Chapter XXV: Introduction (19)
KELLY, JAMES E., was born in Ogdensburg, N. Y., November 23, 1853, and was educated in the public schools of Ogdensburg and the Ogdensburg Educational Institute, under the late Julius S. Grinnell, District Attorney of Chicago, and A. Barton Hepburn, of New York, the New York banker. He began life in 1866 as bookkeeper in the old Crichton brewery. About this time he lost his father and was suddenly left with a mother and her young family to care for. In 1871 he entered the employ of C. B. Herriman as bookkeeper in the largest wholesale and retail grocery store and butter business in Northern New York. In 1876, through the influence of Hon. Daniel Magone, Mr. Kelly was appointed as manager of the manufacturing department of Clinton prison, serving in that capacity for two years. In 1880 the Ogdensburg Coal & Towing Company was organized with Hon. John Hannan as president, and Mr. Kelly entered that well-known and successful corporation, acting first as secretary and bookkeeper and from 1883 to 1892 as local manager of the concern’s interest in Montreal. In 1892 he was appointed sales agent at Utica for the N. Y. & O. W. R. R. in Central and Northern New York and Eastern Canada. About this time he entered the retail coal business in Ogdensburg with L. B. Leonard, which still continues. In 1894 Mr. Kelly was appointed postmaster of Ogdensburg by President Cleveland, holding the office for five years. Mr. Kelly is a Democrat in politics and has been a delegate five times in recent years to the State Convention of his party. He has been chairman of the Democratic city committee, for three years, and in 1902 was elected chairman of the county committee, succeeding Mayor Hall. Mr. Kelly has been on the city school board since 1895, being president in 1901 and 1902. Upon the establishment of a municipal civil service board in 1900 Mr. Kelly was made chairman of that board by Mayor Hall. Mr. Hall appointed Mr. Kelly president of the Board of Public Works in 1907 and Mayor Hannan reappointed him in 1908. When the St. Lawrence County Savings Bank was established in 1908 Mr. Kelly was chosen trustee and manager. He is an active member of the C. M. B. A., Knights of Columbus and Century Club. He is president of the Holy Name and St. Vincent de Paul Societies. The Oswegatchie Agricultural Association was reorganized in 1909 and has been conducted to the present year by Mr. Kelly as president. It is now the best agricultural fair in Northern New York. Mr. Kelly was married in 1886 to Miss Mary Spratt and has a family of one son and three daughters.
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KELLY, JOHN JOSEPH, General Agent in Missouri, State Mutual Life Assurance Company of Worcester, Mass., born in Albany, N. Y., May 23, 1871. Son of Thomas and Mary (Raleigh) Kelly, both of whom were born in Ireland; was educated in public schools of Albany, N. Y.; graduated with honors from St. Louis Law school, Washington University, LL. B., 1899; unmarried. Began business career as clerk in First National Bank, Albany, N. Y. Engaged in the life insurance business in 1893 and went to St. Louis same year; in 1903 received the appointment to present position with the State Mutual Life Assurance Company. Member of the Glen Echo Country Club and Aëro Club. Both parents born in Ireland.
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KERNEY, JAMES, editor; born Trenton, N. J., April 29, 1879; son of Thomas Francis and Maria (O’Farrell) Kerney; educated in parochial schools; married Miss Sarah Mullen, of Trenton, October 4, 1897; employed as clerk in store 1887–1891; stenographer, Trenton and New York, 1891–1895; became reporter, 1895; editor of Trenton Times since 1903; vice-president Times Corporation; director Trenton Trust Company. Civil Service Commissioner for New Jersey, named by Governor Fort in 1908. Inaugurated movement for establishment of national park at Washington’s Crossing to commemorate place where the revolutionary general made his famous strategic move on night of Christmas, 1776; member of New Jersey Commission to coöperate with similar commission from Pennsylvania in establishing park. Independent in politics. Roman Catholic; member of Knights of Columbus, Lotus and Country Clubs. Home 373 West State street, Trenton.
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LALLY, PATRICK E. C., was born about June 8, 1856, in the Townland of Slyngan Roe, Parish of Kilmaclasser, in the Barony of Burrishool South, County of Mayo, Ireland, the fifth child in a family of seven children, born to Peter and Nancy Corcoran Lally. In his eighteenth year he came to the United States, without a dollar, and took hold of the first thing that came to hand, to wit: working in a grocery store in Chicago, but not liking that method of making a livelihood, he left, went farther West, finally studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1880. On the first day of September of the same year, he married Kittie Hughes Lally, and they have been blessed with a family of eleven children, each and all alive and well. He is a Fourth Degree member of the Knights of Columbus, and tries to maintain an ideal Catholic home, surrounding his family with everything that makes for Christian refinement. There is scarcely a valuable book on Catholic topics, in the English language, for sale in American book stores, that has not a place on his library shelves, one of his aims and purposes being that his children shall know and be able to give a reason for the faith that is in them. He is a grandfather, four times over, and his daughters all graduated, those old enough, from convent schools. His oldest son graduated from the University of Notre Dame, and later from the law department of Harvard.
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LARKIN, ROBERT E., was born May 9, 1879, on a farm in Eagle Township about two miles west of Streator, Illinois, to Thomas Larkin and Delia (Conners) Larkin, both of whom were born in County Galway, Ireland, and were married in Eagle Township in 1863. He received his education in the public school at Kangley, Illinois, and in the high school at Streator, Illinois, completing the classical course at St. Bede College at Peru, Illinois. He then commenced the study of law in the law office of Lloyd Painter of Streator, Ill., in the Fall of 1903, under whom he studied law until his admission to the Illinois Bar, October 11, 1906. Immediately thereafter he opened up a law office at Streator and practiced alone until September 4, 1907, when he formed a law partnership with Patrick J. Lucey of that city, with whom he is still connected. He is unmarried and is a member of the Knights of Columbus.
