USA > Illinois > Cook County > Chicago > Biographical history of the American Irish in Chicago > Part 4
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49
FRANK A. DEVLIN.
Frank A. Devlin, one of Chicago's most successful and most popular business men, is a native of County Armagh, Ireland, where he was born August 3d, 1857. His father, Peter Devlin, was also a native of County Armagh, where he followed the busi-
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ness of a produce merchant for over fifty years, buying in the Irish markets-chiefly butter and eggs-and shipping to England. He acquired quite a competence and died at the good old age of eighty-four. His wife, mother of Frank A., was born in the same neighborhood, where she is still living at the age of eighty-three.
Frank A. Devlin was educated in the national schools of his native county and came alone to the United States when sixteen years of age. He knew sufficient of Chicago to make it his goal, and coming direct to this city, he almost immediately obtained work with Field, Leiter & Co. With that firm he remained for about six years, then accepting an engagement with Carson, Pirie & Scott as assistant buyer in the hosiery and underwear depart- ment. The following year he received promotion to the position of buyer and manager of the department, which, at that time (1879), was doing a business of one hundred thousand dollars a year, and under his able handling this has steadily increased until at the present time it has reached over a million and a half per annum.
As an illustration of the change in cost of production and in the purchasing power of a dollar, Mr. Devlin gives the fact that merchandise jobbed by him fifteen years ago for fifteen dollars a dozen can now be sold in the market for six dollars, so that it is now possible to purchase for one dollar what at that time would have cost three times that sum. When it is remembered also that while ten times as large a business is done by Mr. Devlin's depart- ment than at that time, yet the goods are about one-third cheaper, some idea can be formed of the immense number of cases to be handled and of the volume of business transacted.
In regard to the firm with which he is connected, Carson, Pirie & Scott can look back upon a constantly growing trade year by year until now they rank third, and possibly second to any house of their line in this country.
Mr. Devlin has been a member of the Columbus, Sheridan, and
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Iroquois Clubs for years, but he recently-much to the regret of his fellow members-resigned from all, and although he may be induced to reconsider such action, still the demands upon him physically and mentally on account of the responsibility of his position are so great that he has absolutely no leisure for club life.
Mr. Devlin has visited his native town several times and on several occasions also has traveled over Europe. In religion he is a Roman Catholic, while in politics he still considers himself a Democrat and has always voted the Democratic National ticket until last year, when, like so many of the old party, he voted for Mckinley. In local politics he has usually been more interested in aiding some friend than in voting for any party.
Mr. Devlin was married May 28th, 1879, to Jennie O'Reilly, daughter of Eugene O'Reilly, one of Chicago's oldest merchants, but who is now retired after acquiring by his unaided thrift and industry a handsome fortune. Mr. and Mrs. Devlin have three children, two boys and one girl. A great lover of horses and owning one of the finest stables in the city, he has been heard to remark that what with his horses and his charming family he really possesses no time for club life, or indeed, even to smoke cigars.
Now in the prime of life, a man of fine physique, of genial dis- position, and of courteous though naturally prompt manner, Mr. Devlin is a truly representative citizen, an honor at once to the city in which he lives and the Irish race from which he sprang.
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JOHN A. LYNCH.
John A. Lynch, the widely known and very highly esteemed president of the National Bank of the Republic, is a native of Chi- cago, and was born in this city June 11th, 1853. His parents were natives of County Clare, Ireland, and when quite young came to Chicago in 1850, his father, Thomas Lynch, for some forty years carrying on one of the principal distilleries of this city. He died in 1893.
John A. Lynch received a primary education in the public schools of Chicago, afterwards graduating from Dyrenforth Col- lege and later from Bryant & Stratton's Business College, receiving a thorough commercial training, which thoroughly equipped him for the important positions he was destined to fill. After leaving college, the young man began his career in his father's distillery business, starting at the bottom of the ladder as junior clerk and advancing through each consecutive grade until he became man- ager of the entire business, a position he held the last ten years of its existence. In 1891 he was elected director of the National Bank of the Republic and also a member of its finance committee, and in the following year became the president, and still retains that high and responsible office.
