USA > Illinois > Cook County > Chicago > Biographical history of the American Irish in Chicago > Part 42
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Mr. Cremin is a member of the Chicago Real Estate Board, the Chicago Fire Underwriters' Association and the Columbus Club, . and is an active and zealous member, ever working for the best
interests of the organization in every one of them. In distinctively Irish-American social societies of the best sort, he has always taken a prominent part, both as member and patron, and he will long be remembered as one of the most active and popular spirits in the pleasant and influential Irish-American Club, which crystallized within its membership so many well-known and congenial Irish- Americans of Chicago several years ago.
In the prime of life, and in the full strength of his best years, John F. Cremin has attained a commercial success and a wide- spread popularity which in every way has been well deserved.
PATRICK B. FLANAGAN.
The subject of this short sketch, who is a member of the legal confraternity, was born October 4, 1858, at Ballinameen, near Boyle, County Roscommon, Ireland, and came to this country in May, 1881. Of his parents, Bryan and Mary (Banahan) Flanagan, the father owned and carried on a farm in Ballinameen until his death in 1887, and the mother followed him to the grave three years later. The family is of good stock and for two hundred or three hundred years has had a place in the county.
Patrick B. Flanagan received his early education in the Na- tional schools of his native village, afterwards attending the col- legiate school at Elphin and then at Castlerea. In the latter town he graduated, and for twelve months thereafter was assistant 37
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school teacher under his brother at Treen, near Castlerea. He gave up this position and came to the United States, settling in Newark, New Jersey, and finding employment as shipping clerk in Cummings Bros.' leather factory. After spending some time in Newark, he came to Chicago, where he obtained a position as conductor with the Chicago City Railway Company. In 1888 he resigned his position with the railway company to accept the sec- retaryship of the South Side Street Car Men's Association. Thence he received an appointment under Mayor Cregier in the office of the City Collector, and later went into the Sheriff's office as bailiff in Judge Shepard's court, and then in Judge Baker's court. While in the latter he attended the Kent College of Law, and was admitted to the bar in 1895. During the strike of 1894, he resigned his position in the sheriff's office rather than take a rifle against men struggling for their rights and accepted a position as book- keeper at the Fourteenth Street Pumping Station. Having grad- uated from the law school, this was resigned and he commenced to practice in the Ashland Block under the firm name of Mahoney, McCallum & Flanagan.
In his profession Mr. Flanagan has handled a number of highly important cases and has been peculiarly successful. One case in particular may be cited, in which a man named Conlan, who was in the saloon business, died leaving an estate of $10,000 and with no heirs in the city. A wholesale firm, who had been given a trust deed to this property to secure the payment of a bill of goods amounting to $2,300 made an endeavor to collect through the Pro- bate Court, and also by foreclosure proceedings under their deed. Mr. Flanagan with much difficulty succeeded in discovering that the trust deed in question was given as security for the bill of goods, the payment for which had already been allowed by the Probate Court, and after a hard legal battle defeated the fore- closure proceedings.
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Mr. Flanagan was married in Chicago in 1886, to Anna G. Mar- tin, a Wisconsin lady whose father and three children served in the Union Army throughout the war. They have four children, Mary, John, Bernard and Kathleen.
He is a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, of which he has been county president for four years, and by whom, at the end of his second term, he was complimented with the presenta- tion of a gold medal and emblem of the order. He is a member of the Parnell Literary Social Club, president of St. Anne's C. T. A. S., treasurer of the Irish-American Lyceum, and for two terms was archon of Wentworth Council, 128, Royal League.
A thorough Irishman, an honorable gentleman, a sound lawyer and a good friend, Mr. Flanagan possesses thousands of friends throughout Chicago.
HUGH O'NEILL.
Although only twenty-seven years of age, Hugh O'Neill has a reputation as a lawyer, a writer and a speaker. He was born at Magherafelt, County Derry, Ireland, in October, 1870. He spent his youth in that most beautiful valley lying between the Slieve Galleon range of mountains on one side and the Antrim range of mountains on the other, with Lough Neagh, the largest lake in the British Islands, lying in the center, while crystal rivers flowed from the mountain sides between primrosed banks and wooded dells. The sublime beauty of the scenery had much to do with the forma- tion of his character and literary tastes. The green grass, the crystal waters, the flowery mead, the rich flora and foliage of the
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groves, the sublimity of the mountain scenery impressed them- selves on his young mind and have given to his style that peculiar charm that makes him pleasing as a public speaker, a writer and a conversationalist.
