Rev. Jacob Fegtly (1826-1905)

FEGTLY, HORN, WOLPH, MCCUTCHEON, HARRINGTON

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 5/4/2014 at 10:38:15

From Nevada Representative March 22, 1905

REV. JACOB FEGTLY

Rev. Jacob Fegtly, long one of Nevada's best known citizens, died at his home in this city at 1:45 p. m. on Tuesday of this week. Mr. Fegtly had been ill for a considerable part of the winter and at one time several weeks ago his condition was regarded as critical; but he rallied and improved to such an extent that he was able to get out of doors on pleasant days. The last of the week, however, he caught cold, which by Sunday developed into grippe. On Monday he was much worse and this morning it was recognized that the end was not far off. His sons were then telegraphed for; but there was not time for them to get here; and the numbers of his family that were with him at the end were his wife, his daughters and sons-in-law.

Mr. Fegtly was born near Wooster in Wayne county, Ohio, on September 29, 1826 and died at Nevada, Iowa, March 21, 1905, aged 78 years 5 months and 21 days. He was named Jacob for his father and reared where he was born. He was converted and joined the Methodist church when he was a child, and early dedicated himself to the ministry. He was educated at the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, Ohio, and entered upon the ministry as oon as he was ready for ordination. His early charges were in Ohio but he moved to Iowa in 1870 and was stationed in succession at Missouri Valley in 1870, at Nevada in 1872, at Denison in 1874, at Dunlap in 1876 and in 1878 he again returned to Nevada as pastor of some of the outside parishes in the county that together were denominated the Nevada circuit. This was his last regular work in the ministry, however, and after a few years he settled down to the enjoyment of his old age here, which enjoyment he was permitted to indulge for about a quarter of a century.

Mr. Fegtly's first trip to Iowa and to Nevada was not at the time of his removal to the state in late 1870. About 1854 he had come into a little patrimony of $700 through the death of his father, and this money he brought out to Iowa to invest in government land. he traveled by rail to Des Moines and Nevada. He succeeded in securing at the government price of $1.25 per acre three tracts of land in Story county, a half section, and a forty in Indian Creek township, a quarter in Grant and an eighty in Richland, amounting to 589 acres, and all three tracts he held until his death, never deeding away anything except a right of way for the Des Moines Iowa Falls and Northern railroad. He made a very early and very wise investment, which in his life time grew into a very satisfactory competence and afforded simple support for his latter years.

Mr. Fegtly was twice married, first in 1850 to Miss Lucy Horn, who died within a years, and next to Miss Sarah E. Wolph, who survives him. To them were born six children of who four grew to maturity, namely: Rev. Edward Fegtly of Moville, Iowa; Samuel M. Fegtly a successful attorney in Chicago; Mrs. John R. (Carrie) McCutcheon and Mrs. E. M. (Princess) Harrington, both of this city.

Mr. Fegtly was a man of sturdiest character and of worthiest aspiration. His dedication to his ministerial work was genuine, and after he had ceased to be actively engaged in the ministry his interest in the work with which in his active years he had been identified never flagged. In temperance work or church work he was always ready to lent his heartiest encouragement; and the things that in his eyes were right and moral and for the good of the community he stood for unflinchingly. He sympathized with the people of good intentions, and he brought up his children in the way they should go. His influence was always on the right wide; and the world is better for his having lived. His life span reached to nearly four score years, and it is no surprise that he is gathered to his fathers, but those who knew him will gather at his bier with sincere regret and with honest appreciation of his integrity and worth.

The funeral of Mr. Fegtly will be conducted by Rev. Nye assisted by Dr. O. H. Cessna and Presiding Elder Smith of Ames, from the Methodist church on Thursday afternoon at two o'clock. The casket will not be opened at the church but an opportunity to view the remains will be allowed friends who shall call at the house between ten and twelve in the forenoon.