Mr. Lynch is a member of the Bankers' and other clubs. His mind has been broadened by considerable travel; he has crossed the ocean a number of times and is familiar with most of the con- tinent of Europe, and only recently has returned from a very in- teresting oriental trip. In his religious views he is a Roman Cath- olic, while in politics he has considered himself a Democrat, but, thoroughly independent in his views and action, in the last na- tional election he voted for McKinley.
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Mr. Lynch was married January 21st, 1896, to Miss Clara M. Schmahl, daughter of the late John Schmahl of this city.
From the very beginning of his business career, Mr. Lynch has been a hard and most indefatigable worker, at his post he has usually remained ten and twelve hours every day, and frequently even has worked right through the whole twenty-four. With such heavy duties and responsibilities, it is evident that his time for other occupations or for recreation has been very limited, and yet Mr. Lynch is a man of highly cultivated tastes and of esthetic ideas, a great lover of art and literature, indeed in the former being con- sidered quite a connoisseur. His residence at 44 Burton Place is a delightful dwelling, built in the Italian Renaissance style, and is adorned internally with some very fine pictures and other works of art. Here Mr. Lynch, who is a man of most courteous and genial manners and disposition, delights in entertaining his many warm and devoted friends, who respect him for his high business gifts and esteem for his good personal qualities.
TIMOTHY DAVID HURLEY.
Timothy David Hurley is a young American Irishman who is as proud of his birth and of his descent as his fellow countrymen should be to include in their ranks one of his record and brilliant achievement. He is a young man, but already his name stands high and if what he has already done may be taken as fair presage of his future Irishmen and Americans the world over will num- ber among their most esteemed representatives the subject of the present sketch.
Timothy 5. Hurley-
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Ile was born in Maysville, Mason County, Ky., August 31st, 1863, of parents unfavored by fortune but rich in the ability to implant in their son the principles which engender success and worldly honor, and it was entirely by his own efforts, through his determination of will and good power of application that he man- aged to secure a good education and lay a sound foundation for his after work in life. T. D. Hurley is the son of Timothy and Ellen (McNamara) Hurley, both natives of Blarney, in the County of Cork, Ireland. With a large colony of Irish, they emigrated to Kentucky in 1850 and settled near Maysville, where Mr. Hurley was married and the subect of this sketch was born. As a boy he was of an extremely studious disposition, but unfortunate circum- stances made it impossible for his parents to continue his school- ing to anything like the extent he would have desired. What of education he received was obtained at the Catholic Parish School, and at an early age he was obliged to secure employment and do all he could towards making a living for himself. His first work, like that of many men who have afterwards won renown, was as an apprentice to a printer, and of this trade he quickly made him- self master. He then concluded that the opportunities for a young man of his powers and ambitions were not as great in a small town as they would be in a city, and immediately determined to move to Chicago. This was in 1882, and arrived in this city he found employment with J. J. Spaulding & Co., job printers, and for three years worked in their office and in other job offices. It was in 1885 that he decided the profession of the law was that which afforded the best chances for his life work and then the difficulty arose in what manner could he obtain the necessary legal training and still work at the trade, which it was necessary for him to follow to make his living. The problem he had to solve was a very difficult one, but determination and energy can usually discover means and he made an arrangement with Mr. Spaulding
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by which he was permitted to work short hours, and also another with the Union College of Law, a branch of the North Western University, permitting him to pay for his tuition by doing the duty of night janitor of the school. His faithful service was rewarded in the second year by the printing firm, with the appointment of sub-foreman, and part of his work in the job office was done during the day and part at night, while at the same time he continued to pay for his tuition at the Law College by caring for the fires and the other duties of a janitor. It is not work, however, no matter its description, that can lower the individual, but the honest and faithful performance that elevates and ennobles the work. Not- withstanding the position Mr. Hurley was compelled to take in or- der to secure his education, his fellow students-broad-minded as is ever the characteristic of the true American-found nothing to sneer at, but rather much to admire and respect in their plod- ding and ambitious companion. This was well illustrated on many occasions and one is well deserving of mention. On Febru- ary 22nd each year-which is known at the North Western Uni- versity as University Day-the various branches of the college join in friendly intercourse in a dinner and to carry out in the accepted manner a toastmaster has to be selected. In 1887, among the students at the Law College were the sons of many wealthy and influential citizens of Chicago, but for the honored and re- sponsible position of toastmaster not one of these was chosen, but in token of their esteem and confidence in his ability, Mr. Hurley was selected to act, and his acquittal of the requirements of the position was such as to give every one the most complete satisfaction. On that occasion his teast was, "Come ye of the law and talk as you please, until the man in the moon allow 'tis green cheese," which, while affording the modest a good opportunity at a dinner table would assuredly be inadvisable to apply to the more responsible duties of members of the legal profession.
