USA > Illinois > Cook County > Chicago > Biographical history of the American Irish in Chicago > Part 35
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His first employment was as a general helper or errand boy in the printing office of a newspaper-the Sentinel-published in Woodstock, and from that position he by degrees progressed, learn- ing the business in all its branches and receiving promotion until he was proprietor of the paper. Now though removed from active participation in its work, he still retains a quarter interest.
Being convinced that in order to make money it is necessary to go where there is business and consequent money, in 1881 he came to Chicago. A position was secured as inspector at the Custom House and at the same time he took up the study of law. The fol- lowing year. he entered the Union College of Law, from which he graduated in 1884, and at once entered the law office of Cook & Upton. Here he began to practice and continued until May, 1887, when he was appointed an assistant in the office of the Corporation Counsel, and remained there until the fall of 1888, when he resigned to take the position of Assistant State's Attorney under Mr. Longe- necker. This office in turn he resigned to receive the appointment of Justice of the Peace and Police Magistrate. He was given juris- diction over the Police Court at the Armory, and later at the Thirty- fifth Street Station, and in 1895 was re-appointed to both the offices. Ile resigned November, 1896, and on December 1st in that year was appointed by Judge Horton a Master in Chancery, on the same date forming a partnership with William McFadon, a well-known Chi- cago lawyer. The firm are acting as the attorneys for the Lake
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Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad, as well as a number of other corporations.
Judge Glennon has had some military experience, for he was for ten years on the staff of General Fitzsimons when the latter com- manded the First Brigade Illinois State troops. When he resigned he was captain and quartermaster.
A strong Republican, in political matters he has always taken a lively interest. He is an influential member of his Ward Club and has been a member of county, town and senatorial committees. His religious views are those of the Roman Catholic Church, and he is a member of the congregation of St. Elizabeth's Church.
JOHN DILLON.
Mr. Dillon was born at Utica, N. Y., May 3rd, 1846, his parents, Patrick and Ann Dillon, having arrived in this country from Ire- land over fifty years ago. Both attained the age of seventy-one years when they died in Oshkosh, Wis. The father of the subject of this sketch belonged to a family of large wealth and influence in his native land, and to have the name of Patrick Dillon on a bond was considered amply sufficient for any purpose. The Dillon family is one of the oldest and most thoroughly representative in Ireland. In the eleventh century historical records show that Dilune or Dil- ion, having killed in single combat one of his kinsmen, passed over into France and by marriage with the daughter of the Duke of Aquitaine obtained the title of Prince of Aquitaine for himself and his posterity. In 1172, however, the family was dispossessed by
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King Henry II. of England, and the then Duke, Thomas Dillon by name, having been killed in battle, his two sons, Henry and Thomas, were brought while mere infants to England. For attending King John to Ireland in 1185, the eldest son obtained a large grant of land which was called Dillon's County, and which was afterwards, in the time of Henry VIII., changed into the barony of Kilkenny West. The family later possessed the titles of Earls of Roscom- mon and Viscounts Dillon of the county with which it has been chiefly associated.
John Dillon was educated in the public schools and high school of Utica, afterwards receiving a private course of training in New York City, the curriculum being of a general commercial character. His education completed, he started out for himself as a stock and bond broker, and speedily obtained a large and influential clientage, among whom were numbered Russell Sage, Sidney Dillon and many other leading capitalists and bankers. After some five or six years of successful business experience in New York City, Mr. Dillon went to Michigan and engaged in extensive speculation in iron and mining and also became a large dealer in general merchandise. Here he met with the most serious disaster of his business career, for in the panic of 1873 he sustained a loss of over fifty thousand dollars, having at the time in his employ some three hundred men, and merchandise of over three hundred thousand dollars. About 1880 Mr. Dillon came to Chicago, where he engaged for several years in general merchandise transactions, afterwards returning to his original business of stock and bond brokerage.
Mr. Dillon is a member of the Royal League, the Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, and is also a Mason of good standing. He has lately joined the new Irish Club on Monroe Street. Quite a traveler, he has crossed the ocean six times and has made a tour round the world.
