USA > Illinois > Cook County > Chicago > Biographical history of the American Irish in Chicago > Part 48
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Mr. Onahan has creditably held various public offices. He acted
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as school inspector in 1863-4. In 1869 he was elected city collector on the Citizen's ticket, and to this office he was again returned by appointment in 1879, 1881, 1883, 1885 and 1887, resigning in 1888. Next year he was appointed to the important office of Comptroller, which he filled for two years, much to the advantage of the munic- ipal finances of Chicago. He was also member of the Public Li- brary Board, 1874-1881.
His library is worthy of special mention; it is a vast collection of rare and interesting volumes, many of them not to be duplicated in Chicago, some perhaps not in America. His home, No. 37 Ma- callister place, is the frequent meeting place of the social and liter- ary Loyola Club.
In 1869 Mr. Onahan married Miss Margaret C. Duffy. Of six children they have left but one, Miss Onahan, secretary of the Loyola Club and a talented contributor to various Catholic maga- zines.
HON. THOMAS BRENAN.
A very remarkable man is Thomas Brenan. Ever unpreten- tious of his own merits, he has pursued year in and year out, the even tenor of his ways, always doing as best he can whatever labor or duty falls to his lot in the course of affairs. Mr. Brenan, to use his own terms, has called himself merely "an average good citizen," but certainly one who has responsibly been in the official life of the city continuously for at least thirty-five years, must defer some- what to the more flattering judgment of his contemporaries.
Thomas Brenan was born on Prince Edward Island in Nova Scotia. His father was Martin Brenan, a farmer of Wexford, who
Thomas Renan.
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went to Dublin, married there, and soon after sailed for America, settling for the time in Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia. Mr. Martin Brenan was a merchant, and it was during his business career in Nova Scotia that his son Thomas, the subject of our sketch, was born. He accompanied his father to the United States in 1844, the family settling in Boston, where Thomas Brenan attended an excellent school. Mr. Brenan, Sr., settled in Chicago in 1849, going into business in a two-story building on the corner of Lake Street and Wabash Avenue. The family lived in the upper part of the building over the store, and was at once attached to the Parish of St. Mary's Catholic Church, then on Madison Street. Young Brenan, in early life, entered the employment of Stearns & Springer, dealers in hardware on Fifth Avenue, at that time called Wells Street.
Although a successful and winning salesman, Mr. Brenan thought he could do better in the City of Peoria than in Chicago, Peoria at that time making some very considerable pretensions to rival the future metropolis of the West. He accepted the position of chief clerk in the Peoria Hotel, and made a very marked success of his new line in life. For two years he continued in charge of that popular house, but soon after that time returned to Chicago and went into business for himself under the firm name of Brenan & Gillen. At this time he was a near friend and liberal supporter of Senator Douglas, and in the fierce struggle that preceded the war, was known as "a Douglas Democrat." He was also at that time, as all public citizens were, a member of the historic fire department, and helped to man the engine Red Jacket No. 4, his captain being D. J. Swenie, the present fire marshal of the city. He was always prominent in Catholic societies; was a member of the same literary society with Colonel James A. Mulligan, the Hon. Barney G. Caul- field, congressman of the south division, the Hon. W. J. Onahan, afterwards city comptroller, B. J. Semmes and other influential and really brilliant young Irish Catholics. At the outbreak of the war,
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this pleasant phase of life with Thomas Brenan came suddenly to an end. The celebrated Colonel Mulligan had raised the force afterwards known as the Mulligan Brigade, in which Mr. Brenan was appointed second-lieutenant. He went to the front with the brigade, was with Colonel Mulligan in West Virginia, and was on staff duty the day on which the gallant Mulligan was killed. He was also close to the spot where the brave young Nugent was shot down, at the time being exposed to the bullets of the enemy. Colonel Mulligan at that time commanded 20,000 men, the famous brigade bore its part with terrible effect upon the enemy, but its own losses were great and it came out of action a broken organization. Upon his return to Chicago after the war, Mr. Brenan was identified with mercantile pursuits, but soon after- wards relinquished them to assist W. J. Onahan, who had been ap- pointed city collector, and subsequently filled the responsible post of assistant to the popular and well remembered Daniel O'Hara, who had been elected city treasurer. He was subsequently ap- pointed assistant treasurer under City Treasurer Seipp, the ap- pointment being purely a business rather than a political one, for Mr. Brenan's competency was as notable as his integrity. When Rudolph Brand succeeded Seipp as City Treasurer, Mr. Brenan was paid the marked tribute of a reappointment. Later on, when Mr. Seipp became County Treasurer, he remembered the able, honest man who had been his assistant in the City Treasurer's office, and he secured his services as Assistant County Treasurer. Soon after, Mr. Brenan went into the real estate business, in which he is still engaged as head of the firm of Cremin & Brenan. Tom Brenan's goodness and unselfishness will be fully realized one day -- when he will have gone to his reward.
