USA > Illinois > Cook County > Chicago > Biographical history of the American Irish in Chicago > Part 5
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Mr. McGillen is a thorough Catholic. He was married in 1894 to the talented and amiable daughter of the well known Chica- goan, Mr. M. A. Devine. His disposition is of a thoroughly com- panionable character, and he is a member of several social clubs, including the Germania and Waubansea.
His present position in the business world is the result of con- tinual and unremitting work, straightforward honest dealing in every transaction, and absolute fidelity in all particulars towards his friends. His career is eminently typical of the successful Chi- cagoan-a man thorough in all his ways and doings, fearlessly fol- lowing the path he has started upon, and allowing no deviation until he has won the goal of every man who is worth the name, success.
MICHAEL WHELAN MURPHY.
Michael W. Murphy was born October 6th, 1844, at Hartland, McHenry County, Ill., where his father, Patrick E. Murphy, who had left Ireland when a boy, had settled on a farm. The latter afterward entered the grocery business in Woodstock, Ill., where he died in 1869. For years he was a prominent and well known
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citizen of that place, and was held in high regard by the com- munity. His wife, the mother of the subject of this sketch, was born in Kilkenny, Ireland, and at the advanced age of eighty-five years, is now residing in Chicago.
Michael W. Murphy was educated in the public schools and afterward attended the college of St. Mary's of the Lake, Chicago, where he graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Science in 1865. He then attended the Union College of Law of this city and was admitted to the bar in 1868. Two years was spent in the law office of Monroe & McKinnon, and at the end of that time he ac- cepted a position as book-keeper in a mercantile house with the intention of returning to the law later on. This, however, he never did. In 1878 he was engaged as book-keeper and cashier for M. W. Kerwin in the wholesale liquor business at 35 South Water Street, and filled that position most efficiently until May, 1883, when he was given an interest in the business, and the firm became M. W. Kerwin & Co. Mr. Kerwin retired May, 1888, having disposed of his interest to Mr. Murphy, and the firm shortly after- ward became Delaney & Murphy, occupying the same extensive premises they now occupy, 10 and 12 Wabash Avenue.
Mr. Murphy is a member of several social clubs and charitable organizations. He is a Catholic and a Democrat, but independent in his political action. Nearly every place of interest in the United States and in Europe has been visited by him and in the latter he spent a year with his family in 1895 and 1896.
Mr. Murphy married in December, 1871, Mary J. Synon, who was at the time principal of one of the grammar schools of the city. She was a woman of most charming personal appearance and lovable character. She died in 1879, leaving three daughters, Veronica, Ursula and Mary Irene.
Even by this brief sketch it will be seen that Mr. Murphy has made a marked success in his business career, yet many of
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those who knew him as a law student are inclined to regret he did not follow that profession, in which undoubtedly he would have made a brilliant and honorable record. Mr. Murphy is a man who gains and retains the affection and esteem of all who know him, always kindly and generous, courteous and genial, he is at the same time a man of thoroughly dignified bearing and manner.
KICKHAM SCANLAN.
The characteristics and qualifications necessary to the attain- ment of eminence in the legal profession are of so peculiar and varied a character that few men are found to possess. Among them must be a mind of extraordinary activity, with great re- ceptive power and yet equally retentive, a will strong to assert and indomitable in resolution and persistence, a spirit upright and unfearing, fired with faithful and honorable purpose. Perhaps it is in the legal profession more than in any other that these gifts and talents have an opportunity to display themselves. The reason is not difficult to discover. The essentials of success are labor unceasing, energy unrecognisive of unsurmountable diffi- culty, patience unlimited, and perpetual perseverance. The prizes. offered to the eminent are numerous and splendid, but talent alone cannot conquer; prolonged and arduous effort must ever accompany. Of Kickham Scanlan, yet in the early thirties, how- ever guardedly one must speak on the score of youth, it may be stated unhesitatingly and beyond fear of question, that no young lawyer to-day in Chicago gives nobler promise of future grand achievement.
