USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > The story of the Irish in Boston, together with biographical sketches of representative men and noted women > Part 24
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BYRNE, PATRICK HENRY, lawyer, born in Lavagh, County Roscommon, Ireland, Feb.
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5, 1844, died at Jamaica, Long Island, N.Y., July 31, 1881, aged thirty-seven years five months and twenty-six days. He came to this country with his widowed mother when about five years old, and received his primary and academic education in the schools of New York City and at the University of New York.
He was employed by his uncle, Mr. H. Brennan, at the marble-worker's trade. He subsequently abandoned the business, however, and accepted a position as travel- ling salesman for a wholesale woollen house in Boston. He eventually became the senior member of the collection agency firm of Byrne, Everett, & Co., 9 Pemberton square, but later disposed of his interest there and removed to New York City, where he estab- lished the same business on a far more ex- tensive and systematic plan, with headquar- ters in the Bennett Building of that city. In addition to his business activity he also at- tended the law school of the University of New York, from which institution he received his diploma in 1875, and was soon afterward admitted to practice as an attorney-at-law. To the ambitious young man the law was his aim and life-work, and he devoted himself entirely to its extended study and practice, with an office at 67 Wall street. He acquired a prominent and promising reputation as a law- yer for one of his age, and his intelligence, geniality, and correct habits always won for him the admiration of his many friends. During his legal practice he was retained in a number of important cases involving large interests, and by his ability as a counsel and advocate his clients were always ably repre- sented. He was also associated in the manufacture of patent gas-fixtures at Mor- risana. He left a wife and four children.
CANAVAN, MICHAEL J., lawyer, born in Somerville, Mass., resides in Lexington, Mass. He graduated at the Somerville High School in 1867, and later entered Harvard University, where he was graduated cum laude. In 1871 he had the degree of A.B. conferred upon him at Harvard, and he
afterwards went to Germany, where, from 1871 to 1873, he spent much time at the University of Göttingen. On his return to this country he reentered Harvard Univer- sity and distinguished himself. He received the degree of LL.B. in 1876, and A.M. in the same year. He was a trustee of the Somerville Public Library, and is independent in politics. He is actively engaged in ma- nipulating and dealing in Western invest- ments, lands, and mortgages.
CASEY, JOHN H., lawyer, born in Somer- ville, Mass., Dec. 7, 1860. He was educated - in the public schools of Somerville, and re- moved to Boston in 1880, where he attended the Boston University Law School. He studied law also in the office of Stearns & Butler, and was admitted to the Suffolk bar in December, 1884. After practising law for a few years in this city, on Jan. 1, 1888, he accepted a position as clerk to the District Attorney of Suffolk County. He is a mem- ber of the Royal Society of Good Fellows.
CASSIDY, WILLIAM E., lawyer, born in Boston in 1856. He graduated at the Law- rence Grammar School and the Boston University Law School. Since his admission to the bar he has practised law in Boston, and during 1884-'85-'86 was a commissioner of insolvency.
COLLINS, JOHN A., lawyer, born in Bos- ton, February 29, 1860. He graduated at the Lincoln Grammar School and the English High School, attended the law schools of both Harvard College and Boston University, and received the degree of LL.B. from the latter. He began the practice of law in Boston in 1883. He was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives of 1885, and again of 1886, and during his second term was the youngest member of that body. He repre- sented South Boston in the Senate of 1888, and was also honored with being the young- est member of the upper branch of the Leg- islature. He has been a member of the Democratic City Central Committee for three
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years, and also a member of the Executive Committee. He is president of the local conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.
COLLINS, JOHN J., lawyer, born in Boston, Aug. 28, 1862. He was educated in the public schools of this city, and at Holy Cross College, Worcester, from which he grad- uated in 1884. He afterward studied law at the Boston University Law School, grad- uated, and was admitted to the Suffolk bar in 1886. He is located in the office of Hon. P. A. Collins.
COLLINS, MARK C., lawyer, born in Bos- ton, September 24, 1849. He attended the public schools; graduated from the Boston University Law School in 1879, and was ad- mitted to the bar the following year. He has since been engaged in the practice of the legal profession in this city.
COLLISON, HARVEY N., lawyer, born in Boston, March 22, 1860. He attended the Boston public schools; graduated at Harvard College in 1881; graduated from the Boston University Law School in 1884, and was admitted to the Suffolk County bar the same year. He represented Ward 6 in the Com- mon Council of 1883-'84-'85, and in the Legis- lature of 1887-'88, serving on the committees on Election Laws, Probate, and Insolvency. In 1887 he was elected a member of the Bos- ton School Committee; is a Director of East Boston Ferries, a member of the Irish Char- itable Society, the Democratic Ward and City Committee, and Vice-President of the Young Men's Democratic Club of Massachusetts.
