Doherty, Thomas G., 1894-1933

DOHERTY, FANGMANN, MCMULLIN

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:35

From the Rock Valley Bee, October 27, 1933:

DEATH OF TOM DOHERTY

Funeral services for Tom Doherty whose death was briefly mentioned in last week’s Bee, were held in St. Mary’s church at Maurice last Wednesday afternoon, and the remains were taken to St. Mary’s cemetery in Rock Valley for burial. Rev. J. B. Greteman officiated at the funeral services.

Tom Doherty, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Doherty, was born near Rock Valley Nov. 17, 1894, and grew to manhood in this vicinity. He passed away at his home near Maurice October 16, 1933, following a short illness. He lived with his parents near Rock Valley until they both passed away, and after that he made his home with his brother, Will, near Maurice, until May 25, 1931, when he was united in marriage with Miss Etta Fangmann of Dubuque.

Mr. Doherty leaves has widow, four brothers, Edward, John and Mike, of Rock Valley and Will, of Maurice, and three sisters, Mrs. Mary Walpole and Josephine Doherty, Rock Valley; and Mrs. Lester Ryan of Galesburg Illinois.

The funeral services were largely attended by sympathizing friends, many coming from a distance to attend the services. The bereaved relatives have the sympathy of many friends.

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A similar obituary was published in the Alton Democrat, October 17, 1933. It adds:

Among the many friends and relatives who came to attend the funeral from a distance were Mr. and Mrs. John Fangmann, Mrs. Loretta Fangmann of Dubuque, Ia.; Arthur Fangmann, Bloomington, Wis.; Emil Fangmann, Davenport, Ia.; Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Bertsch, Peoria, Ill.; Mrs. Lester Ryan, Galesburg, Ill.; Mr. and Mrs. John Weiseusee, Sioux Falls, S.D.; Dr. Will Keenan and Roy Keenan of Sioux City; Mrs. Nell Doherty and son of Marcus, Iowa. Pallbearers were Jacob Oordt, Murat Doherty, Fred Buckley, Tom Linnan, Tom Cullinan and Jacob Sievert.

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RESEARCH NOTES

The Sioux County Cemetery Index has him as Thomas Doherty, 1894-1933, St. Marys Cem, Rock Valley IA.

His death certificate has him as Thomas Gregory Doherty; resident of Maurice; wife Mary Doherty; born Nov. 17, 1894 in Rock Valley; parents John Doherty, born in New York State, and Katherine McMullin, born in Iowa; occupation, teamster for State Highway Commission; died at 4 a.m. October 16, 1933; cause “Either cerebral embolism or encephalitis lethargica” (no autopsy was performed).

His marriage record has groom Thomas G. Doherty, age 37, residence Maurice, Iowa, Irish-American parentage, born in Rock Valley, Iowa, parents John Doherty and Katie McCullen; bride Henrietta G. Fangmann, age 30, residence Dubuque, Iowa, German-American parentage, born in New Vienna, Iowa, parents John C. Fangmann and Elizabeth Abeln; married May 25, 1931 at the Church of the Nativity, Dubuque; witnesses, Evelyn Bertsch and E. J. Fangmann. A brief article in the Dubuque Telegraph Herald (May 25, 1931) says their marriage was quietly celebrated in Nativity church, followed by a breakfast served to relatives at the Fangman home; after a honeymoon motoring in Des Moines and Omaha, they will reside on a farm near Maurice.

His World War I draft registration card shows him as Thomas Doherty (he signs it Thomas G. Doherty), resident of Rock Valley, a farmer, medium height and weight, blue eyes, light brown hair. It says he was born Nov. 17, 1895. He claims exemption from the draft on account of being deaf & dumb.

The 1930 census shows him lodging with his brother William and family, working as a farm laborer, unable to read and write. The 1920 census, in which he is living with his brother John and wife and working as a farm laborer, says he is able to read and write. In the 1910 census, a 15-year-old Thomas Doherty, presumably him, is a resident pupil at the Iowa School for the Deaf in Pottawattamie County; it also says he can read and write.

His wife “Etta” returned to Dubuque to live with her parents (Alton Democrat, Oct. 27, 1933, Maurice news). A marriage record from the district court in Dubuque (Ancestry.com) shows widow Henrietta Doherty nee Fangmann, age 33, resident of Dubuque, marrying Frederick E. Liepold, age 37, a farmer in Heron Lake, Minnesota, on March 4, 1935.