For nearly a quarter of a century Thomas Brenan has been a member of the Board of Education of Chicago. As such he en- joys the rare distinction of having earned the verdict of citizens of
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all classes, creeds and parties, that whatsoever may be said of others, his record stands unstained by a speck of dishonor, un- clouded by even the shadow of unworthy suspicion. His career as a member of the school board, as all Chicagoans know, has not been merely negatively worthy. Every one who knows anything about the administration of school affairs in Chicago, realizes that the services of Mr. Brenan to the cause of education during his connec- tion with the board have been priceless, inestimable. He had never been in favor of radical innovations, but he has ever been alert, quick to see the value of modern developments and ready to apply them conservatively and in a business-like way. While he has been loyal to the interests of Chicago and to the interests of education, he has been supremely faithful to the interests of the army of work- ers who comprise the teaching force of the Chicago public schools. In their troubles, in their struggles, in their anxieties, the Chicago teachers, high and humble alike, know that there is one man to whom they can go for assistance and advice, and who will treat them with the helpfulness and solicitude of a father and a friend. In this connection it can be truthfully said, that when Thomas Brenan passes away from the scenes of his goodness and charity, the most enduring monuments to glorify his memory will be the countless homes which owe their happiness and brightness to him.
The charitable institutions in Chicago have in Mr. Brenan an invaluable friend. The heads of many of these institutions, un- versed in the ways of the world, tyros in the intricacies of business transactions, invariably and unfailingly call on Thomas Brenan in their difficulties. In their distress to him they appeal; he always knows how and where to secure the wherewithal to tide them over their privations, sometimes he secures it from others, oftener it comes from his own personal resources. Not a trace of vanity or self-glorification is there in the character of Thomas Brenan. He is a Catholic of Catholics. Ilis faith is of the simple, pure, exalted
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kind. He is not a theoretical Catholic. His Sunday professions are stamped on his week-day works. He is not a bigoted Catholic; he has a helping hand and a friendly word for all who need the one or seek the other, whatever their creed. He shrinks from notoriety. He has no yearning for honors, and once he set a good many people wondering by frowning on a movement designed to secure for him a mark of notable distinction at the hands of Pope Leo XIII. They wanted to transform "Tom" Brenan into "Count" Brenan. He stamped out the movement immediately after its inception. He killed the movement outright and penned as its epitaph: "There is no prouder title than that of a plain American citizen."
JOHN GREEN.
John Green, member of the well known contractors firm of Far- ley & Green, was born January 12th, 1862, in County Sligo, Ireland, where his father Robert Green followed the occupation of a farmer.
