22nd Jersey City Mayor. A native of Jersey City, he had little formal education, and as a youth, he worked for his uncle as an undertaker. A Republican, he entered politics while still in his twenties becoming a county freeholder though he was not re-elected. A few years later in 1901, Republican Party boss, Colonel Samuel D. Dickinson, asked him to run for mayor, which Fagan did and won. At age 32, he was the youngest mayor ever elected in Jersey City. Re-elected for three consecutive two-year terms, after feuding with his own party, he was defeated for re-election in 1907 by H. Otto Wittpenn and again in 1909. In 1913, Jersey City went to a city commission form of government, and Fagan was elected commissioner. He was then chosen by his colleagues to be mayor once more. As mayor, he was famous for building schools. In 1917, he stepped down as mayor, retired from politics and continued his career as an undertaker. Legendary political boss Frank Hague succeeded him as mayor. It would be 75 years before another Republican would be elected mayor of Jersey City.
22nd Jersey City Mayor. A native of Jersey City, he had little formal education, and as a youth, he worked for his uncle as an undertaker. A Republican, he entered politics while still in his twenties becoming a county freeholder though he was not re-elected. A few years later in 1901, Republican Party boss, Colonel Samuel D. Dickinson, asked him to run for mayor, which Fagan did and won. At age 32, he was the youngest mayor ever elected in Jersey City. Re-elected for three consecutive two-year terms, after feuding with his own party, he was defeated for re-election in 1907 by H. Otto Wittpenn and again in 1909. In 1913, Jersey City went to a city commission form of government, and Fagan was elected commissioner. He was then chosen by his colleagues to be mayor once more. As mayor, he was famous for building schools. In 1917, he stepped down as mayor, retired from politics and continued his career as an undertaker. Legendary political boss Frank Hague succeeded him as mayor. It would be 75 years before another Republican would be elected mayor of Jersey City.
Bio by: Frank McGady
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