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LONERGAN, JOHN E., of Philadelphia, was born at Nicholastown, Parish of Grange, County of Tipperary, Ireland, May 25, 1841, of Pierce and Mary Tobin-Lonergan; when about five years of age, attended private school; later attended the “Model School” in Clonmell. In March, 1852, father, mother and three children, comprising entire family, came to America, settled in Bennington Co., Vermont; in 1862, moved into Massachusetts, where he learned the machinist’s trade. In 1867, he married Miss Mary A. Bowes, of Saxonville, Mass. He continued to follow his trade in various capacities for several years, and later engaged in locomotive engineering for a number of years and left it to engage in the manufacturing of mechanical appliances, under United States patents, which were granted him in 1872, first in Sacramento City, California, and in Philadelphia, Pa., since 1875. He is now president of the J. E. Lonergan Company, vice-president of the H. Brinton Company, both of Philadelphia, Pa., and president of the Cuba Fruit Company, of Von Tanamo, Cuba. His father died in 1884, in his seventy-fourth year, at North Adams, Mass., where his mother still lives in her ninety-seventh year, enjoying good health and retaining all her faculties practically unimpaired.
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LONERGAN, THOMAS S., 408 East One Hundred and Forty-Ninth street, New York City, was born in Mitchelstown, Ireland, in the year 1864. He received his education in the schools of the Christian Brothers of his native town and at St. Colman’s College, Fermoy. He came to America in 1883 and became a full-fledged citizen in 1888. He had been only two weeks a citizen when his name was placed on the list of campaign speakers by the Democratic State Committee of New York. He is the author of “The Golden Age of Ireland,” and “The Fallacies of Socialism,” and numerous magazine articles on Irish, historical and political subjects. He is an able writer and brilliant lecturer. His eulogy on “Abraham Lincoln” is a master-piece. He is one of the lecturers of the Knights of Columbus. During the past ten years he has devoted considerable time and labor to historical research. His article entitled: “St. Brendan, America’s First Discoverer,” which was written specially for Volume IX. of the Journal of the American-Irish Historical Society, speaks for itself. He is very much interested in the history of the Irish element in America. He has been with the New York World during the past sixteen years and has been for the past four years manager of its Bronx office. Mr. Lonergan is the author of “St. Brendan, America’s First Discoverer,” published elsewhere in this volume.
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LUCEY, HON. D. B.—One of the best known citizens of Ogdensburg is the Hon. Dennis B. Lucey. In his infancy, Mr. Lucey, who was born in Massachusetts, moved with his parents to St. Lawrence County, N. Y. After some time spent on a farm he graduated from the classical course of the Potsdam Normal School and for three years taught mathematics in the Ogdensburg Free Academy. In 1886 he was admitted to the bar. He entered partnership with the Hon. George R. Malby, and today the firm of Malby & Lucey is one of the most highly esteemed in the State. Mr. Lucey is a member of the State and National Bar Associations and also of the Bar of the U. S. District and Circuit Courts. His energies have been principally devoted to trial court work. In his work of referee in important cases referred to him, his decisions have been well sustained by the appellate courts. Politically Mr. Lucey is a Democrat. He has served as Mayor of Ogdensburg with great benefit to the city at large. He has also been president of the Board of Education, where his counsel has always been of valuable service. Mr. Lucey has also taken an active interest in commercial matters. He has been for a number of years a director of the National Bank of Ogdensburg. He is also a director of the O’Connor & Jones Tobacco Company and of the John B. Tyo & Sons Dry Goods Company, and a Trustee of St. Lawrence County Savings Bank and its attorney. He is also a veteran of the Spanish-American War. Socially Mr. Lucey is a member of the Century Club and of the Ogdensburg Club, and his home on Washington street is one which helps to make Ogdensburg noted as a city of beautiful homes.
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MAHONEY, DANIEL EMMET, was born in St. Louis, Mo., on October 25, 1860, where his father, Daniel Q. Mahoney, a carpenter and builder, erected some fine churches, and served in the militia guarding government property on and along the Mississippi River at the time of the war between the North and South. His father was born in County Kerry, Ireland, near the Lake of Killarney, and his mother was born in County Kerry also. About the closing of the war his parents moved to New York City where they lived a few years, then moved to or near Matawan, Monmouth County, New Jersey. There the subject of this sketch began to till a few acres of land, and sell the vegetables from it, later moving to Keyport, where he opened a store for the sale of vegetables and fruits, then adding groceries, hay and grain, which he continues with his four other stores in neighboring towns, and his two farms to supply fruits and vegetables for the stores and hay for the horses. Strictly attending to business, and taking no part in politics, he styles himself a farmer and merchant.
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MCBREEN, PATRICK FRANCIS, 404 Monroe street, Brooklyn, N. Y., of P. F. McBreen & Sons, printers, 47 Ann street, New York City.
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MCGINNEY, JOHN H., No. 766 McAllister Street, San Francisco, Cal.; born in Providence, R. I., April 28, 1853, being the eldest son of Thomas and Margaret (Smith) McGinney; educated in the public schools of Providence until the age of eleven, when the family removed to San Francisco; education was completed in this city, and the trade of carriage blacksmithing was learned; worked at blacksmithing for twenty years and was appointed State Wharfinger April 7, 1887, serving for four years; married in June, 1889, Miss Mary Elizabeth Russell of Boston, two children being born of this union; appointed Deputy Superintendent of Streets in 1894; later was appointed Deputy Surveyor in the Engineering Department, Board of Public Works, which position he holds at the present time; has been treasurer of the St. Patrick’s Mutual Alliance Association of California for thirteen years, and a trustee of the Knights of St. Patrick for four years.