A Roman Catholic in his religious views, Mr. Dillon is a Demo-
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crat in his politics. In the latter he has never taken any active part, his ambition not running to public office and being well satis- fied outside of his business transactions to find rest and happiness in the midst of his family circle and in the society of his friends.
Mr. Dillon is a man in the prime of life, well preserved and of fine presence. He is a total abstainer and a non-smoker, and tells with pride that he has never found it necessary to call for a doctor. His independent and self reliant spirit has been shown from his first start in life; he has never worked for anybody but himself, and as has been before mentioned, the successful position he has at- tained is the result of exceptional business talent and acumen, com- bined with unremitting perseverance and energy.
JAMES M. DOYLE.
James M. Doyle was born August 1st, 1839, in County Wexford, Ireland. He was the eldest son of the late Peter and Ellen McDon- nell Doyle, both of whom were natives of the same county, and with them he had come to America in 1848. Peter Doyle, who was by occupation a carpenter, died in 1848, and his wife in 1870. Both of their sons have attained prominence in public life in this city- the younger, Austin J. Doyle, whose record as a member of the police force, and as chief of the Police Department has won for him the respect and esteem of the whole community; and the elder, the subject of this sketch. The last named is most favorably known as an efficient, intelligent and absolutely honest official in the various public positions he has occupied, and in his administration of 31
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the office he new holds of Justice of the Peace. Here his honesty of purpose, his geniality and unquestioned and unwavering fairness have won for him the approbation and admiration of every one with whom he has been brought into contact.
Prior to the removal of the family to Chicago, the foundation of his education had been laid in the national schools of the place of his birth, and in coming to Chicago it was continued in the old Scammon school and completed in the University of St. Mary's of the Lake. In 1853 a position was secured by him as clerk in a gro- cery store and later he was an apprentice in the brass moulding business of Nugent & Owens. A strike of the operators in this bus- iness threw him out of employment, and after serving a short time as clerk in the grocery business, he embarked in the same line on his own account. He enlisted in the Twenty-third Illinois Volunteer In- fantry, widely known as Mulligan's Brigade, in September, 1862, and at once closed up his business, continuing to serve until the close of the war. He was from time to time promoted and received his commission as captain on March 25th, 1865. The history of this regiment is too well known to need repetition here, and Judge Doyle's honorable and useful service as one of its members is exem- plified in the rapid promotion he attained.
Returning to Chicago he engaged in the produce business, which was continued until 1869, when he accepted a position in the office of M. W. Kerwin, then South Town Collector. The following year he became a clerk under City Collector W. J. Onahan, and served four years, a portion of which time he held a position as assistant cashier in the collector's office. In the fall of 1873 he became Chief Deputy Clerk of the Criminal Court, and served in that capacity until he was appointed Justice of the Peace in 1887. He has been twice re-appointed; was Police Magistrate under the administra- tion of Mayors Cregier, Harrison and Hopkins, and served in that capacity until July 2nd, 1895.
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His political affiliations are those of the Democratic party, and he gave much time in the advancement of its interests. In friendly societies he has always been most active. He was one of the or- ganizers in 1889 of the C. B. L. Building & Loan Association, upon whose directorate he served for some years; and in 1891 was ap- pointed treasurer of the association. He is a member of the G. A. R., is past commander of Colonel Mulligan Post, and also a member of the Western Society of the Army of the Potomac. He is a mem- ber of the Catholic Benevolent Legion, and assisted in the organiza- tion of the first council in Chicago (Marquette) in 1884. The Judge has been a member of the Society of St. Vincent De Paul since its first organization in Chicago.
REV. THOMAS F. GALLIGAN.
This well-known Catholic priest, who is in charge of the parish of St. Patrick, was born July 17th, 1851, in the City of New York, where his parents, P. J. and Catherine (McCready) Galligan, had settled on leaving Ireland. Soon after the subject of this sketch was born, his parents brought him to Chicago, and it was in the public schools of this city that his earlier education was received. For the classical branches, he was afterwards at St. Joseph's Col- lege, Beardstown, Ky., where he remained six years and was grad- uated in 1873. Having immediately taken up the study of theology, August 30th, 1876, he was at once appointed assistant pastor of St. Patrick's Church. He remained in that parish until 1881, when he was transferred to the Cathedral of the Holy Name. Later, in
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order to build up the new parish of St. Rose of Lima, he was ap- pointed to the southwest portion of this city, and here his labors met with the greatest success. Then for a few months he was given charge of St. Pius Church, from which he was once more transferred, on the death of the Very Rev. Dean Terry, in 1884, to succeed him in the pastorate of St. Patrick's. No sooner was he appointed, than he decided that his church-the oldest in Chicago- should be repaired. A new roof was put on, the interior was en- tirely cleaned and re-frescoed, and the steeples added, which the original plans contemplated-all being due to his exertions.
