USA > Illinois > Cook County > Chicago > Biographical history of the American Irish in Chicago > Part 10
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Mr. Rice has a beautiful and luxurious home at 3312 Wabash Avenue, where he and his charming wife are happiest when enter- taining their many friends. The personal appearance and char- acteristics of Mr. Rice are such as one would expect to prove suc- cessful in the battle of life. His clear cut features, his speaking eyes, his nervous energy and quick grasp of affairs are typical of that Western enterprise that has made Chicago the great metrop- olis it is to-day. Pleasing in his address, courteous and kindly in his disposition, the possessor of an immense fund of humor and an abundance of genial good nature, he is a charming companion, and his sturdy honesty and fidelity to his principles make him at the same time an ideal friend.
This record of a career that has been so strong and forceful, so active and honorable, is necessarily brief, but it is full of useful lesson and strong in incentive. By his own energy and labor Mr. Rice has succeeded in achieving a high position, and what he has accomplished is due entirely to his ambitious nature, his patient endeavor, and his unwearying application. Systematic methods, prompt and decisive action under all circumstances, good judg- ment and tact united to a high sense of honesty, and an absolute fidelity in every undertaking have, when in such combination, placed Mr. Rice in his present position and given him a reputation of which any man might be proud, the distinction of being a truly worthy citizen and a thoroughly representative Chicagoan.
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PATRICK J. CAHILL.
A truly representative American Irish Chicagoan is the sub- ject of the present sketch. Modest and unassuming, courteous, genial, kindly and generous, but withal a man absolutely fearless in the discharge of the responsible duties entrusted to him or in the carrying out of whatsoever he may consider to be the right, Mr. Patrick J. Cahill is one of whom even casual acquaintances always speak in terms of esteem and regard, and his friends with very manifest affection.
Born in Ireland in 1843, he was brought to this country three years later by his parents, who settled in Springfield, Ill. Having received an ordinary education, he was at fourteen years of age bound apprentice to the printer's trade, and in 1860 he came to Chicago and found employment on the Chicago Tribune until 1878. In the latter year, on the recommendation of the Hon. Joseph Medill, he was appointed Deputy Sheriff, and four years later was promoted to be Deputy in charge of the civil courts, a position in which he still remains. His post is one of great responsibility, for under his charge the sixty deputies in the courts of the county carry out their duties.
Previous to the assembling of the Republican National Nom- inating Conventions of 1880-84 and 1888 the sheriff of this county was requested to detail a large force of deputies to assist in pre- serving order. That official detailed one hundred officers and in- structed P. J. Cahill to take charge of them. Mr. Cahill assumed personal charge of the press arrangements in the Republican Na- tional Convention in 1888. He received unstinted praise from newspaper correspondents for the manner in which he performed the duties assigned to him. One of the Eastern newspapers, com-
Yours Truly P.S. Lahill
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menting on the work of the Convention, published this item: "If the newspaper correspondents had their way, P. J. Cahill would be elected President of the United States, for he was the one man that looked after their comforts." At the execution of the an- archists, November 12, 1887, Sheriff Matson put the entire force of deputies in charge of Deputy Sheriff Cahill, and instructed that official to make all the necessary arrangements for the execution. Joe Howard, special correspondent of the New York World, says of Cahill: "He was the man for the place; with rare tact and judgment he attended to every detail and left nothing undone." The Chicago Tribune, in writing of his work, says of him: "Ile is a man of fine executive abilities, and in the handling of large numbers of men he brings those talents into full play."
In all the large land league meetings that were held in this city Mr. Cahill was assigned to take charge of the halls and to manage the necessary details.