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The year he graduated, he was again given a chance to dis- tinguish himself. The Hamilton Club, a college debating society, of which he was a member, was in the habit of meeting once a week upon some chosen subject for debate. The subject at one of these meetings was, "Resolved, That Ireland Cannot Govern Herself," and three students were selected to speak for the con- tention, while three were to oppose. To Mr. Hurley, then still acting as janitor, was given the important part of closing the de- bate. A large crowd was present and the speeches made were on both sides full of sound argument, logical and strong. At last Mr. Hurley's turn arrived. From his youth upwards, he had been an omniverous reader, and having taken particular interest in all Irish matters, the subject was one in which he was well posted. His speech was a splendid one, and he made such a strong, pow- erful argument on the stand, that Ireland if allowed to govern herself was amply fitted so to do, that he had no sooner completed what he had to say than the judges universally declared in his favor. His speech was a surprise to everybody, for few at that time knew that he was of Irish extraction.
Having graduated-this was in 1887-he at once began the practice of his profession and until 1892, without any partner. In that year, however, he associated with him in the general practice of law, Victor K. Koerner, a grandson of Gustavus Koerner who was for many years on the bench of the Supreme Court, and who still remains with him in the Reaper Block. While, in his profes- sion, Mr. Hurley has been eminently successful and his time con- sequently is very fully occupied, he yet manages to devote every moment he can spare to the several charitable organizations with which he has been closely connected for many years past. It has been his constant practice every Sunday to visit the County Poor House and to attempt to alleviate the condition of the unfortunate inmates by giving them some enjoyment, especially in recitation,
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which has always been one of his chief pleasures, and upon one of his visits in 1888, he and a few others he had induced to accom- pany him, formed what has since become a powerful Chicago or- ganization of good and most charitable purpose-the Visitation and Aid Society. In number they were but a few individuals, but their hearts were large, and charity for worthy purpose filled their lives. With Mr. Hurley at their head, his office used as the headquarters, everything possible with their limited number and limited means was done until finally one of the body suggested that the organization should be made larger and a dinner given with the hope of creating a charitable fund. They were well aware that there were many men who give large sums of money each year to charity, who would be too willing to take part in such a work. The suggestion was acted upon immediately, Mrs. John Cudahy was seen by Mr. Hurley, who managed to interest her and secure her active co-operation as well as the promise that her husband should attend the dinner. The entertainment was given and that great Irishman, Mr. John Cudahy, generous and free, as is typical of his nationality, went personally to work and secured promises from ninety-four persons to attend the dinner, at which, when given, $2,200 was collected. The event is now an annual one. Mr. Chas. A. Mair acts as toastmaster, Mr. Michael Cudahy as chairman, and his brother, John Cudahy, as he did at the first, uses all his powers to promote and make a success. To those two brothers, those noble hearted Irishmen, ably assisted by Mr. Mair, the society acknowledges gratefully its indebtedness for the power to carry out all the good it now does in the city, for the society really acts as a sort of clearing house for charitable enterprises. Its agents visit the police courts and send the cases of destitution as required to the various public institutions. At the same time, the sick are attended to, arrangements have been made with all hospitals to receive those sent, employment is procured for the
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unemployed, and an agreement entered into with all railroads for a half-fare rate for those they desire to send out of the city.
