USA > Illinois > Cook County > Chicago > Biographical history of the American Irish in Chicago > Part 26
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Mr. Joyce was one of the organizers of the Chicago Zouaves, and also took considerable stock in the World's Fair enterprise. A member of the Columbus Club, the Royal Arcanum, as well as a charter member of Commercial Council 26, Royal League, in the latter having held every office in the gift of the Council except Col- lector and Scribe. Twice he has been representative to Advisory Council, and has just been re-elected Treasurer, having filled every one of these offices with honor to himself and with credit to the society.
In his political views he has always been independent, while in religious matters he is a Catholic of liberal views. He was mar- ried to Ella Mclaughlin, of Chicago, June 10th, 1885, and they have had four children, but only one is living. Mr. Joyce has a comfortable home at 5532 La Salle Avenue, where, with his wife, he delights to entertain and make life pleasant for his family and happy for others. His friends are many, for Mr. Joyce in his earn- est struggle has gained at once the respect and esteem of all with
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whom he has been brought into contact, and the success he has achieved has in no ways aroused envious feeling. He is generous natured and liberal, and thoroughly representative of the race from whence he sprung.
FREDERICK S. MCCLORY.
Frederick S. McClory, a rising young Chicago lawyer of Irish descent, who was born in Quincy, Massachusetts, January 19th, 1869, evidently inherits his abilities in the legal line, for his father was also a well known Irish lawyer of this city. His father, Henry McClory, who was a native of Belfast, Ireland, had come when a boy to America, settling first in Boston and in 1877 moving west to Chicago. As has been said, he became one of the best known law- yers of Chicago, and without being in any way an agitator, was extremely prominent in all Irish matters up to the time of his death, in 1893. His wife, formerly Margaret Persse, and who died in 1871, belonged to an old West of Ireland family, her father hav- ing left the old country and settled at Johnstown, New York.
The subject of this sketch obtained his education in the public schools of Chicago until he was fourteen, when a private tutor was provided for him and the boy studied Latin and Greek. At the age of sixteen he entered his father's law office, and at the same time, with sixteen others, organized the first evening law school, now known as the Chicago College of Law. This school was attended until he was nineteen, when he passed the necessary examination, but still had two years to wait before he was of sufficient years to be given a license.
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On May 18th, 1891, however, he received his qualifications and went into his father's office, remaining with him until the latter's death, when he entered the law office of C. C. Bonney, and shortly afterwards opened an office and began to practice alone. Very good success has followed the efforts of Mr. McClory, who has already succeeded in building up a very good general practice. Considerable legal work has been done by him for the Chicago Gen- eral Electric Railroad Company and the Douglas Park Building Association, to the entire satisfaction of his clients and to the con. siderable preservation of their heavy interests.
In May, 1889, Mr. McClory was married to Catherine Reilly, and they have had five children, of whom there are three living.
A Democrat in his politics and a member of the North Amer- ican Union, a fraternal insurance company, Mr. McClory has a host of friends who can be counted only by the number of his acquaint- ances.
PATRICK VINCENT FITZPATRICK.
As an example of what unlimited energy and untiring perse- verance, when united to a character of fearless and unswerving honesty, can achieve in the world, the Hon. Patrick V. Fitzpatrick, gallant Union soldier and exemplary citizen, stands pre-eminent among the thousands of prominent American Irish in Chicago. All the difficulties that could beset a man in the battle of life, he has fought against and triumphed over. He arrived in Chicago in 1858 as a train-boy, and in less than forty years he is to-day Senatorial representative for the First District of Illinois, one of the most im- 23
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portant districts, and is known all over the world as the unanimous selection of the Irish National Alliance for the proud distinction of Treasurer and custodian of its immense funds.
