USA > Illinois > Cook County > Chicago > Biographical history of the American Irish in Chicago > Part 15
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ant of St. Ann's Church, and in politics belongs to the Republican party.
He was married in October, 1879, to Mary Duffy, and they have had six children, of whom five are living-Catherine, the oldest daughter, is a very clever musician, and has frequently displayed her talents in public.
Mr. Kenney is an American Irishman of whom his fellow citi- zens have every reason to be proud. By his own energies and per- severance, and by strict attention to every duty, he has obtained for himself a responsible position and stands high in the esteem of all his associates.
WILLIAM H. BURKE.
William H. Burke, well known as the secretary of the Forest- er's Building and Loan Association as well as active business man of this city, was born at Castleton, Vermont, May 7th, 1860. His father, William Burke, was a native of County Cork, Ireland, and having passed his early life in farming, came to the United States and settled in Castleton, Vt., in 1846. In this town also he en- gaged for a number of years in farming, but eventually went into the railroad business, in which he was occupied until the time of his death October 13th, 1883. His wife, Mary Welch, was also from County Cork, and died in this city in the fall of 1896.
William H. Burke, the subject of this sketch, was educated in the district schools of Castleton and also at the State Normal School, in that manner obtaining a very thorough commercial training. His first start in life after schooling was as a bell boy
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in a hotel, but he soon secured a situation with the old and famous house of Colgate & Co., soap manufacturers of New York City. His department was the advertising, and in its interests he trav- eled all over the United States, from Maine to California, spending in the latter State over two years. Having remained with the firm for nearly eight years, he came to Chicago and accepted a posi- tion with Towle, Carle & Co., wholesale grocers, traveling for that house through Illinois for two years. The latter place he gave up to accept one with J. L. Hathaway, the well known coal merchant, and there he stayed five years, taking entire charge of the west side branch. He resigned January 1st, 1891, to accept an engage- ment with Cenepa Bros., macaroni and vermicelli manufactur- ers, and with that concern he still remains. At the same time he is agent for a number of representative fire insurance companies who are doing business in this State.
In 1889 Mr. Burke, with a number of other gentlemen, organ- ized the Forester's Building and Loan Association, and was chosen its secretary, remaining such up to the present time. The organi- zation met with very considerable success from the start, and is now in a flourishing condition, for the affairs have been well man- aged and its payments have always been prompt.
Mr. Burke is a member of the Catholic Order of Foresters, the Catholic Benevolent Legion, the Knights of Columbus, the Royal League, and also of the Columbus and Americus Clubs. As has been before mentioned, he has traveled considerably, for during the years of his service with Colgate & Co. he visited, he thinks without exaggeration, nearly every city and town in the United States containing over five thousand inhabitants. Mr. Burke is a Roman Catholic in his religious views, and is a Democrat in political affili- ations. He married Anna E. Scott, of Clinton, Iowa, August 6th, 1890, and they have two children, a boy and a girl.
Mr. Burke's career evinces not only the possession of high busi-
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ness talents as well as executive ability of a very high order, but also of industry and perseverance, for in each of his different en- gagements he has been completely successful, and has been most highly valued and esteemed by every firm he has served. A man of good presence and courteous and genial disposition, Mr. Burke has made a host of friends whom it is the happiness of himself and his good wife to entertain at his pleasant home at 232 Belden Avenue, Chicago.
JAMES AUGUSTINE BYRNE.
James Augustine Byrne was born April 3d, 1871, at Armagh, Ireland, where his father, Owen Byrne, was a surveyor and a prom- inent farmer. The latter, who died in 1881, had married Margaret Nugent, one of a family who took a most active part in all of the Fenian movements, and who is still living at an advanced age in Ireland.
Their son, the subject of the present sketch, attended the na- tional schools of his native town until he was fifteen years of age, when he came to America and on at once to Chicago. He after- wards attended the Catholic University of Niagara Falls, New York, for six years, graduating there with the degree of B. A., and later spent two years at Baltimore, Md., University, where he received the degree of M. A.
Mr. Byrne went to New York City in 1893, entering the law office of the firm of Weeds, Smith & Conway, with whom he studied law for two years, and was admitted to practice. Immediately he came to Chicago, opened up an office, and began the practice of his pro-
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fession. His success, when the length of time that Mr. Byrne has been engaged in business is taken into consideration, has been of a very decided character, and he is already in the enjoyment of an extensive practice.
