The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1921-11-04
VALLEY PIONEER
CALLED BY DEATH
James Deegan of Frazer, For Forty
Five Years A Resident of Mon
tana Dies at His Home.

James Deegan Of Frazer, for forty
five years prominent resident Of
northeastern Montana, died at his
home at midnight Sunday after short
illness, heart failure being the cause
|of his death. Mr.. Deegan was SO years
of age.
Following requiem mass at Frazer
on Tuesday morning the remains were
taken on the local passenger to Hins-
dale where short service was held
in the church and interment made in
the Hinsdale cemetery beside the re-
mains of two children of Mr.. Deegan
who died years ago. Rev. FIR. Bene-
dict Of Wolf Point was in charge of
the services. The funeral was largely
attended by old time friends of the
deceased from Hinsdale, Oswego,
Malta and Glasgow. The pail bearers
were J. H. Rutter, R. F. Alter, An
drew Sherry, Plas Price and Jerome
Hutchins, all of Hinsdale, and Fred
Wilson of Frazier. Chas. E. Peterson
had charge of the funeral. Many beau
tiful floral pieces from friends of the
honored pioneer mutely attested the
esteem in which he was held.
James Deegan was born in October,
1852, in the province of Quebec, Can
ada. He spent several years of his
early youth in Ontario and Manitoba
and came to Montana in 1876. For a
number of years he was in the stock
business on Rock creek in the Hins-
dale country. About fifteen years ago
he became associated with Dan Knapp
IN the general merchandise business at
Oswego and Frazer A few years ago
the partnership was dissolved, Mr..
Knapp continuing the Oswego store
while Mr.. Deegan took over the Frazer
business. He was very successful in
his affairs and was accounted we'll to
do.
Mr.. Deegan was married in 1882
and is survived by Mrs. Deegan and
ten children, a brother and three sis
ters who live in eastern Canada. In
the order of their ages the children
are: Mrs. Hugo Hanson Of Hinsdale
Mrs. w. w. Jaycox of Hinsdale, Dan
Deegan, Mrs. VIM. Hill. John Deegan,
Tom Deegan, Mrs. Albert Weasa, Mrs.
Lou Hawley, Mrs. VIM. Bryant and
Allen Deegan, age IA, all of Frazer.
Mr.. Deegan had been told by his
physician that his hold on life was
precarious and several days before his
4 death he arranged his affairs. It i
: understood that most of his propert,
: was decided to Mrs. Deegan.
"Jim Deegan" was one of the bes
: known figures in northeastern Mon
tana. He was one of the earliest
stockmen in old Valley county and
rode the range with many of the
punchers of the long ago. When VAL
ley county was carved from old Daw-
son in 1894 Jim Deegan was chosen
to be it's first sheriff and faithfully
performed the duties of that office in
the days when duty spelled danger
continually. He was a Democrat in
politics and though never an office
seeker, performed good service for his
party whenever the occasion demand
ed. Mr.. Deegan was director in the
First National bank of this city. With
John M. and Robert M. Lewis, J. W.
Wedum, VIM. Taylor, Link Mills, E.
D. Coleman and L. w. Gibson he was
member of the original board of the
First National and always took keen
interest in the affairs of that insti.
tuition. In honor of Mr.. Deegan's
memory the bank was closed Tuesday
i afternoon.
All Valley county mourns the deatf
4 of this sturdy citizen. For nearly hall
: a century he held high place within
its boundaries, always with his fac,
to the front-never shirking his re
sponsibilities, never asking for odds
ever with honesty and justice as his
e guide-posts.
"He has fought the good fight; he
has finished the cours,; he has kept
the faith"