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MCGUIRE, FRANK A., M. D., was born in the old Sixth Ward, No. 78 Bayard street, New York City, July 1, 1851, his father, James, keeping a bakery there. James McGuire was the eldest son of Philip and Ellen McGuire, his grandmother not changing her name when she married, all from Cloues, County Monaghan, North of Ireland, he coming here in 1847, and bringing out all his people, one of his sisters marrying a Fitzsimmons, who settled in Lonsdale, R. I., bringing up a large and respectable family among the number being the Hon. Frank E. Fitzsimmons, chairman of the Democratic State Committee of Rhode Island. His mother was a native New Yorker, her name being Catherine Ann McGuire. Her father was Daniel Joshua Thomas, born in Camavon, Wales; he served in the artillery in Canada, in the 1812 war on the American side, and her mother was a native of Philadelphia. The subject of this sketch was educated in De La Salle Institute, going there in the Fall of 1860, his father dying in December, 1860, being then a well-known flour merchant, member of the firm of Coulter & McGuire, 30 Front street. He afterwards went to Manhattan College, but took no degree, leaving school in 1868 and began the study of medicine in 1873, entering the University Medical College of the City of New York and graduated in 1877; was connected later with the Northeastern Dispensary and also assistant in the Demalt Dispensary Heart and Lung Division. Was President of the Metropolitan Medical Society and also of the Celtic Medical Society, serving two terms in the latter. Is a member of the County Medical Society, State Medical Society, American Medical and Physicians Mutual Association. He entered the public service receiving the appointment of visiting physician to the Penitentiary and Work House, Blackwell’s Island, on April 27, 1899, and on May 23, 1904, was transferred to the City Prison (or Tombs) with the title of City Physician. He has contributed to medical literature, a report of a case of bloody sweating (Hæmadrosions) before the Neurological Section of the Academy of Medicine, in 1879, a case of tumor of the Corpus Callosur (with autopsy), a contribution of work done and reported from the laboratory of Dr. E. C. Spitzka, the distinguished alienist and neurologist, and various other scientific papers. He has testified many times before lunacy commissions and in celebrated trials like that of Harry K. Thaw for murder. August 15, 1873, he married Emma L. Denmark, daughter of Alexander and Eleanor Denmark of Ireland, and they have five children living: Emma Frances, wife of Mr. William F. O’Connor of Syracuse, N. Y.; James Alexander, Harriet Lewis, wife of William Henry Herbst; L. Marion and Gertrude Eleanor, the latter in Normal College.
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MCGUIRE, PATRICK HENRY, was born in the city of Pittsburg, County of Allegheny, State of Pennsylvania, August 13, 1869, the ninth child and sixth son of Patrick McGuire and Margaret Wheeler, both Irish immigrants who came to this country about the year 1849, settled and were married in the city of Philadelphia, and came to Pittsburg about the year 1860. Two years after his birth, his folks moved to the city of Allegheny, Pennsylvania, where they lived until he was twenty years of age; in September, 1889, they moved to the Borough of Homestead, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, where he has since lived. He attended the public and parochial schools of the city of Allegheny until he was thirteen years of age, at which time he went to work in a rolling mill; and followed the iron and steel mills until the month of August, 1897. From 1889 to 1897 was employed in the Homestead Steel Works as a steel worker. February 18, 1895, was married to Mollie A. Boyle, of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, by Rev. Daniel Devlin, in St. Stephen’s R. C. Church, Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and at once started housekeeping in Homestead. They have five children, all living, as follows: Margaret, fourteen years of age, January 20, 1910; Paul, twelve years of age, September 23, 1909; Francis, ten years of age, September 5, 1909; Mary Paulus, six years of age, February 14, 1910, and Patrick Henry, Jr., two years of age, August 5, 1909. In 1897, he was elected Grand Secretary of the Pennsylvania Grand Council Jurisdiction of the Young Men’s Institute, at a salary of $1,000.00 per year—when he quit the mill,—to which office he was re-elected five times and filled for nine consecutive years; after which he was elected Grand President. Almost immediately after his election as Grand Secretary of the Young Men’s Institute, he began to prepare himself for the study of law. This required him to pass a preliminary examination consisting of all the common school branches, natural science, civil government, Latin and higher mathematics, to do which he engaged private tutors, who instructed him during the evening hours. In addition, the Very Reverend John Murphy, C. S. Sp., and the Very Reverend M. A. Hehir, C. S. Sp., successive Presidents of the Pittsburg College of the Holy Ghost, very kindly assigned professors of that institution to teach him Latin and natural science, before the regular school hours in the morning. To Very Reverend John Murphy, C. S. Sp., he owes a debt of gratitude. After six years and a half of close study, he was admitted as a member of the Bar of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, of the State Courts and of the United States Courts, where he is still practicing. The last three of said six and one-half years were spent at the Pittsburg Law School, from which institution he was graduated on the sixteenth day of June, 1904, with the degree of LL. B. Served two terms as Solicitor of the Borough of Homestead—1905–1906 and 1906–1907, and is now serving as a member of the town council. He is a member of the Young Men’s Institute, Knights of Columbus, Ancient Order of Hibernians, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Grand Fraternity.
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MCHUGH, JAMES, was born in the townland of Kelleter, Parish of Kel, County of Longfed, January 1, 1847. Got a very limited education; went to serve apprenticeship at Grog business in Longfed when thirteen years old. Later went to Liverpool, England, and served as clerk in gents’ furnishing goods. Left Liverpool the same day the Abyssinia expedition sailed, September 26, 1867; arrived in New York September 26. Left New York October 2 for New Orleans, La., where he went in the grocery business again as clerk. Opened business for himself in 1869 and married, from which union there were three children. In 1874 he moved to Pensacola. The city then had 4,000 population and now has 35,000. After vicissitudes his business was put on a foundation. He lost his first wife in 1878 and was again married in 1884, from which union there is a daughter that will be graduated from the Convent of Visitation, Mobile, Ala., in June next. His father was Patrick McHugh and his mother Anne Byrne, both of the County of Longfed. They arrived in America with six other children in 1869 and moved to St. Clair County, Mo., where the elder McHugh operated a large farm and died in 1901. A younger brother now operates the farm. The subject of this sketch has served the City of Pensacola as an Alderman for eighteen years and his last term would not expire until 1911, but having moved from his district he resigned. He served for seven years as a member of a volunteer fire company and also in the Escaubie Rifles of which company he was second sergeant. He has travelled extensively in the north and west. Mr. McHugh is Deputy Grand Knight, K. of C., Pensacola Court No. 778.