In religion he is a Roman Catholic and a member of the congre- gation of the Jesuit Church, at May and Center Streets, while in his political views he is a Democrat. A young man of energetic habits, bright ideas and pleasant manner, he has already gath- ered around him a host of friends, and there are few among the younger generation of American Irish who are held in higher esteem than James Augustine Byrne.
THOMAS RICHARD MELODY.
Thomas Richard Melody was born in Shieldstown, Lake County, Illinois, on November 13th, 1841. He is the son of John and Ellen (Murphy) Melody. His father was born in County Mayo, and his mother came from Tipperary; they met and were married in Lake County, Ill. John Melody left Ireland in the early thirties, and settled for a short time in New York before coming west to locate on a farm in Lake County. A man of very frugal habits and always most industrious, by close management he was able to save some money and to take a contract on the Illinois and Michigan Canal. His wife dying in 1847, he went to the mines of California, where he remained until he went to Washington Territory, where he and his partner were in 1865 killed by Indians one night when return- ing from work.
Thomas P. Melody.
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Ilis son, the subject of this sketch, received his education in the public schools of his native county, later attending the Chicago High School, where, after remaining three years, he was compelled to leave and work for his leaving. This was in 1864. Having se- cured a position as clerk in the postoffice, he has since continuously remained in the same employ, being from time to time promoted until now he holds the responsible position of accountant of the Chicago postoffice. This position has been his through the admin- istration of no less than eleven postmasters, and this, notwith- standing the fact that he is a consistent Democrat, and has always been faithful to his party's principle.
Mr. Melody has one brother living-John P. Melody-and also a sister. The first named has an important position in the money order department of the American Express Company, and his sis- ter, who is known as Mary Joseph, has charge of the St. Rose's Orphan Asylum, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, an institution recog- nized as one of the finest in the United States.
In August, 1864, Mr. Melody was married to Ellen Synon, of Chicago, and they have had nine children, of whom six are living. One of his sons, John W., is assistant pastor of St. Pius Parish, and on account of his many great gifts, is thought to have a noble future before him. He took a post graduate course at the Wash- ington University, and graduated with the highest of honors. A daughter, Genevieve, who is a teacher in the South Division High School, recently graduated from the Kent College of Law.
The career of Thomas R. Melody examples the possibilities be- fore energy and industry, when combined with absolute fidelity and unquestionable honesty. Still in the prime of life, honored by his associates and with friends limited only by the number of his acquaintances, he well deserves a place in the list of Chicago's representative American Irish.
,
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PATRICK JAMES DONAHOE.
Patrick James Donahoe was born in Chicago, August 4th, 1856. His father was Patrick Donahoe, a native of Limerick, Ireland, who had come to Rochester, N. Y., in 1847, and in 1852, when the Illi- nois Central Railway was built, was with his brothers interested in several grading contracts. Patrick Donahoe came to Chicago in 1854 and died here in 1891. He had married Ellen Kehler, who was a native of his own county in Ireland.
Patrick James Donahoe received his education in the public schools of Chicago, but being compelled to find work, left at the early age of fourteen. For six years he found employment at the stock yards and for two years afterwards was salesman for the , commission firm of Adams & Bush. In August, 1881, he secured an appointment as truckman in the Chicago Fire Department and was assigned to Hook and Ladder No. 9, at the foot of Monroe Street. March, 1885, he was promoted to a lieutenancy and sent to Hook and Ladder No. 1, at Pacific Avenue and Van Buren Streets; March 1st, the year following, he was sent to Hook and Ladder No. 9, and December 31st, 1888, was promoted Captain of Engine No. 8, at Archer Avenue and State Street, being a few months later transferred to Hook and Ladder No. 9. December 31st, 1895, he found still further promotion as Chief of Fifteenth Battalion, with headquarters at Oakley Avenue and Thirteenth Street.
Chief Donahoe has been mentioned on several occasions in gen- eral orders for brave and heroic conduct at fires, notably those at Clark and Monroe; at Wabash and Monroe; at Lake and Wabash;
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and at the fire at the Langham Hotel, Adams and Wabash Avenue, in March, 1885, at the latter of which he assisted in rescuing a number of lives.