He was educated in the schools of Ireland and at the University of Notre Dame. He received the degrees of A. B., LL. B., B. L., and LL. M. Besides finishing his classical, literary and law courses, he studied surveying, engineering and medicine. While in Ireland . he took an active part in the Irish Home Rule movement as a writer and speaker. While at Notre Dame University he spoke on Ireland and wrote many articles on the struggles of Ireland for liberty.
In 1892 he was admitted to the bar in Chicago, and after prac- ticing for some time alone, he entered into a partnership with Mr. L. Bastrup, a well-known lawyer, and the firm of Bastrup & O'Neill . has now a fine suite of offices in the Reaper Block. The firm has a good standing at the bar and commands a lucrative practice.
Mr. O'Neill delivered an oration on "Ireland and Liberty" in Central Music Hall, Chicago, on the 17th of March, 1897. His fine delivery, his mastery of the subject and graceful manner made him master of his auditors. His speeches on the money question, labor problem and American ideas in modern civilization have the ring of true gold. His essays, speeches and orations show deep, broad thought and clear style.
As a lawyer he has a good standing at the bar. His eloquence, his strong personality, his constructive ability, his knowledge of human affairs, his liberal education, his sway over men's minds, his tact as an advocate, have given him a high place among law- yers.
He is a member of the Columbus Club and belongs to many fraternal organizations.
His family in Ireland has always taken an active part on behalf
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of their country's cause, and he inherits the patriotism of his race and family. Gifted as a talker, thorough as a scholar, energetic as a student and a worker, true as a friend, he is destined to reflect honor on himself and his race.
JAMES MAHONEY.
James Mahoney, though only thirty-four years of age, has made such rapid progress and attained such marked success in the live stock business that he is now president of the Standard Live Stock Commission Company. He was born in Chicago September 11, 1863, and is the son of the well-known William Mahoney, who came from Cork, Ireland, in 1847, and settled in Chicago as a live stock dealer. His father is still living at the age of seventy- four, and has been retired from business ten years. His wife, mother of James, was Honorah Hannan and a native of County Limerick, Ireland. They were married in Chicago in 1848, and had eleven children, four of whom are living, the eldest, David Joseph, is chief of one of the city fire departments; Thomas is a live stock dealer and connected with the Cumberland Packing Company; Daniel is buyer of stock for Swift & Co., and James, the subject of this sketch. The latter mentioned was educated at St. Ignatius College until seventeen years of age, when he started in his life work, assisting his father for a time in the live stock business. He then bought hogs for five years for the Anglo-American Packing Co., and for six years filled the same position for Swift & Co. He resigned from the latter firm to become president of the Standard
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Live Stock Commission Company, which concern was organized about four years ago, and has achieved considerable success.
Mr. Mahoney has been a member of the Sheridan Club from its organization. He has traveled extensively through the west in the interest of the stock business. He is a Roman Catholic in re- ligion and in politics is a Democrat, though usually voting for his friends and for whom he considers the best man regardless of party.
October 16, 1889, Mr. Mahoney married Miss Lydia Maeny, daughter of Phillip Maeny, an old resident of Chicago. They have had two children, neither of whom is living.
Mr. Mahoney is domestic in his tastes, though fond of athletic sports. Now in his early prime, with a sound constitution, ener- getic disposition and good business ability, unquestionably his al- ready successful and honorable career will continue and enlarge. It may be added that his genial temper and invariable courtesy have secured him a number of warm friends and well wishers.
REV. THOMAS BURKE.
Father T. Burke, the pastor of St. Columbkill's Parish, and one of the best known and most highly respected priests in the Arch- diocese of Chicago, was born in the town of Tipperary, Ireland, December 20th, 1827. His father was born at Benroa at foot of Cromwell Hill, in the parish of Hospital, County Limerick, and his mother, Mary (Cahill) Burke, was a native of. Ballyboy, parish of Upper Church, County Tipperary. Three of his uncles were priests
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and two aunts nuns in the Presentation Convent at Waterford. His father left the town of Tipperary in 1842, being elected master of the workhouse, but gave it up and with his family came to America in 1849.