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MCKEE, EDWARD L., of Indianapolis, is the son of Robert S. McKee, son of James and Agnes McMillan McKee. Robert S. McKee was born January 8, 1823, at Tully Carey, County Down, Ireland. His mother died in 1836, and was buried at Slan in County Down. His father died in 1864 at Wheeling, West Virginia. Robert S. McKee died June 10, 1904, at Indianapolis. He was the youngest of six children, William, James, Sophie, Margaret and Eliza. Edward was born at Madison, Indiana, March 13, 1856, his mother being Celine Lodge McKee, born January 16, 1826, died April 2, 1861.
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MCNABOE, JAMES F., attorney-at-law, 68 William street, New York City; born at Manchester, Vermont, in 1866; son of Owen McNaboe and Mary (Kelly) McNaboe, both parents born in Ireland. Prepared for college in Burr and Burton Seminary; graduate of Middlebury College; studied law in New York Law School and New York University.
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MEAGHER, FREDERICK JEFFERSON—Born December 21, 1876, at Binghamton, N. Y.; educated Binghamton public schools; graduated Hamilton College, 1899, Phi Beta Kappa Key; studied law at Binghamton 1899–1901; admitted to bar November, 1901; practiced law at Binghamton 1902–1907; consolidator with State Board of Statutory Consolidation, 1905–1907, at Albany; assistant corporation counsel of Binghamton, 1908; January 1, 1909, appointed district attorney of Broome County by Governor Hughes.
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MITCHELL, RICHARD H., was born in McKeesport, Pa., in 1869. He was educated at the Morrisania public school, then known as Grammar School No. 61, at the College of the City of New York, where he graduated in 1888, and at Columbia University Law School in 1890 and 1891, and in June of the latter year was admitted to the bar. He associated himself with Morgan & Ives, a well-known law firm of New York City, and soon after became a member of the firm with Rollin M. Morgan. The firm of Morgan & Mitchell has, during the last ten years, taken charge of much important litigation, and both members of the firm have been active in public affairs.
Mr. Mitchell is the younger son of Dr. James B. Mitchell and Emma Henry Mitchell. He is a descendant of Irish and German ancestors, his grandfather, James Henry, having been a native of the town of Coleraine, County of Londonderry, Ireland, and he is also related to the Eckfeldt family, of whom Adam Eckfeldt was an appointee of President Washington in the United States Mint. He has lived for the last thirty-four years in the Borough of the Bronx, in the part formerly known as Morrisania, and since 1890 has been well-known as a Democrat and a strong adherent of Tammany Hall. In 1897 he was elected Member of Assembly for the Thirty-Fifth Assembly District by a majority of 1,462 and the following year, 1898, he was elected Senator by a majority of 6,606. He remained in the Senate during the years 1899 and 1900, serving on the Judiciary Committee and the Committee on Privileges and Elections. In February, 1904, Corporation Counsel Delaney selected Senator Mitchell as one of his assistants, and placed him in charge of the Corporation Counsel’s Office in the Borough of the Bronx. He was continued in that office by Corporation Counsel Ellison and Pendleton. Mr. Mitchell is now a member of the Bar Association of the City of New York, Democratic Club, New York Yacht Club, Larchmont Yacht Club, Fordham Club, Jackson Democratic Club, Schnorer Club, Jefferson Tammany Club, Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, Kane Lodge, No. 454, F. and A. M., Jerusalem Chapter, Cœur de Lion Commandery, Pennsylvania Society, Pawnee Club League of American Wheelmen, Bar Association of the Borough of the Bronx, Alumni Association of College of City of New York, and Bronx West Side Association. Mr. Mitchell resides at 1362 Franklin avenue, Borough of the Bronx, New York City.
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MORAN, JAMES T., lawyer and business man; born North Haven, Conn., September 19, 1864; son of Thomas and Maria (Cullom) Moran; grad. Hillhouse High School, New Haven, 1883; LL. B. Yale Law School, 1884; M. L., 1885; married, New Haven, April 27, 1898, Mary E. McKenzie. Has practised in New Haven since 1884; vice-president, director and general attorney, the Southern New England Telephone Co.; president New Haven Union Co. (newspaper); director Merchants’ National Bank, National Folding Box and Paper Co., Acme Wire Co.; trustee Conn. Savings Bank; member New Haven Board of Education, 1893–1909. Roman Catholic. Clubs, Graduates’, Knights of St. Patrick (New Haven); Yale (New York). Residence, 221 Sherman Avenue. Office, Southern New England Telephone Co., New Haven, Conn.
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MULHERN, JOHN, 140 Second Street, San Francisco, Cal., is a dealer in soda water machinery and supplies; was born in County Roscommon, Ireland, in 1848; came to Dorchester, Mass., in 1853, where he attended the old Mather School on Meeting House Hill; arrived in San Francisco in 1874. Member of Knights of St. Patrick, Celtic Union and Celtic Union Hall Association. Life member of the Society.
