Southampton County Virginia USGenWeb Archives Obituaries.....Fagan, Robert M., 1957 

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ROBERT MONTGOMERY FAGAN 

FRANKLIN NATIVE DIES IN MISSOURI 

  Word was received shortly before press time of the death in Walnut Grove, 
Mo., on Wednesday, November 6, of Robert M. Fagan, 72, a native of Franklin. 

  Mr. Fagan was the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. W.T. Fagan, who made their 
home on South Street in the house (No. 212) now occupied by Mr. and Mrs. 
Robert G. Edwards.  He was educated at the old Franklin Academy on Lee Street 
and at a private school in Chocowinity, N.C.  In 1907 [sic. 1909*], as a young 
man of 22 [sic; 23], he gained considerable local fame by being accepted for 
duty on the steamer Nanticoke, which had been sold by Albemarle Steam 
Navigation Company to the Venezuelan government, and making the long and 
hazardous voyage from Franklin to its destination in South America. 

  Subsequently he joined the U.S. Army, was stationed for some time at Fort 
Slocum, N.Y., and served in France in World War I.  Retired from the service 
because of physical disability, he located in Missouri, his wife's home state, 
where he became a law enforcement officer.  For a time he was Sheriff of 
Greene County, and for the past several years had been a deputy sheriff, with 
headquarters in Walnut Grove, where he maintained his residence.  He was a 
prominent Mason and enjoyed the distinction of having received authorization 
from the Missouri Grand Lodge to conduct Masonic funerals anywhere in the 
state. 

  A few years ago, following a heart attack, he underwent an operation in 
which the surgeon substituted a plastic valve in his heart.  He recovered 
completely from the operation and thereafter was well enough to perform his 
duties, though afflicted with arthritis.  He planned to retire next Spring 
and pay a visit to the scenes of his youth. 

  A widower, he is survived by a sister, Mrs. Sally Fagan Johnson of Norfolk, 
two nephews and two nieces.  Among his cousins are Mrs. Margaret F. Rogers 
and Mrs. Stella F. Smithwick of 416 N. High Street, Franklin. 

  Interment was at 2:30 o'clock this (Thursday) afternoon in Walnut Grove. 


Robert Montgomery FAGAN, deputy sheriff of Green Co., MO, 
   Army veteran of WW-I, 
b. 8 Sep 1886, Franklin, d. 6 Nov 1957, Walnut Grove, MO, 
interred in Walnut Grove*, MO, 7 Nov 1957, 
"Tidewater News" (Franklin, VA), Thurs., Nov. 7, 1957, p. 7 

*Additional information: 

Find a Grave Mem. #43242525 lists him in Green Lawn Cemetery, Kansas City, 
   Jackson Co., MO. 

His parents are buried in Poplar Spring Cemetery, Franklin. 
   Southampton County Historical Society {SCHS} Cemetery Project, 
   Poplar Spring list (PS1-11B): 
   http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/southampton/cemeteries/poplar1.txt 

His father's (donated, 1906) obit is posted at: 
   http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/southampton/obits/f250w1ob.txt 

The "Nanticoke" was originally the Civil War blockade-runner "Ella," which the 
   Albemarle Steam Navigation Co. acquired in 1866.  She was re-built in 1874 
   in Wilmington, DE, and re-named the "Chowan."  Her wailing siren warned of 
   the disasterous fire which destroyed most of Franklin, on the night of 
   26 Feb 1881.  Suspected of being a filibuster, transporting rifles to 
   Venezuelan rebels, she was detained at Franklin by the revenue cutter 
   "Pamlico," 14 Jun 1909.  After being searched, then proved to be the 
   property of the Venezuelan government, she was allowed to get under way 
   17 Jun 1909, and arrived in Maracaibo, Venezuela in August.  FAGAN reported 
   on the trip for the "Tidewater News" by postcard & cablegram.  
   (Parramore, "Southampton County, Virginia" {pp. 178, 181, esp. 210-11}) 
   Coverage of the incident ("Times-Dispatch" & "Daily Press," June 15-18, 
   1909) is posted at: 
   http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/southampton/news/19090615td.txt 


Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by 
Mrs. Bruce Saunders (bs4403@verizon.net), 
and re-formatted by File Manager. 

file at: 
http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/southampton/obits/f250r2ob.txt