The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-07-17
MOURN FOR MCGOWAN
TRIBUTES PAID TO HIM BY
FREEH0LDERS.
High Words of Praise in Resolutions
They Adopt-vacant Chair and
Court House Are Draped.

The memory Of Thomas MCGOWAN, for
mer directc; Of the Board Of Fseeholders.
was signally honored by his colleagues
at a special meeting of the board last
night In the Courthouse, when resolutions
OF regret were passed. %eulogistic speeches
were made and arrangements completed to
attend the funeral services in Bloomfield
at 4 o'clock this afternoon. 1t was also
decided as a further tribute Of respect to
close all the county offices at noon today
The Freeholders directed John ]. Be-
Ian, the Court House superintendent. to
close all the offices.
1t was learned later that a State law di-
reefs that the Sheriff's, County Clerks.
Surrogate's and Registers offices can he
kept closed only on a legal holiday, so
these bffices will do business, as usual.
Many OF them, however, will work with a
much reduced force of clerks and transact
business only that which Is absolutely
necessary, the attaches attending the flu
neral.
After Director Michael Barry had called
the beard to order he appointed Freehold
ers Charles j. Watson and Amos w. H1rri-
son, n lifelong friend of tho deceased. rs a
committee to draw the resolutions. They
reported as follows:
Thomas MCGOWAN, of Bloomfield, died in
Maine, where he had gone with his wife
on a summer vacation, Sunday, July IA,
1907.
His was a long and useful public service.
bly, of the State Of New eJrsey for two
years, 1SSS-S9. He was a member of the
Board Of Chosen Freeholders of the county
of Essex for a longer period than any other
surviving member of said board. For the
last twelve years he was director of the
board. and. therefore. a member of all of
the committees. Being retired from active
business. he was able to devote to county
affairs time and attention which would
have been impossible to any citizen whose
private or business affairs ergrossed his
energies and since the act authorizing the
construction of the new Court House, he
has been a member of the commission that
supervised its design and erection.
Under these circumstances 1t is not TO
be wondered that his sagncity. calm iudg-
ment and tact should hav been of slngu-
lar use to his town, to the county and to
any project which commended itself TO
him, His death Is a notable loss 10 the
county and to the board Of which he was
SO conspicuous a member. .
We, his associ ties. therefore desire TO
express our sincere regrets at his I'M
timely death. and for the loss of his
valuable public services, and request that
this minute be entered at large upon the
record of the proceedings of this board,
and direct that a copy Of the same be
transmitted by the clerk TO his widow.
(signed) CHARLES J. WATSON.
Committee,
County Supervisor John F. Otterbein
was the first to pay a tender tribute
to Mr.. MCGOWAN. and did so with tears
in his eyes and his voice frequently half
choked by emotion
II feel" said he, that Mr.. MCGOWAN
was called away while In the discharge Of
his official duties. My knowledge of hin
and the services he rendered to the county
has been sufficient to satisfy mt that nc
citizen of the county has been permitted
to occupy the same permanent position he
has Held in the affairs of the county He
has watched Its growth and been one oil
the leaders In Its development. He was
closely identified. heart and soul, with
everything that appertained to our coun-
ty's interests for thirty years or more
His interests and objects were solely fol
the betterment of the county. His position
as a private citizen stood out with equa
prominence. His example might well b.
followed by all of u.s."
Freeholder Fred f.. Baldwin followed b!
saying that Mr.. MCGOWAN was "the gran
old man of Essex County, and that "h
was one whom to know was to respect
and to know intimately was to admire"
Others who paid tributes of respect an
esteem to their colleague by words o
earnest eulogy were Freeholders Edwar
c. Eaton. Amos w. Harrison. John Scan
lon, Hugh Gallagher and Wallace Oughel
tree.
Freebooter Watson moved the adoption
Of the resolutions. and Freebooter Baldwin
the appointment of a committee Of tire
to make, arrangements for the boards par
In the services. The director named Free
holders Scsnlon. Ougheltree and Eaton.
In memory of Mr.. MCGOWAN, his vacan
chair was then ordered draped for thirt,
DAYS. The flag has been already placed OF
the Court House at half-inast and tn
front of the building is draped.
The funer al will be held from the FRS
PRESBYTERIAN Church, and the services will
be conducted by the Rev. George L. Cur
tbs. pastor of the church. The Masonic
fraternity will attend in a body. The in
terment will be in Bloomfield Cemetery.