What little of early educational advantages the subject of the present sketch enjoyed was received in the national schools of Ire- land, which he left at an early age and for some time worked on his father's farm. Then a little over thirteen years of age, the boy journeyed to Glasgow, where he found work in the ship yards, but his wages as an apprentice were so small that after a hard trial of six months, without even being able to earn a sufficient amount to pay living expenses, he was forced to give up. Hardship and pov- erty seemingly being his portion on land, he decided to take up the sea for a living, and sailed from Glasgow on a ship called "Our Queen," bound for the East Indies. Two months out, the ship took
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fire, and it became necessary to head for a lone island in the South- ern Pacific Ocean named Christandicuno. The fire, which started at four p. m., was fought ineffectually all night in the endeavor to confine it to the hold of the vessel, but at last all hope had to be abandoned, and the only thing to be done was to abandon. Their ocean home in flames, they took to the boats with the object of reaching the island, but then another obstacle was encountered, for the wind changed to a direction immediately off the land, and so they were prevented from reaching the shore. Of food they had a sufficiency, but there was no water, a fact which occasioned them all considerable suffering. At last, however, after some hours of suspense, a phenomenally huge wave caught the boats and landed them safely almost on the beach and in near proximity to a bub- bling stream of fresh water. Twelve days having been passed on the island, provisions began to run short, and the weather having moderated, the boat was launched and a sail was made for the island settlement. Here the government was found to be entirely on the Socialistic plan, and the people would accept no money, de- claring it of no use whatever to them. They lived by tilling the land, raising necessaries and supplying vessels with vegetables in trade for bolts of calico or other fabrics, and occasionally for tea or coffee. It was three months before an American whaler put in for fresh provisions, and though the islanders were anxious they should all remain and help develop the island, they bade their friends good-bye and sailed for the Cape of Good Hope. A week later an English troop ship bound for London was spoken, and, going aboard, the wrecked sailors in five weeks found themselves in London. All Mr. Green's possessions were the clothes he had on and three shillings in cash, so he was obliged to go back to the steamer and set to work unloading. He remained some time with that vessel and then shipped on the "Nemesis" for South America. When land was sighted, with another shipmate, leave was ob-
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tained to go ashore, and instead of returning, work was found as section hand on a railroad. The change was not for the better, and both decided to try and find work in the city of Lima. Mr. Green was at this time, however, taken sick with ague, and was laid up a considerable time, during which he studied the Spanish language. He was barely convalescent when the doctor told him he would have to leave the hospital, and it was only on his hard request and having shown his knowledge of Spanish by writing an application in that language that he was able to obtain a place in the hospital as doctor's clerk. His duties were to write down the prescriptions, carry the same to the drug store and afterwards ad- minister to the patients. He was chiefly assigned to the surgical ward, and there he became acquainted with a number of railroad men, one of whom was a district superintendent suffering from a broken leg. Being well disposed towards the young man, he per- suaded the latter to let him the contract for building four miles of road, upon which Mr. Green was able to clear $20,000. Again bad health forced him into the hospital, and on recovery he embraced the chance of a place as boy on an England bound ship. For some months he studied, making a specialty of navigation subjects, and then went to sea on short trips for the following four years. His next move was a place as first mate on a large sailing vessel, trad- ing between Montreal and Liverpool. While in the former port, some lake captains of his acquaintance induced him to become a sailor on the lakes. His decision was an unfortunate one, for the fall of 1874 found him in Chicago without a cent. Looking after work, he visited Armour's packing house and got a job for the win- ter as fireman. The spring following he was led by glowing ac- counts of money to be made to go into the woods of Wisconsin and cut timber for the barrel factories. The work, however, failed to pay expenses, and he returned to Armour's packing house, where he worked in every department and obtained a very thorough
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knowledge of the business. Mr. Green left the service of Mr. Ar- mour to enter the employ of the latter's brother-in-law, Mr. Chapin, as engineer and tank man, or head lard-maker. A few months afterwards Mr. John Cudahy came to this city from Milwaukee, and the firm of Chapin & Cudahy was formed, Mr. Green retaining the same position. Mr. Chapin left the firm later, and the subject of this sketch worked with Mr. J. Cudahy for sixteen years, resigning just twelve months before the latter's failure.
For some time he looked after the property he had been able to accumulate, but his disposition was far too active to be satisfied with that kind of life, so he once more set out seeking a position. At last he found a place as night superintendent of Machinery Hall at the World's Fair, and there he remained until the close of the exposition. Shortly afterwards he went to work for Mr. Farley, and six months later the partnership which now exists was formed. Their success has been of a very appreciable character, the firm now owning a couple of steam shovels and a couple of railroad cars. Work is now being done on the West Forty-eighth Street system of sewers, the contract of Farley & Green amounting to $210,000.
In his political views Mr. Green has always been a Republican, and in national affairs he will always so remain. He was married in April, 18-, to Elizabeth Driscoll, and they have a family of three children, one boy and two girls.
