A.T. Andreas, History of the State of Nebraska... (Chicago: Western Historical Company, 1882), Vol. 1, p. 769:
JOHN B. FURAY, Post Office Inspector, was born near Hillsborough, Highland County, Ohio, his parents being from Ireland and old settlers there. Mr. Furay himself can readily speak the Irish language. Being raised on a farm he received only such educational advantages as the common schools afforded, and at seventeen he began teaching, attending Oberlin College as long as he could afford, until after the war commenced when he enlisted as a private in Company B. First Independent Battalion of Ohio Volunteer Cavalry (afterwards made into the Eleventh Ohio Cavalry regiment). Held all the non-commissioned positions of his company until September, 1864, when he was commissioned as First Lieutenant of Company G. of his regiment, and in October, 1865, was made Adjutant of the regiment, which commission he held until mustered out in July, 1866, his being the last regiment of Ohio troops discharged. After his discharge Mr. F. emigrated to Nebraska, locating in Douglas County in the fall of 1866, where for a few months he worked as a common laborer on a farm and then taught a country school near Omaha for one term. In the spring of 1867, he went into the grocery business in Omaha, the firm being Furay & Harmon. In October, 1868, he was elected a member of the first State Legislature which convened at Lincoln in January, 1869. July 1, 1869, he was appointed local agent of the Post Office Department to supervise the transfer of mails between Omaha, Neb., and Council Bluffs, Iowa, and on August 1, 1870, was promoted to the position of Post Office Inspector, which position he has held ever since, during which time his duties being almost wholly upon the frontiers of civilization protecting and promoting the important service of the Department he represents; his life has been one constant adventure and his great success has earned for him the exalted rank he holds in that service. Mr. F. was married April 6, 1869, to Miss Kate M. McShane, a native of Perry County, Ohio. They have eight children, Edward S., Charles E., John B., Frank A., Clarence M., Alice L., James H., and Guy V.
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Morning World-Herald (Omaha, Nebr.), January 17, 1907, p. 6, col. 4
MAJ. JOHN B. FURAY DIES FROM STROKE OF APOPLEXY
Major John B. Furay died at his home at Twenty-fourth and Seward streets in this city Wednesday evening of a stroke of apoplexy. He had been apparently as well and strong as usual in the morning. At noon he had an attack; a second attack in the evening proved fatal.
Major Furay was 66 years of age. He had been commander of the Nebraska commandery of the Loyal Legion and commander of Crook Post, Grand Army of the Republic. He had been a pioneer in Nebraska, and was for many years postoffice inspector. Then he retired in the prime of life to look after his live stock, farming and city property interests.
He had been city councilman from 1884 to 1886; and a member of the board of public works from 1888 to 1894.
Major Furay is survived by his wife and six sons and two daughters, who are Dr. E. S. Furay of Woodrock, Wyo.; Charles E. Furay of Omaha; Rev. John B. Furay, jr., S. J., of Florissant, Mo.; Frank A. Furay of Omaha; Mrs. Lee L. Daly of St. Louis; J. Henry Furay, city editor of the Press, Cleveland; Guy V. Furay of Omaha, and Miss Mary Furay of Omaha. Major Furay lost one son, Clarence, who was a lieutenant in the regular army. The major leaves a brother, Andrew A. Furay, who lives at Fifty-ninth and Center streets; a sister, Mrs. W. P. St. Clar of Salt Lake; a sister, Mrs. Fabian Fink of Cheyenne, and a sister Mrs. Celia Taggart of Marietta, O.
John B. Furay was born near Hillsborough, O., of parents who had come from Ireland and was among the early settlers of that part of Ohio. He gained a common school education, taught school at age 17, then entered Oberlin college and graduated from it when the civil war broke out. He enlisted in the first battalion of Ohio calvary; was commissioned lieutenant, then adjutant and served through the war. Upon the muster out he came to Nebraska, settling at Omaha September 4, 1866. He started out pluckily working on a farm, then attended night school and later entered into the grocery business, the firm being Furay & Harmon.
He met, when she was visiting her uncle, Edward and John A. Creighton, Miss Katherine McShane, sister of John A., James and F. J. McShane, and he went back to Ohio and married her in 1869.
