USA > Illinois > Cook County > Chicago > Biographical history of the American Irish in Chicago > Part 38
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In 1888 Mr. McClaughry was united in marriage to Helen A. Demmond, daughter of one of the pioneers of Will County. Their family consists of three children.
In polities he is a Republican and in religion a Presbyterian.
NICHOLAS HUNT.
Inspector Nicholas Hunt, commanding the Second Division of the Chicago Police Force, was born at Waterford, Ireland, June 3d, 1848. His parents, both of whom died in 1882, were Michael and Margaret (Pursell) Hunt, the first named being steward for a landed proprietor there. Good honest people, knowing little and caring nothing for the delights of large cities, they had gained by their exemplary lives the respect and esteem of all their neighbors.
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Nicholas Hunt came to America first when he was thirteen years of age on a visit to one of his brothers, a grocer and Alderman at Troy, N. Y., and he did not return to Ireland. The public schools of that city were attended until he was eighteen years of age, when he went to work on a farm near Troy. He was twenty-one years of age when he came to Chicago, and a position was at once secured as foreman for Beattle & Barker, contractors, and this he retained until September 15th, 1871, when he joined the Hyde Park Police Force. For upwards of nine years he walked a beat, and then re- ceived promotion to Lieutenant. Having served three years in that position, he was made Captain of the same district in 1884; when Hyde Park was annexed to Chicago in 1889, his section was made the Second Police Division, and Captain Hunt of Hyde Park became Inspector Hunt of the City of Chicago.
Among the notable murder cases with which Inspector Hunt has been connected may be recalled the capture in 1875 of Jim Allen, a desperate criminal; three years later the running down of George Purdy for the killing of Samuel Reninger; then followed the Nicole Cena, the Jennie MeGarvery, the Eva Mitchell, and the recent Hiawatha flats horror, all of which were tracked out and unraveled by this indefatigable western Vidocq. He also took a prominent part in the great strike of 1894, where he was in com- mand of the First and Second Regiments, with Colonels Wheeler and Moulton and General Russell, the Brigade Commander, and in connection therewith was able to do some splendid work in crushing the lawlessness then prevalent in the southern portion of the city.
Married to Miss Johanna Crimmins of Chicago in 1872, he is the father of an interesting family, of whom his eldest son, M. E. Hunt, will soon be admitted to the bar, while his two daughters, Anna and Nellie, are completing their education at the institution of St. Mary's, Notre Dame, Ind.
The Inspector is a member of the Sheridan Club, Hyde Park
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Council of the Royal Arcanum, the Independent Order of Foresters and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
In his religious views he is a Roman Catholic and a regular at- tendant of St. Thomas' Church.
Inspector Hunt is a man of fine appearance, while in manner is so absolutely unassuming that if he errs at all it is on the side of modesty. His career in the police department has been a very bril- liant one, and he has unquestionably well deserved every reward and honor that has been given him. Sociable in his character, genial in his disposition, there is no man in Chicago who stands higher in the estimation of the community at large, either as citizen or member of the Chicago police service, than Inspector Nicholas Hunt.
WILLIAM K. SULLIVAN.
Mr. Sullivan was born November 10, 1843, in the city of Water- ford, in the South of Ireland. He was strictly brought up by his parents, his father an Episcopalian and his mother a Wesleyan Methodist, and both of the strongest religious principles.
Young Sullivan found his earliest education in the Model Training School of Dublin. From thence he went to a school in Donegal, about seven miles from Malin Head. He was an adven- turous youth, and the salt air of the ocean always possessed for him a peculiar fascination. The United States was at that time, perhaps even more than it is now, the goal both of the oppressed and the unrestful. Sullivan belonged to the latter category; the idea of journeying to the New World, its free and broader condi- tions and larger fields for action, was no sooner conceived than
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he determined to set out without delay. In less than a week, having wished his parents good-bye, he was on the seas, bound for New York. Arrived at the Eastern metropolis, where he found many influential and willing friends, he was urged to ac- cept a situation and take up with trading pursuits. To these, W. K. Sullivan had little or no inclination, and consequently after remaining a short time in New York he came West and settled at Aurora, Illinois. Here he taught school in both Kane and Kendall counties with considerable success.
