From The Quincy Daily Herald, Thursday, 24 October, 1918; page 9.

PASSING OF JOHN FOWLEY.

Death Comes to Him As He Sleeps.

Peaceful End of Old and Widely
Known Citizen Who Had Been
Humane Officer for Years
-- Aged 70.

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John Fowley, 70, officer of the Humane society, around yesterday attending to his duties as usual, died at his home, 221 South Third street, at 4 o'clock this morning, presumably of an affection of the heart.

A Native of Ireland.

Mr. Fowley was a native of Ireland and on coming to America worked in steel mills. He came to Quincy in the 70's and was one of the early employees of the street railway company when the cars were drawn by mules. Between him and the elder E. K. Stone a strong attachment was created and later when the father retired and the son, E. K. Stone, Jr., took the office of superintendent of the company the friendship with the family continued and Mr. Fowley was chosen as the superintendent's companion and bodyguard when on stock-buying trips through Missouri and Iowa. It was not in those days unusual for Mr. Stone to start out with $7,000 or $8,000 in currency with which to pay for mules bought of farmers, and as the trips were along country roads and stops made in villages here was an ever-present danger of robbery. No experience of the kind ever happened, however.

The deceased remained with the company for a time after the system was electrified and served, as during the early days, as conductor, and it can be truthfully said of him without disparagement to any other employee that the company never had a more accommodating or faithful man in its service. On leaving the street railway he served on the police force several years and then took the position of watchman of the State Savings, Loan & Trust Co.'s bank and was there when through appointment as officer of the Quincy Humane society as successor to George Dickhut he started, sixteen years ago, upon the discharge of the duties of a position that gave him full-time employment.

Place Hard to Fill.

The place John Fowley has filled will be hard to fill as it has been. Not only was he interested in the welfare of the dumb creation but as well he took a deep and abiding interest in the welfare of the poor and distressed members of the human family. His was a sympathetic nature, and his heart beat warm with love for humanity and for the lower animals. No sacrifice of time or comfort was too great when work in the amelioration of suffering was to be performed, nor did the hours, whether night or day, or fair weather or foul, make the slightest difference.

He was ever ready for call to duty, and no complaint that ever reached him was too trivial to be passed up as unworthy of his attention. A frightened cat in a tree or on a pole would receive his attention on report as quickly as a case of the abuse of a horse or the neglect of a dog. Sickness reported in a family of indigents would receive his prompt attention and there would be no rest for him until immediate wants had been supplied.

Years ago crippled horses in harness were not uncommon. That crippled horses in harness are no longer to be seen in the streets of Quincy is due in greater degree to the work in their behalf by the man who laid down life's burden this morning and fell asleep than to any other one person in the whole community.

Modest, Yet Fearless.

John Fowley was a modest man and unassuming, yet he was fearless and performed his duties without regard to personal danger. Frequently warned against assault that might be expected at the hands of men of violent temper with whom he would have to deal threats had no effect upon him and he went about his work among all classes, ignoring danger and bent only on doing his duty as he saw that duty. Fear and John Fowley were strangers; there was no trace of cowardice in his system.

His Death Very Sudden.

Mr. Fowley was around as usual, yesterday, attending to his duties and in the evening ate supper and retired at the usual hour. At shortly before 4 o'clock Mrs. Fowley was attracted by his irregular breathing and finding him ill she called Sheriff John Coens, an intimate friend of many years standing, Mr. Coens summoned Dr. Blomer but when the doctor arrived at the bedside the stricken man was breathing his last. Coroner Amen was notified and said this forenoon he and the clerk and foreman of the jury would take the deposition of Mrs. Fowley at the house and conclude the inquest before a jury at the Freiburg chapel, probably this evening. Mrs. Fowley has been in delicate health for many years and the death of her husband has completely unnerved her.

So far as known there is only one surviving member of the family of which the deceased was a member -- a brother, James Fowley, of Milwaukee.

St. Peter's Church Member.

Mr. Fowley was a member of St. Patrick branch, No. 3, of the Western Catholic union and of the Knights of Columbus. He was affiliated with St. Peter's church, and that church has in his passing lost one of its most faithful and zealous members. The city lost one of its most useful citizens when John Fowley died this morning.

Funeral on Friday.

Funeral services will be held Friday afternoon at 3 o'clock from the family residence, 221 South Third street. Interment in St. Peter's cemetery.

Sheriff Coens' Tribute.

Sheriff John Coens was among those who were shocked and deeply grieved by the sudden passing of Mr. Fowley. Sheriff Coens today, in speaking of Mr. Fowley, paid high tribute to him. The sheriff said that Mr. Fowley was not only a most faithful deputy sheriff, but that he was a most conscientious officer as well, and the manner of man whom anyone might well be proud to be associated with, and to call a friend. Mr. Fowley's death is he second among the deputies of Sheriff Coens. Frank McNay, who died two years ago in a manner very similar to Mr. Fowley, was also a deputy sheriff under Mr. Coens and also a man of high character and efficiency as an officer.

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- Research and transcription by Tree Leaf.