Mr. Furay was elected to the first Nebraska legislature in 1868. A year later he was appointed transfer agent of the mails. In 1870 he was commissioned postoffice inspector and for thirteen years he served, covering territory all the way from Omaha to the Pacific coast, the Canadian border and the Gulf. Those were days of going after big game - robbers and dangerous desperadoes. Major Furay was remarkably successful, fearless, shrewd and tireless - and withal so big-hearted that he was a friend to a weak man as well as a terror to the confirmed criminal.
It was when Gresham was postmaster general that an order was issued that all inspectors should, starting with the month then ending, send in vouchers with their expense accounts. That, a practical impossibility, vexed the inspectors. Major Furay fired in a hot letter virtually telling the postmaster general to go to the thunder, and followed it with a resignation the next day. That left Major Furay free to look after his private interests. He built large sale stables for horses and mules at the "military bridge" site, Twenty-fourth and Cuming streets, and conducted it for several years.
He was not afraid of man or beast and "broke" many a refractory animal into a valuable saddle horse or roadster.
Of late years Major Furay's activities had been somewhat limited by rheumatism, but he had been alert and on his feet whenever possible and seemed to rise above any ordinary physical ailment such as breaking a rib. He was as young-hearted as a boy and lived for his wife and children. Of rugged character yet tender of heart and quick of sympathies he was man held in the highest regard.
A delegate from Nebraska to the republican national convention at Chicago in 1880, Major Furay was one of the "famous 306" delegates who voted for Grant first, last and all the time, though the convention nominated Garfield.
Soldier, business man and scholar he kept up with the times. Even the last day of his life, one act, was to visit a friend, a professor, and give him a lesson in Gaelic, in which language Major Furay was a master.
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Morning World-Herald, January 19, 1907, p. 2, col. 6
MAJOR FURAY'S FUNERAL.
Saturday Morning From St. John's Church at 9:30.
Funeral services for Major John B. Furay will be held Saturday morning from St. John's church, Twenty-fifth and California streets, at 9:30, the cortege leaving the house at Twenty-fourth and Seward streets, at 9 o'clock.
Burial will be in Holy Sepulcher.
Honorary Pallbearers –
Capt. H. E. Palmer, Capt. Thos. Swobe, Joseph Doherty, George E. Pritchett, Judge Lee Estelle, Andrew Murphy, William M. Bushman.
Active Pallbearers –
T. J. Fitzmorris, J. L. Woodard, B. J. Scannell, C. J. Smythe, Frank McArdle, Judge D. M. Vinsonhaler, T. E. Parmelee, John H. Hussie.
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Sunday World-Herald, January 20, 1907, p. 3, col. 7
SON CELEBRATES REQUIEM MASS FOR MAJOR JOHN B. FURAY; CHURCH CROWDED WITH FRIENDS
At the funeral services for Major John B. Furay at St. John's church, Twenty-fifth and California, Saturday morning, the most unusual happening of a son celebrating the requiem high mass at his father's bier, was observed. The son is the Rev. Father John B. Furay, a Jesuit novitiate, now stationed at Florissant, Mo.
The funeral was most largely attended – pioneers, young people, Catholic,protestant and Jew, filling the church, and indicating the wide circle of friends enjoyed by Major Furay during his life time, and the high esteem in which he was held by all.
In the celebration of the requiem high mass, with Father Furay as celebrant, Rev. Father Schierman, S. J., was deacon, and Rev. Father Michael O'Connor, S. J., was sub-deacon. Bishop Scannell was assisted by Rev. Father Dowling, president of Creighton university, and Rev. Fathers Gannon and Ahern.
At the end of the service, the bishop pronounced the absolution.
At the request of Major Furay prior to his death, and of his family, no funeral sermon was preached.
Miss Margaret Judge presided at the organ, and a chorus of male singers chanted the solemn Gregorian requiem, under the direction of Rev. Father Bronsgeest, S. J. The members of the chorus were Harry Burkley, Tom Swift, Frank McCreary, Thomas McShane, John Jamieson, Charles Megeath, Henry Steinberg and Thomas Lanigan.
Arriving at the Holy Sepulcher, the body was consigned to its rest with the most solemn ceremonials, to which a brief bit of the military was mingled, with the sounding of taps by Trumpeter Kennedy of the Omaha Guards.