Then occurred the eventful period of the war. A meeting was called at Aurora for the purpose of enlisting volunteers, and the large number (for so small a town) of two thousand persons at- tended. Only two men, however, signed the enlistment roll, and of these Mr. Sullivan was one, for all the others had been promised positions as officers. He was at once offered to be made sergeant, and was desired to repair to Elgin barracks, where the regiment to which his company was attached had been ordered to assemble. Here there was an inspection by the army surgeon, and Mr. Sulli- van, one of whose eyes had been injured when a boy by a blow from a bat, had some difficulty in passing the necessary examina- tion; the surgeon doubting his ability to shoot. He was accepted, however, and went to the front, but his term of service was short, and, having saved a little money, he came at once to Chicago.
The oil excitement in West Virginia, which was at this time in full progress, led a great number of people towards that region in search of fortune. Mr. Sullivan, ever roving and adventurous in disposition, was among those, and also among the majority in the result, for the oil bubble quickly burst and most of the ad- venturers were ruined. Necessity drove him to try running a steam engine, working in the wells, an employment which netted him $4-six hours working day, and in which he remained a short time.
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Mr. Sullivan managed to save sufficient to take him to New York and still leave him something in hand. No sooner had he arrived there, however, than he received a cablegram summoning him immediately to Ireland, if he desired to see his mother again in life. Hle arrived too late, however, and after a short stay in the old land, during which he traveled over most portions of it, he returned to New York. Arrived there, he decided upon the career in which his chief reputation has been made. Mr. D. Beach was at that time publishing the New York Sun, and to him young Sullivan applied for and obtained a situation as reporter. Mr. Dana shortly afterwards purchased the Sun, and of the two men on the old staff he took over on his remodeled paper, W. K. Sullivan was one. New York life was not, however, to his liking, and with a strong letter of introduction from Horace Greeley to Horace White, who was then editing the Chicago Tribune, he re- turned to this city. It was effectual in obtaining him employ- ment, and with that paper he remained for several years, working immediately under that very promising journalist, Sam Medill, a brother of Joseph Medill, who died universally regretted a few years ago.
Mr. Sullivan is full of interesting reminiscences of early Chi- cago life, and relates with considerable power and much humor incidents in his career twenty-five years ago. In the great fire, with hundreds of others, he was a victim and lost all his property, including the accumulated savings of years, and upon which he intended to subsist until he was able to make an income for him- self as a lawyer, having been previously admitted to the bar in New York and Illinois. For six months preceding the fire he had been studying in the law office of Doolittle & Norton, with the in- tention of becoming a member of the bar. He was consequently forced to return to journalism, and acted as correspondent for the Tribune during the latter sessions of the Twenty-seventh General
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Assembly, and also of the twenty-eighth. In 1872, during the Greeley campaign, as correspondent for the Tribune, he traveled through Illinois, Indiana and Ohio, with orders from Editor White to report everything that happened, faithfully and exactly. Three months were spent in campaign travel, during which he was brought into close association with Governor O. P. Norton of Indiana, Senator Dan Voorhees, Carl Schurz and other leading men on both sides. He was also with Horace Greeley on his tour through the West.
Soon afterwards he became connected with the Chicago Even- ing Journal, and was for many years associated with Lieutenant Governor Charles L. Wilson and John A. Wilson.
Mr. Sullivan claims with considerable pride that during his newspaper career and since the nomination for President of Hora- tio Seymour in the city of New York, he has attended every Re. publican and Democratic national convention, with the exception of one in 1892, when he was out of the country. He has also missed few of the Democratic conventions held during the last twenty years.
In politics Mr. Sullivan is necessarily a well known figure, hav- ing been three times elected and twice appointed to office. He was a member of the Twenty-seventh General Assembly in 1890, and was twice chosen from a north side district of the city. His first service was under the new constitution, and associated with him in the House were several who were then eminent and promi- nent, or who have since become so.
