Joseph Fegan 1860-1940

FEGAN, GRAFFT, TIREY

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 9/7/2020 at 06:52:28

9 May 1940 - The Anamosa Journal

Funeral service were held Wednesday at the Methodist church for Joseph G. Fegan, 80, former mayor of Anamosa, who died at his home Sunday night. Rev. J. K. Delahooke conducted the rites. Burial was made in Riverside cemetery.

Casket bearers were Dan James, Earl Boyer, Alva Barber, L. D. Murfield, George Beaman and Ed Budde.

Mr. Fegan was born Aug. 20, 1860, the son of John and Catherine Fegan at Fairfield. The family lived in Pennsylvania for two years and then returned to Iowa, settling at Lyons. Mr. Fegan spent his early life in Lyons and in Clinton.

As a young man, he was employed for two years as a driver for horse-drawn carts in Clinton. In 1884, he went to work for the Northwestern railroad and was employed by that company until his retirement in 1926. As a fireman, Mr. Fegan was a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen.

He moved to Anamosa in 1887, and there met Martha E. Grafft, to whom he was married June 6, 1888. Three children, all of whom survive, were born to the couple. The are John R. Fegan, Monticello; Bernice F. Tirey, Terre Haute, Ind., and George W. Fegan, Anamosa. Two brothers, John R. Fegan, Minneapolis, Minn., and Thomas J. Fegan, Victoria, Texas, also survive, along with six grandchildren.

Mr. Fegan was a member of the Methodist church, and he served that organization for many years as a member of the official board and a trustee. He was a member of the Odd Fellows lodge, and he held every office in that order.

Mr. Fegan had the distinction of being the youngest councilman ever to hold office in Clinton. He was elected before he was 21 years of age. In later years he served on the city council in Anamosa. He was a member of that body at the time of the first paving work in the city.

Mr. Fegan was mayor of Anamosa at the time that the water tower was erected. He served also as county relief administrator for several years, and was well known throughout eastern Iowa as a prominent member of the Democratic party.