JOHN B. FURAY, Post Office Inspector, was born near Hillsborough, Highland County, Ohio, his parents being from Ireland and old settlers there. Mr. Furay himself can readily speak the Irish language. Being raised on a farm he received only such educational advantages as the common schools afforded, and at seventeen he began teaching, attending Oberlin College as long as he could afford, until after the war commenced when he enlisted as a private in Company B. First Independent Battalion of Ohio Volunteer Cavalry (afterwards made into the Eleventh Ohio Cavalry regiment). Held all the non-commissioned positions of his company until September, 1864, when he was commissioned as First Lieutenant of Company G. of his regiment, and in October, 1865, was made Adjutant of the regiment, which commission he held until mustered out in July, 1866, his being the last regiment of Ohio troops discharged. After his discharge Mr. F. emigrated to Nebraska, locating in Douglas County in the fall of 1866, where for a few months he worked as a common laborer on a farm and then taught a country school near Omaha for one term. In the spring of 1867, he went into the grocery business in Omaha, the firm being Furay & Harmon. In October, 1868, he was elected a member of the first State Legislature which convened at Lincoln in January, 1869. July 1, 1869, he was appointed local agent of the Post Office Department to supervise the transfer of mails between Omaha, Neb., and Council Bluffs, Iowa, and on August 1, 1870, was promoted to the position of Post Office Inspector, which position he has held ever since, during which time his duties being almost wholly upon the frontiers of civilization protecting and promoting the important service of the Department he represents; his life has been one constant adventure and his great success has earned for him the exalted rank he holds in that service. Mr. F. was married April 6, 1869, to Miss Kate M. McShane, a native of Perry County, Ohio. They have eight children, Edward S., Charles E., John B., Frank A., Clarence M., Alice L., James H., and Guy V.
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Morning World-Herald (Omaha, Nebr.), January 17, 1907, p. 6, col. 4
MAJ. JOHN B. FURAY DIES FROM STROKE OF APOPLEXY
Major John B. Furay died at his home at Twenty-fourth and Seward streets in this city Wednesday evening of a stroke of apoplexy. He had been apparently as well and strong as usual in the morning. At noon he had an attack; a second attack in the evening proved fatal.
Major Furay was 66 years of age. He had been commander of the Nebraska commandery of the Loyal Legion and commander of Crook Post, Grand Army of the Republic. He had been a pioneer in Nebraska, and was for many years postoffice inspector. Then he retired in the prime of life to look after his live stock, farming and city property interests.
He had been city councilman from 1884 to 1886; and a member of the board of public works from 1888 to 1894.
Major Furay is survived by his wife and six sons and two daughters, who are Dr. E. S. Furay of Woodrock, Wyo.; Charles E. Furay of Omaha; Rev. John B. Furay, jr., S. J., of Florissant, Mo.; Frank A. Furay of Omaha; Mrs. Lee L. Daly of St. Louis; J. Henry Furay, city editor of the Press, Cleveland; Guy V. Furay of Omaha, and Miss Mary Furay of Omaha. Major Furay lost one son, Clarence, who was a lieutenant in the regular army. The major leaves a brother, Andrew A. Furay, who lives at Fifty-ninth and Center streets; a sister, Mrs. W. P. St. Clar of Salt Lake; a sister, Mrs. Fabian Fink of Cheyenne, and a sister Mrs. Celia Taggart of Marietta, O.
John B. Furay was born near Hillsborough, O., of parents who had come from Ireland and was among the early settlers of that part of Ohio. He gained a common school education, taught school at age 17, then entered Oberlin college and graduated from it when the civil war broke out. He enlisted in the first battalion of Ohio calvary; was commissioned lieutenant, then adjutant and served through the war. Upon the muster out he came to Nebraska, settling at Omaha September 4, 1866. He started out pluckily working on a farm, then attended night school and later entered into the grocery business, the firm being Furay & Harmon.
He met, when she was visiting her uncle, Edward and John A. Creighton, Miss Katherine McShane, sister of John A., James and F. J. McShane, and he went back to Ohio and married her in 1869.