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It was at one time asked of a judge whose abilities had raised him far above his fellows, to explain the secret of his success. He made reply, "Some succeed in the legal profession by extraordinary natural gifts, some by good fortune that is practically miraculous, but the great majority in addition to great gifts from mother na- ture, have plodding and perseverance made a part of their lives, for they have commenced without a dollar." To that great ma- jority also the subject of this sketch belongs, for he is eminently a self-made man.
The name of Scanlan is one dear to the hearts of every true Irish American, for with it are connected associations of the noblest patriotism and the truest manliness. Kickham Scanlan was born in this city October 23d, 1864, and is the son of Michael and Nellie (Hogan) Scanlan. His father, born 1836, at Castle Mahon, County Limerick, Ireland, which was the native county of his mother also, had come to America a child of seven with his mother. He is essentially a self-educated man, and was little more than a child when the necessities of daily life forced him to find work. The years of discretion reached, he was ambitious to be his own master, and in company with his brother, Edward, founded a candy business under the firm name of Scanlan Bros. Though so young, when he left Ireland's green shores, the affairs of his native land were to him of paramount interest. He identi- fied himself with every movement that had Ireland's good for a purpose, until he became recognized as a leader of the American Irish. In 1866, to keep his fellow countrymen better in touch with what was going on in the old land and among its workers and sympathizers on this side of the Atlantic, he founded an Irish newspaper, named by him the "Irish Republic." Two years later he became convinced that his design could be more advantageously carried out if the paper's headquarters were removed to a more populous and more active center, and consequently he left Chi-
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cago and located in New York City. There his journalistic enter- prise continued its publication until 1872, when he moved his headquarters to Washington, D. C., and continued there for an- other twelve months. Then a position was offered to him in the Bureau of Statistics of the Department of State, and in that posi- tion he has since remained. A poet and a prose writer of world- wide reputation; a man who has indeed music in his heart; an authority of well recognized excellence upon all matters affecting Ireland; a liberal contributor of Irish publications; he has since remained in Washington, although his dearest home is the hearts of the Irish people all over the world, who revere and love his name.
From the son of such a father, great things might well be anticipated. These have indeed been gratified. Kickham Scan- lan received his primary education in Washington, D. C., followed by a course in the Notre Dame University, at South Bend, Ind. Here he graduated in 1879, afterwards attending the high school at Washington, D. C., and after that undergoing a special course in English and classics for one year in the same place. His early training was liberal and thorough, and was a fit preparation for the profession he has chosen. After leaving school he entered the employ of the well known mine and coal merchant, Colonel W. P. Rend, with whom he remained three years, during the last twelve months taking charge of the Detroit branch office. De- termined to be a lawyer, he connected himself with Chicago's orator and great criminal lawyer, Luther Laflin Mills, and with the late George C. Ingham, who died in 1892. Kickham Scanlan was an apt pupil and showed himself entirely worthy of his great masters. As a criminal lawyer he stands to-day with few, if any, equals in the West. He has demonstrated his fine capabilities in that branch of the profession in very many cases, which are now famous, and which have gained him national fame. In this con-
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nection may be mentioned the Cronin trials, in which he appeared as counsel for the State. With the merits of that case, a merely biographical work has absolutely nothing to do, and it is sufficient to direct attention to the masterly ability displayed by Kickham Scanlan as State Prosecutor. It was, however, in the opening speech in the second trial, over which he occupied three days, that that opportunity came which well taken at its flood has brought him to fortune. Another noted case in which Mr. Scanlan figured for the defense, was the famous trial of W. J. McGarigle, in 1887, charged with complicity in the county commissioners' frauds. An- other notable case of his was the defense of Louis Jacobson for arson in connection with Chicago Bedding Company's plant at Kenosha, in 1895, when, of five defendants, his client alone ob- tained acquittal. Mention may also be made of the Millinghan poisoning case, at Denver, in which he was engaged with Luther Laflin Mills; the "tally sheets" frauds cases, at Columbus, O., and the Graham Hanks jury bribery case. The latter is famous as the first conviction ever obtained in a similar charge west of the Alle- ghanies. Since 1891 he has had an office of his own, and has been engaged in general practice. In the Yon King murder case, he managed to obtain acquittal for his three Chinese clients; in the Edwin Kohn case, where a letter carrier confessed to stealing a decoy letter, Judge Grosscup discharged him on a technicality taken by Scanlan, that a decoy letter was not such a letter as the statute contemplated; in the Barnes Jordan murder case, which he defended, and secured the acquittal of Donahue and Barbee; in the case where Commissioner Thomas J. McNichols had been in- dicted for bribery on a charge made by Judge John Barton Payne, of the Superior Court, he was again instrumental in obtaining an acquittal. These examples alone are sufficient to stamp him as one of the leading and most brilliant trial lawyers of to-day. In- deed, to record the many prominent cases in which he has partici-
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pated, either for the State or the defense, would be to give a fairly representative history of that branch of jurisprudence in Chicago of late years. Recently Mr. Scanlan is devoting most of his time to the civil branch of the law.