Mr. Green is beyond all question an excellent example of the man who, through early disadvantages and drawbacks, hard work and many vicissitudes, has fought his way to an honorable position and a competence, demonstrating plainly that where there is a will there is a way. In his personal appearance he is a man of fine physique, tall and well set up, and evidencing at once a fine con- stitution and a rich supply of business abilities and indomitable energy.
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CAPTAIN JOHN BYRNE.
Well up in the roll of honorable mention on the records of the Chicago Police Department, is the name of Captain John Byrne. The best years of his life have been given to the service and at a time when the history of the city was full of important incident, years during which occurred some of the most notable events in the growth and development of Chicago. For twenty-five years was Captain Byrne a worthy, gallant and trusted officer in the city's service, a period of duty commenced in the ranks as a patrol- man, extending through all grades of promotion and ending with the distinction of a captain's rank and the confidence and esteem of all who ever knew him either in official or social life. From the time he first took up police duty at the "Old Armory" station under Superintendent William Kennedy, in the autumn of 1870, till his retirement as a captain on the pension list, an honorable member of the Veteran Police Association, Captain Byrne has always led a most active career, replete with incident and responsibility, and frequently fraught with danger. The most trying and irksome rou- tine duty found in him a cheerful and faithful servant, and occa- sions of public excitement and danger, a judicious and fearless offi- cer. In times of public turbulence and danger, resulting from the strikes and riots, in the trades, on the railroads, and through the anarchist troubles, which created most grave conditions in this city, the utmost confidence was placed in his judgment and courage. It is noteworthy that when in charge of the Deering Street district, the locality of many serious strikes among the rolling mill em- ployes and iron ore workers, as in other large strikes and threat- ened riots, Captain Byrne could accomplish better results with
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masses of determined and excited men by reasoning and persuasion than could be gained from any show of mere force. His possession of a very high degree of executive ability, as valuable as it is rare, was splendidly shown in the admirable way in which he managed the central or down-town district of this great city during the crowded and exciting times of the World's Fair, and afterwards to the close of 1895. When the late Carter H. Harrison became the "World's Fair mayor" of Chicago, he at once appointed Captain Byrne to the full charge of its central or down-town district, with headquarters at the City Hall. To preserve order and protect the center of the city and the many thousands of citizens within it, at such a time, and under such trying circumstances, speaks volumes for the capacity, courage and executive ability of Captain Byrne, yet that the great task was efficiently performed is proved by the fact that though his four special details of officers, each one hun- dred strong, looked almost lost in the vast crowds prevailing, rob- beries from the person, from stores, and accidents were of very rare occurrence during that exciting time. In fact, a robbery of any importance or value or an accident of very serious nature was not reported during the whole period in the great and crowded district of which he had responsible control. This is a chapter of police experience which is in itself a distinction and a fitting climax to an honorable public career.
Captain John Byrne was born in Oran, County. Roscommon, Ireland, in 1847. His father, Patrick Byrne, came of a family of substantial farmers long settled in that place, where yet the old farm remains in good condition and in the possession of an elder brother. His father was noted as a fine stock raiser, particularly for his fine horses and sheep. His horses repeatedly took English, Irish and Scotch prizes at the great horse fairs held in Galway, and his sheep took prizes and brought the highest prices at Ballin- asloe Fair, County Galway. The captain's mother, Catharine
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(McDermott) Byrne, was a daughter of a McDermott family long settled as farmers at Cloonkeene near Castle Ray.
Young Byrne received his first education at a monastery school and later at the public school. At the age of sixteen he accom- panied an uncle to the United States. For two years he clerked in a New York store and then came west, reaching Ottawa in 1867. In the autumn of that year he settled in Chicago and was employed in the hotel business until 1870, when he entered the service of the Chicago Police Department. His first duty was at the "Old Armory," Adams and Franklin Streets, and it was while attached to this district that he was promoted to a sergeantcy, October 1st, 1874. A difference between two superior officials of the depart- ment brought about Sergeant Bryne's retirement in 1877, and he went into business on his own account for a couple of years there- after. When elected for his first term in 1879, Mayor Carter H. Harrison reinstated Sergeant Byrne, promoted him to a lieutenancy and he was assigned to duty at the Harrison Street Station, where he remained till December, 1880. Subsequently he was given charge of the great Deering Street District, with headquar- ters at the Fourth Precinct Station, where he remained until 1887. He served under Mayors Cregier and Washburne at Stanton Ave- nue, Twenty-second, the Central and Maxwell Street Stations until the re-election of Carter H. Harrison in 1893, as "World's Fair mayor" of Chicago. Mayor Harrison made Lieutenant Byrne a captain, and he was at once appointed to the responsible post in charge of the central division of the city during the World's Fair period, alluded to above.