Mr. Sullivan has always been a considerable figure in local politics. Mayor Colvin appointed him a member of the Board of Education, upon which he served three years, the two latter as President. Associated with him were the late Perry II. Smith, Philip A. Hoyne, Christopher Hotz, Professor Rodney Welch and the late George C. Clark. He was then offered reappointment by
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Mayor Heath, but declined, feeling that he had borne sufficiently the burdens of a position for which no thanks were given, and he had been most freely criticised and considerably abused.
The appointment of consul to the Bermudas, under President Harrison, was given to Mr. Sullivan in 1890.
Mr. Sullivan married, in 1894, Miss Amelia Shackelford, daugh- ter of the late Mrs. General Julius White. They have two chil- dren: Helen Amelia, who is now a charming young lady of eight- een, and William Shackelford, a bright boy of thirteen.
PATRICK JOSEPH SEXTON.
Patrick Joseph Sexton was born in 1847 on a farm in County Cavan, Ireland, and with his parents, John and Susan (O'Dowd) Sexton, came to America in 1850, settling in Cincinnati, where the father died in 1863.
The subject of this sketch attended the public schools of Cin- cinnati until he was fourteen years old, when he apprenticed him- self to a builder of that city. Having served the regulation three years' term, during which time he attended the night sessions in the public schools and also took a course in architectural draw- ing in the Ohio Mechanics' Institute, he moved to Nashville, Tenn., in 1865. Here he embarked in business on his own account as a contractor and builder, and remained there until the great Chi- cago fire of 1871, when, comprehending the opportunity, he moved to Chicago and entered the field as a builder. A prominent part was taken by him in the upbuilding of the city, among the most
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important works with which he has been identified being the Cook County Hospital, the Cook County Court House, the City Hall, the World's Fair, the new Drainage Channel, and a number of other large public and private works.
Mr. Sexton is the President and owns a controlling interest in the Chicago Brick Company, one of the largest manufacturers of brick engaged in the business. He is also the owner of a large amount of property in and about Chicago, among his important holdings being the vestibule block on Van Buren Street and the St. Benedict apartment house on the North Side, the latter being one of the largest in the city. His home is at 1340 Michigan Ave- nue, and he also possesses a beautiful summer home in Waukegan known as Fairoaks, overlooking the Lake on Sheridan Road, it being an ideal summer retreat and containing ten acres of ground.
HON. JOHN P. HOPKINS.
A native of Buffalo, New York, John P. Hopkins was born on the 29th of October, 1858, and is the seventh in a family of twelve children. His parents were John and Mary (Flynn) Hopkins. His primary education was received in the public and private schools of his native city, and he then entered St. Joseph's College, which was left in the year 1871. Absolutely without capital with which to make a start in a business career, but still possessed of a commend- able ambition and resolve to win success, he immediately set to work. For two and a half years he served an apprenticeship to the David Bell Company of Buffalo, learning the machinist's trade, and
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from there he transferred his energies to the Evans Elevator Com- pany, with which he continued for two years, serving in the capac- ity of weigh-master. It was in December, 1880, that Mr. Hopkins' connection with Chicago began, and in March following he secured a position as requisition clerk in the store rooms of the Pullman Palace Car Company. With immense corporations of this char- acter, promotion is obtained only through ability and absolute in- tegrity, and after two months Mr. Hopkins was advanced to the position of time keeper. Three months after he was made general time keeper, and in another three months he became paymaster, which position he held until September, 1888, when he was com- pelled to resign on account of other pressing duties. In 1885 he established a store in the Arcade. The business was organized under the name of the Arcade Trading Company, with a capital stock of ten thousand dollars, and Mr. Hopkins was elected its sec- retary and treasurer. Since that time the capital has been in- creased to fifteen thousand dollars, and eight large stores are now conducted under the name of the Secord & Hopkins Company. The business has been conducted on systematic, methodical princi- ples, and an idea of the success which has attended the enterprise is indicated by the greatly increased facilities now offered.