Mr. Scanlan is a speaker and an orator, yet his great earnest- ness and force of manner do not need and are not accompanied by any wild bursts of fancy. He is convincing because he acts on reason and uses clear and logical methods. With the details of every case undertaken he most fully acquaints himself, nothing is too small to investigate that might have bearing upon the case he is handling; no matter is too great, no person too high to be drawn upon for assistance if the necessities of his client's case so require. He is gifted with a strange knowledge of human nature, his keenness and sagacity enabling him to detect much a witness may be anxious to conceal and to extract important facts from what seemingly may be entirely immaterial to the issue.
Mr. Scanlan is an active member of the Republican party, and in the spring of 1896 was very prominently mentioned for the nomination of State's Attorney. There is no gift in the power of the party to which he may not confidently aspire should the necessities and obligations of his present large private practice permit him to accept.
Professional success has in no ways tended to diminish Mr. Scanlan's genial social qualities. He is at all times a charming companion, a man of well cultivated literary tastes and with a truly Irish devotion to music and song. He was married January 2d, 1890, to Miss Sadie Conway, daughter of Michael W. Conway, the long well known assistant fire marshal, and who is now fire inspector. Their hospitable home, which now possesses the addi- tional charm of several children, is always free and open to the large circle of friends which true courtesy and large-hearted lib- erality have drawn together.
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THOMAS HENRY CANNON.
One of the leading fraternal associations among members of the Catholic faith at the present time is the organization known as the Catholic Order of Foresters, and prominently identified with it during the last eight years is the name heading this article. That the order has had a wonderful growth during the period mentioned, a glance at the records conclusively shows, and this must be attributed to the wisdom, judgment and ability of those who have controlled its management, and chief of these is Thomas H. Cannon.
Mr. Cannon was born in Chicago, January 23d, 1864, son of the late Thomas Cannon, for many years prominently identified with the Republican party of this city. Thomas Cannon was a native of County Leitrim, Ireland, whence he came to Chicago in 1851. For many years he was engaged in the teaming business in the employ of the old Galena Railway. He represented the Seventeenth Ward-now the Twenty-third-of the city in the Com- mon Council 1872 to 1874, and at the same time and subsequently was a justice of the peace on the North Side. IIe died in 1882 at the age of fifty-three years. His wife, Mary Walsh, to whom he was married in 1856, was a native of County Mayo, and removed to Chicago with her parents in 1853. Increasing years press light- ly upon her, and she still resides in this city and is now one of the oldest members of the Cathedral congregation. To them were born ten children, of whom six survive, our subject being the only surviving son. His sisters are all residents of Chicago. 5
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Thomas H. Cannon obtained his education in the public schools, graduating from the high school in 1881. His first employment was in a wholesale grocery, and later he was in Maxwell's book store. Thence he went to D. Appleton & Company, and continued with that firm and their successors in the school book business (the American Book Company) until 1892, having been traveling salesman for them for three years. In September, 1890, he com- menced a course in the Chicago College of Law. He was admitted to practice in June, 1892, when he severed his connection with the American Book Company, and subsequently took a post graduate course at the same law college. He is now associated with Mr. James H. Poage in the legal firm of Cannon & Poage, and ranks as one of the leading members of the Chicago bar.
