John Mulligan 1849-1923

MULLINGAN

Posted By: Beverly Gerdts (email)
Date: 1/13/2024 at 09:18:17

Columbus Gazette, Columbus Junction, Iowa
Thursday, February 15, 1923
Page 1

John Mulligan, one of the best know and esteemed citizens of this community, died suddenly Wednesday morning at seven o'clock at his home in this city. Mr. Mulligan was down town Tuesday evening and seemed to be enjoying his usual health. However about six o'clock his sister, with whom he has always made his home heard him stirring about the stove fixing the fire. As he seemed to be unusually long at it his sister called to him and he then told her he was not feeling well and believed she had better call a doctor. This she did but soon after the arrival of the physician he passed quietly away in death.

John Mulligan was born in New Jersey, November 20, 1849 and came to Iowa at the age of seven. In 1866 at the age of seventeen, he began working for the Rock Island railway Company as a section man. He was soon promoted to foreman and served the company most faithfully in this capacity until 1904 when he was given the job of crossing flagman at the Walnut street crossing in this city which he held until October 1921, when he was retired by the company on a pension after 55 years and 7 months for honest, faithful service. During the 70th anniversary of the Rock Island last fall, Mr. Mulligan was called to Chicago where he was signally honored by the company having served the company longer than any other man then living.

He is survived by one sister, Delin, with whom he made his home, having lived, as his work called him at Muscatine, Fredonia, Old Clifton and for the past fifteen or more years in this city and two brothers, Frank Mulligan, of Danbury and James Mulligan, of Ferney, South Dakota, who is very seriously ill at this time. Funeral services will be held Saturday morning at the home in this city and interment will be made in the cemetery at Washington, Iowa by the side of his mother.