It is frequently said that a good politician cannot be a good business man, but Mr. Hopkins is a striking contradiction to this idea, for he is equally prominent in both characters. With the Democratic party in this city, his connection has been one of several years, and he has made his way to the very foremost ranks of De- mocracy in Cook County. It was under his leadership and organiza- tion that the annexation movement and necessary campaign was conducted, which resulted in the annexation to the City of Chicago of the towns of Hyde Park, Lake, Cicero, Jefferson and Lake View, and a consequent increase in the area of the city of one hundred and fifty square miles, with an addition to the population of 265,000
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people. This grand result was largely accomplished through the earnest and untiring efforts of the Mayor, who acted as chairman of the annexation committee.
Mr. Hopkins was chairman of the Democratic campaign com- mittee in 1890, 1891 and 1892, and in the last named year was a dele- gate to the national convention, and was assistant sergeant-at-arms in that assembly. He was also one of the organizers of the Cook County Democratic Club, and for four years served as its president. As school treasurer, and in various other ways, he has been promi- nently connected with official interests. When the death of Hon. Carter Harrison left the mayoralty chair vacant, he came before the people as a candidate for the office on the Democratic ticket and won the election, becoming Chicago's chief magistrate. His connection with political affairs had hitherto been of rather a quiet nature, but the leaders of the Democracy had come to recognize his intrinsic worth and the ability which would enable him to control the destinies of the second city of the Union.
Mr. Ilopkins is an honored and popular member of the following social clubs: The Iroquois, Columbus, Sunset, Waubansee, the Jef- ferson Association, the Roseland, the Pullman Athletic, the Chicago Athletic and the Pullman Cricket Clubs. He was also one of the organizers and a leading member of both the Sheridan and the Summer Clubs. He is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Catholic Order of Foresters, the Catholic Benevo- lent Association, the Royal Arcanum, and various others. He is also colonel on the Governor's staff. No matter in what position, business or social, John P. Hopkins is an affable, genial gentleman, whose friends are legion, and who is honored and esteemed both for his many virtues and great genuine worth. As the record of a young man, his career is one of which he may be justly proud. Suc- cess is not measured by the heights which one may chance to oc- cupy, but by the distance between the starting point and the
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altitude reached. This being considered, John P. Hopkins can point to a brilliant success attained, but which is only a just re- ward for meritorious and honorable effort, commanding the respect and admiration of every American, whether politically opposed to him or otherwise.
MICHAEL JOSEPH KELLY.
Michael Joseph Kelly was born on the Hudson River, in Glen Falls, Warren County, N. Y., September 3rd, 1851. His father was John Kelly, and his mother, Mary (Riordan) Kelly, both born at that most beautiful of all spots, the Lakes of Killarney, Ireland. The father, in Ireland, was an unrelenting and aggressive Fenian, and on that account was compelled to leave the country with his wife. He came to the United States in 1848 and settled at Glen Falls, in the State of New York. On his arrival, he engaged in railroad contracting until 1859, when with his family he moved to Springfield, Ill., where he stayed three years, then moving to Chicago.
The subject of this sketch attended the public schools of Chi- cago until he was sixteen, when he felt that he should do something toward starting in life. He secured a position with the firm of Adams & Westlake then, as now, the large railroad supply manu- facturers-as apprentice in their metal spinning department, and remained with this firm for twenty-seven years. In this time, he became, of course, thoroughly acquainted with the business, and was promoted from time to time until when he resigned in 1892, he held the very responsible position of superintendent in charge of the metal department. He gave it up to accept the chief clerkship of the personal department of the County Treasurer.
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Mr. Kelly has always been a strong Democrat, and has very actively interested himself in political affairs. He received the nomination, in 1893, for County Commissioner, and was elected, holding the office for one term, when he was appointed chief clerk in the permit department of the water office by Mayor Hopkins. This position he held for nine months, when he retired to take a inuch needed rest, and spent his time in traveling all over the South and West.
Of very progressive character, Mr. Kelly takes a great interest in Irishmen and in all Irish affairs. He was one of the chief organ- izers of the Irish Labor Bureau, which was established in the fall of 1895, with the purpose of securing employment for those of Irish blood, and which has been attended with great success.
Mr. Kelly is a prominent member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, and Chief Ranger of Court No. 46 of the Foresters. He is also a member of the Cook County Marching Club, and was hon- ored with the position of Grand Marshal of the parade on St. Pat- rick's Day in 1894.
