Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1886-02-18
Death OF Judge McGOnIgal.

VI hduCdolcr pIOuuineuL cltlZeuS. On
Monday, Feb. Is, Judge William Nc
Gonigal died suddenly at his office in
this city. He had been in rather feeble
health for long time, but had been
able to attend to his duties of his office
until last week. On Sunday, the 9TH.
he was taken with severe pains in his
chest. DIR. Hassell, the family physic-
ian, was called and found considerable
congestion of the muscles of the chest
and inflammation of the pleura. The
remedies used to relieve this condition,
together with the suffering he had en-
dured, produced such weakness that
the patient was obliged to keep his bed
The following day. During the week he
was about the house, but did not at
tempt to go to his office until Monday.
His son William, who was his assistant,
had proceeded him to the Office, and
started fire. When the Judge came
in about s o'clock he found the room
scarcely warm, and as he spoke of feel
ing weak, his son advised him to return
home. He said he would go ever and
see his grandchildren CHE children of
Mr.. James McGonigaD of whom he
was very fond. While playing with the
children he complained of pain in the
chest. He was urged by his daughter
in-law to lie down there and rest, but he
said he would go home and take little
Rena with him. On his way back
through the court yard he stopped in at
the office and sat down by the stove.
In moment he clasped both hands to
his right side. William fastened to
him and supported him in his arms
while the little granddaughter ran
across the hall and called County Treas
urer McMahon and Ed. M. Lowry who
happened to be in the treasurer's office.
The Judge was soon borne to Mr.. Nc
Mahon's room and laid upon bed
while Mr.. Lowry fastened to summon
physician. But medical aid was
powerless to revive him. From the
moment he clasped his hands to his
chest he never spoke or showed other
signs of animation than a few short
breaths. Death was almost instan-
taneous.
We have of late chronicled many sud
den deaths. Some have been of our
own people, and others of national
characters; but none has so startled the
people OF Grant county as that of Judge
McGonigal He was probably as well
and as favorably known as any man in
the county. He was one of the old ter
ritorial Settlers of Wisconsin, having
come to this section in 1886. He was
born in Hawkins county, Tennessee,
March IA, 1914, and was consequently
~ years of age. His first location on
coming to Wisconsin was at White Oak
Springs, La Fayette county, and he was
engaged in mining in Lafayette and
Iowa counties until about 1915 when he
came to Grant county He was elected
to the Wisconsin legislature in 1913,
sheriff of Grant county in 1852, register
of deeds in 1854, and in 1857 was cleo
ted county judge which position he has
held continuously ever since. Had he
lived to finish his present term of Office
he would have served the county 80
years in that capacity.
In 1916 he married Miss Logsden,
native of Kentucky. Mrs. McGonigal
has been an invalid for a number of
years, and the suddenness of this blow
has been terrible shock to her. Two
sons and two daughters survive their
father, William F., James, Olive (Mrs.
A. j. McCarn of Creighton, Neb) and
Matte. Mrs. McCarn was unable to be
present at the funeral. He was a men,
Der of the Masonic fraternity, delega-
tions of which from various parts of the
county attended the funeral.
The funeral services were held today
"wednesday at the Congregational
church, which was filled with people
who were sincere mourners for the loss
of an honest man, good neighbor, and
an honorable and trustworthy official.
Wecannot at this time offer any ade-
quate tribute to the memory of this good
man, who living did faithfully and well
the work assigned him and dying leaves
behind him an honored name.
a FEDERAL APPOINTMENT Hon.
Allen r, Bushnell, of this city, has re-
ceived the appointment of United States
district attorney for the Western Dis
trict of Wisconsin, to succeed II. M.
Lewis, Of Madison The appointment
has been variously commented on by the
press of the state, but favorably except
where disappointed hopes prompted the
comments. Mr.. Bushnell has made no
effort to secure the appointment and it
is an open secret that he refused the
offer of the U, s. Marshalship, a more
lucrative office, but one the acceptance
OF which would necessitate his giving
up his law practice here There is no
doubt that Mr.. Bushnell is we'll quail
fed for the position, his appointment
will meet the approval of all who have no
party prejudice.
A. Q. Z. w. DANcE.-The dance and
supper given at the Grand Hotel in this
city by the Fidelity Lodge A. o. U. w,
was grand success Fully $50 persons
participated in the dance and did ample
justice to the elegant supper which was
served at eleven o'clock. Dancino was