Mr. Furay was elected to the first Nebraska legislature in 1868. A year later he was appointed transfer agent of the mails. In 1870 he was commissioned postoffice inspector and for thirteen years he served, covering territory all the way from Omaha to the Pacific coast, the Canadian border and the Gulf. Those were days of going after big game - robbers and dangerous desperadoes. Major Furay was remarkably successful, fearless, shrewd and tireless - and withal so big-hearted that he was a friend to a weak man as well as a terror to the confirmed criminal.
It was when Gresham was postmaster general that an order was issued that all inspectors should, starting with the month then ending, send in vouchers with their expense accounts. That, a practical impossibility, vexed the inspectors. Major Furay fired in a hot letter virtually telling the postmaster general to go to the thunder, and followed it with a resignation the next day. That left Major Furay free to look after his private interests. He built large sale stables for horses and mules at the "military bridge" site, Twenty-fourth and Cuming streets, and conducted it for several years.
He was not afraid of man or beast and "broke" many a refractory animal into a valuable saddle horse or roadster.
Of late years Major Furay's activities had been somewhat limited by rheumatism, but he had been alert and on his feet whenever possible and seemed to rise above any ordinary physical ailment such as breaking a rib. He was as young-hearted as a boy and lived for his wife and children. Of rugged character yet tender of heart and quick of sympathies he was man held in the highest regard.
A delegate from Nebraska to the republican national convention at Chicago in 1880, Major Furay was one of the "famous 306" delegates who voted for Grant first, last and all the time, though the convention nominated Garfield.
Soldier, business man and scholar he kept up with the times. Even the last day of his life, one act, was to visit a friend, a professor, and give him a lesson in Gaelic, in which language Major Furay was a master.
'''''''''''''''''''''''
Morning World-Herald, January 19, 1907, p. 2, col. 6
MAJOR FURAY'S FUNERAL.
Saturday Morning From St. John's Church at 9:30.
Funeral services for Major John B. Furay will be held Saturday morning from St. John's church, Twenty-fifth and California streets, at 9:30, the cortege leaving the house at Twenty-fourth and Seward streets, at 9 o'clock.
Burial will be in Holy Sepulcher.
Honorary Pallbearers –
Capt. H. E. Palmer, Capt. Thos. Swobe, Joseph Doherty, George E. Pritchett, Judge Lee Estelle, Andrew Murphy, William M. Bushman.
Active Pallbearers –
T. J. Fitzmorris, J. L. Woodard, B. J. Scannell, C. J. Smythe, Frank McArdle, Judge D. M. Vinsonhaler, T. E. Parmelee, John H. Hussie.
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Sunday World-Herald, January 20, 1907, p. 3, col. 7
SON CELEBRATES REQUIEM MASS FOR MAJOR JOHN B. FURAY; CHURCH CROWDED WITH FRIENDS
At the funeral services for Major John B. Furay at St. John's church, Twenty-fifth and California, Saturday morning, the most unusual happening of a son celebrating the requiem high mass at his father's bier, was observed. The son is the Rev. Father John B. Furay, a Jesuit novitiate, now stationed at Florissant, Mo.
The funeral was most largely attended – pioneers, young people, Catholic,protestant and Jew, filling the church, and indicating the wide circle of friends enjoyed by Major Furay during his life time, and the high esteem in which he was held by all.
In the celebration of the requiem high mass, with Father Furay as celebrant, Rev. Father Schierman, S. J., was deacon, and Rev. Father Michael O'Connor, S. J., was sub-deacon. Bishop Scannell was assisted by Rev. Father Dowling, president of Creighton university, and Rev. Fathers Gannon and Ahern.
At the end of the service, the bishop pronounced the absolution.
At the request of Major Furay prior to his death, and of his family, no funeral sermon was preached.
Miss Margaret Judge presided at the organ, and a chorus of male singers chanted the solemn Gregorian requiem, under the direction of Rev. Father Bronsgeest, S. J. The members of the chorus were Harry Burkley, Tom Swift, Frank McCreary, Thomas McShane, John Jamieson, Charles Megeath, Henry Steinberg and Thomas Lanigan.
Arriving at the Holy Sepulcher, the body was consigned to its rest with the most solemn ceremonials, to which a brief bit of the military was mingled, with the sounding of taps by Trumpeter Kennedy of the Omaha Guards.