Patrick J. Donahoe was married, October 26th, 1882, to Miss Catherine Cahill, of Springfield, Ill., daughter of Mr. P. J. Cahill. They have had five children, four boys and a girl, but of these only two boys are living.
He is a member of the Knights of Maccabees, the Independent Order of Foresters, and the Firemen's Benevolent Association. In religion he is a Roman Catholic, and belongs to the congregation of St. Charles Church.
Ile is a man of fine appearance and of very interesting person- ality. His strict attention to his duties, his unvarying courtesy, and genial kindness of disposition has won for him a host of friends, by all of whom he is held in the highest consideration for his ex- cellent qualities of head and heart.
CHARLES E. CORRIGAN.
The subject of the present sketch, one of Chicago's representa- tive progressive young business men, was born August 29th, 1863, in Martinsburg, Lewis County, New York. His father, John Corri- gan, a native of Tyrone, Ireland, had, with his parents, emigrated to this continent when seven years of age and settled on a farm near Kingston, Canada. When he reached his majority, however, he came to the United States, purchasing a farm near Martins-
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burg, Lewis County, New York, and which he personally conducted until his death in 1889. He had married, in 1857, Charlotte Hef- fany, the mother of Charles E., who was a native of Martinsburg, but whose parents had both come from County Tipperary, Ireland.
Charles E. Corrigan received his education at Martins Institute, Martinsburg, and was afterwards sent to Lowville Academy, at Lowville, in the same State. He was thoroughly grounded in all the subjects comprising a sound English education and also at- tained a fair knowledge of the classics. When eighteen he taught common schools for three years, during the intervals of farm work and his own general studies. At twenty-one, after a brief experi- ence as a commercial traveler, Mr. Corrigan became a stockholder and entered the wholesale and retail house of Northrup, Braslan & Goodwin, at Minneapolis, where he remained until 1891, when he sold out his interest in the firm and decided to settle in Chicago.
The possibilities of electricity and its greater employment in the future as a motor power had always been to him a subject of most exceeding interest and now that the opportunities of a great city were before him, he devoted himself entirely to enterprises of that character. Finally, in 1896, The American Electric Vehicle Company was organized by him and a horseless carriage placed before the public impelled by electricity at an expense compara- tively small and with results in all ways entirely satisfactory. A full plant is now being established and a great future for the com- pany is confidently anticipated.
He is an active and a practical Roman Catholic in his religious views, but as for politics, while he has usually voted the Demo- cratic ticket, he disclaims any idea of being a politician.
Mr. Corrigan was married February 6th, 1895, to Alice M. Pot- win, of Austin, Cook County, Illinois, whose father, Henry Potwin, had been one of Chicago's pioneer settlers. They have one daugh- ter, Ruth, born February 11th, 1896.
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A gentleman of kindly and courteous manner, of educated mind and evident sound judgment, Mr. Corrigan is one the Amer- ican Irish of Chicago are proud to number among their repre- sentatives.
JOSEPH E. BIDWILL.
Alderman Joseph E. Bidwill was born in Chicago, February 20th, 1857. His father was Richard Bidwill, who, coming to Chi- cago from Mitchelstown, Ireland, in 1840, worked as a merchant tailor until the breaking out of the war, when he joined the army, giving up his life for his adopted country at the battle of Gettys- burg. He had married Mary English.
Joseph E. Bidwill received his education at the Brothers' School, and afterwards at the public schools of this city, the latter being left at the age of sixteen to go to work in a box factory. In this occupation he worked three years when he was fortunate to secure an appointment as helper under the State Grain Inspector at a salary of $75 a month. When he resigned fifteen years later, he held the position of First Assistant Inspector and was receiv- ing $3,000 a year.
He was nominated in 1889 to represent the ward-the Ninth -- in the City Council, and being elected, has held that office for four several terms. Since he has possessed a vote, political matters have always held for him the very greatest interest. Every oppor- tunity has been utilized and he has made himself a distinct power. Unswerving in his fidelity to the Republican party, he is a State Central Committeeman from the Fourth Congressional District,
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and was also a delegate to the last Republican National Conven- tion at St. Louis. ยท
He is a member of the Ninth Ward Republican Club; of the Order of Foresters, and of the Sherman Lodge, United Order of Workmen. He has traveled all over the United States and is always a pleasant companion and a thorough friend. In his religious views he is a member of the Roman Catholic Church.