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O’BRIEN, JAMES, LL. D., was born at Castle Tymon, parish of Barn Dearig, in the County of Wicklow, Ireland, on Whit Monday, 1836. Left there with parents in May, 1849. Settled in Clark County, Ohio. Father was a carpenter. He attended school in Springfield, Ohio, till 1851, then went to Catholic colleges, winding up with Notre Dame University, where he was graduated as A. B. in 1859. He was then employed there as teacher till 1862, and thereafter studied law, and was admitted to practice in Dubuque, Iowa, in 1866. Practiced there and in Lansing, same state, till 1870, when he settled in Minnesota at Caledonia, the county seat of Houston County. Was soon after elected District Attorney, and re-elected successively for about twelve years. Was elected State Senator thereafter serving in that capacity in the years 1883 and 1885. Was chosen delegate to the National Republican Convention which nominated General Harrison for president, acting as chairman of the delegation. Was afterwards appointed Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of New Mexico, by President Harrison, which position he held till October, 1893. He then returned to Caledonia, where he has since resided. The University of Notre Dame, Ind., conferred on him the degree of LL. D. in 1908. Was married to Catherine Lyons, daughter of Michael and Mary Lyons, in 1864, at Galena, Ill. Ten children were the fruit of the union, five of whom survive. His life has been wholly uneventful, devoting himself exclusively to the study of law, and to the history of the Middle Ages. He has made a specialty of the Inquisition, particularly that of Spain.
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O’BRIEN, THOMAS J., diplomat and lawyer, born at Jackson, Michigan, July 30, 1842; son of Timothy O’Brien and Elizabeth (Lauder) O’Brien. His early education was procured in the public schools of Michigan, and he then entered the law department of the University of Michigan, from which he was graduated as LL. B. in 1865. He then engaged in the practice of law with success, becoming assistant general counsel for the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railway in 1871 and its general counsel in 1883, and continuing in that capacity until 1905 when he was appointed envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of the United States to Denmark, in which position he continued until May 18, 1907, when he was appointed ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to Japan. Mr. O’Brien is a Republican; in 1883 he was the candidate of his party for Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of Michigan. He was a delegate-at-large to the National Convention at St. Louis in 1896 which nominated McKinley, and was again a delegate-at-large and chairman of his delegation to the Chicago Convention of 1904 which nominated Roosevelt. Mr. O’Brien married September 4, 1873, Delia Howard, and they have their home at Grand Rapids, Michigan. Address: American Embassy, Tokyo, Japan.
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O’MEARA, JOHN B., was born in 1850 in St. Louis, was graduated A. B. in the Jesuit College (St. Louis University); worked as bank clerk, stock and bond broker and finally contractor. He married in 1874 Sallie Helm Ford (now deceased), granddaughter of Governor Helm of Kentucky, and grandniece of Brigadier-General Hardin Helm, late C. S. A., the latter being married to a Miss Todd, sister of the wife of the ever lamented Abraham Lincoln. He is secretary of the Hill-O’Meara Construction Company, and although offered minor political offices many times he declined to serve until 1894, when he was elected Lieutenant-Governor of Missouri on the Democratic ticket. He takes a very great interest in the National Guard, having been connected with it since 1872 and is now Paymaster General of the Missouri troops. Among the soldiers who surrendered at Limerick with Sarsfield, was an ancestor, Patrick O’Meara, who became a colonel of the Irish Brigade or more correctly speaking the “Legion Irlandais de France.” He afterward married a lady of a distinguished house of France, and reared a family, two sons of which, Jean Baptiste and Daniel, followed the footsteps of their father. When they became able to bear arms they also entered the “Legion,” one of them becoming “Lieutenant en premier” in Walsh’s Regiment, the other “Lieutenant en second” in Dillon’s Regiment of that corps. When Washington made his earnest and final appeal to Louis for more troops, the French king sent some twenty thousand picked men, with a splendid fleet under Count d’Estaing, and among these troops came Dillon’s and Walsh’s Regiments, bringing Jean Baptiste and Daniel O’Meara, John B’s grandfather and granduncle. The French ships engaged the British fleet off Savannah, Georgia, and although it was a drawn battle, owing to a severe storm, they bottled up the British fleet in Savannah, and prevented them from carrying out their plan to come to the assistance of Cornwallis. Meantime d’Estaing moved some of his ships lower down the coast, disembarked several regiments including Dillon’s and Walsh’s, which marched overland and happily met the retreating forces of Lafayette who were being pursued by a portion of the British force from Yorktown. Lafayette now being reinforced turned on his enemies, and drove them back to Yorktown where coöperating with Washington soon forced Cornwallis to surrender. When d’Estaing and his fleet, shortly after, sailed back to France, his grandfather and uncle being Frenchmen, went back with them. The revolution soon broke out, and his folks being Royalists and hating the sans culottes and proletariats, stood with the Legion which suffered terribly defending the King, until overpowered by numbers. His grandfather, disgusted with affairs in France, went back to the land of his forbears and settled in a little town called Athey, County of Kildare, the birthplace of the Duke of Wellington. There his grandfather married and there his father, Patrick, was born. He came to this country in 1832 and after living in New Orleans and in Boston settled and brought up his family, one of whom, a sister, Madame O’Meara, was superior of the Sacred Heart Order in New York City and is now superior of that order in New Orleans, Louisiana. The facts of the revolutionary story as above are in “United States Senate Document No. 77” entitled “Combattants Francais es dans Le Guerre Americain—1777–83.”
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O’SHAUGHNESSY, JAMES, 2252 Giddings street, Chicago, son of James O’Shaughnessy of Gort and Catherine, née Mulholland; was born in St. Catherine, Mo., and educated in the parochial schools; took up the profession of teaching and then the study of law, which he abandoned to enter newspaper work. He was editor and publisher of the Catholic Tribune, St. Joseph, Mo., and afterwards engaged as reporter, correspondent and editor of daily papers in St. Joseph, Mo., Chicago and New York, and as syndicate correspondent in Europe in 1894 when he was a member of the International Jury of Awards of the Antwerp Exposition. Served as correspondent in Cuba for the Chicago Chronicle during the Spanish-American war and in the later Indian troubles in the Northwest. Political editor of the Chicago American until he abandoned editorial work to enter the field of advertising as writer and counsellor. Former president of Western Catholic Writers’ Guild, and Irish Fellowship Club of Chicago. He married Miss Mary Hynes, of the Hynes family of Galway.