In the prime of his life, a man of active habits and never failing industry, Father Galligan essays nothing for his parish in which he does not succeed. Neither is there any priest in this city who has more thoroughly succeeded in endearing himself to his parishion- ers. He is characteristically Celtic, and where he sees wrong, absolutely fearless in his demonstrations. Chicago may well be proud of its citizen priest, and those of Irish blood can have none the less pride in this unselfish and noble representative.
PATRICK G. MAGUIRE.
The subject of this sketch is another of the city's best known and most popular American Irishmen. He is known to every one and is liked by every one; a genial, kindly, generous natured and thor- ough representative of his race.
Patrick G. MaGuire was born in County Cavan, Ireland, on St. Patrick's Day, 1861, his parents being Owen-who came of an old
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and historic family-and Rose (Gannon) MaGuire, both of whom spent their lives in their native County Cavan.
Young MaGuire having attended the national schools until he was twelve, then started out to earn his own living. For some years he worked on his father's farm, and then being eighteen, his am- bitious disposition led him to essay the larger possibilities of the western world. He arrived in Philadelphia, Pa., May 24th, 1879, immediately going to work for the City Railway Company, where he remained two years, and then accepting a position with the Phila- delphia & Reading Railway as night clerk. In 1881 he decided to go West, and settling in Chicago, obtained work with the Swift Packing House, at the same time attending night schools. Such sterling stuff as he was composed of was bound to find recognition, and six months later he was promoted to be weigh boss and hide inspector. In this position he remained until May, 1889, when he received, through the influence of Michael McEnerney and Thomas Gahan, an appointment in the water office. The election of Mayor Washburne in 1891 threw him out of a political job, and he re- turned to the stock yards as foreman of the hide department for T. E. Weeks, a place he held until 1892. In the latter year he became deputy assessor for Charles Rotenburg of the Town of Lake, and the following year, at the strong solicitation of Thos. Gahan, railroad and warehouse commissioner, Alderman Thomas Carey and Alder- man Mulcahy, was made personal bailiff to Judge Tuley, a position he still retains and in which he has gained the respect and esteem of every employe of the County Building.
Mr. MaGuire was married June 1st, 1875, at St. James Church, Rockford, Ills., to Norah E. Hayes, and one daughter has blessed their union.
A Roman Catholic in his religious views, and strictly Demo- cratic in his political affiliations, Mr. MaGuire is a member of
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numerous fraternal organizations and Irish societies, among which may be mentioned the Ancient Order of Hibernians, in which, since 1887, he has been president of Division No. 6, and the Illinois Coun- cil of the Royal Arcanum.
JAMES J. RYAN.
James J. Ryan, the young Irish patriot who is also evincing such brilliant promise as a financier, was born in Chicago, August 19th, 1870. His father, James J. Ryan, was a native of County Tip- perary, Ireland, and his mother, Limerick.
James J. Ryan received his education in the public schools and graduated from the high schools of his native city. His edu- cation completed, he traveled extensively in Europe and through the British Islands, making a stay of several months in Ireland, where he made a thorough study of the social and political condi- tions of the Irish people, and of the system of landlordism there in operation. In his speeches he has advocated very forcibly that Ireland, from its impartial geographical position, as well as from many other resources, should be an independent nation. Mr. Ryan's ardent patriotism is not only inherited from ancestors, but is the result of his own personal study and observation. He was one of the young representative delegates at the New Movement Convention, and is a warm advocate of the principles for which Robert Emmet worked and suffered.
In 1889 Mr. Ryan received an appointment in the Live Stock National Bank, which position he still holds.
