Honoring Marion Ohio Veterans

Thomas Joseph McFarland was born February 16, 1871, in Marion, Ohio. His parents were Laughlin & Bridget (Harlow) McFarland. Both of his parents were born in Ireland. Thomas J. McFarland would live his entire life in Marion, Ohio. He married Margaret (Moloney) on September 19, 1893, at St. Mary Catholic Church.
Thomas Joseph (T. J.) McFarland worked as a machinist at the Huber Manufacturing Company, beginning in 1886. In 1891, McFarland began as a volunteer at the Marion Fire Department. He continued as a volunteer, while he worked at the Huber Manufacturing Company, until 1903. McFarland served Volunteer Hose Company No. 3, located at the Huber Company. In 1896 McFarland became a Regular Fireman with the Marion Fire Department in 1896, where he was assigned to the Central Fire Station and served on the Hook and Ladder Company. During this time the fire department only had four full-time men and depended on volunteers for manpower. On July 6, 1903, the city of Marion increased the full-time staff to six men. McFarland was hired as chief of the department and George Kelly as Captain.
The men that worked as full-time firemen were Hilbert D. Uline, James A. Butler, Charles N. Thurston and Gottleib Trefz.
Prior to McFarland taking the duties of full-time chief, James A. Knapp had fulfilled the duties on a volunteer basis. The predecessor to James A. Knapp was volunteer chief William Fies who served for 25 years and prior to him Thomas C. Bowen, Edward Huber and John Battenfeld had held the position. T. J. McFarland became the first full-time Fire Chief of the Marion Fire Department.
McFarland would receive $65/month as a full-time (24hrs/day) fire chief. In 1904 he received a $10/month raise. He would see a $5/month raise each year until 1907, when he was making $90/month. He did not see another raise until 1911, when he was raised to $95/month and again in 1913, when he began making $100/month. McFarland did not take any vacations and only went home long enough to have a meal with his family, then return to the station.
Chief McFarland rode the chemical and hose wagon to fires in the early days. In 1906 the city bought the “chief’s buggy.” The buggie was pulled by “Mack”, a white horse. Mack was the only horse the chief would use in the 10 years the buggie was in service.

Chief McFarland recall[ed] “Mack” used to get down on his knees and eat grass while the firemen were out on calls. His tendency to go back to the station before the chief was ready to leave, led to the suggestion that a strap with a weight on the end of it be used to tether “Mack.”
“We tried that, but the horse was one step ahead of us,” the chief once recalled. “He soon learned to cut the strap with a blow of his hoof, and that put an end to our efforts to tie him.”

From The Marion Star 5-15-1946

Chief McFarland appears to have been quite tough as a fire fighter, even while serving as chief of the department. . During the Uhler & Phillips Store fire, on 16 November 1908, Chief McFarland was injured. Chief McFarland was directing fire operations from the fire escape of a nearby building, while fire fighters were advancing a hose line to the roof. The fire hose became tangled at the base of the fire escape. McFarland tried to whip the hose line free while standing above on the fire escape. While attempting to free the line, McFarland dislocated his left shoulder. Dr. James W. McMurray, who was also assisting at the fire, was called to tend to Chief McFarland. Dr. McMurray reduced the dislocated shoulder. Both men then returned to their duties at the fire, and it was reported that the chief was not affected much in his work. At the time this fire was the heaviest fire loss for Marion.

In February of 1936, Chief McFarland applied to retire from the Marion Fire Department and receive a pension. This first retirement was withdrawn, by McFarland, the day before it was to take effect, on the first of 29 February 1936. The withdrawal was immediately accepted by the Mayor and the Service-Safety Director. McFarland went on to serve as fire chief for another 8 years retiring in 1944, with 40 years as chief. Chief T. J. McFarland responded to his last fire call on the evening of 31 December 1943. The call coincidently was to the soon to be retired Safety-Service Director, C. C. Caldwell’s home. The call was for a small fire on the rof of Caldwell’s house.

Chief T. J. McFarland worked under 15 mayors and 20 safety directors. He first served under Mayor John G. Mader. His first Safety Directors were Spanish War veteran, Fred W. Peters and Charles E. Gompf. McFarland’s position as Chief was filled by long time coworker, Owen A. Sifritt.

McFarland and his wife Margaret raised six children. McFarland retired from the department on January 1, 1944, he had served the city of Marion for 52 years, over 40 years as the Fire Chief. Among his other civic involvements included: active member of the Ohio Fire Chief’s Association and twice being elected as its President (1927 and 1928); Marion Kiwanis club; and he had organized a community Christmas party for the less fortunate children of Marion.

T. J. McFarland died on May 14, 1946. He is buried in Saint Mary’s Catholic Cemetery, Marion, Ohio.