Senator Fitzpatrick is an unmistakable Irishman, his many years in this country having in no way deprived him of that rich accent that speaks so plainly of the old land across the Atlantic. He was born in Ennis, County Clare, Ireland, July 17th, 1840. Both his parents are dead, his father, Dennis Fitzpatrick, a tenant far- mer, died when he was a child of five, and his mother, formerly Ann Callanan, three years earlier. Young Fitzpatrick was brought to America by his elder brother, and all his youthful surroundings in this country were with those who possessed no greater advantages than himself. He received his education in the public schools of To- ledo, Ohio, but was forced to earn his own living from the time he was fourteen, and quickly discovered that in this country the first essential of success was education. He was eighteen when, as be- fore stated, in the capacity of train-boy on the L. S. & N. S. Rail- way, he arrived in Chicago. The year following he purchased a scholarship in Sloan Commercial College, from which he graduated March 4th, 1861. Later in the same year, September 10th, and chiefly that he might be entitled to call himself an American, he enlisted as a private in Company "F," Ninth Illinois Cavalry Vol- unteers, for three years or during the war, and served as company clerk and corporal till November 1st, 1862, when he was promoted to be Regimental Sergeant Major. He held that position, serving as a good and faithful soldier, until the battle of Moscow, Tenn., on December 4th, 1863, where he was severely wounded by a shot in the head, from the effects of which he has since been a sufferer. Honorably discharged, on account of wounds received in action, he left the service April 16th, 1864, leaving for his record that of a splendid soldier, one ever prompt and reliable in the execution of orders and of a courage nothing could daunt.
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In August, 1864, when the United States Government inaugu- rated the letter carrier system in Chicago, John L. Scripps, who was then postmaster, appointed Mr. Fitzpatrick as one of the orig- inal twenty-six carriers allowed to the Chicago office. For seven years he carried letters in the district bounded by Polk and Eight- eenth Streets on the south, and from the lake to the river on the west, and made himself one of the best known and highly respected men in the district. In 1868, his spirit of independence led him to start in business for himself, and though necessarily at first in a small way, his book, stationery and news establishment is now prob- ably the largest on the south side. In addition, he has large mining and real estate interests in the Black Hills. For the past twenty years he has been located at 154 Twenty-second Street, and as a business man has gained the highest esteem of every one with whom he has been brought into contact.
He has always been a Republican, and speaks with pride of a vote cast for Lincoln in 1864. Requested to stand on the Repub- lican ticket for the First Senatorial District of Illinois, and having received a unanimous nomination, he was elected Senator Novem- ber 6th, 1894. At the great Irish convention in this city last year, 1895, when the Irish National Alliance was formed, he was by gen- eral acclamation proclaimed Treasurer to the Alliance, and his work, both as Senator and Treasurer, has been of such a character as to still further increase his reputation for sterling ability, pro- bity, and entire rectitude.
Mr. Fitzpatrick was married, November 1st, 1866, to Miss An- nie Kenny, of Peoria, Ill. They have one daughter, Una.
In religion he is a thorough Catholic and for fifteen years acted as sexton to the Rev. Father Walton, towards the building of whose church he was instrumental in obtaining the necessary funds.
Senator Fitzpatrick is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and other veteran organizations, besides being prominent-
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ly connected with a number of patriotic and benevolent societies. He started, and was afterwards Treasurer of the Cronin fund, in- stituted to give those accused a fair trial, and towards the purpose the amount of $50,000 was collected. Ever faithful to the great land of his adoption, the country of his birth has never been for- gotten-indeed, Ireland has few more earnest friends, even in this freedom loving and ever friendly disposed United States, than Pat- rick V. Fitzpatrick, Senator First Senatorial District of Illinois.
JOHN B. JEFFERY.
A typical Chicagoan, energetic and unconquerable, one to whom difficulties are but opportunities and misfortunes the stepping stones to greater effort, is John B. Jeffery, than whom there is pos- sibly to-day no one in this city better known or more highly con- sidered.
Mr. Jeffery is a very happy combination of several nationali- ties. His father was an Englishman and with all the British de- termination of character, while his mother, who was a native of County Antrim, Ireland, came of sturdy stock also, for her parents were a Scotch father and an Irish mother.