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OLCOTT, CHAUNCEY, has never appeared in a play that was not clean and wholesome, or that contained a line, or an episode that was vulgar or even suggestive. Mr. Olcott is of Irish descent, and was born in the city of Buffalo. He was educated at the Brothers schools, from which he graduated with high honors. He was gifted by nature with an unusually sweet tenor voice, and at an early age started his professional career as a ballad singer in traveling minstrel days. During these years he won his first public recognition by his wonderful singing of favorite ballads. He then went to England for a short time, where his voice won praise for its sweetness and purity. During his sojourn in England he devoted his spare time to study. On his return he went to San Francisco and in connection with his appearances on the stage assumed the management of the Standard Theatre in that city. His next step was to desert minstrelsy and join Denman Thompson in “The Old Homestead.” After this he became the tenor of the Duff Opera Company and the McCaull Opera Company. At this period he determined to go to London, secure an engagement if possible and thoroughly cultivate his voice under the tuition of some good master. During Mr. Olcott’s stay in London he played for one year at the Lyric Theatre and one year at the Prince of Wales Theatre. He returned to America under engagement to his present manager, Mr. Augustus Pitou, to star in Irish singing light comedy rôles, making his first appearance in Mavourneen in November, 1893, at Yonkers, New York. That was sixteen years ago. During these years Mr. Olcott has produced eleven plays and written more popular songs than any other song writer of the day. On September 28, 1897, Mr. Olcott was married to Margaret O’Donovan, of San Francisco. The union has been a most happy and ideal one. Mr. Olcott has won for himself both fame and wealth, and what is better still, the admiration and respect of thousands of personal friends.
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PHELAN, JAMES DUVAL, ex-mayor of San Francisco; born San Francisco April, 1861; sire James Phelan, a California Pioneer; A. B., St. Ignatius College; Ph. N., Santa Clara College; studied law at the University of California; unmarried; was lieutenant-colonel of the California National Guard; Commissioner and Vice-President of the World’s Columbian Commission; after the San Francisco disaster was President of the Relief and Red Cross Funds (a corporation); was designated by President Roosevelt’s proclamation to receive funds and use the U. S. Mint as depository; was a member of the committee of fifty and forty for relief and reconstruction; Chairman of the Charter Association which gave the new Charter to San Francisco; President of the Adornment Association, which procured the Burnham plans for the city; President of the Art Association; President of the California Branch of the American National Red Cross; President of the Native Sons’ Hall Association and Boys’ Club; member of the Society of California Pioneers. Clubs: Metropolitan, Washington; Metropolitan, New York; Pacific Union, Bohemian, University, Olympic. Director of the First National Bank; Mayor of San Francisco from 1896 to 1902; received complimentary vote for U. S. Senator in the California legislature in 1900; President of the Mutual Savings Bank. Office in the Phelan Building, San Francisco.
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QUINN, PATRICK HENRY, born December 16, 1869, at Phenix Village, town of Warwick, Rhode Island, son of Peter and Margaret (Callaghan) Quinn. Father born in Armagh and mother in County Monaghan, Ireland. Was educated in public schools of Warwick, admitted to practice at Rhode Island bar in August, 1895, and in United States courts in January, 1897. Has practiced in Providence ever since; was Probate Judge and Town Solicitor of native town in 1899–1900, and again in 1905–1906. Was senior aide on personal staff of Governor L. F. C. Garvin.
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HON. ELMER J. RATHBUN, A. B., LL. B., Justice of the Superior Court of the State of Rhode Island, was born in Coventry, R. I., April 16, 1870. He graduated from the East Greenwich Academy in the class of 1892, from Brown University in the class of 1896, and from the Boston University School of Law in the class of 1898, from the last institution with the highest honors. He was elected Justice of the Fourth Judicial District Court on November 8, 1900, and served until January 22, 1909, when he was elected Justice of the Superior Court of the State of Rhode Island. He was elected a member of the General Assembly of the State of Rhode Island from the town of West Greenwich May, 1897, and at the time of his election to the position of Justice of the Superior Court was the senior member of the lower branch in continuous service, having been elected representative twelve consecutive times, and was, for several years, chairman of the House Committee on Corporations. Judge Rathbun is the son of James and Melissa Rathbun.
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RIGNEY, JOSEPH, was born in Dublin, Ireland, May 11, 1847, being the seventh in a family of eleven children of Hugh and Margaret Rigney. The name “Rigney” is that of a French Huguenot who came with William to Ireland and who was credited with the distinction of doing more than the average of his fellows in destroying the good Irishmen who upheld the cause of Shamus (Na Hocha) at the bloody battle of Auchram. He had the award usually given his kind—a gift of the plunder of the vanquished. Many generations of Rigneys lived more or less respected in King’s County, where all traces of the Huguenot’s religion disappeared from amongst them. The writer accompanied his father and mother, two brothers and two sisters, from Ireland to this country in October, 1868, to join four brothers who emigrated from Ireland five years before. His family settled in Bridgeport, Conn., November, 1868, where he lived until July, 1878, working part of the time as a machinist and later as mechanical engineer and superintendent of the Pacific Iron Works of that city. In 1878 he went to Havana, Cuba, where he engaged in engineering and later on in sugar manufacturing. His partners in the ownership of a sugar plantation were Franklin Farrel of Ansonia, Conn., and the late Hugh Kelly of New York. He greatly prizes his associations with these good men and mourns the loss of the best of friends in the untimely end of Hugh Kelly. At present he is associated with the engineering firms of “The Dyer Company” and Allis-Chalmers Company, with office at 71 Broadway, New York. He is a member of the Catholic Club and the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick of New York City. He married in 1878 and has been supremely happy ever since.
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RIORDAN, CHARLES F., was born in North Easton, Mass., the first day of April (Easter Sunday) in the year 1866, to John S. and Catherine M. Riordan, both of the best type of Irish people. Has been for many years the New England representative of several large distilleries. During an active business life in Boston has taken a prominent part in politics but has never accepted public office. Is very popular in his native State and many large banquets attended by leading citizens have been tendered him at various times.