In 1887 Mr. Cannon joined the Catholic Order of Foresters, and was elected a member of the board of trustees in 1891. The following year, he was elected High Secretary and served until June, 1894, when he was elected High Chief Ranger. In Septem- ber, 1895, and again in February, 1897, he was unanimously re- elected to this position at the head of the order.
The Catholic Order of Foresters had its origin in Holy Family Parish, Chicago. The members of the parish had long felt the need of an association for Catholic men which would supply the benefits of a fraternal insurance society to their Catholic fellow citizens. After many preliminary meetings, a temporary court was organized and application was made to the State of Illinois for a charter, which was granted on May 20th, 1883. Several courts were immediately organized and the organization began to flourish. About five hundred members were secured during the first year.
Sixteen courts were organized in Chicago before the organiza- tion extended beyond Cook County. The first court organized out- side of Cook County was at Somonauk, Ill. The membership of the
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first nineteen courts was confined to the French and Irish national- ities. The twentieth court was composed exclusively of Germans, and since its organization German Catholics have rapidly joined the order, so that they are to-day perhaps as numerous as any other nationality. Subsequent organizations were confined to the city of Chicago until Courts 49, 53 and 60, located respectively at Springfield, Waukegan and Rockford, Ill., were admitted to mem- bership. The order made its entry into Wisconsin on September 11th, 1887, when Holy Rosary Court No. 67 was organized at Mil- waukee. Gradually one by one the neighboring states were ad- mitted, until to-day the C. O. F. is organized in every northern state from Maine to California. Meantime the fame of the order has spread across the border into Canada, and on August 14th, 1888, Court No. 86, the first court in the Province of Canada, was organized. At the present time, fully one-third of the courts and one-third of the membership of the order is located in Canada.
During its existence the C. O. F. has paid out $2,000,000 in endowments for the relief of the widows, orphans, and dependents of deceased members; $500,000 has been expended in the payment of sick benefits and funeral expenses. This most remarkable rec- ord has been achieved during the brief period of fourteen years. With its membership of fifty thousand, comprised in seven hundred courts, and with its low rate of assessments, the C. O. F. can to-day justly claim to be the greatest Catholic organization upon the American continent. It is confidently expected that its quar- ter centennial will show a membership of one hundred thousand.
Mr. Cannon was a charter member and first president of the Sons of Chicago, organized in 1892. He is a resident of the Cathe- dral parish, taking an active interest in all church matters.
That Mr. Cannon is popular, especially among the younger ele- ment in Catholic circles, is evidenced by the honors conferred upon
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him, while the ability and judgment displayed in the conduct of his high position at the head of the Order of Foresters well justifies its confidence and the trust reposed in him by the thousands of its members.
FRANK G. HOYNE.
Frank G. Hoyne was born in this city July 17th, 1854, his father being a well known lawyer of Chicago, Thomas Hoyne, who came from Ireland and settled in this city in 1837. The mother of the subject of this sketch was born in Virginia, but came to Chi- cago in 1833, being married to Thomas Hoyne in 1840.
Frank G. Hoyne was educated in the University of Chicago, but left before graduating to accompany Professor Stafford on a western trip, the latter being under engagement by the govern- ment to make a new war map of Kansas and Colorado. In 1872 the young man returned from surveying and entered the firm of Culver, Page, Hoyne & Co., blank book manufacturers, starting at a salary of five dollars a week and advancing till be became superintendent of the city manufacturing department. With this firm he remained until they sold out in 1884, when he joined his brother, James T. Hoyne, in the real estate business under the firm name of Hoyne Brothers, and still retains an interest.
In 1886 Mr. Hoyne was appointed United States Appraiser, during President Cleveland's first administration, the office being retained until 1890. Four years later he was reappointed to the same office during Cleveland's second term, and has held that re- sponsible position to very general satisfaction up to the present time.
Frank . Hoyre
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Mr. Hoyne, who has always been a warm advocate for athletic sports of all kinds, is a member of the Chicago Athletic Club, of which indeed he was one of the original members. He was also one of the organizers and principal movers in the establishment of the Iroquois Club, and is still an active member thereof.
Mr. Hoyne was married in 1884 to Miss Florence Ashton, daughter of Congressman Washington Ashton, of Virginia, a lin- eal descendant of the George Washington family. He has two daughters, Leonora and Helen.