On September 14th, 1882, he was married to Mary Sullivan, and they have had five children, of whom there are three living.
Alderman Bidwill is a man of striking appearance and of strong personality. His hand is ever ready to assist a friend and his voice always heard in the cause of his suffering fellow citizens. Open hearted and strong natured, he is a grand representative of his race, and deservedly holds a foremost place among the Ameri- can Irish of Chicago.
WILLIAM C. FOLEY.
William C. Foley, one of Chicago's representative successful business men, is a native of Ontario, Canada, where he was born June 2d, 1854. He is a son of Thomas Foley, who was from County Cork, Ireland, and was by occupation a carpenter. The latter came to Ontario, Canada, in 1846, and followed his business until his death in 1883, at the ripe old age of seventy-eight. His wife, Bridget Foley, the mother of the subject of this sketch, was also a native of County Cork, and they left the old land for Canada to- gether.
William C. Foley acquired an ordinary education in the na-
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tional schools of Ontario, and being of an enterprising disposition, in 1870, when sixteen years of age, came to Chicago to commence his business career and to seek his fortune. He started in as office boy for H. B. Goodrich, the well known manufacturer, and step by step advanced until after nine years of efficient and faithful service, he was given an interest in the business and went to Cincinnati to start there a branch house. This continued until 1882, when Mr. Foley bought out the Cincinnati branch and established the firm of Foley & Williams. The following year the new firm bought out the original Chicago business, so succeeding H. B. Goodrich, and Mr. Foley came to Chicago to take charge, leaving Mr. Williams to carry on the Cincinnati establishment. The firm was incorporated as the Foley & Williams Mfg. Co., and from its inception has been exceedingly successful. The business now done amounts to fully a million dollars a year, and goods are shipped to all parts of the world. Mr. Williams is at the present time the beginning of 1897-on a visit to Australia, in the interest of his house, the firm having extensive transactions in that country. Upon Mr. Foley necessarily has fallen the chief superintendence of the extensive and steadily increasing business, but he has still found time to deal quite largely in real estate in this city.
He is a member of the Columbus and Sheridan Clubs; has trav- eled extensively in this country, and in 1889 made a tour through Europe. In his religious views he is a Roman Catholic, while in politics he has always acted independently, both in national and local affairs, considering it wiser to choose the better man rather than any particular party.
In 1878 Mr. Foley was married to Miss Mary J. McNamara, who was a teacher in one of our public schools. They have nine chil- dren, two boys and seven girls, and the eldest son is now studying at Notre Dame University, South Bend, Ind.
Mr. Foley is a splendid illustration of America's successful busi-
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ness men, and an example for the rising generation of what is pos- sible to energy and ambition. In his career, from his first start in life as a boy of sixteen, are exhibited not only brightness and apti- tude but also indomitable perseverance and patience. None of that restless spirit that mars the career of so many has ever been ex- hibited or indulged in by him, but plodding along in the very first position he obtained until he became a partner in the firm and eventually succeeded to the entire business. Now in the prime of life, with a fine constitution, a cheerful and sanguine temperament, and a charming family to occupy his mind and heart, he is reaping the reward of his earlier exertions. His tastes are decidedly do- mestic, though he is still very fond of hunting and fishing when he is fortunate enough to afford the necessary time for such recrea- tions. Mr. Foley is the happy owner of one of the finest residences in the city at Grand Boulevard and Forty-sixth Place, externally surrounded with a broad extent of lawn and gravel walks, and in- ternally adorned with fine works of art, statuary and bric-a-brac.
CHARLES LEONARD MAHONY.
Among the most promising of the young Irish American law- yers of this city and who is acquiring renown as an advocate is the subject of this sketch, Charles Leonard Mahony. His father was Daniel Mahony, a native of County Cork, Ireland, who came to Can- ada in 1842. In Toronto he was the leader of the Hibernian Broth- erhood and one of the organizers of the raid on Canada, which was to have taken place in 1866, but he died in Richmond, Va., just pre- vious to its taking place. The mother of the subject of this sketch
Chashulahou
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was formerly Frances Higgins, one of a well known Irish family, of Roscommon, where her father was a school teacher and a man of very superior education.