The subject of this sketch had begun his studies in Thurles College, Tipperary, and completed at St. Mary's College on the Lake, Chicago. Ordained a priest July 4th, 1857, by Bishop O'Regan at old St. Mary's Church, afterwards destroyed by fire, on Wabash Avenue near Madison, he remained there five years and then came, February 2nd, 1862, to St. Columbkill's. What has been done since in his parish by this zealous and most energetic priest, belongs to the history of Catholicism in Chicago.
A few words in regard to St. Columbkill's Parish will not be out of place. Founded in 1858 under the pastorate of Father Ward, on his death the Rev. Father Kenney succeeded until the latter too passed away and the Rev. Father Thomas Burke was assigned charge February 2nd, 1862. The original church was a small frame building, yet in proportion with the population it was equally as commodious as is the present edifice for the accommodation of the present demands of the developed parish. Father Burke saw the inadequacy of the church as it was and set out at once to make additions. Gradually the needed work was done, the debts paid off and fifteen lots, including the present site of the church, purchased. The parochial residence was built soon afterwards at a cost of $17,000 and then the convent adjoining, which is in charge of Sister Gertrude as Superior. Further extensions became necessary and in 1871 a beginning was made and the present edifice was completed in 1877 at a cost of $170,000. It is of Illinois stone, built in the most substantial manner, and has a seating capacity of three thou- sand.
Business tact and considerable executive ability as well as much ingenuity were required to build up the parish and to raise the
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needed funds and the greater portion of all this work fell upon Father Burke. He has never recognized any such word as fail, and his parish is not only entirely out of debt, but is fully equipped for further advancement.
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JOHN A. QUALEY.
Typical of the ambition and energy so often found in those of the Irish race in the United States, is the active life of John A. Qualey. Student, lawyer, and promoter of large enterprises, he has always been well to the front in anything undertaken. While yet a young man, he has worthily earned the distinction of being entitled a thorough-going, active man of affairs and likewise, as the term goes, a thorough man of the world. Not only well known in Chicago, he is and always has been warmly esteemed by all who know him, but his success in life is something in the anticipation and accomplishment of which a host of friends share. John A. Qualey was born in Columbus, Ohio, where his father, John Qua- ley, settled in 1832. His mother was a member of the Nevins fam- ily, Julia (Nevins) Qualey. Mr. Qualey's father helped materially to erect the first English speaking church (Catholic) in Columbus, in the early 40's. Mr. Qualey was a well educated man and fol- lowed pharmacy in his early youth, afterwards engaging in the wholesale boot and shoe business in Columbus. The old family home in Ireland of the Qualeys was confiscated in '98 and has been, and is now occupied by the St. Georges. A beautiful marble monument stands over the family plot in Freshford erected by Mr. Qualey's father and his uncle William in the 60's. The name was originally spelled "Quealey," and it is believed to have been orig- inally O'Kelly.
!
John a Qualey
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John A. Qualey's education was commenced in the parochial schools of Columbus, Ohio, and the Columbus Academy, and he afterwards attended and graduated from St. Mary's College, Day- ton, O. From early youth he evinced a desire to fit himself thor- oughly for professional life, and after leaving college entered the law office of English & Baldwin, at Columbus, O., under the spe- cial tutorage of William Baldwin, an old friend of his father. He was a graduate of Yale and an able jurist and for thirty years one of the leaders of the Ohio bar. Mr. Qualey was admitted to the bar by the Supreme Court of Ohio in 1885. He was elected clerk of the Senate in the following year and appointed private secretary to Lieut .- Governor John G. Warinch in 1887, practicing law in Co- lumbus in the meantime. Leaving Columbus, Mr. Qualey came to Chicago with letters of introduction, particularly one from the noted Hon. Allen G. Thurman to ex-Senator James R. Doolittle of Wisconsin, resident and practicing law in Chicago. Soon after his arrival here, he was admitted to the Illinois bar by the Supreme Court, remaining with Senator Doolittle for about a year. There- upon he formed a connection with the noted lawyer, W. S. Forrest, remaining with him until after the famous Cronin trial. Subse- quently he formed the legal firm of Wing, Carter & Qualey.
