Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1911-07-19
DEATH CLAIMS
j. N. GROWNEY
Former Mayor and One of
City's Most Prominent Men
Dies Suddenly.
DUE TO HEART DISEASE
Found Lifeless in Bed Room
This Morning After Return
from Walk.

James Nicholas Growney, former
mayor of this city, died suddenly at
his home, "a jefferson street, about
9:20 o'clock this morning. Mr..
Growney arose this morning appar
emily as usual and after eating
breakfast went out for a short walk.
On his return home Mr.. Growney
complained of a pain in his chest.
Mrs. Growney gave him something
to relieve it, thinking it was an at
tack of indigestion. Mr.. Growney
went to his room, as was his usual
custom when not feeling well, and
lay down on the bed. A few min
utes after Mrs. Growney went to his
bedside and found him lying notion
less across the bed. DR.. F. c. Henry
was hastily summoned, but when he
arrived Mr.. Growney was beyond
medical aid. Heart disease is given
as the cause of death.
In His Sixty-fifth Year.
Mr.. Growney, who had resided
here a number of years, was sixty
| four years, eight months and three
! days old. Besides his widow he is
survived by five children, three sons
and two daughters. He was a mem
| Der of the Building Trades Council,
a director in the Perth Amboy Saw
ings Institution and a member of
the Catholic Benevo1eSt Legion. He
was formerly member of San Sal
vador Council No. 299, knights of
| Columbus, of this city.
Arrangements for the funeral will
! be made on the arrival of William
Growney, a son, who is secretary and
| treasurer of the West Hudson Coun-
| ty Savings and Trust Company of
Harrison. Word was sent to Mr.
| Growney and he Is expected to ar
rive this afternoon.
| Born in New York.
| James N. Growney was born TO
vember 6, 1846, in New York. When
only two years old he came to this
city with his parents, ana at an early
age was sent to Obtain ais scn0Oling
in the city hall, which was the only
place of instruction here at that
| time.
He left school at the age of fifteen
to accept a position in the lock fac
| tory of DR.. Andrews, which was To-
Gated in the old Barracks house. At
ter two years he entered the employ
| of Wait and ] "Iigan. as a-Gsk.epte1TriIS 5
apprentice. Three years in this work
made him a full-1edged carpenter
and he worked for some time at his
trade in this city.
He was then offered a position in
| New York and being anxious to at
tend Cooper Union, he accepted it.
He spent his days at his trade and
| his nights at Cooper Union, where
| he in h.
tural line. Three years at the night
school proved very valuable to him
! in his carpenter work, and in 1869
he returned to this city and started
| in business for himself as contract
ing builder.
| Mr.. Growney was very successful
| as a contractor and continued to
build large structures here until
| 1900, when he decided to devote his
time to architecture. Since then he
has drawn plans and supervised the
erection of buildings.
Mr.. Growney, one year after his
return from New York, married
Miss Nora Reynolds, of New York,
and brought his bride here to live.
He has five children living, James
Growney, William Growney, Mrs.
John J. Cunningham, Miss Mary
| Growney and Joseph Growney.
He entered public life in 1872
when he was elected a member of
the common council, where he
served a term of two years After
being out OF politics for nearly a
dozeD years he was elected to the
Boay of Aldermen on the Democra-
tic cket. In 1886 he was elected
ma. or to fill the vacancy caused by
the death of Mayor William P.
Daily. He carried out his own views
and being of an Independent mind,
served the citys interests in all
things. While he was in Office the
great coal strike of 1888 took place.
| In 1889 he declined a re-nomina-
! ton for mayor and retired from pub
| lie life for three years, when he was
made alderman-at-large. About eight
years ago Mr.. Growney was the local
assessor and did excellent work.
| Shortly afterward he gave up
| politics.