Matthias Newton Fegtly 1858-1936

FEGTLY, WOOD

Posted By: Fred Rucker (email)
Date: 5/15/2006 at 19:04:10

Matthias Newton Fegtly was the seventh child of John Wesley and Martha Kuhn Fegtly. He was born on their farm in Utica, IA. After graduating from Iowa Wesleyan University, he went to California to teach. He married Francis Mary Wood of Rochelle, IL in 1881 in Cedarville, CA.

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PROMINENT VALE RESIDENT DIES

MATTHIAS NEWTON FEGTLY SUCCUMBS FOLLOWING ILLNESS OF FIVE YEARS

VALE (Special)-Matthais Newton Fegtly of Vale, for many years a Democratic Wheelhorse in eastern Oregon, died last Thursday. He had been ill five years.

Funeral services were held Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the Methodist church with the Rev. Robert Eaker in charge. Interment was in Odd Fellows cemetery, Vale beside the body of his wife who died 10 years ago.

Mr. Fegtly was born near Mt. Pleasant, Ia., October 20, 1858. He was graduated from Mt. Pleasant college and at the age of 18 moved to Cedarville, in northern California. He taught school there for several years, moving to Burns in 1885. He continued the teaching profession there until 1895 when he moved with his family to Watson and engaged in ranching and stock raising for a number of years.

At Silver City

In 1906 he went to Sivler City when that Idaho city was still booming. He published the silver City Nugget for several years until he sold it to Charles Hackney and a number of other Silver City business men. At the same time he was running another newspaper, the Jordan Valley Express. After disposing of the Nugget, he went to Jordan Valley where he remained until appointed receiver of the Vale land office shortly after the inauguration of Woodrow Wilson. He served as receiver for 12 years.

He was a member of the Odd Fellows lodge for 40 years and was also a member of the Rebekah lodge at Ontario. Next to his politics, music was his fondest hobby. In addition to the church choir work, he led the Vale band for a time and could play practically any instrument in the band.

Survivors include his son, Carl Fegtly, present Vale postmaster, and sister, Mrs. S. O Randall, of Eugene. He had made his home with his son since 1928.

Source: Unknown newspaper obituary, January 9, 1936. Probably Vale, OR., Malheur County.

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M.N. FEGTLY Dies Thursday

Former Receiver of Vale Land Office Succumbs to Long Illness

Despondent over an illness of five years which had held him in bed fast and gradually grown worse, Matthias Newton Fegtly of Vale, for many years a Democratic wheel horse in eastern Oregon, ended his life Thursday. His body was found slumped in bed by his son, Carl Fegtly, Vale postmaster, when he went into his father's room with a cup of coffee Thursday morning. The ailing man had cut his wrist.

Mr. Fegtly's career was in many ways typical of the lives of other pioneers who braved the wilderness of the west over 50 years ago. He was born in the Midwest, spent sometime in California, moved to Oregon, taught school, and his varied career included also the publication of two newspapers. Through victory and defeat, he never wavered in his allegiance to the Democratic Party.

(The remainder of the article is verbatim of the previous one)

Source: Unknown newspaper obituary (1936)

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MATTHIAS N. FEGTLY

VALE, Jan. 12 (special)-Matthias Newton Fegtly of Vale, for many years a democratic leader in eastern Oregon, died Thursday.

Mr. Fegtly was born near Mt. Pleasant, Ia., October 20, 1858. He taught school at Burns from 1885 to 1895, when he moved with his family to Watson and engaged in ranching and stockraising.

In 1906, he went to Silver City and published the Silver City Nugget for several years. At this same time he was publishing another newspaper, the Jordan Valley Express. After disposing of the Nugget, he went to Jordan Valley, where he remained until appointed receiver of the Vale land office. He served as receiver for 12 years.

His survivors include his son, Carl, Vale postmaster, and a sister, Mrs. S. O. Randall of Eugene.

Source: Unknown newspaper obituary (1936).