David J. Feely, Woodford County

David J. Feely (1886 - 1958) came to Eureka, Illinois and was place with the Frerichs family in 1899. He remained with the family for at least eleven years, well past his coming of age. In his letter he states his desire for a good education. He did achieve a high school education, which was significant at that time and fitted him for a good paying job with a coal company. He worked in the Green Ridge Coal Co. in Maucoupin County from at least 1920 to 1940 as a cashier and then as the chief clerk.

This son of Irish immigrants learnt German in order to communicate with his guardians and possibly other residents of the place where he lived. Many orphans were placed in families where they needed to learn a new language in order to fit in and survive. David married Eve before 1920 and they are both buried at the Girard Township Cemetery. They never had any children.