Obituary as it appeared in the Denison Bulletin
January 5, 1939
JAMES W. BROGAN
The Vail community was saddened by the news of the death of James W. Brogan, who passed away on Friday noon, Dec. 30, after a long illness.
Mr. Brogan, a highly respected citizen, was the son of James and Bridget Fineran Brogan, and was born in DeWitt, Clinton county, Iowa on April 18, 1872. He attained the age of 66 years, 8 months and 12 days.
When a small child he came west to Crawford county with his parents and settled on a farm southeast of Vail. He received his early education in the rural school in West Side township Dist. No. 8, later attending the Vail high school. He followed the occupation of farming, spending the entire time in Crawford county.
Mr. Brogan was united in marriage in October, 1897 to Miss Margaret Giblin of Hayes township, who preceded him in death by six years and one month. To this union were born nine children, all of whom survive him and are as follows: Mrs. Elsie Fitzgibbons of Superior, Wis.; Leonard of San Francisco, Calif.; Mrs. Anna Cadkin, Mrs. Florence Patton, James and Edward of Chicago, Lloyd of Vail and Edna and Orville at home.
Mr. Brogan was a kind an indulgent father and husband, a good ****** and a true friend. He was ******** ******** always taking an active part in the affairs of the community. He served fifteen years on the Vail public school board.
Besides his nine children, Mr. Brogan leaves to mourn two brothers and John S. and Peter T. Brogan of Vail, and one sister, Mrs. Kate Lynch of Colfax. Another sister, Mrs. Mary Lynch, of Omaha, preceded him in death three years ago.
He was a devout member of St. Ann's church from which he was buried New Year's day. A large cortege of friends followed his remains to St. Ann's cemetery, where he was laid to rest beside his wife. The pallbearers were, John Lynch, John Brogan, William Lynch, George Robinson, Earl Harrington, and Rapheal Walsh.
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