With the well known contractor Mr. Joseph S. Qualey, he organ- ized the Qualey Construction Company and contracted with the Drainage Board to build section "Five" of the great Drainage Canal, an undertaking involving the expenditure of nearly $1,000,- 000. At the present writing Mr. Qualey is president of the Trust Mutual Life Association of Pennsylvania, and his ever active inter- est in mining is represented by his identification with the Pennsyl- vania Copper Company, of which he is the president. Notwith- standing the manifold duties involved in holding these positions, he nevertheless finds time to keep in the practice of his chosen pro- fession at the Philadelphia bar.
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February 12th, 1889, Mr. Qualey married Miss Elizabeth F. Lally, the oldest daughter of Mr. John Lally of the Chicago Board of Trade and a commission merchant for the past thirty-five years. Mr. and Mrs. Qualey have at present two children, St. Bertrand Qualey and Florence Elizabeth Qualey.
Our subject has been a good deal of a traveler and is literally familiar with every part of the United States, having crossed the continent fully thirty times or more.
Many qualities unite in John A. Qualey to account for his gen- eral popularity and his many friends. A life long Roman Catholic, he is absolutely without religious prejudice and of broad and lib- eral views; a consistent Democrat, he takes a broad latitude of view in relation to men nominated by the party and the principles and platform they represent. A clear thinker and forcible speaker, endowed with the graces of natural oratory, Mr. Qualey is and ever has been not only a convincing and a brilliant advocate at the bar but a welcome speaker at the clubs and in society. His life so far has been well filled.
HON. D. G. RAMSAY.
Hon. D. G. Ramsay, attorney at law and late member of the Illi- nois Legislature, was born near Martinsville, Ill., October 29th, 1864. His parents, William and Eliza Ramsay, were both natives of Letterkenny, County Donegal, Ireland. When twenty-four years of age Judge Ramsay, the father of the subject of this sketch, came to this country and entered into the mercantile business, returning to his boyhood home in Ireland a couple of years later for his bride. For upwards of half a century they made their home in Clark Coun-
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ty, Illinois. Although he was a lawyer and presided for more than twenty years as Justice, he was more widely and generally known as a merchant. Both he and his wife reached an old age and are buried side by side at Martinsville, Ill.
The first work of D. G. Ramsay was when a child selling matches; later newspapers and various notions were added to the stock in trade, which pursuit was soon abandoned to take advant- age of a few months' schooling. He commenced railroading on the "Vandalia Line" when but a boy, driving the horse at the water tank; later he became messenger at the station, where he learned telegraphy and was then placed in charge of an office. For about seven years he followed railroading, during which time he worked in nearly all the large telegraph offices on the road, and for a couple of years did clerical work in the East St. Louis freight office of the line.
While filling the position of telegrapher in one of the offices of the Vandalia Line in East St. Louis he began the study of law. Afterwards he resigned his position with the company and accept- ed a position in the law and real estate offices of the late ex-Mayor John B. Bowman. He also served two years as assistant cashier of the East St. Louis Bank, and in the meantime attended law school at McKendree College, where he graduated with honors. Law was practiced by him in East St. Louis for four years, during which time he distinguished himself and built up an enviable repu- tation as an attorney. In the fall of 1890 he was elected representa- tive to the Thirty-seventh General Assembly of the Illinois Legis- lature. He was one of the famous "101"-the Democrats who voted for General Palmer first, last and all the time for United States Senator, and finally lifted their candidate into the coveted office.
At the sixth annual session of the Grand Division of the Order of Railroad Telegraphers, which was held at St. Louis in June, 1891, at the earnest solicitation of his many friends, Mr. Ramsay consent-
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ed, although he had no personal desire for the position, to be a can- didate for the office of Assistant Grand Chief Telegrapher. He was elected, and before the close of his term assumed charge as Acting Grand Chief, because of the resignation of the Grand Chief, Hon. A. D. Thurston.