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ROSSITER, WILLIAM S., publisher, Concord, N. H., was born in Westfield, Mass., September 9, 1861. Educated Columbian University (now George Washington University), Washington, D. C., and Amherst College (Class 1884). Assistant to business superintendent, New York Tribune, 1884–1888; manager circulation, New York Press, 1889; treasurer New York Printing Company, The Republic Press, 1889–1899; in charge publications, U. S. Census, 1900–1903; chief clerk U. S. Census Office, 1903–1909; expert special agent, U. S. Census, for printing and publishing, 12th Census (1900) and Industrial Census, 1905; in editorial charge of all 12th Census Reports; selected by the President upon the recommendation of the Printing Commission of Congress to take charge of the Government Printing Office upon the suspension of Public Printer Stillings and prepare a complete report upon conditions in that office. Twenty-eight days later an exhaustive report was submitted to the President, and upon its findings, he at once requested the Public Printer’s resignation. Author of the Census Reports upon Printing and Publishing, 1900 and 1905, A Century of Population Growth in the United States (U. S. Census office 1909), and many statistical and historical papers in the Atlantic Monthly, North American Review, Review of Reviews, Outlook, World’s Work, the Printing Art, etc.
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SEYMOUR, JOHN F., 52 Pierce Street, San Francisco, Cal., born in New York of Irish parents and in 1863 removed to California; in 1872 he started as an apprentice in a brass foundry, learning the trade of brass finisher, and worked at this trade until 1884, when he joined the San Francisco police department as patrolman. He was successively appointed Corporal, Detective Sergeant and Captain of Police, and in April, 1900, Captain of Detectives; served in this capacity about two years, during which time he earned distinction by his strict attention to duty and ability which he displayed in handling criminal cases of national note; in January 1902, he resigned from the police force to take a responsible position with the vast Fair estate; recently he was appointed Chief Special Agent of the Pacific Department of the Wells Fargo Express Company, which position he holds at the present time.
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SHANAHAN, DAVID E., Representative in the General Assembly from the Ninth (Ill.) district, was born on a farm in Lee County, Illinois, September 7, 1862, and from the time he was three months old has resided in Chicago. He received his education in the public schools, and graduated successively from the Holden grammar school, South Division high school and the Chicago law college. For the past twenty-five years he has been an active and potential factor in City, County and State politics. In 1885 he was elected South Town supervisor and the year following was re-elected to this position. He is best known by his long and valued service as a legislator. His first election to the House of Representatives occurred in 1894, and he was re-elected in 1896, 1898, 1900, 1902, 1904, 1906 and 1908. As a member of the Lower House of the lawmaking body of Illinois, Mr. Shanahan has been closely identified with the best legislation of recent years and has served as a member of every important committee. He was elected temporary Speaker in the Forty-Third General Assembly and was chairman of the Republican steering committee. In the Forty-Fifth and Forty-Sixth General Assemblies he was chairman of the committee on appropriations. He has served as a delegate to many of the City, County and State Republican conventions, was an alternate delegate to the Republican National convention of 1904 from the Fourth Congressional district, and in 1908 was elected a delegate to the Republican national convention held in Chicago. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Royal Arcanum, and is engaged in the real estate and insurance business at 185 Dearborn street.
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SHEEDY, BRYAN DEFOREST, graduate of the N. Y. U. Medical College, LL. B. Yale, Adjunct Professor Rhinology and Laryngology Fordham University School of Medicine, Instructor of Disease Nose and Throat N. Y. Post-Graduate Medical School and Hospital, member of American Medical Association, member of State and County Medical Societies of the State of New York, etc., etc., 164 West 73d street, New York City.
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SMITH, JAMES E., was born in Rhode Island, graduated from Brown University in 1892, admitted to the New York Bar in 1894, member of the New York State Legislature 1899–1902.
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SULLIVAN, JEREMIAH B., was born in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, January 1, 1859. His father was born in the City of Cork, Ireland, and his mother the city of Kanturk. Mr. Sullivan first attended Parochial school at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. He read law in the office of McDill & Sullivan at Afton, Iowa, and admitted to the Bar of the State of Iowa in 1881 and has been in the active practice since that time. Was City Solicitor of the City of Creston one term and elected on the Democratic ticket. Was a member of the Board of Education of that city two terms; was a Democratic candidate for Governor of the State of Iowa in 1903. Is now a resident of Des Moines, Iowa, and President of the Board of Education of that city. Is engaged actively in the practice of law; is interested in all Irish matters, having been State President of the Ancient Order of Hibernians for the State of Iowa. Was delegate-at-large from Iowa to the Democratic National Convention at Denver in 1908; is interested in educational matters. Belongs to the Ancient Order of Hibernians and Knights of Columbus and did his part in the promotion and advancement of these organizations; is interested in political matters and civic affairs and has at all times taken part in the public discussion of the topics in which the people are interested.
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TULLY, MICHAEL P., was born near the historic village of Ballinamuck, County Longford, Ireland, October 15, 1836; arrived in New York in 1858, and after a few years in that city took up his residence in Newton, N. J., where he has lived continuously ever since. Was married in September, 1873, and is a life member of the Newton County Historical Society, trustee of the Dennis Library Association, member of the Catholic Club, and a director of the Merchants’ National Bank of Newton.
ADDITIONAL BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
The following sketches of new members were received too late to incorporate in their proper alphabetical order.