The subject of this sketch was born at Niagara Falls, January 11th, 1846. Having received his education, he served an apprentice- ship to the printer's trade. In 1863 he came to Chicago to join the staff of the "Morning Post," remaining with that paper as a re- porter after it merged into the "Republican" and had Charles A. Dana for its editor. Giving up newspaper employ temporarily, he
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took charge of the mechanical portion of the business of Tower, Millard & Decker's job printing establishment, with which firm he remained until 1869, when he was offered the position of busi- ness manager of the "Indianapolis Sentinel," a place held until he obtained the management of the job department of the "Chicago Evening Journal." When the great fire of 1871 destroyed the business portion of the city, Mr. Jeffery embraced the opportunity, and, improvising an office within twenty-four hours of the event, was able to issue the first local paper --- "The Evening Journal"- published in the city. On the death of C. L. Wilson, the publisher of "The Evening Journal," he obtained a lease of the job depart- ment, shortly afterwards purchasing outright. This gave him a chance to show of what he was capable, and under his conduct the business proved most successful for a number of years, until, in December, 1883, a fire which consumed "The Evening Journal" Building and completely destroyed the collection of engravings which Mr. Jeffery had gathered together with years of labor, and to which also he had devoted all his savings. This as well as legal complications arising out of the same, obliged him temporarily to abandon the business it had taken him so many years to build up.
Mr. Jeffery was the founder of several successful trade journals, among which may be mentioned: "The National Builder," "The Black Diamond," and "The Amusement Guide and Directory." Al- ways a staunch Republican, and having been closely and intimately connected with Presidents Grant and Garfield, taking a very prom- inent part in the latter's campaign, he was offered the position of Public Printer. In the late campaign, too, he was Delegate to the State Convention, and to his enthusiastic work and unremitting efforts the carrying of the resolutions endorsing Mr. Mckinley for President of the United States was in a large measure due.
Since the printing business was given up, Mr. Jeffery has de- voted his abilities and energies to several other lines, and in each
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has been able to show that remarkable force of character which appears to command success.
In his domestic relations he has also been peculiarly fortunate, for Mrs. Jeffery is a lady of great popularity and social distinction, and their charming home is a rendezvous for the leaders in literary and artistic circles. Their eldest son, Harry B. Jeffery, possesses the distinction of birth co-incident with the Chicago fire.
John B. Jeffery belongs to a number of benevolent and social organizations; in Masonic degrees he stands very high; with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks he has long been associ- ated; and he is a member of the Union League, Washington Park, and Press Clubs. Personally he is a man of great charm; he is a writer of recognized ability, and as a brilliant conversationalist possesses few equals in Chicago.
JOHN H. DONLIN.
The subject of the present sketch, one of Chicago's most notable builders and contractors, is a native of Rochester, New York State, and came to this city when quite a child with his parents, in 1844. His father, James Donlin, was born in Dublin, Ireland, and with his wife left the old country for New York State in 1838. For six years he followed the trade of a blacksmith, in Rochester, and then removed to Chicago, continuing in the same occupation until his death, in 1857. His wife, formerly Mary Flanaghan, who was also a native of Dublin, followed her husband to the grave two years later.
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John H. Donlin received his education in the public schools of Chicago, after leaving which he was apprenticed to a carpenter. At the end of three years' apprenticeship, in 1860, the young man came to the conclusion to start for himself and commenced contract- ing. With entire success he progressed until the fire of 1871, when he was burned out, losing in the neighborhood of one hundred thousand dollars. Once again, however, he started, and with re- newed energy, the result being that the ground he had lost was quickly recovered. During the immediate years following the fire, he built a dozen or more police stations and other public buildings in this city, and in 1880-81 constructed the Government headquar- ters at Fort Snelling, a work that consumed nearly two years, and the contract for which amounted to $250,000. Mr. Donlin also built the court house at Kankakee, as well as various public build. ings it Quincy and Lincoln, Illinois, in addition to Chicago struc- tures too numerous to mention, but among which was the wigwam in which George B. Mcclellan was nominated for President, in 1868.
Mr. Donlin was married, in 1859, to Miss B. M. Consandine, of this city. They have nine children living, the eldest son, William J., is one of our promising young lawyers, and the eldest daughter, Molly, is married to Mr. Samuel Morse, president of the Minneapo- lis Milling Association. Four of the other children are also mar- ried.