A.T. Andreas, History of the State of Nebraska... (Chicago: Western Historical Company, 1882), Vol. 1, p. 769:
JOHN B. FURAY, Post Office Inspector, was born near Hillsborough, Highland County, Ohio, his parents being from Ireland and old settlers there. Mr. Furay himself can readily speak the Irish language. Being raised on a farm he received only such educational advantages as the common schools afforded, and at seventeen he began teaching, attending Oberlin College as long as he could afford, until after the war commenced when he enlisted as a private in Company B. First Independent Battalion of Ohio Volunteer Cavalry (afterwards made into the Eleventh Ohio Cavalry regiment). Held all the non-commissioned positions of his company until September, 1864, when he was commissioned as First Lieutenant of Company G. of his regiment, and in October, 1865, was made Adjutant of the regiment, which commission he held until mustered out in July, 1866, his being the last regiment of Ohio troops discharged. After his discharge Mr. F. emigrated to Nebraska, locating in Douglas County in the fall of 1866, where for a few months he worked as a common laborer on a farm and then taught a country school near Omaha for one term. In the spring of 1867, he went into the grocery business in Omaha, the firm being Furay & Harmon. In October, 1868, he was elected a member of the first State Legislature which convened at Lincoln in January, 1869. July 1, 1869, he was appointed local agent of the Post Office Department to supervise the transfer of mails between Omaha, Neb., and Council Bluffs, Iowa, and on August 1, 1870, was promoted to the position of Post Office Inspector, which position he has held ever since, during which time his duties being almost wholly upon the frontiers of civilization protecting and promoting the important service of the Department he represents; his life has been one constant adventure and his great success has earned for him the exalted rank he holds in that service. Mr. F. was married April 6, 1869, to Miss Kate M. McShane, a native of Perry County, Ohio. They have eight children, Edward S., Charles E., John B., Frank A., Clarence M., Alice L., James H., and Guy V.
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Morning World-Herald (Omaha, Nebr.), January 17, 1907, p. 6, col. 4
MAJ. JOHN B. FURAY DIES FROM STROKE OF APOPLEXY
Major John B. Furay died at his home at Twenty-fourth and Seward streets in this city Wednesday evening of a stroke of apoplexy. He had been apparently as well and strong as usual in the morning. At noon he had an attack; a second attack in the evening proved fatal.
Major Furay was 66 years of age. He had been commander of the Nebraska commandery of the Loyal Legion and commander of Crook Post, Grand Army of the Republic. He had been a pioneer in Nebraska, and was for many years postoffice inspector. Then he retired in the prime of life to look after his live stock, farming and city property interests.
He had been city councilman from 1884 to 1886; and a member of the board of public works from 1888 to 1894.
Major Furay is survived by his wife and six sons and two daughters, who are Dr. E. S. Furay of Woodrock, Wyo.; Charles E. Furay of Omaha; Rev. John B. Furay, jr., S. J., of Florissant, Mo.; Frank A. Furay of Omaha; Mrs. Lee L. Daly of St. Louis; J. Henry Furay, city editor of the Press, Cleveland; Guy V. Furay of Omaha, and Miss Mary Furay of Omaha. Major Furay lost one son, Clarence, who was a lieutenant in the regular army. The major leaves a brother, Andrew A. Furay, who lives at Fifty-ninth and Center streets; a sister, Mrs. W. P. St. Clar of Salt Lake; a sister, Mrs. Fabian Fink of Cheyenne, and a sister Mrs. Celia Taggart of Marietta, O.
John B. Furay was born near Hillsborough, O., of parents who had come from Ireland and was among the early settlers of that part of Ohio. He gained a common school education, taught school at age 17, then entered Oberlin college and graduated from it when the civil war broke out. He enlisted in the first battalion of Ohio calvary; was commissioned lieutenant, then adjutant and served through the war. Upon the muster out he came to Nebraska, settling at Omaha September 4, 1866. He started out pluckily working on a farm, then attended night school and later entered into the grocery business, the firm being Furay & Harmon.
He met, when she was visiting her uncle, Edward and John A. Creighton, Miss Katherine McShane, sister of John A., James and F. J. McShane, and he went back to Ohio and married her in 1869.
