Obituary

  Thomas Meehan, a resident of Crawford county for fifty years, died suddenly at his home four miles south east of Vail, Friday, April 14, at 9:30 o'clock from an acute heart attack. Mr. Meehan had been in failing health for the past two years and spent most of last summer at the home of his brother, Dr. J. J. Meehan, in Denison receiving treatment for his trouble. Last fall his condition showed marked improvement and while he did not fully regain his usual robust health, he was able to be up and around. News of his sudden death came as a great shook to his many friends throughout the county.
  Thomas Meehan was born April 3, 1866 at Milan, Ill, where he resided on a farm with his parents until twelve years of age when the family moved to Crawford county, Iowa, locating on a farm near Vail. Mr. Meehan continued his residence in that community up until his death and for the past sixteen years had resided on the same farm.
  In the year 1898 he was united in marriage to Miss Catherine Lally, who with eight children are left to mourn the passing of a devoted husband and a kind and loving father. The surviving children are Clarence, a student at Creighton college in Omaha; Francis, John, James, Joe, Clarence, Floyd, Evelyn and Vincent, all at home. He also leaves two brothers, Dr. J. J. Meehan and J. M. Meehan, both residents of Denison, and three sisters, Mrs. Ed Champion and Mrs. J. A. Houilhan, of Denison, and Mrs. M. W. Conway, of Aledo, Ill.
  Mr. Meehan was one of the prominent and substantial farmers of Crawford county and a man who commanded the respect and esteem of everyone. He was a most successful farmer and stock feeder and was a man of clear business judgment and ranked as one of the leaders in his part of the country. Mr. Meehan gave his support to the democratic party and took an active interest in all municipal affairs and held several of the minor township offices, the duties of which he executed in a manner which won general approval of his constituency. Possessed of a friendly disposition and kindly manner, he was a man who made friends easily and these friendships he prized highly. It was the privilege of this writer to known Mr. Meehan intimately for a number of years and visits at the office were ..... enjoyable and we came to know him as a man of broad sympathies and generous nature.
  Funeral services were held in the St Ann's church at Vail Monday forenoon at 10 o'clock, Father Sullivan, of Vail, officiating, assisted by Father Bradley, of Denison. Interment was made in the Catholic cemetery at Vail.
Those from a distance is attendance at the funeral were: Mrs. M. W. Conway, Aledo, Ill; Cornelius O'Brien, Davenport, Mr. and Mae Garvy, Des Moines; Geo and John Talty, Adair; Geo Talty, Atlantic; Mike Talty, Omaha; Mrs. Chas Allen, Omaha; Thos. Meehan, Lincoln, Neb.; Mr. and Mrs. E. D. Houston, Miss Kate O'Brien and Joe and Edwin O'Brien, all of .....
(The Denison Review, Wednesday, April 18, 1928, Section 2, p. 1)