Mr. Hurley has been president and the most active worker ever since the society was organized, with the exception of two years, during which time Charles A. Mair held the office. The estimation in which the society is held is shown by the fact that in this coun- try it is the only one of its kind which has received the special blessing of his Holiness, the Pope.
Mr. Hurley holds in addition the important and responsible office of president of the Illinois State Council of the Catholic Benevolent Legion, the leading Catholic fraternal society of the country. He is also a prominent member of the St. Vincent De Paul Society.
In his political opinions, Mr. Hurley is a Democrat, but as will be readily understood the time he has left to devote to politics is not very great. In 1895, however, he was a candidate for the office of Justice of the Peace, to which he was recommended on account of his standing at the bar by the judges of the Supreme, Circuit and County Courts. He was appointed by Governor Alt- geld upon his own application, but having failed to mix sufficiently with the machine politicians they united to oppose him, with the result that the Senate would not confirm. He intended, if he had received the office, to have used every endeavor to elevate it in public appreciation and to have made it in reality the poor man's court, and in addition to securing a large and well ventilated court room, to have made other much needed reforms in the pres- ent system.
In Irish affairs Mr. Hurley has always been most interested, but in late years circumstances have not led him to participate as actively as was formerly the case. There are few Catholics in Chicago better known than he is; his many charitable efforts bringing him into prominent connection with his co-religionists.
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He is a member of the Columbus and Jeffersonian Clubs and also the Third Ward Democratic Club.
He was married, September 19th, 1889, to Miss Mary A. Mur- tha, of Chicago, and their union has been blessed with four chil- dren, of whom two boys, Emmett and Gerald, are dead, but two little girls, Ethel and Dorothy, brighten his home and lighten and charm the limited leisure he can manage to obtain from his heavy professional duties and his self imposed charitable work.
HON. ELBRIDGE HANECY.
This very distinguished member of the Chicago bar was born March 15th, 1852, in Trenton, Wis. His descent is Scotch-Irish, the family having settled in Wisconsin about the year 1849. Of the parents of Judge Hanecy, his father, William Hanecy, fought in the Mexican War and died in 1853, while his mother, formerly Mary Wales, is living in this city at the advanced age of seventy-one.
The early education of the subject of the present sketch was re- ceived in the public schools, after which he attended the University of Milwaukee, where marked proficiency was shown in his studies. At sixteen years of age, he came to Chicago in 1869, and determined to study law and take up the legal profession. He began to read with Hervey, Anthony & Galt-then one of the best known and ablest legal firms in the city, and was admitted to the Illinois bar September 11th, 1874.
Mr. Hanecy immediately devoted himself exclusively to the prac- tice of his profession, and from the commencement, proved himself
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a most diligent and thorough student. His reward was satisfactory and he quickly succeeded in building up an extensive and well pay- ing law business, having for his clients many of the most successful business men of Chicago, who entrusted to his charge a number of very important and notable cases adjudicated in the local courts. These involved interests of great value, and upon the part of the at- torney, intense mental and physical effort, but he handled in such a manner as to gain general praise, conducting to a successful con- clusion. Having for a considerable time associated himself with Robert Hervey, the senior member of the firm before referred to, he afterward became and remained for some time the senior member of the law firm of Hanecy & Merrick. The reputation he had al- ready obtained both as a lawyer and in the Republican party, was evinced by his receiving by acclamation, in 1892, the nomination for Judge of the Circuit Court. He was, however, unsuccessful, al- though he led his party ticket by several thousand votes, and on renomination the year following, once more by acclamation, he was elected.
