Iowa
Old Press
Iowa City Press Citizen
Iowa City, Johnson, Iowa
July 5, 1921
Obituary
Edward Franey, street commissioner of Marengo, died at his home
here Thursday and was buried on Monday morning. He was born in
Wexford County, Iowa [should be Ireland], in October 1871, being
the sixth of seven children born to Catherine and Martin Edward
Franey. In 1862 he was brought to America by a sister and a
brother, John, the latter, a soldier in the Union army who had
the unusual battle of engaging in fifty-two battles without
sustaining injury of any description. Following a short time in
New York Mr. Franey came to Davenport and was employed for
several years at the Rock Island Arsenal. Going thence to Iowa
City he worked for ten years at the old Terril mills and was
during that time, the close friends of the president of the
mills, Albert Hemmer. On January 9, 1877, he was married to Miss
Mary Butler at the Nolan Settlement by Rev. James O'Reilly
whereupon the young couple came to Marengo where they have lived
continuously. Fourteen children were born to the union, two
daughters. Margaret and Anne, preceding their father in death.
The other twelve, all of whom attended his funeral, are Patrick
of Valley Junction, John of Marengo, Mrs. Mary Killcoin of
Victor, Mrs. Catherine Appleby of Iowa City, Mrs. Margaret Murphy
of Iowa city, Genevieve of Rock Island, Martin, Leo, William,
Agnes, of Marengo and Joseph of Victor. He is also survived by
fifteen grandchildren. Mr. Franey was for many years a railroad
employee and about 20 years was appointed as street commissioner
by Mayor A.M. Henderson. The position, tho usually awarded as a
political spoil, has always been given to Mr. Franey because of
the splendid manner in which he administered the affairs of his
office. During the installation of a new sewage system and the
paving of seven miles of city highway his service was regarded as
unsurpassed. His pall bearers were Mayor William E. Hankey,
Postmaster J.J. Glenn and Councilman W.F. Hogan, J.W. Thompson,
Dennis Sullivan and F.H. Karsten. The funeral was held from St.
Patrick's church, Rev. Father Carroll, celebrating the solemn
requiem Mass, with Rev. Herman Frencken of Victor as deacon and
Rev. Maurice Hannon of Grinnell as sub-deacon. The choir sang the
Gregorian requiem Mass with Irwin Moynihan at the organ in the
absence of the regular organist, Mrs. F.W. Franey, a
daughter-in-law of the deceased. During the Offertory Labat's Ave
Maria was sung in duet by Mrs. E.J. Sullivan and Mrs. E.P. Hogan,
Jr., and following the Mass, Mrs. Hogan sang, "I Would Not
Live Away." After the prayers for the dead Mrs. Sullivan
sang "O Dry Those Tears." Father Carroll paid a
beautiful and highly merited tribute to the memory of the dead
man and recalled his fine example to his family, his friends, his
church, and his community to all of whom he held a life of
Christian devotion and service. The body was interred in Calvary
cemetery , out of town relatives in attendance being: Mr. and
Mrs. Frank McInerny and daughter, Ella, Mrs. E.A. Mannah, all of
Iowa City, and Edward Butler of North English.
[submitted by C.J.L., Nov. 2003]