Mr. Ryan was married in 1896 to the charming daughter of
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Lieut. P. B. Tierney. He is a Roman Catholic in religion, and in political affiliations is a Democrat.
He has made a distinguished mark for a man yet under thirty, and there is unquestionably a bright and successful career before him.
MICHAEL F. FANNING,
Michael F. Fanning was born in County Leitrim, Ireland, and in the national schools there received his education. The Fannings are of Norman descent and the family dates back for many cen- turies, but like many others of Norman stock who settled in Ireland they became more Irish even than the Irish themselves. The mother of the subject of this sketch, Mary O'Beirne, is of Celtic origin, her ancestors having lived in the town of Drumlayheen for several generations, and many of the O'Beirnes, as well as the Fan- nings, suffered the loss of their estates during the years of confisca- tion, and later some even gave up their lives during the struggles of the Irish people to obtain freedom and the right even to live.
M. F. Fanning came to the United States in 1875 and for several years made his home in Boston. Having taken up the book pub- lishing business in 1878, he became well known as a publisher in Pennsylvania and Ohio, establishing his headquarters in Pittsburg. In 1890 he removed to Chicago. Since he came of age he has always taken an active interest in every movement having for its object the welfare of the Irish people, and has been closely asso- ciated with and made himself prominent in all the Irish societies. As acting secretary of the New Movement Convention, Mr. Fan- ning's efforts unquestionably contributed in a very large degree
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towards the success of that international gathering, and as one of the national officers of the Irish National Alliance said at its close, "to Mr. Fanning, more than to any other person, does the credit belong for the success of this convention."
Mr. Fanning is still engaged in the publishing business, his latest work in the literary line being the publication of an ably written and handsomely printed volume on the New Movement Convention, and which contains biographical sketches and portraits of 140 leading Irish Nationalists from all over the United States and Canada. The subscription list of the work was a large one and a large sale still continues throughout the entire country.
Mr. Fanning is married and resides on Indiana Avenue, in the town of Hyde Park. Young and energetic, a handsome, strong, stalwart Irishman of charming manner and considerable conversa- tional ability, he possesses an army of friends who esteem him for his personal gifts as well as for his honest and straightforward methods, and are free in prophesying for him a future of useful- ness, power and prominence.
JAMES BURNS.
This young but already well known American Irish architect was born in the State of Michigan in March, 1858. His parents, Peter and Elizabeth Burns, were respectively from Wicklow and Wexford, and left Ireland in 1853 to settle in Michigan and engage in farming. Peter Burns died in 1893, and the mother of our sub- ject in 1895,
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James Burns received his education in the public school of Hills- dale, Mich., where he took the ordinary business course. As a boy he was fond of carpentering, and in the summer months spent all his spare time that way. In 1879, having decided to come to Chicago, he entered the office of the well-known architect, Mr. Robert Cobb, in order to learn the business. Eighteen months later he started out for himself as a contractor and builder, and in 1891 took up the profession in which he is now engaged, and of which he has made a success.
Mr. Burns was married in Chicago in 1885 to Elizabeth McCau- ley, and they have four children, two boys and two girls.
A Roman Catholic in his religious belief, he is in politics an in- dependent Democrat. He is a member of the Royal Arcanum and also of the Columbus Club, and takes high rank for ability and for popularity among the American Irish of Chicago.
REV. THOMAS CUMING HALL, D. D.
A very worthy son of an illustrious father is Dr. Thomas C. Hall, pastor of the Fourth Presbyterian Church of Chicago, who was born in County Armagh, Ireland, September 25th, 1858. His parents were Rev. John Hall, D. D., LL. D., and Miss Bolton of Dublin. His father, who was of Scottish descent, was also born in Armagh, Ireland, July 21st, 1829, and in 1849 he was sent on mis- sionary work to the West of Ireland, later, by royal appointment, being made Commissioner of Education for Ireland. So admired, however, was he by the people of New York, which city he visited in
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1867 as a delegate from the Presbyterian Church of Ireland to the Presbyterian Church of the United States, that he was invited to return and assume charge of the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church. He did so, being installed November 3d, 1867, and immediately be- came one of the most popular clergymen in the city, and with a congregation embracing more very wealthy men than any other in the United States. His church was soon found to be too small for the requirements, and in 1875 a larger church was built at the corner of Fifth Avenue and Fifty-ninth Street. The Rev. John Hall has written and published a considerable number of religious works, and is known and respected throughout the English-speaking world as a divine of exceptional power and ability.