A Democrat in his politics until the nomination of James G. Blaine, he followed the latter, and since that time has voted the Republican ticket. Mr. Donlin served as Captain of the famous Ellsworth Zouaves for three years, and was also Captain of the Second Regiment under Col. James Quirk, of 124th Illinois, and of the Irish Brigade, under the command of the late lamented Col. Mulligan.
Mr. Donlin is well preserved and of sound constitution, and
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looks, as he has proved, a successful man. While his important business interests have engrossed most of his time and energy, and indeed, so continue to do, he has yet found time to travel ex- tensively all over the United States, both for business and recrea- tion. It should also be mentioned that he is a member of the Sher- idan Club. Domestic in his disposition and tastes, his happiest hours are those spent in the midst of his interesting family circle.
PATRICK MCHUGH.
Among the most honored and respected citizens of this great city are many who either owe their birth to the dear green isle across the Atlantic or whose fondest associations are linked with that of their sires. Of these in Chicago, few are better known or deservedly more esteemed than the subject of this sketch, Pat- rick McHugh. His family is one of the most ancient in Ireland, and its pedigree can be traced in a direct line to a period more than twelve centuries before the time of Christ.
His father, Patrick McHugh also, who was born in County Cavan in 1807, having married Catharine Curran in the old country, was unable to live under its hampered conditions, and, leaving Ireland in 1841, found a new home in Ontario, Canada, where fortune fa- vored him and he became a well-to-do farmer. They raised a family of seven sons and four daughters, and of these two sons have greatly distinguished themselves in the legal profession. Michael A. McHugh is judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Ontario, while Patrick McHugh is one of Chicago's leading lawyers.
Patrick was born in Ontario, Canada, in 1843. In 1861, after
A tough.
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a year's schooling in the evening college there, he came to this city and entered the Catholic University of St. Mary's, an institu- tion which was destroyed by fire a few years later. He took a four years' course and graduated with the class of 1865. He then spent a couple of years with the Union College of Law, Chicago, from which he graduated in 1867, and at once began to practice law.
Early in 1892 a partnership was entered into with the late John M. Rountree, and continued until 1895, when Mr. McHugh thought it more advisable to devote himself to his rapidly growing general practice. He has since made himself a high reputation for care- ful preparation, skillful handling, and also entire faithfulness to his clients. In the cross-examination of witnesses he is among the foremost in Chicago, and his shrewd ability in detecting the weak points has brought him into great request as a jury lawyer. This estimation was forcibly brought before the public in the well- known McMahon case, during the progress of which, for several months, the name of Patrick McHugh was in daily mention.
He is a Democrat in politics, and the esteem in which he is held by his party and in the legal profession was shown by his nomination as judge of the Circuit Court in 1893. With the bal- ance of the ticket, however, he was not among the elect.
Mr. McHugh's popularity is not confined to the legal profes- sion; his ever genial manner and sterling good qualities have made him well liked and esteemed in financial, business, club and social circles. He is a life member of the Chicago Athletic Club, a member of the Columbus and the Iroquois Clubs, and also a very active participator in the literary work of the Chicago Athenaeum. His travels over this continent have been of a very extensive char- acter, and both in natural gifts and in acquired he is eminently fitted for the high position he has gained for himself in the bar and in the estimation of the people of Chicago.
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SENATOR JAMES WALTER DUNCAN.
James Walter Duncan was born at La Salle, Illinois, January 18th, 1849. His parents were Nicholas and Isabella (McBoyle) Duncan, the father a native of County Mayo, Ireland, and the mother of Aberdeen, Scotland, both having left their native coun- tries during the year 1838 for America, where they settled first in Indiana and afterwards at La Salle, Illinois. The mother was of an old Scotch family from Aberdeen.
James Duncan, like many of his generation who have since made themselves notable figures in the world, was compelled in his young- er days to work on his father's farm and to secure what schooling was possible during the winter months, when the crops were laid by. His disposition was, however, an intensely studious one, and such was the fondness he showed for his books, that his father sent him to the Christian Brothers College at La Salle and later to Nia- gara Falls, N. Y., University. The last named, circumstances com- pelled him to leave without graduating, and he located in La Salle, entering the law office of E. F. Ball, Esq., who at that time stood at the head of the bar in that section. He studied law until 1871, and was admitted to practice.