Mr. Cahill has been prominent in all matters affecting the good of his native land, and most generous in his contributions towards every fund started in its aid. He is a member of several Irish societies and also of a number of fraternal organizations, but is particularly prominent in the Catholic Order of Foresters, of which indeed, with the Hon. John F. Scanlan and others, he was in this city one of the founders. This was in the summer of 1883, and late in the fall of 1884 Mr. Cahill was elected Chief Ranger of the Western Reserve Court No. 19, and held the office for two years and a half. January 30th, 1886, he became a member of the High Court Board of Directors, on which he remained until June, 1892, being for the whole of that period a member of the finance com- mittee, and for the greater portion of the time the chairman. In the organization of that Order's great parades Mr. Cahill has at all times taken a foremost position, and on its leading occasions has been Grand Marshal, among which may be mentioned the
9
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funeral of the late Dr. Cronin, who for a considerable period had been a member of the High Court Board of Trustees; and in the great civic demonstration commemorating the four hundredth an- niversary of the discovery of America. In the last named, Mr. Cahill was selected chairman of the executive committee and rep- sentatives of the various Catholic organizations met together on the first Sunday in September, 1892, and elected him Grand Mar- shal of the Catholic Grand Division, thirty thousand persons being assigned a place under his command. At the conclusion of the demonstration, General Stockton, on behalf of the directors of the Columbian Exhibition, presented Mr. Cahill with a handsome badge in testimony of his services. When the Eighth Annual Ses- sion was held in Milwaukee he was the unanimous choice for re- election to the office of High Chief Ranger. He also took an active part in the establishment of the "Catholic Home," and held consid- erable stock in the corporation when it was the organ of the Cath- olic Order of Foresters. For services furthering the advancement of that Order, he was the recipient at the Eleventh Annual Ses- sion of a very handsome suitably inscribed watch and chain, a tes- timonial ordered by the Ninth Annual Session at the close of his term of office, and towards which his personal friends had united in raising several hundred dollars.
DANIEL DELANEY.
Daniel Delaney, one of the best known and most popular Irish Americans in the City of Chicago, was born on Christmas Day, 1833, in the parish of Upperwoods, Queens County, Ireland. His
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father, Dennis Delaney, a native of the same place, was by occupa- tion a farmer. He died in that parish August 19th, 1848, at the age of forty-six, as also his wife, formerly Mary Vanston, who died about 1881. They had eight children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the eldest.
Daniel Delaney obtained his education in the national schools of Ireland until he was fourteen years of age, when, his father dying, he went to work on the farm until 1851, when an uncle of his starting for America, the young man, determined to try his fortunes at the other side of the Atlantic, accompanied him. Lo- cating in Cincinnati, he found employment as a clerk with a whole- sale liquor firm until March, 1864, when he came to Chicago. His first work in this city was with Messrs. McQuaid & Smith, and he continued with that firm until 1866, when he formed a partner- ship with James Walsh. This lasted, however, but a short time, and three months later he found employment with Cleary & En- right, with whom he remained until 1871. He next went to Keeley & Kerwin, until 1879, when he started in business on his own ac- count, taking premises on Market Street, near Randolph, and later removed to Kinzie Street. Here he continued until 1888, in which year he formed a partnership with M. W. Murphy, under the firm name of Delaney & Murphy. The business of the firm, transacted with every attention to detail and with due consideration to the comforts and requirements of its clients, has prospered exceedingly, and now twenty-five men are employed, of whom nine are in con- stant work, covering the States of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and and Minnestoa, and also with considerable trade all over the North- west territory.
Mr. Delaney was married, July 21st, 1858, to Kate Quinn, a na- tive of New York State. They have eight children, of whom Kate is married to M. J. Shinnars, of Chicago; Mary, to H. G. Clark, of Chicago; Dennis is farming in Dupage County; Joseph, in the em-
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ploy of his uncle in South Chicago; Annie, the wife of E. J. Hayes, of Chicago; William, employed as salesman with Delaney & Mur- phy, and Vesta and Henry, who are still at school.
Mr. Delaney is a Democrat in politics, and a member of the Roman Catholic Church. He belongs to the sodality of the Jesuit Church, and is the oldest member now in this country. He is also a member of the Columbus Club.
JAMES JOSEPH KELLY.
James Joseph Kelly, one of the leading coal merchants of the City of Chicago, was born March 23d, 1856, in St. John's, New- foundland. Of his parents, Michael J. and Mary (Dwyer) Kelly, the father was a native of Kilkenny, Ireland, who came to New- foundland in 1846 and took up the business of outfitting ships engaged in the whaling and sealing trade. He resided at the latter place until 1869, when he moved to Chicago, and at the time of his death-in 1882-was a man who had won the entire respect of all who knew him. His wife was a native of St. John's, Newfound- land, and was the daughter of John Dwyer, who was a very promi- nent farmer of that section of the country.