Mr. Furay was elected to the first Nebraska legislature in 1868. A year later he was appointed transfer agent of the mails. In 1870 he was commissioned postoffice inspector and for thirteen years he served, covering territory all the way from Omaha to the Pacific coast, the Canadian border and the Gulf. Those were days of going after big game - robbers and dangerous desperadoes. Major Furay was remarkably successful, fearless, shrewd and tireless - and withal so big-hearted that he was a friend to a weak man as well as a terror to the confirmed criminal.
It was when Gresham was postmaster general that an order was issued that all inspectors should, starting with the month then ending, send in vouchers with their expense accounts. That, a practical impossibility, vexed the inspectors. Major Furay fired in a hot letter virtually telling the postmaster general to go to the thunder, and followed it with a resignation the next day. That left Major Furay free to look after his private interests. He built large sale stables for horses and mules at the "military bridge" site, Twenty-fourth and Cuming streets, and conducted it for several years.
He was not afraid of man or beast and "broke" many a refractory animal into a valuable saddle horse or roadster.
Of late years Major Furay's activities had been somewhat limited by rheumatism, but he had been alert and on his feet whenever possible and seemed to rise above any ordinary physical ailment such as breaking a rib. He was as young-hearted as a boy and lived for his wife and children. Of rugged character yet tender of heart and quick of sympathies he was man held in the highest regard.
A delegate from Nebraska to the republican national convention at Chicago in 1880, Major Furay was one of the "famous 306" delegates who voted for Grant first, last and all the time, though the convention nominated Garfield.
Soldier, business man and scholar he kept up with the times. Even the last day of his life, one act, was to visit a friend, a professor, and give him a lesson in Gaelic, in which language Major Furay was a master.
'''''''''''''''''''''''
Morning World-Herald, January 19, 1907, p. 2, col. 6
MAJOR FURAY'S FUNERAL.
Saturday Morning From St. John's Church at 9:30.
Funeral services for Major John B. Furay will be held Saturday morning from St. John's church, Twenty-fifth and California streets, at 9:30, the cortege leaving the house at Twenty-fourth and Seward streets, at 9 o'clock.
Burial will be in Holy Sepulcher.
Honorary Pallbearers –
Capt. H. E. Palmer, Capt. Thos. Swobe, Joseph Doherty, George E. Pritchett, Judge Lee Estelle, Andrew Murphy, William M. Bushman.
Active Pallbearers –
T. J. Fitzmorris, J. L. Woodard, B. J. Scannell, C. J. Smythe, Frank McArdle, Judge D. M. Vinsonhaler, T. E. Parmelee, John H. Hussie.
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Sunday World-Herald, January 20, 1907, p. 3, col. 7
SON CELEBRATES REQUIEM MASS FOR MAJOR JOHN B. FURAY; CHURCH CROWDED WITH FRIENDS
At the funeral services for Major John B. Furay at St. John's church, Twenty-fifth and California, Saturday morning, the most unusual happening of a son celebrating the requiem high mass at his father's bier, was observed. The son is the Rev. Father John B. Furay, a Jesuit novitiate, now stationed at Florissant, Mo.
The funeral was most largely attended – pioneers, young people, Catholic,protestant and Jew, filling the church, and indicating the wide circle of friends enjoyed by Major Furay during his life time, and the high esteem in which he was held by all.
In the celebration of the requiem high mass, with Father Furay as celebrant, Rev. Father Schierman, S. J., was deacon, and Rev. Father Michael O'Connor, S. J., was sub-deacon. Bishop Scannell was assisted by Rev. Father Dowling, president of Creighton university, and Rev. Fathers Gannon and Ahern.
At the end of the service, the bishop pronounced the absolution.
At the request of Major Furay prior to his death, and of his family, no funeral sermon was preached.
Miss Margaret Judge presided at the organ, and a chorus of male singers chanted the solemn Gregorian requiem, under the direction of Rev. Father Bronsgeest, S. J. The members of the chorus were Harry Burkley, Tom Swift, Frank McCreary, Thomas McShane, John Jamieson, Charles Megeath, Henry Steinberg and Thomas Lanigan.
Arriving at the Holy Sepulcher, the body was consigned to its rest with the most solemn ceremonials, to which a brief bit of the military was mingled, with the sounding of taps by Trumpeter Kennedy of the Omaha Guards.
