John Joseph Coady (1861-1916)

COADY, CONLON, DOLAN, FOLEY, HOPKINS

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 3/25/2022 at 22:57:04

From Nevada Representative August 22, 1916 (page 4)

On page captioned: Colo Representative

JOHN JOSEPH COADY

From the Lake City Graphic: John Joseph Coady was born in Ogle county, Illinois, July 19, 1861 and died at Lake City, Iowa August 14, 1916 at the age of 55 years and 2 days. He was a son of Michael and Mary (Conlon) Coady, both of whom were natives of Ireland. He acquired a common school education in Ogle county, Illinois and in Story county, Iowa, his parents removing to the latter county in the year 1871.

On December 25, 1888 Mr. Coady was united in marriage with Miss Lydia Nolan*, whose demise occurred July 27, 1913. For three years after their marriage they resided at Ames and subsequently spent five years in Dayton before coming to Lake City in 1897.

Since the death of Mrs. Coady, three years ago, Mrs. Coady has made his home at the Columbia Hotel. The only immediate surviving relatives are his brother George H. Coady of Lake City, and two sisters, Mrs. B. F. Foley of Lake City and Mrs. James R. Hopkins of Colo, Iowa.

The funeral services were held at the Catholic church of which the deceased was a prominent and loyal member. Mrs. M. J. McVay sang "Face to Face" and "Some Day."

The bearers at Lake City were John F. Dalton of Manson, M. F. Healy of Fort Dodge, Judge M. E. Hutchinson, John W. Jacobs, R. M. Reid and John O'Mara. The bearers at Colo were his nephews, Ernest Foley, John Foley, Herman Foley, Leo Foley, Murry Peebles and M. O. McCoy.

Out of respect for the memory of the deceased Lake City locked its doors and suspended business during the hours devoted to the funeral.

John J. Coady came to Lake City in 1897, and soon became an active and dominant figure in business and political circles. He was aggressive, fearless and having once reasoned out a plan of action persevered unswervingly to its accomplishment. In 1899 he was elected county supervisor of Calhoun county from Lake City and was the incumbent of that office for fifteen consecutive years. He was the democratic candidate for state senator from the Webster-Calhoun district at the time of his death. When first elected a member of the board of supervisors, Calhoun County was sneeringly referred to as a slough grass county, and during the fifteen years of his membership on the board, he was the moving spirit in the reclamation of the wet lands of the county. Realizing the necessity of drainage he urged on the improvement in spite of litigation and the bitterness always engendered by any enforced improvement. It is gratifying that Mr. Coady lived to see the day when his work received most general commendation. As he was the leader of th movement which has made Calhoun County one of the richest and one of most productive counties in the state of Iowa, this accomplishment is the crowning achievement of his life, and if he had done nothing else, his place in the business history of Calhoun County would be secure.

Mr. Coady regretted not having had the opportunity in youth to prepare himself for the practice of law, and in later years considered the advisability of securing an education in that profession, but abandoned the idea on account of his age. He despised petty controversies and on numberless occasions prevailed on men to settle their disputes peaceably rather than by expensive litigation.

Mr. Coady was a born politician, and was ceaselessly active in the political campaigns He had no machine, and belonging to the minority party relied on personal friendship for he knew nearly every man in County by his first name. At the time of his death he was engaged in a campaign for the State Senate from the Calhoun-Webster District. A staunch Democrat and a leader in intensely interested in everything political and had attended the last five National Republican conventions. Never, however, did he permit political considerations to interfere with his judgment and decision in matters that came before him in his official capacity, and he gave the greatest care and scrutiny to public affairs.

*SUBMITTER'S NOTE: John Joseph Coady married Elizabeth Dolan on 25 December 1888 in Story County, Iowa.