After opening an office in La Salle, by his careful management of cases entrusted to him and by absolute fidelity to his clients' in- terests, he acquired a large practice which extended to Ottawa, Ill. In 1876, Mr. Duncan formed a partnership with Senator Andrew J. O'Connor, law offices being opened at La Salle and Ottawa. The firm rapidly made for itself a big reputation for professional ability and successful handling of cases, with the result that a large gen- eral practice was secured extending all over the above district.
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With the firm was associated in its Ottawa office for some time Comptroller James H. Eckels.
Mr. Duncan is a firm believer in the principles, and is a follower of the Democratic party and is for sound money. He has on several occasions been a delegate to National Conventions, was the first Democratic Senator sent from the Twenty-third Illinois District, serving from 1882 to 1886, and was elected Mayor of La Salle four times, from 1873 to 1879. At La Salle, besides taking a prominent interest in politics, he has always been a leader in charitable work and was ever among the first to contribute money as well as time to any project which would result in good to the city. He was Presi- dent of the Union Coal Company of La Salle and Peru.
In 1888, Senator Duncan, with Judge Hiram T. Gilbert, who had held the office of County Judge of La Salle County, associated them- selves together and came to Chicago, where they went into practice together, a partnership which has continued up to the present time. Here the same worthy methods have been pursued and the careful management of cases entrusted to them, the attention to every de- tail, and the remarkable success attending the work of the firm has produced a large and very remunerative general practice.
Such in brief is the history of one of the self-made men of Chi- cago, who by his own unaided efforts has, while yet in the prime of life, achieved for himself reputation, honor and high position. As a worker he is absolutely indefatigable. His perseverance and in- dustry know no relaxation in energy or efforts until the case or the work he has in hand is completed. A speaker of much power, his style of argument is at once clear, logical and convincing; to clap- trap he never resorts, believing that a plain, matter of fact manner best appeals to the good sense and good judgment of his auditors.
Though the time of Senator Duncan is too heavily occupied with his professional duties to permit of his being much of a club man, he is a member both of the Columbus and Sheridan Clubs.
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He was married November 25th, 1872, to Bridget Cody, of La Salle. They have a son and daughter, Edgar V., born in 1873, and Isabella M., in 1875.
He is a man of broad humanity, unimpeachable integrity and very great popularity. Among his personal friends he counts men of all classes and ranks. He is possessed of all those qualities and characteristics which entitle him to a place among Chicago's rep- resentative citizens and make him one of whom the Irishmen of Chicago and throughout the United States have every reason to feel proud, and upon whom esteem and honor can be most worthily be- stowed.
THOMAS LAWRENCE CONWAY.
Fire Captain Thomas Lawrence Conway was born in Chicago, on the north side, July 10th, 1859. He was the son of Thomas Con- way, a native of Limerick, who came to America and settled in Chicago some time in the "forties," while his mother was Johanna (Kerwin) Conway, from Tipperary, Ireland.
The subject of this sketch secured what little education he was fortunate enough to acquire in the public schools of Chicago, being compelled at the age of fourteen to go out into the world and fight for himself. His first employment was that of a rope maker, and later he became a printer. In the fall of 1883, however, he secured an appointment as truckman in the Chicago Fire Department, his first assignment being Hook and Ladder No. 1, located at Pacific Avenue and Harrison Street. Here he remained a couple of years, being then sent to No. 3, located at Erie and Wells Streets. With
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this company he was connected for eight years, during which time he became Lieutenant. July 1st, 1893, he was promoted to be Cap- tain and was then sent to Engine No. 32, located on the Lake Front, where since that time he has remained.
Captain Conway is a member of the Maccabees, and also of the Firemen's Benevolent Association. In his religious views he is a Roman Catholic, and is a member of the Church of the Immaculate Conception.
He was married, February 4th, 1891, to Mary Ellen Walsh, of Chicago, and they have two children.
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