The subject of this sketch received his early education from a private tutor, completing his studies at the Princeton College, where he graduated in 1879, and later at the Union Theological Seminary, New York. After graduating at the latter in 1882 he spent two years at the University of Berlin at Gottingen. Returning then to the United States, he was called to take charge of the Southwest Presbyterian Church of Omaha, Neb., later being summoned to Chicago to take charge of the Forty-first Street Presbyterian Church, where he remained until 1893, when he became pastor of the Fourth Presbyterian Church, and is still the incumbent.
Dr. Hall was married in London, England, in 1884, to Miss Jen- nie Bartling, daughter of Professor Bartling of Gottingen. They have had no children.
With the degree of D. D., Dr. Hall was honored by Hamilton College in 1894. He is a close and industrious student and a mem- ber of a large number of societies, among which might particularly be mentioned the American Society of Historical Research; the Society of Sociology, and the Society of Biblical Research.
An extensive traveler, both in this country and throughout Europe, he has a fund of information and the ability to impart what
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he knows in a most pleasing and unassuming way. Indeed, as a conversationalist he would shine in any company. In personal ap- pearance he is tall and of commanding presence, courtly and digni- fied. Kindly and straightforward, it would be difficult to discover a more thorough representative member of the cloth than the sub- ject of this sketch, the Rev. Thomas Cuming Hall, D. D.
PATRICK J. HEALY.
Patrick J. Healy was born March 16th, 1840, at Mallow, County Cork. At the age of ten he came with his parents, James and Catharine (Sheehan) Healy to Boston, and there received his edu- cation in the public schools. In that city also he obtained his first insight into the musical business in which he has since been so eminently successful.
As to himself and what he has accomplished in the world, Mr. Healy refuses to speak and permits the firm, of which he is the head, to tell his story. The two are indeed linked together in a manner no power can separate.
Lyon & Healy began business in the year 1864 as a co-partner- ship with a capital of $36,000. The progress made was rapid; for five years later there was no building in the West devoted to music which could compare with theirs. Their location was then at the corner of Washington Street and Wabash Avenue, in the very heart of the retail district. On September 4th, 1870, after one year's occupancy, the premises were entirely destroyed and the difficulty of gathering a new stock from every part of the earth had
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to be faced, in addition to the heavy financial loss. Energy and pluck, however, are distinguishing traits of the American and Irish, and the work was finally accomplished, premises being secured at 150 Clark Street. Again fate opposed, and when the ravage of the great fire of Chicago was passed, no vestige of the business remained-their whole property was lost. Once more the stern stuff of which the firm was composed-Mr. Lyon, a typical Amer- ican, and Mr. Healy, the energetic Celt-demonstrated itself. A little church, far out on the South Side, was secured without a day's unnecessary delay, and with undiminished effort, business was re- commenced. A year later a site was secured down-town, 162 State Street, a section of the present immense premises.
With moderate good fortune, business was continued, but dur- ing 1874 the premises barely escaped a second conflagration, and all the stock had to be hastily removed. Then came the panic times of 1875 and 1878, and consequent decline in all business. Having successfully weathered this period, from '79 to '83 were times of marked prosperity, but the two following years were again un- propitious. In the latter year, Charles N. Post and R. B. Gregory, both of Chicago, became members of the firm. The storm was weathered, and from 1886 to 1892 the business of the firm increased and prospered, so much so that in the World's Fair year the aggre- gate receipts for many days towards the close exceeded $10,000 per day. This is not surprising when from the report of the United States Custom House, regarding musical merchandise, it is shown that in that year Lyon & Healy did four times as much business in its line as all the other firms in Chicago together. Previous to 1888, the business done had been that of dealers, there was no manu- facturing; now they are the largest manufacturers of stringed in- struments in the world. To cope with the immense business, which natural growth assisted by the industry and enterprise which com- manded public confidence had produced, it was found necessary to
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