Charles L. Mahony received his early education in the public schools of Toronto, later being given a course at the university there and graduating. Having determined to make the law the profession of his life, he then entered Osgoode Hall, the celebrated Canadian law school, at which he graduated in 1883 as the Gold Medalist, this high honor having been given but once before in that institution. He was also honored with two scholarships and took honors all the way through his collegiate career.
Having taken up the practice of law in Toronto, he remained in that city eight years and was successful in securing a large gen- eral and commercial practice. In 1887 he went to Springfield, Mas- sachusetts, where he practiced law until April, 1891, and then came to Chicago, having after due deliberation decided to make that city his home.
Mr. Mahony is the general attorney and counsellor for the Un- dertakers' Association, and also for the public administrator of Cook County. At the same time he represents, in a legal way, many prominent business firms and corporations, and has, in addition, a large and rapidly increasing general practice.
With the troubles of those of his race in the land of his fathers across the sea, he has always been a great sympathizer, and ever ready and willing to aid by any means in his power. He was the president of the Irish National League of Toronto, the head and front of the Parnell Movement there; and was also chairman of the Canadian delegation which attended the Irish National Con- vention convened in Chicago in 1887.
He was married, June 10th, 1894, to Agnes Phelan, widow of Dr. J. Bruce Phelan, of Chicago. In religious views he is a Roman
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Catholic and a regular attendant of St. Matthew's Church. Politi- cally he is a Democrat, and while not of the active politicians, he is yet at all times ready to go out and speak for any friend who may be a candidate for office.
CAPTAIN PATRICK C. FEENEY.
Captain Patrick C. Feeney was born on the fair green of Ballin- afad, near Strokestown, County Roscommon, Ireland, February 1st, 1832. He comes of that sturdy race of Feeneys of Rannegly, who, intermarrying with the McDermotts, the McHughs, the Ryans, and the Walshes, were strong rebel stock and at all times haters of the English government. Captain Feeney's father, Owen Feeney, came to this country when the former was only a year and a half old, leaving the boy with his mother. The father found employment as a foreman on the railroad near Toledo, Ohio, but shortly afterward died as the result of fever and ague. His wife, who was formerly Mary Ryan, with her son, continued to live with his mother until the boy was sixteen years old, when he came to this country to an uncle, John Feeney, who was then a foreman in the coal mines near Pottsville, Pa., by whom he was sent to school. His uncle, as- sociated with a Mr. Blessington, having taken a contract on the railroad then being built from Harrisburg to Reading, Patrick was given his first employment in caring for tools and other light work, and for this he was paid one dollar a day, and at that work he con- tinued for one year, when the contract was completed. With his unele Frank he came to Altoona, Pa., where he was employed as night clerk in the new hotel then being built, and there spent two years. In November, 1852, he started west for Chicago, and, hav-
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ing knowledge of the hotel business, obtained employment from Stevens & Willard, proprietors of the Matteson House, corner of Randolph and Dearborn Streets, with whom he remained until Bissel & Goodrich purchased the hotel, and he was given the posi- tion of steward at a salary of $75 per month. In this capacity he remained until the breaking out of the war, in 1861, when he re- cruited a company for Col. Mulligan's Twenty-third Regiment. This regiment the government would not accept at the time, as the call made by President Lincoln was for only 75,000 men, and that number having volunteered from the different States, so many regiments being supplied by each, the quota for the State of Illi- nois was full, and accordingly the Captain disbanded his company. Another call was issued by President Lincoln for 300,000 more troops, and Captain Feeney recruited Company "F" for the Nine- tieth Regiment Illinois Volunteers, which became known as the Irish Legion, or Father Dunne's Regiment. While he was recruit- ing this company the business men at and near the corner of Dear- born and Randolph Streets presented him with a sword, sash and belt costing $300, which he still possesses, after carrying them through thirty-two battles and some hundreds of skirmishes under the command of Generals Corse, Hazen, Logan, Sherman and Grant, from 1862 to 1865, his most prominent battles being Ray- mond, Champion Hills, Big Black River, Vicksburg (which fell July 4th, 1863, when the Confederate General Pemberton surren- dered with 32,000 men), and Jackson-fighting and skirmishing for five months. After this series of engagements Captain Feeney's command went into camp for two months near the Big Black River, the Captain himself being wounded. The regiment of which his company formed a part went by boat to Memphis on its way to Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge. The train on which General Sherman was being conveyed to Lookout Mountain, with an escort of the Thirteenth Regulars and the garrison of the town
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