James Joseph Kelly attended school in St. John's until he was twelve years old, when with his parents he removed to Chicago, and soon after his arrival secured a position with the dry goods house of Ross & Gossage, with whom he remained one year, leav- ing to enter the employ of the Rockford, Rock Island & St. Louis Railroad as clerk in their general office. With this company his
Jarmo & Kitty
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stay was also of short duration, for twelve months after he retired to go into the coal business, in which he was to achieve at once success and fortune.
The employ of the Star Coal Company of Chicago was entered as clerk in 1871, and here he remained until 1877, in that time obtaining a very good insight into the business. His next employ- ment was with the coal firm of Beard, Hickox & Company, in which he held the position of manager. This in 1882 he resigned to accept the responsible position of traveling sales-agent for the Northwest for the Consolidated Coal Company of St. Louis, with headquarters in Chicago.
Thoroughly satisfied in 1884 that he was fully acquainted with every necessary detail of the coal trade, and as by habitual fru- gality he had managed to save some money and had a reputation in the trade absolutely beyond reproach, he determined to start in business for himself. Remarkable success followed his efforts, and in 1888 the J. J. Kelly Coal Company was organized, of which he was elected and still is the president and general manager. A large general business is done in the wholesaling and retailing of coal, and the company also controls the output of several large mines in Illinois and Ohio, and at the same time is general North- west sales-agent for the Taylorville Coal Company of Taylorville, Ill.
Though the heavy duties of his position give him but few spare moments, Mr. Kelly still finds time to belong to a number of clubs. He is a valued member of the Sheridan and Columbus Clubs, and is also attached to the Knights of Columbus and the Royal Arcanum. He has traveled extensively. In religious mat- ters Mr. Kelly is a Roman Catholic and a member of the congrega- tion of St. Bernard's Church, at Englewood, while in political mat- ters he has always been a Democrat.
Mr. Kelly was united in marriage in 1880 to Emily G. Doyle, of Chicago. They have had six children, of whom, however, there
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are but four living. At their beautiful home on Sixty-seventh Street his charming wife and himself delight to dispense hospi- tality with a lavish hand.
This brief record tells but imperfectly the history of one of the most popular and best known coal men in the West. Mr. James J. Kelly, by his untiring energy and natural abilities, by throwing into whatever he undertook his own individuality, has been successful in building up a most prosperous and successful business. In twenty-five years of a commercial career, he has never made an enemy, and to his hundreds of friends is always affectionately spoken of as "Jim Kelly."
JOHN DOMINICK CASEY.
John Dominick Casey, lawyer, was born in Chicago, August 4th, 1864. He was the son of Thomas P. Casey, who left his native Galway, Ireland, and settled in Philadelphia, Pa., in 1840. A move was made to Chicago in 1852, and here he worked at his trade -- that of a carpenter-until the breaking out of the Rebellion, when he enlisted as a soldier and served to the end of the war.
Thomas P. Casey returned to Chicago at the close of the war, and having married Catherine Bern, a native of County Roscom- mon, engaged in the business of a building contractor. The Stett- hauer Block, at the corner of Franklin and Madison Streets-one of the notable buildings following Chicago's great fire was erect- ed by him. His death took place in 1895.
John D. Casey acquired his education at the Christian Broth- ers' School on Morgan Street and at the Harrison Street public
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school, later taking a commercial course of three years at the St. Ignatius College. At the age of seventeen he entered the employ of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Co., as book-keeper in the cashier's department, remaining there for five years. Then, having resigned, he began to study law in the office of Judge Thomas E. Whiteside. Here he remained one year and left to take a two years' course in the Union College of Law, from which he graduated and secured a license to practice. Immediately he en- tered the law office of Murphy & Cummings, where he remained two years, studying hard and gaining much good experience in general practice. December, 1895, he formed a partnership with John W. Bantz, a lawyer of twenty-five years' standing in Fulton County, Ill., and together they opened their present office in the Stock Exchange Building, under the firm name of Bantz & Casey.
