Posted on: PaloAlto County Obituaries Reply Here: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Ia/PaloAltoObits/483 Surname: Egan, O'Neill, Nolan, Kerwick, Branagan ------------------------- Emmetsburg Democrat Emmetsburg, Palo Alto, Iowa 12 March 1913 Thomas Egan Burned to Death Perished in His Own Home in Great Oak Township Early Thursday Morning The citizens of our community were shocked Thursday morning to learn that Thomas Egan, one of the old and best known residents of our county, was burned to death in his home in Great Oak township about 1 o'clock in the morning. He lived alone. His house was situated about ten rods from another house on the place, which is occupied by his tenant., Wm. Hamilton. His son, C.C. Egan, lives about 80 rods to the west. Mrs. Hamilton says that she noticed a light in his house about 9:30 Wednesday evening an that he probably retired about that hour. The origin of the fire will, of course, never be known. It probably started in the chimney or from some wood that was in the room back of the kitchen stove. The blaze was first noticed by Mr. Hamilton who had been in Emmetsburg attending a meeting of the Woodmen, to which he belongs. As he was leaving town he noticed that the sky in the vicinity of his home was quite red. He hurried as fast as he could, thinking that perhaps his own house was on fire. When he reached the place he discovered that the front part of Mr. Egan's house was practically burned to the ground but that the flames had not completely consumed the rear of the building. He broke in the window, which was situated close to where Mr. Egan slept, but the fire was so hot that he could not do anything. In a few moments Dennis Carroll, Jr. and Joe Early of this city, who was visiting him, arrived and cut a hole through the side of the house close to where they knew he slept and, with a long pole, tried to locate the body but they could not do so. The fire was so hot that nothing could be done to check the flames until the building was entirely consumed. Several neighbors who arrived within an hour hauled as much water as was possible from the well some distance away and kept the corner of the building where his remains were supposed to be, partly wet down. At the space that had been occupied by the building was a mass of coals, the body could not be recovered until the flames died down. Judging from the position in which the remains were discovered he was aroused by the gas and smoke but probably became suffocated and fell forward to the floor. He was found in that position. The knob of the bed room door was in the ahes close to his right side. The remains were charred beyond recognition, although the body was not so badly burned. The feet and parts of the limbs were entirely consumed. The remains, after being prepared for burial , by Undertaker E.J. Foy, were brought to the home of his daughter Mrs. W.I. Branagan. The funeral was held on Saturday. It was very largely attended by old friends and neighbors. Services were conducted at Assumption church, Very Rev. P.F. Farrelly celebrating a solemn requiem mass. He was assisted by Fathers McNerney and Sweeney. The burial was in the family block in St. John's cemetery. The pall bearers were John S. Murray, James Burns, Peter O'Brien, M.F. Coonan, Edward Ryan and Edward McNally. Mr. Egan was born in King's county, Ireland, July 17, 1831. Hence he was on his 82nd year. he came to the United States at the age of 17. He spent a couple of years in Philadelphia, after which he came west. He worked at various places for a short time and finally located at St. Paul. He assisted in building the first small court house in that city about 185. He also aided in constructing the old stone cathedral which is soon to be replaced by the magnificent new structure now in the course of erection. Mr. Egan was married at St. Paul July 6, 1857, to Miss Johanna O'Neill, a first cousin of James O'Neill, the well known actor. Mrs. Egan died in October, 1890. Mr. and Mrs. Egan lived on a farm near St. Paul until 1869 when they became residents of Great Oak township, this county. Mr. Egan came to Palo Alto in 1867 and located and later moved his family. Eight sons and three daughters were born to Mr. and Mrs. Egan. Thoms F. and John J., who were engaged in the mercantile business in Emmetsburg thirty years ago, are dead. Mrs. James F. Nolan, another daughter, died at Ruthven in the fall of 1891. The surviving members of the family are Mrs. M.F. Kerwick and Mrs. W.I. Branagan of this city, C.C. Egan of Great Oak township, Lawrence J., of ElDorado, Kansas, William C of Woodward, Oklahoma, and James H. of St Francis, Kansas. Michael I died at Tacoma several years ago. The younges son, Patrick, is supposed to be in Central America. Mr. Egan was a typical Irishman and one of the most substantial and patriotic of American citizens. He was rugged, hearty, genial, happy, humorous, and generous hearted. He was large of stature and was powerful physically and intellectually. During pioneer days he wouldspend weeks assisting new comers of his neighborhood in putting up their humble homes and in preparing their fields, and he often did as much as two average men while at such work. He was never too tired to go to the homes of those who were sick or in distress to provide for their needs and to remain until morning if necessary. When neighbors were short of grain, hay, or other necessaries, he would do what he could to supply their needs and he would seldom charge market prices for any products sold to them. They might pay him when they could spare the money and they were never asked for any interest. He had ever an encouraging word for the disappointed or the despondent and he was too charitable to say an unkind word abut the morally unfortunate. He was thrifty, lived within his means and prospered. He had an abundance of the world's goods and he was generous to members of his family. Though 81 years of age, he was as healthy, as active and as intellectually vigorous as most men of 65. His daughters frequently urged him to come and live with them or buy a home close to them so they could give him the attention he needed in his advancing years, but he would always offer some plausible excuse and as smoothly as possible postpone consideration of the matter. Like many other old people, he did not wish to become subject to the care and the attention of his children until physical infirmity would compel him to submit. His sons and daughters do not remember that he was ever sick enough to require the attention of others. He was through life a studious reader and a close observer and few men were better posted on matters of general importance. He was a good judge of men and their motives. His opinions were well worthy of consideration and they were usually valuable to those who sought them. When the Civil war broke out in 1861, he enlisted in the Tenth Minnesota regiment but he was mustered out before he gave any active service. Mr. Egan gave much of his time and efforts to the organization of our county and to the upbuilding of its various enterprises. He organized his own school district and was its first director. In 1879 he was elected a member of the board of supervisors. He served continuously until 1891 when he refused to allow the use of his name for a renomination. He was chairman of the board for several years. The Court House was built during this time and he and Charles Gibbs, a neighboring supervisor, were the leading members in the defense of the county's interests during the long vexations, and expensive litigation involving the ownership of 60,000 acres of swamp land. They stood loyally by the people and they triumphed. Never have we heard so many people express their high apprectiation of the generosity, integrity, and general worth of a citizen as we have since the sad occurence of last Thursday morning. Even little children lament his loss. He was indeed a friend to many of them, for he treated them in a manner that was most pleasing to childish simplicity and expectancy. The writer, because of family relations, is reluctant about eulogizing the deceased but we feel justified in speaking of him in the language of the many who knew him intimately for many years and who have expressed so freely since his sad death their high regard for his many splendid personal traits. It is needless to say that the kindness, the sympathy, and the general appreciation of his worth by the citizens of our community is very consoling to the surviving members of the family. Link: Palo Alto County, Iowa USGenWeb Project URL: <http://www.rootsweb.com/~iapaloal/paloalto.htm>