Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1920-02-17
MR.. EAcAN DIES SUDDENLY

Dir. Thomas Joseph Eagan died
suddenly at the home of his daugh-
ter, Miss Mary Eagan last Wednes-
day morning, February 18th. Mr..
Eagan retired Tuesday night in his
! usual good health. About 6 O'Clock
his daughter was awakened by him
coughing and before she had time to
call the other members of the fam
lily he expired in her arms. Mr.
Eagan was born in IRE, County
Rosconnuor, Ireland, November goth,
1882, and came to America in 1858.
In 1851 he entered the service of the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad For
thirty-five years he held the position
as Waterman at the Baltimore street
crossing in Hagerstown. He retired
from the B. & 0. October l, 1919.
ssUncle Tommy" was known and
loved by every resident of Hagers-
town, for his wit and ingenuity and
was an unique character that had
grown to be a part of Hagerstown
itself.
Mr.. Eagan is survived by two
daughters, Miss Ellen Eagan, of
Washington, D. c., and Miss Mary
Eagan, and one son, Joseph Eagan,
of New York City, also two brothers
and one sister living in Ireland.
His remains were taken to Hagers-
town Friday evening to st. Mary's
Catholic church, where on Saturday
at 1890 High Mass of Requiem was
offered by Rev. Sidney S. Hultburt,
assisted by Rev. Father Curr. Inter
ment was made in the family lot In
Rose Hill Cemetery.
His death called to mind a poem
written as a mark of appreciation to
Mr.. Eagan. 1t reappeared in the
Hagerstown Globe when "Uncle
Tommy" retired from the B. q ..
last October.
Close by the railroad crossing
Where all day long doth stand
Good Tommy Eagan, fagman,
There is a patch of land.
Which through the milder seasons,
He, in his idle hours,
Keeps covered with carpet
Of Natures choicest flowers.
And all the passers linger,
Attracted by the sight,
Then hasten east or westward
With feelings of delight.
Year in, year out, he did this,
Fer faithful to each duty,
Till now he's hailed our Ctiy's
Evangelist of Beauty.
And when life's labors DER
He'll close in death his eyes,
TN
His monument should rise;
Where every day he taught us,
AS flag in hand, he stood,
That Beauty, Truth and Goodness
Are of one sisterhood.
That Happiness and Pleasure
Are blessings from on high,
And there is prayer in laughter
The same as in sigh.
Indeed, / deem this fiagman
BY no means 'mong our least,
But 'n.ong earth's benefactors,
A Poet and a Priest;
Fey how like Gods own Kingdom
W ould be this earth of ours,
If all, like Tommy Eagan,
Would plant patch with flowers.
By Prof. Frederic ]. Hahn, of Kee
Mar College.
In noting his death, the Hagers-
town Herald SAYS:
''Uncle Tommy" was well known
character. For years he lived in the
little red witch box at the Baltimore
and Ohio railroad crossing on Balti-
more street, and a score of years ago
he started his memorial garden"
olot of ground in which he erected
>l1aments to the memory of men
famous both locally and nationally.
TIL uniqre Cemetery always
arc Uses cur osity from visitors, and
whe III. Eagan left Hagerstown last
October to go to Charles Town, ne
said he intended to return periool-
callv to keep it in good condition,
Uncle Tommy was known by
eyerv resident of Hagerstown for his
VT AND ingenuity, and was UNIQUE
character that had grown to be
part of Hagerstown itself.