Mr. Casey has a large general practice, representing in the capacity of attorney a number of big corporations, and having in 1897 had his abilities further recognized by his appointment as Master in Chancery. He also acts as private attorney for Con- gressman Hon. William Lorimer. In political matters he has always taken the liveliest interest, and believes that such is the duty of all good citizens. He is one of the most active members of the Nineteenth Ward-that in which he was born; was a dele- gate to the last State Convention at Springfield, and can always be relied upon to speak whenever his services are required.
Mr. Casey assisted, in 1894, to organize the Women's Catholic Order of Foresters, and this Order-for which he is attorney-has now a membership list of over eight thousand. He is also a warm advocate of the Hull House, for which he organized, and was for two years the president of the Young Men's Club, and was instru- mental in procuring for it a fine library and gymnasium, and in otherwise bringing it to its present flourishing condition.
In his religious views he is a Roman Catholic and a member of
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the congregation of the Jesuit Church. Yet a young man, by his energy and superior abilities Mr. Casey has succeeded in pushing himself forward in the world, and his genial and thoroughly cour- teous manner has made of every client a friend.
JOHN CUDAHY.
If to be the founder of one's own fortune, to face seemingly insuperable difficulties, and by untiring perseverance make a name known and respected all over the civilized world, be to hold an honored record, then indeed John Cudahy and his brother, Michael (whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume), are well worthy of a proud place in the roll of Irish Americans who have helped to make Chicago the grand city it is to-day.
With Chicago's wonderful growth the fortunes of the Cudahy brothers have proportionately advanced, and now they are num- bered among the millionaires of this great city, and with pardon- able pride can point back to their careers of honest work, noble endeavor, and grand achievement.
Callan, County Limerick, Ireland, was the birthplace of John Cudahy, as well as of his brother Michael. He was born Novem- ber 2d, 1843, the son of Patrick and Elizabeth (Shaw) Cudahy. His father was a native of Callan, while his mother's people were orig- inally from Dublin, and removing to Callan, established there pot- tery works. His parents, recognizing the difficulties of bringing up and giving fair opportunity to a young family in Ireland, de- cided to seek the broader opportunities of the boundless West, and started for the United States in 1849. A short stay was made in
John Cudahy
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the East and then the family removed to Milwaukee, Wis., in the public schools of which city, working occasionally between times, young Cudahy received his education. He was between fourteen and fifteen years of age when a place was found for him in the packing house of Ed Roddis, in whose employ he remained until about nineteen years of age, when he went to work for John Plank- inton (afterwards Plankinton & Armour), remaining in this posi- tion for one and one-half years.
When twenty-one years of age he went into the nursery busi- ness as foreman with Mr. Thomas Grynne, of Milwaukee, dealing in fruit and ornamental trees, etc., and remained there three years. At the end of this time he made a proposition to purchase the properties under terms, the acceptance of which gives ample evidence of the high estimation in which he was held, not only by his former employer but by his neighbors in general, while at the same time it well illustrates his own self-reliance and confidence in his success. The nursery, its stock, wagons, horses, etc., he was able to secure by paying a small sum down, and after continuing the business for three years was in a position to clear off the whole indebtedness and in addition made considerable money. This, his first successful business effort, gave him further confidence, and with varying fortune, but with success far overbalancing the fail- ures, his career has continued.
Ile decided to return to the packing business, and was given employment by Layton & Co., packers, for the three following years. His attention to his employers' interests produced ties of friendship which time has only further strengthened, and Mr. Cudahy is at all times ready to express his grateful appreciation of the kindness shown him by Mr. Layton. While employed by that firm he was appointed Board of Trade Provision Inspector for the City of Milwaukee, and afterwards was foreman and Board of Trade Inspector for Van Kirk & McGeough, occupying the joint
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positions for over two years. In the spring of 1875 he had saved sufficient money to purchase an interest in John Plankinton's pack- ing business, but later, deciding he needed greater scope, and through the intercession of his brother Michael, between whom and Mr. Plankinton there has always existed strong ties of friend- ship, he obtained a release from the contract and in July of the same year removed to Chicago, at once going into partnership with E. D. Chapin, under the firm name of Chapin & Co., packers, which it remained for two years, when the name was changed to Chapin & Cudahy. The partnership continued altogether about five years, when Mr. Chapin withdrew, and since that time Mr. Cudahy has continued the Chicago business alone, but is also in partnership with his brother Patrick, forming the firm of Cudahy Bros., pack- ers, Milwaukee, who became successors to the business of John Plankinton, who retired.