JOHN B. FURAY, Post Office Inspector, was born near Hillsborough, Highland County, Ohio, his parents being from Ireland and old settlers there. Mr. Furay himself can readily speak the Irish language. Being raised on a farm he received only such educational advantages as the common schools afforded, and at seventeen he began teaching, attending Oberlin College as long as he could afford, until after the war commenced when he enlisted as a private in Company B. First Independent Battalion of Ohio Volunteer Cavalry (afterwards made into the Eleventh Ohio Cavalry regiment). Held all the non-commissioned positions of his company until September, 1864, when he was commissioned as First Lieutenant of Company G. of his regiment, and in October, 1865, was made Adjutant of the regiment, which commission he held until mustered out in July, 1866, his being the last regiment of Ohio troops discharged. After his discharge Mr. F. emigrated to Nebraska, locating in Douglas County in the fall of 1866, where for a few months he worked as a common laborer on a farm and then taught a country school near Omaha for one term. In the spring of 1867, he went into the grocery business in Omaha, the firm being Furay & Harmon. In October, 1868, he was elected a member of the first State Legislature which convened at Lincoln in January, 1869. July 1, 1869, he was appointed local agent of the Post Office Department to supervise the transfer of mails between Omaha, Neb., and Council Bluffs, Iowa, and on August 1, 1870, was promoted to the position of Post Office Inspector, which position he has held ever since, during which time his duties being almost wholly upon the frontiers of civilization protecting and promoting the important service of the Department he represents; his life has been one constant adventure and his great success has earned for him the exalted rank he holds in that service. Mr. F. was married April 6, 1869, to Miss Kate M. McShane, a native of Perry County, Ohio. They have eight children, Edward S., Charles E., John B., Frank A., Clarence M., Alice L., James H., and Guy V.
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Morning World-Herald (Omaha, Nebr.), January 17, 1907, p. 6, col. 4
MAJ. JOHN B. FURAY DIES FROM STROKE OF APOPLEXY
Major John B. Furay died at his home at Twenty-fourth and Seward streets in this city Wednesday evening of a stroke of apoplexy. He had been apparently as well and strong as usual in the morning. At noon he had an attack; a second attack in the evening proved fatal.
Major Furay was 66 years of age. He had been commander of the Nebraska commandery of the Loyal Legion and commander of Crook Post, Grand Army of the Republic. He had been a pioneer in Nebraska, and was for many years postoffice inspector. Then he retired in the prime of life to look after his live stock, farming and city property interests.
He had been city councilman from 1884 to 1886; and a member of the board of public works from 1888 to 1894.
Major Furay is survived by his wife and six sons and two daughters, who are Dr. E. S. Furay of Woodrock, Wyo.; Charles E. Furay of Omaha; Rev. John B. Furay, jr., S. J., of Florissant, Mo.; Frank A. Furay of Omaha; Mrs. Lee L. Daly of St. Louis; J. Henry Furay, city editor of the Press, Cleveland; Guy V. Furay of Omaha, and Miss Mary Furay of Omaha. Major Furay lost one son, Clarence, who was a lieutenant in the regular army. The major leaves a brother, Andrew A. Furay, who lives at Fifty-ninth and Center streets; a sister, Mrs. W. P. St. Clar of Salt Lake; a sister, Mrs. Fabian Fink of Cheyenne, and a sister Mrs. Celia Taggart of Marietta, O.
John B. Furay was born near Hillsborough, O., of parents who had come from Ireland and was among the early settlers of that part of Ohio. He gained a common school education, taught school at age 17, then entered Oberlin college and graduated from it when the civil war broke out. He enlisted in the first battalion of Ohio calvary; was commissioned lieutenant, then adjutant and served through the war. Upon the muster out he came to Nebraska, settling at Omaha September 4, 1866. He started out pluckily working on a farm, then attended night school and later entered into the grocery business, the firm being Furay & Harmon.
He met, when she was visiting her uncle, Edward and John A. Creighton, Miss Katherine McShane, sister of John A., James and F. J. McShane, and he went back to Ohio and married her in 1869.