While at the bar, Judge Hanecy obtained the reputation of an excellent trial lawyer, and on the bench, his ready comprehension of a case and his ability to dispatch the business of the court, have frequently been the cause of wondering admiration on the part of the lawyers who practice at his bar. He is a man of the strictest integrity, absolutely high-minded, and entirely honorable in all his business methods. An able lawyer, he is now a talented and upright judge, and the possessor of gifts of the strongest judicial „ order; moreover, in his knowledge of the law, he is second to no judge on the bench of Cook County. His present prominence has been won by absolute merit, and there is no question that the re- gard of his fellow citizens and of his professional brethren are in- creasing as each term of court passes forward.
His standing among the general public has also been frequently
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demonstrated. It is the custom of the Brick Layers & Stone Ma- sons' Association, and also of the Chicago Contractors' Associa- tion, to elect one of the twenty-six judges of Cook County as um- pire, for the purpose of arbitration in cases of dispute or labor troubles. Upon three occasions Judge Hanecy has been selected to act in this capacity.
He was married March 1st, 1876, to Miss Sarah Barton, the daughter of William A. Barton, a well known retired contractor of Chicago. They have had seven children, of whom, with a single exception, all are living.
JOHN MCGILLEN.
Either as prominent citizen, representative business man, or thorough type of the energetic and resourceful Chicagoan, the Hon. John McGillen takes a high place in any community.
Born November 13th, 1861, he is still in his early prime, a man who has already done sufficient to justify the faith in the future he will achieve great things. John McGillen was born on South Water Street, Chicago, in one of the oldest landmarks of the city, situated between Wabash Avenue and State Street. His parents, Edward and Catharine (Doyle) McGillen, were both born in Ire- land and of good Irish origin. Edward McGillen had come to Chi- cago in the early 30's when only eight years of age, with a grand- uncle, James Kearney. He received his education in the public schools of the city, being afterward one of its most respected citi- zens. A complete genealogical record of the family was destroyed
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in 1871 by the great fire, and the details entirely lost. John Mc- Gillen obtained his education in the public schools and later from. the Christian Brothers. He left the latter when fourteen, enter- ing an abstract office, where his ability and trustworthiness quickly obtained for him a position of responsibility. For four- teen years he remained in the same employ, and during the last four was in charge of the court department of that firm. In 1889,. fully prepared in every way for the battle of life, he went into business with John P. Agnew, the firm being later completed by the addition of the late Francis Agnew. Such a combination was. bound to prove a successful one, and the firm of Agnew & Com- pany soon became known as one of the leading and most substan- tial concerns in the western States. Of the contracts undertaken, further mention is given in the sketch of the life of the late Mr. Francis Agnew, which appears elsewhere in this volume, but par- ticular notice is necessary to the construction by this firm of the Liberal Arts and Manufactures' Building of the World's Colum- bian Exposition. This building, the largest under a single roof ever erected in the United States, or indeed in any other country, covered some twenty-seven acres, and was an absolute marvel of the ingenuity possible to engineering science. At one time there were 1700 skilled workmen employed upon this work.
Mr. McGillen was one of the organizers of the Democrats of Cook County, and for two years, until the pressure of private busi- ness forced him to withdraw, its chairman. He was afforded an opportunity to show his power and influence at the time the late Mr. Carter Harrison and ex-Mayor John P. Hopkins were elected. For six years also he was a member of the City Council, where he quickly made his mark, and upon the retirement of Mr. Cullerton, was appointed to the chairmanship of the finance committee, an office of great responsibility, but which his natural abilities en- abled him to fill to the satisfaction of every one concerned.
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During the World's Fair, he was one of the six representatives of the Council deputed to receive the naval representatives of the great powers, his special task being the entertainment of the Ger- man contingent. Here Mr. McGillen was well at home, for in his ward on the north side the Teutonic element is peculiarly strong, and his genial manners had made for him many intimate friends therein.
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