HENRY J. FITZGERALD.
Henry J. Fitzgerald was born in Milwaukee, Wis., October 8th, 1853, and is the son of Francis and Margaret (Egan) Fitzgerald. ยท Of his parents, his father was born in Kilkenny, Ireland, where he received but a limited education, and when quite young was ap- prenticed to the shoemaker's trade. In 1842 he came to America, where he finished learning his trade, and immediately established himself in Milwaukee. In that city he has since resided, and is for his years a man extremely well preserved.
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What of educational advantages Henry J. Fitzgerald managed to receive were obtained in St. Gall's Jesuit Academy of Milwau- kee, and he was a mere boy when he secured a position in an office and there obtained an insight into clerical work. In 1875 he en- tered the employ of Romadka Bros., trunk manufacturers, and be- ginning in a humble capacity, steadily grew in favor with his em- ployers until in 1882, when he resigned his position and organized the firm of Abel, Boch & Fitzgerald, in the same line of business. So it continued until 1892, when Mr. Fitzgerald came to Chicago and purchased the trunk manufacturing business of Vogler & Geudtner, with a factory at 407-11 Wells street, with offices located on Madison street. This firm was one of the oldest in Chicago, having been established in 1860. Under Mr. Fitzgerald's careful and thorough superintendence the business grew rapidly, and in 1894 it became necessary to secure larger office quarters, and a suitable location was found at 245-49 Jackson Street. Mr. Fitz- gerald carries on the business under the name of the Fitzgerald Trunk Company, manufacturers of trunks, traveling bags, tele- scopes, etc., and is now one of the largest concerns of the kind in the country.
The subject of this sketch served ten years in an Irish military company in Milwaukee, known as the Sheridan Guards. In his religious views he is a Roman Catholic, and in his politics he is a Democrat.
Mr. Fitzgerald was married May 16th, 1888, to Miss Mary Cogan, daughter of James and Honera Cogan of the County Wicklow, and to them seven children have been born-Gilbert (deceased), Mar- garet, Sarah, Geraldine (deceased), Loretta (deceased), Florence and Frances.
Of an extremely retiring disposition, Mr. Fitzgerald seeks neither publicity nor notoriety. He is a thorough man of business, and his name is absolutely synonymous with uprightness and
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honor. Generous and liberal, every worthy appeal finds in him ready response, and esteemed and respected by his business asso- ciates, honored and revered by a host of friends, Mr. Henry J. Fitz- gerald is a very true type of the American Irishman.
JOHN SEXTON.
John Sexton was born in Dundas, Ontario, Canada, June 29th, 1858, his parents being Michael and Ellen (O'Connor) Sexton. The father came from County Clare, Ireland, to Canada in 1849, and at once engaged in railroad work. He died in 1879. His wife was a native of County Kerry, Ireland, and she died in the year 1873. The family moved to Niagara Falls, Ont., in 1866, where the subject of this sketch attended the parish school until he was thirteen years of age, when he secured employment with a rail- road, which, having retained for a time, he resigned to accept a better position in a store, remaining in the latter occupation for four years. In 1877, however, he came to the conclusion that Chicago was the fittest place for a young man of ability, integrity and honorable enterprise, and as with him to think was to act, he at once set out for this city, securing employment immediately in the tea business as a salesman and remaining in that capacity four years, part of the time being spent on the road in the position of traveling salesman. In 1884, having by strict frugality accu- mulated some money, and having thoroughly acquainted him- self with the tea and coffee trade, he determined to embark in business on his own account, Associating himself with a Mr,
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Hitchcock, under the firm name of Hitchcock & Sexton, a start was made, and the firm was in existence three years, when Mr. Sexton bought out his partner and has since conducted the busi- ness alone under the name of John Sexton & Co. Launched as a coffee and tea store in a small way, the business of the firm, owing to the business principles and honest methods used, prospered and increased until 1890, when a full line of groceries was added, and the business continued to increase until at the present time sales average $500,000 a year. A specialty is made by the firm of sup- plying hotels, clubs, public institutions, vessels and dining cars with groceries, and a large wholesale business is also done, in ad- dition to considerable out-of-town mail order trade.
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