was particularly well known in Iowa and South Dakota. Left an orphan at an early age, he was wholly thrown upon his own resources at the age of eighteen years. He began work as a printer at Serling, Ill., in 1853, began the study of law while so employed and serving as a teacher in the public schools at times. In 1858 he removed to West Union, this state, and engaged in teaching and newspaper work. In 1867, with C. H. Talmadge, he established The West Union Gazette, and from that time until his death printer's ink was never wholly off his fingers. After severing his connection with The Gazette he was connected with newspapers at Cedar Rapids and Waterloo, and for eight years at Elkader, where he held a position under the federal government. In 1880 Mr. SHANNON removed to the territory of Dakota and with a partner established the papers at Huron, Brookings, De Smet and Estelline. He gave especial attention to the Huron publication, which was known as The Huronite, and wielded a great influence in shaping the affairs of the new state. Failing health compelled him to relinquish more active labors in 1896 and he returned to Iowa, where he engaged for a time in the publication of The Marshalltown Statesman. Since removal to this city he had led a retired life, his physical condition being such as to forbid active labor of any kind.

With a constitution which was never vigorous and an exceedingly nervous temperament, Mr. SHANNON was a man of the most intense energy. He yielded to every demand which was made upon his services for the betterment of the community in which he resided and was a leader in all public movements. He was a keen and vigorous writer, and, especially in Dakota, wielded a wide influence and had much to do with shaping the policies of the new state along political, educational and material lines. Among members of the Iowa press he had many acquaintances in earlier days who appreciated his ability, the excellences of his character and the forcefulness of his work, and will lament his death.

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"The Fairfield Tribune"
Wednesday, April 26, 1899
Page 6, Column 4

Death of J. W. SHANNON.

Julius (sic) W. SHANNON died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Frank FOURT, last Thursday morning at half past four o'clock. He was in the sixty-fifth year of his age.

Mr. SHANNON was an old newspaper man and at the time of his death still retained an interest in the "Statesman-Press" of Marshalltown, Iowa. He had lived in this city since the spring of 1897, at which time he left Marshalltown on account of his failing health. He was a member of many years standing of the Masons lodge and although the funeral services were not conducted by the lodge, it was from its members that the pall-bearers were chosen.

Mr. SHANNON was born in Plainfield, Illinois, Febraury 19, 1835, and his home remained in Illinois until 1855, when he removed to West Union Iowa. Here he and C. H. Talmadge founded the West Union "Gazette", of which Mr. Talmadge is still the owner. In 1859 he was married to Laura SPENCER, and in 1872 they moved from West Union to Elkader, this state, and there he owned the Clay County "Journal". Elkader was his home until 1881, when he went to Dakota, where he was associated in the founding of several papers. His home was in Huron, S. D. Fifteen years later, in 1896, he returned to Iowa, and it was then that he became connected with the Marshalltown "Statesman-Press".

Mr. SHANNON had a severe attack of the grip during the past winter and it was from complications arising from this disease that caused his death. He leaves a wife and three children living. The children are B. J. of Washington, D. C.; Edwin, of Hawarden, Iowa; and Fannie, Mrs. Frank FOURT, of this city.

The funeral took place from the residence on West Briggs street last Friday afternoon at two o'clock. Rev. A. M. Work, the old family pastor, and who now resides in this city, conducted the services.

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"The Fairfield Tribune"
Wednesday, April 26, 1899
Page 7, Column 2

The Sioux City "Tribune" had the following kindly reference a few days ago to the late J. W. SHANNON, who recently died in this city:

J. W. SHANNON, the veteran newspaper man who died the other day in Fairfield, was formerly the editor of the "Huronite", of Huron, S. D., and came into great prominence during the Sheldon administration, when the South Dakato (sic) agricultural college war broke out. Mr. SHANNON was a member of the board of regents, and sided with the governor. The war between them was long drawn out and bitter, and the comments on the situation by the editor-regent in his paper were a delight to those opposed to the governor, but acted like a dissecting knife on the other side. The departure of Mr. SHANNON from South Dakota was universally regretted, for he was recognized as a power for good in the state.

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*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.

Burial was in Lot Old.P.074. Wife Laura died in 1904 and is buried with him.