Mr. Hoyne has always been a Democrat, and before holding public office was Vice-President of the Cook County Democracy. In his religious views and associations he is independent, taking an interest in religion and religious work without affiliating him- self with any particular denomination.
The subject of this sketch has had some military experience. He joined the First Regiment Infantry in 1875, and remained with the regiment until 1880, when he was appointed by Brigadier-Gen- eral J. T. Torrence (then commanding the First Brigade) to the position of Brigade Quartermaster. When General Torrence re- signed, which was in 1885, Mr. Hoyne also retired, and entered the ยท Veteran Corps of the First Regiment, in which organization he still takes an active interest.
Even by this brief sketch it will be seen that Mr. Hoyne has been eminently successful in all he has undertaken, and the re- sponsible office he holds tells of no mean honor from his country to a man who is still so young. Before him there is, beyond doubt, a distinguished career, as well as opportunity for cultivating and enjoying the literary and musical tastes which are so characteris- tic of this well known and universally respected American Irish- man.
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AUSTIN JOSEPH DOYLE.
The ability to grasp opportunity is one of the chief essentials of worldly success and when united to energy and perseverance, the result is absolutely placed beyond doubt. Possibly there is some- thing natural to those of Irish birth or Irish descent in this fore- seeing gift, for it is a fact that in that nationality more perhaps than in any other, such outcome has been demonstrated. The sub- . ject of this sketch is a striking example.
Austin J. Doyle was born in Chicago, September 18th, 1849. His parents, Peter and Ellen (McDonald) Doyle, were both natives of County Wexford, Ireland, being born there in 1804, of truly pa- triotic stock, for the father of each of them had participated in the Irish rebellion, being present at the battle of Vinegar Hill, Wexford, in 1798. They had six children, of whom our subject is the youngest. Peter Doyle was in fairly comfortable circumstan- ces and died in Chicago in 1852.
Austin J. Doyle obtained his education at the school of the Christian Brothers and at St. Patrick's Commercial Academy. He began active life at the early age of thirteen, his first employment being with the firm of W. M. Ross & Company-now Carson, Pirie & Scott-where he had the position of parcel boy, becoming a little later collector for the same concern. His next situation was with Daniel O'Hara, Clerk of the Recorder's Court, and here as deputy clerk he remained for eight years, for the last five years as chief. While deputy clerk and employed under Judge McAllister he read law and was admitted January, 1870, when, however, he con- tinued to retain his position. In 1873 he was elected as Clerk of the Criminal Court against W, K. Sullivan, serving until 1877,
Justin Style
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when upon appointment as justice of the peace for the north side, he resigned, but only to hold the latter appointment for six months, when he resigned that also and spent half a year in Kansas. Re- turning to Chicago, his close personal friend, the late Carter II. Harrison, gave him, in June, 1879, the appointment of secretary to the police department, and in this association with Superin- tendent Joseph P. Barrett, he was the originator of the present police patrol system of Chicago. November, 1882, he was ap- pointed Superintendent of Police, remaining such until October 15th, 1885, and resigning to become superintendent of the Chicago Passenger Railway. The latter was a horse car line, and in 1887, it was absorbed by the West Side Street Car Company, Mr. Doyle remaining as superintendent until July, 1890. In the meantime, he had been elected Clerk of the Sanitary District, but resigned after a couple of months, being tendered the responsible post of General Manager of the McAvoy Brewing Company, where he re- mained until January, 1892, when he was elected President of the Company. He served until February, 1896, when the United States Brewing Company was organized, and the following six plants, the Val. Blatz; the Michael Brand Brewing Company; Bartholo- mae & Roesing; Bartholomae & Leicht; Ernest Brothers, and K. G. Schmidt, with the total output of 750,000 barrels per annum thereby absorbed.
He was married in 1870, to Miss Ellen Donnelly, of Chicago, who died in 1877, leaving two children, Austin J. Doyle, Jr., and Agnes. In 1883, Mr. Doyle was again married to Pauline Weis- haar, of Chicago, and they have six children-Joseph, Frank, Rob- ert Emmet, Paul, Marion, and Frederick.
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