Captain Byrne was an early member of the Columbus Club and of the Irish American Club. He is a member of the Knights of St. Patrick, Independent Order of Foresters, the Police Benevolent and Veteran Police Associations. His religious views are those of a liberal Catholic, and his political affiliations have usually been with the Democratic party.
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He married September 29th, 1874, Miss Mary F. Seery, daugh- ter of Thomas Seery, who for a number of years kept the Harrison House in this city. Their children are one son, Thomas P. Byrne, educated at St. Viateur's College, Kankakee, and the De LaSalle Institute; and four daughters, Kate, Irene, Maggie and Bernice, all of whom attended the academy connected with St. James Church,
CAPTAIN MARTIN HOGAN.
Captain Martin Hogan, the well-known owner and manager of Hogan's Transfer Line, was born in County Tipperary, Ireland, on the banks of the beautiful Shannon, on St. Patrick's day, 1837. His father, Roger Hogan, as well as his mother, was a native of the same county, as indeed were his ancestry for several hundred years before.
Martin Hogan was educated in the parish schools of his native place, leaving school at an early age to work for his father, who owned a number of boats, technically known as sloops, on the Shannon. He came to this country in 1854 and settled in Chicago, beginning his career on the lake boats, in which he worked before the mast. After about two years, he secured an interest in some boats plying between Chicago and St. Louis, and from such a com- mencement he has gradually advanced from common sailor to cap- tain and from captain of one boat to be captain and owner of a considerable number. This occupation has always been the main interest and business of his life, although at various times he has been interested in real estate and also in the 43
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coal business. Captain Hogan, as his carriage and general bear- ing gives witness, was for several years a member of the Mont- gomery Guards, and was on duty in the lager beer riots.
Captain Hogan, who has traveled extensively through the South and West for pleasure and information apart from his busi- ness operations, has a fund of information, and is a very interesting conversationalist.
He was married April 10th, 1860, to Sarah, daughter of James Watson, of County Armagh, Ireland. They have one son, who is married and the father of three boys, and also a daughter un- married.
Even by this brief sketch it is possible to see in what manner Captain Hogan has, without any exterior advantages, raised him- self to a high and honorable position and thereby fulfilling the chief ambition of his life. He is a man of fine presence, and bears his years in a remarkable way, notwithstanding the struggles and hard work of his youth and early manhood. To see him sitting in his handsome residence on Greenwood Avenue, surrounded by his wife, children and grandchildren, makes a picture of domestic com- fort and contentment it is most interesting to contemplate.
TIMOTHY O'SULLIVAN.
This popular Chicago Irishman, one of the best known figures in City Hall circles, was born in the historic town of Bantry, County Cork, Ireland, April 1st, 1844. His parents were Patrick and Dora (Burchell) O'Sullivan, his father, a native of Kerry, was engaged in the boot and shoe business. The latter died in 1860 in Ireland.
In Ofullman
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The subject of this sketch received his education in the national schools of his native town and afterwards in Dublin, graduating from the latter in 1863. Schooling over, his first occupation was the charge of a national school as principal from 1865 to 1868. He was engaged as private tutor to the family in Ireland, and was private secretary to the chief of mining engineers' department when he formed the acquaintance of Mayor Rice of Chicago, and in 1868 he came to the United States and was given a place under him in the Board of Public Works. From that time, with but one interval, he has been in the public service, and has done duty in every department of the city and county government. During the exception referred to-which lasted five years-he was principal of St. Patrick's Academy, Toledo, Ohio, and when he returned to Chi- cago he entered the office of the County Treasurer, to which he has since been continuously attached.
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