Mr. Furay was elected to the first Nebraska legislature in 1868. A year later he was appointed transfer agent of the mails. In 1870 he was commissioned postoffice inspector and for thirteen years he served, covering territory all the way from Omaha to the Pacific coast, the Canadian border and the Gulf. Those were days of going after big game - robbers and dangerous desperadoes. Major Furay was remarkably successful, fearless, shrewd and tireless - and withal so big-hearted that he was a friend to a weak man as well as a terror to the confirmed criminal.
It was when Gresham was postmaster general that an order was issued that all inspectors should, starting with the month then ending, send in vouchers with their expense accounts. That, a practical impossibility, vexed the inspectors. Major Furay fired in a hot letter virtually telling the postmaster general to go to the thunder, and followed it with a resignation the next day. That left Major Furay free to look after his private interests. He built large sale stables for horses and mules at the "military bridge" site, Twenty-fourth and Cuming streets, and conducted it for several years.
He was not afraid of man or beast and "broke" many a refractory animal into a valuable saddle horse or roadster.
Of late years Major Furay's activities had been somewhat limited by rheumatism, but he had been alert and on his feet whenever possible and seemed to rise above any ordinary physical ailment such as breaking a rib. He was as young-hearted as a boy and lived for his wife and children. Of rugged character yet tender of heart and quick of sympathies he was man held in the highest regard.
A delegate from Nebraska to the republican national convention at Chicago in 1880, Major Furay was one of the "famous 306" delegates who voted for Grant first, last and all the time, though the convention nominated Garfield.
Soldier, business man and scholar he kept up with the times. Even the last day of his life, one act, was to visit a friend, a professor, and give him a lesson in Gaelic, in which language Major Furay was a master.
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Morning World-Herald, January 19, 1907, p. 2, col. 6
MAJOR FURAY'S FUNERAL.
Saturday Morning From St. John's Church at 9:30.
Funeral services for Major John B. Furay will be held Saturday morning from St. John's church, Twenty-fifth and California streets, at 9:30, the cortege leaving the house at Twenty-fourth and Seward streets, at 9 o'clock.
Burial will be in Holy Sepulcher.
Honorary Pallbearers –
Capt. H. E. Palmer, Capt. Thos. Swobe, Joseph Doherty, George E. Pritchett, Judge Lee Estelle, Andrew Murphy, William M. Bushman.
Active Pallbearers –
T. J. Fitzmorris, J. L. Woodard, B. J. Scannell, C. J. Smythe, Frank McArdle, Judge D. M. Vinsonhaler, T. E. Parmelee, John H. Hussie.
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Sunday World-Herald, January 20, 1907, p. 3, col. 7
SON CELEBRATES REQUIEM MASS FOR MAJOR JOHN B. FURAY; CHURCH CROWDED WITH FRIENDS
At the funeral services for Major John B. Furay at St. John's church, Twenty-fifth and California, Saturday morning, the most unusual happening of a son celebrating the requiem high mass at his father's bier, was observed. The son is the Rev. Father John B. Furay, a Jesuit novitiate, now stationed at Florissant, Mo.
The funeral was most largely attended – pioneers, young people, Catholic,protestant and Jew, filling the church, and indicating the wide circle of friends enjoyed by Major Furay during his life time, and the high esteem in which he was held by all.
In the celebration of the requiem high mass, with Father Furay as celebrant, Rev. Father Schierman, S. J., was deacon, and Rev. Father Michael O'Connor, S. J., was sub-deacon. Bishop Scannell was assisted by Rev. Father Dowling, president of Creighton university, and Rev. Fathers Gannon and Ahern.
At the end of the service, the bishop pronounced the absolution.
At the request of Major Furay prior to his death, and of his family, no funeral sermon was preached.
Miss Margaret Judge presided at the organ, and a chorus of male singers chanted the solemn Gregorian requiem, under the direction of Rev. Father Bronsgeest, S. J. The members of the chorus were Harry Burkley, Tom Swift, Frank McCreary, Thomas McShane, John Jamieson, Charles Megeath, Henry Steinberg and Thomas Lanigan.
Arriving at the Holy Sepulcher, the body was consigned to its rest with the most solemn ceremonials, to which a brief bit of the military was mingled, with the sounding of taps by Trumpeter Kennedy of the Omaha Guards.
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