At the seventh annual session of the order held in Chatta- nooga in May, 1892, he was unanimously elected Grand Chief, and at the next annual convention, held at Toronto, Canada, in May, 1893, was again unanimously re-elected, being succeeded at the . annual convention held at Denver in May, 1894, by the present in- cumbent, Grand Chief Powell.
Ilis great executive ability and former business experience ac- crued to the benefit of the Order in his official relationship, and his administration was in consequence characterized by great activity. Within less than two years' time the organization increased in mem- bership more than three-fold.
After retiring from the executive chair of the O. R. T. in May, 1894, he located in Chicago on July 11th and resumed the practice of law. Within a few months thereafter he accepted the office of Assistant State's Attorney, which he filled until March 6th of the present year, when he resigned to again take up the private practice of law. While Assistant State's Attorney he proved himself to be a successful and fair prosecutor, never demanding the conviction of any one whom he thought to be innocent, and in all eases giving to the accused the benefit of every doubt.
As a fraternal man he ranks high, being an Odd Fellow, a thirty- second degree Mason, a Knight of Pythias and a member of several other fraternal organizations.
He was married October 10th, 1894, to Estella Humes, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. S. H. Watson of Vinton, Ia. Mr. Watson was for more than forty years, and until his death, August 7th, 1891, a prominent banker of that city. Mr. and Mrs. Ramsay reside at 341
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Rush Street, Chicago, where they have a very happy home, sur- rounded by many warm and admiring friends. Mrs. Ramsay is a charming lady of cultivated tastes, being an artist and musician of considerable attainments.
Mr. Ramsay is a notable example of the self-made man, and even from this necessarily brief sketch it is evident that he not only possesses a high order of executive and general mental ability, but in addition, indomitable energy and perseverance, qualities which have enabled him to surmount all his difficulties in the past, achieving the best results in whatever position he has filled, and have also un- questionably assured for him an honorable and successful future career.
JOHN JULIUS KINSELLA.
John Julius Kinsella was born in Lockport, Ill., January 12th, 1859, his parents being John and Mary (Ryan) Kinsella. John Kin- sella, the father, was a native of County Carlow, Ireland, who emi- grated to the United States about the year 1845, settling for a time in Connecticut and later moving to Illinois, where he located on a farm near Lockport and died there in 1887. He came of a sturdy Irish family and was held in the highest regard by every one who knew him. In the old country members of his family were inti- mately connected with Smith O'Brien troubles, and were also well known for their adherence to the Catholic Church, at one time there being over one hundred of the family in one way or another holding ecclesiastical positions. The mother of the subject of this sketch came of a Kilkenny family, who had settled in the State of Maine. She died in this city in the year 1890.
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John J. Kinsella attended the public schools of his native place, and later the St. Ignatius College, until he was eighteen years of age, when he went west and for two years lived in Denver and the mountains of Colorado. He then returned to Chicago and engaged in business with his brother, Mr. F. D. Kinsella, who had in 1876 established a plant for the making of mirrors, art glass, fancy glass for church windows, and the like. A large number of the principal hotels and restaurants of Chicago have been furnished with the glass ornamentation, which is such a striking feature of Chicago establishments, by this firm, whose reputation is well known throughout the west.
Mr. Kinsella was one of the charter members of the Sheridan Club, and from 1888 to 1889 had the honor of being its president. HIe is a Roman Catholic, and belongs to the congregation of St. Elizabeth's Church, while in politics he is a Democrat. He is a man of large acquaintance and is very greatly esteemed.
JOHN DICKEY MURPHY.
The business of the City of Chicago numbers among its ablest and most respected officials many of Irish birth or Irish descent, and of these, few are better known than the subject of the present sketch.
John D. Murphy was born in this city, January 24th, 1842, at the northwest corner of Market and Washington Streets. His father, who was born in Ireland, came from the East in 1840. Ed- ucated in the public schools, he began at the age of sixteen to learn
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the trade of a boiler maker in the shop of T. W. Cobb, on West Water Street, near Kinzie. In 1855 he went to Rock Island, where he worked in the shops of the Weber Manufacturing Company. He returned to Chicago in 1858, and found employment in the shops of the Racine & Mississippi Railroad Company. In conjunction with a number of others, in 1867 he founded the Chicago Boiler Works, in which he remained interested until, in the great fire of 1871, the works were entirely destroyed.
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