Evening journal., 1889-10-17
LAST EDITION
COUNCILMAN meoNleAL DEAD.
He Passed Away This MozninR-skstch
of His Quiet But Useful Life.

of His Quiet But Useful Life.
James F. McGonigal, member of the
City Council for the Fourth ward. and
chairman Of the Finance Committee Of
the Council, died at his home, No. 626 East
Fifth street, at so O'Clock this morning.
EHis. almalady was Bright's disease Of
the kidneys, with which he had been
suffering for several weeks. Mr., Nc
Gonigal has been in poor health since last
July. His quiet presence has been missed
from the meetings of the City Council
since the session of September ~,
which was the last he attended. Since
that time he has been slowly failing, and
the efforts Of DR.. j. A. Draper and ether
physicians to cope with the disease have
been fIuitless.
There was a change for the better in
his condition last week and his friends
had sanguine hopes of his ultimate re-
covery but this week relapse came,
and yesterday he was taken with violent
hiccoughs which caused a hemorrhage
last night Every possible means
to relieve his sufferings and weakness,
were used, but they proved of no avail
and he breathed his last at $50 o'clock
this morning while several intimate
friends were by his bedside.
His funeral will take place on Monday
morning next. when High Mnss viii be
celebrated at st. Mary's R. G. Church at
9 o'clock. The interment will be made
in the New Cathedral cemetery.
John McGonigal and wBs born October
80, ls46, thus being within few
days of his forty third birthday.
10 IL, a.
College, which in his youth
was located on Delaware avenue between
Madison and jefferson streets. In his
youth he was clerk for his father who
was engaged in the grocery business. and
since his father was paIulyzed about three
years ago, has conducted the business
himself He has always lived in the
Fourth ward and never held any political
Office until he was elected TO the City
Council in 1887. He had often been
pressed to, accept a political Office. his
talents and sound common sense having
attracted the attention of the people
of the ward, but he never consented tC
allow his name to be used before 1887.
Mr.. MeGonigal never married. His
mother died some years ago and his
brothers and sisters died in infancy.
Mr.. Gonigal was first elected to the
City Council in 1887 as a Democrat, and
during his two years term made
record as a conservative, upright
representative of the people. He did moi
often take part in debates When he
aid speak his remarks were always peril
nent and to the point and had great In
fiuenee with other members During
this term he was chairman of the
Bond Committee and a member of thl
Finance and the Park Committees L
was he who suggested the site of Kirk
wood Park, which will prove boom t.
the people of the east side.
At the municipal election in June las t
Mr.. McGonigal was reelected to Council
defeating his Republican opponent
George H. Singley, by seventy-six votes
Mr.. Mc6onigal was made chairman Of
the Finance Committee, the most respon
sible position in Council. He has filed thi
position with honor and credit in tn,
short space of time that has elapsed
since his reelection Mr. McGonigal il
also chairman of the Committee on Navi
cation and by virtue of his Office a
chairman of the Finance Committee,
member of the City Board Of Assessment
Revision and Appeals. Mr.. McGoniga
fought the bill to divide the city depos
its vigorously at Dover last winter AM
made the best speech of his life in oppo
sition to it before the Legislative Com
mittee.
City Council will adjourn out of respec
for his memory at the regular meetin
tonight, after appointing a committee t
arrange for the funeral Mr. NcGonigal
term of Office would have expired il
1891. His successor will be elected b
the City Council.