CHANDLER, WILLIAM E., was born in Concord, New Hampshire, December 28, 1835, second son of Nathan S. and Mary Ann Chandler. He was educated in the public schools and the academies at Thetford, Vermont, and Pembroke, New Hampshire. He began his law studies in Concord and attended the Harvard Law school, being graduated with prize honors in 1855. In the same year he was admitted to the bar and for several years practised in Concord. In 1859 he was appointed law reporter of the New Hampshire Supreme Court and published five volumes of Reports. Mr. Chandler was a Republican from the formation of the party, was the secretary of its first state committee and in 1864 and 1865, its chairman. He was elected to the legislature in 1862–3–4 and was twice chosen speaker. In November, 1864, he was employed by the Navy Department to prosecute the Philadelphia Navy Yard frauds and on March 9, 1865, was appointed the first Solicitor and Judge Advocate General of that Department. On June 17 of the same year he became assistant secretary of the treasury, resigning the position November 30, 1867. The next 13 years he devoted to his profession, except that he was a member of the state constitutional convention of 1876, a delegate to the Republican national convention in 1868 and secretary of the national committee from that time until 1876. In that year he was one of the counsel for the Hayes electors in Florida before the canvassing board of the state and the electoral commission in Washington. In 1880 he was a delegate to the Republican national convention, and a member of the national committee during the subsequent campaign. On March 23, 1881, he was nominated by President Garfield for Solicitor General, but was refused confirmation by the Senate, the vote being nearly upon party lines. In June of that year he was a prominent member of the New Hampshire Legislature. He served as Secretary of the Navy from April 7, 1882, to March 7, 1885, and is known and honored as “the father of the new navy.” He was elected to the United States Senate June 14, 1887, and served by re-elections until March 3, 1901. He was then appointed a member of the Spanish Treaty Claims commission and served until 1907, when he resigned. Since that date his time has been employed in the practice of his profession, his name being connected with several important cases. Through all his long, active and distinguished career he has been a prolific contributor to newspapers and periodicals, his style being remarkable for its vigor, force and clearness.
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CORCORAN, RICHARD B., veterinarian, United States Army; Knight of Columbus; first vice-president of the Knights of St. Patrick, San Francisco; was born in Clonmel, County Tipperary, Ireland, in December, 1844; is the son of Patrick Corcoran, mayor of that old borough and one of the oldest members of the reformed corporations in Ireland. His uncle was Rev. John Baldwin, parish priest of St. Mary’s, Clonmel. Doctor Corcoran was educated at St. Patrick’s College, Carlow, Ireland; came to New York in 1867, and resided there until his appointment as veterinarian, United States Army, in 1877. He has served in all Indian campaigns of note; on the frontier since that time, and was also in Cuba, being the first of his profession to land on that island. His record in the War Department is equalled by none in his branch of the service. Doctor Corcoran has been stationed at the Presidio of San Francisco for more than eight years, and takes a deep and active interest in everything pertaining to the welfare of his race and native land.
MEMBERSHIP ROLL
OF THE
AMERICAN IRISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
ADAMS, HON. SAMUEL, 129 West 85th Street, New York City.
ADAMS, T. ALBEUS, 525 West Street, New York City.
ALEXANDER, HON. CHARLES, 63 Dyer Street, Providence, R. I.
(Vice-President of the Society for Rhode Island.)
ASPELL, JOHN, M. D., 139 West Seventy-seventh Street, New York City.
BAGSHAWE, MRS. THEODOSIA E., 4002 Lake Avenue, Chicago, Ill.
BANNIN, MICHAEL E., 83 and 85 Worth Street, New York City.
BANNON, HENRY G., 107 East Fifty-fifth Street, New York City.
BARRETT, MICHAEL F., 308 Spring Street and 574 Hudson Street, New York
City.
BARRY, HON. PATRICK T., 87–89 South Jefferson Street, Chicago, Ill.
(Life member of the Society.)
BARRY, MAJOR-GENERAL THOMAS H., Washington, D. C.
BARRY, WILLIAM F., 249 Magnolia Avenue, Elizabeth, N. J.
BARRY, WILLIAM J., Barristers’ Hall, Boston, Mass.
BARRY, JAMES H., 1122 Mission Street, San Francisco, Cal.
BAYNE, PROF. WILLIAM, 53 Third Avenue, New York City.
BEALIN, JOHN J., 2334 Valentine Avenue, New York City.
BERGIN, PATRICK J., 169 Blackstone Street, Boston, Mass.
BLAKE, MICHAEL, 149 Broadway, New York City.
BLAKE, THOMAS M., 11 St. Luke’s Place, New York City.
BLISS, HON. ZENAS W., Providence, R. I.
BODFISH, REV. JOSHUA P. L., 60 Robinwood Avenue, Jamaica Plain, Mass.
BOLAND, W. I., Toronto, Canada.
BOUCHER, RICHARD P., M. D., 116 Academy Avenue, Providence, R. I.
BOURKE, JOSEPH P., World Building, Manhattan, New York City.
BOYLE, JOHN J., 251 West Fifty-first Street, New York City.
BOYLE, HON. PATRICK J., Newport, R. I.
BRADSHAW, SERGT. RICHARD, Fort Pickens, Fla.
BRADY, REV. CYRUS TOWNSEND, LL. D., Haddon Hall, Kansas City, Mo.
(Member of Executive Council of the Society.)
BRADY, DANIEL M., 95 Liberty Street, New York City.
BRADY, JAMES B., 170 Broadway, New York City.
BRADY, HON. JOSEPH P., 1634 West Grace Street, Richmond, Va.
BRADY, OWEN J., 224 Church Street, New York City.
BRANAGAN, WILLIAM I., Emmetsburg, Ia.
BRANDON, EDWARD J., Cambridge, Mass.
BRANN, REV. HENRY A., D. D., LL. D., 141 East Forty-third Street, New
York City. (Life member of the Society.)
BREEN, HENRY J., 243 West Ninety-ninth Street, New York City.
BREEN, HON. MATTHEW P., 243 West Ninety-ninth Street, New York City.
BRENNAN, EDWARD, Shamokin, Pa. (Life member of the Society.)
BRENNAN, GEORGE E., 206 LaSalle Street, Chicago, Ill. (Life member of
the Society.)
BRENNAN, HON. JAMES F., Peterborough, N. H. (Historiographer of the
Society and member of its Executive Council.)
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The journal of the American-Irish Historical Society, Vol. IX, 1910Chapter XXV: Introduction (19)
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