Possessing a host of friends amongst the most prominent of Chicago's citizens, and many respectful admirers amongst the poorer classes, to whom he is ever a ready and willing friend, that which has been said of him by one of Chicago's most prominent citizens brings the man clearly before us:
"Quick and shrewd to detect a fraud or sham, he is prompt and outspoken in his condemnation; yet he is always genuine, sincere and thoughtful of his friends. As a business man he is bright and clear in judgment, quick in his perception, prompt and unhesi- tating in action. The fact of his having accumulated so handsome if not so vast a fortune, and while yet in the prime of life, is ample evidence of the correctness of his general business methods and characteristics. At his home, where the furnishings and appoint- ments are luxurious and betoken much taste and mature judgment, his wife presides and aids her husband in dispensing a hospitality, open-hearted and whole-souled on his part, and truly graceful and generous on hers."
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Mr. Cudahy has been twice married-October 1st, 1873, to Miss Mary Nolin, of Bridgeport, Conn., the issue of this marriage being four girls, two of whom are deceased.
He afterwards married Miss Margaret F. O'Neill, daughter of Mr. John O'Neill, a prominent citizen and one of Chicago's oldest settlers, who died some years ago. Of this marriage two children have been the issue, only one of whom, John R., is living.
Prominent in social affairs, he is a member of the Washington, the Union League, and the Chicago Clubs.
He contributes largely to all public enterprises for the im- provement and advancement of the city and the community at large, and than his wife's and his own list of charities, probably no private individual in the City of Chicago can show more frequent or more generous contributions, whether it be to the advancement of religion, for the benefit of the poor, or for the thousand and one charitable enterprises which are fostered by the church of which he is a member. But neither his generosity nor his charity is by any means confined to those of his own faith, for every good and commendable effort to aid the needing finds in him generous sup- port and good practical sympathy.
He has a summer home on Mackinac Island, which is beauti- fully situated, and, like his home in the city, a center of hospi- tality for all friends who may happen to be on the island during the season.
In personal appearance the Cudahy brothers are all splendid specimens of physical manhood, large, well-proportioned, hand- some men, and to the family rule John Cudahy is no exception. A typical Irishman of the better class, he is a valuable citizen of this city and State, a useful and influential member of society, a man who is esteemed and respected not only by a large circle of friends, but by the community at large, a pride to his native land, and an honor to his chosen country.
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DANIEL P. CAHILL.
Secretary Daniel P. Cahill, of the Chicago postoffice, was born in "K" Square, Curragh Camp, Kildare, Ireland, January 27th, 1863. His father, Daniel Cahill, was an official of forty years' con- tinuous service in the civil and military establishments of the British Empire. When a boy he had run away from home and enlisted in H. M. Eighty-sixth Regiment, then stationed at Dublin. He served through the Chartist Insurrection in England and took part in the many battles that followed the breaking out of the Indian mutiny. Like William Cobbett, he educated himself on the drum head and acquired an excellent knowledge of the Hindus- tanee dialects. He rose to be Color Sergeant of his company and was a friend and associate of the celebrated Captain Butler, who was killed by the Russians at the first siege of Kars.
The mother of Secretary Cahill is a native of Lancashire, Eng- land, and is descended from the Brutons of Tipperary, Ireland, who for two hundred years held the office of steward to the Barons of Pennefeather. The original Bruton was a Somersetshire farmer, who served in the army of Oliver Cromwell and was rewarded for his services by a grant of land in Tipperary. The tradition has it that Major Bruton's intercourse with his Irish neighbors was more friendly than usual on account of the part he had taken in pre- venting the sack of a convent by the Cromwellian soldiery. What- ever Anglo-Saxon blood there may have been in the veins of the Brutons, the Cahills certainly had none. The name is of Celtic origin and was originally spelled "Cahal," or "Cathail."
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