COOGAN, MICHAEL B., lawyer, born in New Bedford, Mass., March 21, 1858. He was educated in the public schools of Provi- dence, R.I., and the Phillips Grammar School, Boston. He subsequently studied law in the office of Hon. Owen A. Galvin, and was ad- mitted to the Suffolk County bar, July 10, 1883. He was appointed clerk in the office of the United States Marshal by Gen. N. P. Banks,
Aug. 8, 1887, and served in that capacity until July 7, 1888, when he was commissioned as a United States Secret Service Agent, in charge of the New England District, with headquarters at Room 132 Post-Office Build- ing, Boston. He was secretary of the Demo- cratic City Committee of Cambridge in 1886- 89; and is a member of St. John's Court No. 33, Massachusetts Catholic Order of Foresters, and Anchor Assembly 30, Royal Society of Good Fellows.
COONEY, PATRICK H., lawyer, born in Stockbridge, Mass., Dec. 20, 1845. He was educated in the Natick High School and West Newton English and Classical School. He subsequently studied law. He has been Assistant District Attorney for Middlesex County since Jan. 1, 1880, and was a mem- ber of the School Committee of Natick for four years, from March, 1880. He has a law office in Boston, and is a member of the Algonquin Club and Meridian Lodge of Masons, Natick.
COTTER, JAMES E., lawyer, born in County Cork, Ireland, in 1848. He was educated in the public schools of Marlboro' and the State Normal School of Bridgewater; began studying law August 28, 1871, with William B. Gale, at Marlboro', and was admitted to the bar at Cambridge, January 2, 1874. Five days later he removed to Hyde Park, Mass. Since that period he has practised law in Norfolk and Suffolk counties. He was chairman of Registrars of Voters of Hyde Park in 1884-85; member of the School Com- mittee for five years, beginning March, 1886; he served as Chairman of the Board in 1888, and declined a renomination, although ear- nestly urged to accept by the citizens of the town, even those who differed with him po- litically; town counsel for Hyde Park from 1878 to 1889, and for Walpole since 1886. He was the Democratic nominee for district attorney for the south-eastern district, com- prising Norfolk and Plymouth counties, in 1874, and again in 1877; a candidate for Presidential Elector on the Democratic ticket
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in 1884, receiving 122,000 votes; he is a member of the Norfolk and Suffolk bar as- sociations, of the Charitable Irish Society, and the Massachusetts Order of Foresters.
COURTNEY, WILLIAM F., lawyer, born in Lowell, Mass., Dec. 10, 1855. He was edu- cated in the public schools of Lowell, is a graduate of the Lowell Commercial College and the Harvard Law School of 1878. He was admitted to the bar July 8, 1878, and practised the legal profession in his native city. He was a member of the Legislature in 1882. In 1886 he entered into partner- ship with Mr. Isaac S. Morse, for the practice of law in Boston. During 1887 he acted as City Solicitor for Lowell. He was engaged as counsel for the defendant in the case of Commonwealth vs. Howe. This was a case of alleged ballot-stuffing on the license ques- tion. In the lower court his client was con- victed, but the case was carried to the Supreme Court, on the ground that there was no law to punish it, and the point was sustained. In view of this oversight, the Governor of Massachusetts sent a special message to the Legislature relative to the matter, and in 1887 the present law covering such cases was enacted.
CREED, MICHAEL J., lawyer, born in South Boston, Aug. 28, 1856. He graduated at the Bigelow Grammar School in 1869; at- tended the English High School; took a special classical course; graduated at Bos- ton University Law School in 1879, receiving the degree of LL.B., and was admitted to the bar shortly afterwards. He was a member of the Legislature of 1884-'85-'86; is on the Finance Committee of the Democratic City Central Committee,. 1889, and a Commis- sioner of Insolvency for Suffolk County.
CRONAN, JOHN F., lawyer, born in Boston, April 9, 1856. He attended the public schools and the English High School; gradu- ated at the Boston University Law School in 1879. He supplemented his legal studies in the office of F. A. Perry, and was admitted
to the Suffolk bar when only twenty-three years of age. In 1876 he delivered a number of campaign speeches for Samuel J. Tilden, also for General Butler in the State campaign of 1878. He is one of the prominent young Democrats, and has resided in South Boston for a number of years.
CRONIN, CORNELIUS F., lawyer, born in South Boston, April 9, 1856. He attended the public schools, French's Commercial College, and graduated from the Boston University Law School in 1879; was ad- mitted to the bar the same year. He was a member of the Legislature from Ward 13 in 1881-'82-'83; represented the Fifth Suf- folk District in the Senate of 1884; the candidate of the Democratic party for City Solicitor of Boston in 1885, but was defeated by five votes; is a member of the Mechanic Apprentice's Association and the South Bos- ton Young Men's Catholic Association.
CRONIN, CORNELIUS F., lawyer, born in the County Cork, Ireland, July 25, 1851. He came to this country when but a few years old, and located in Boston. He graduated at the Dwight School (Franklin medal scholar) and the Boston University Law School, where he received the degree of LL.B. After leaving the grammar school he en- gaged for a time in the junk business, and travelled considerably through the United States and Canada. Upon his return to this city he studied law in the office of Wm. C. Greene, afterward with Messrs. Gargan, Swasey, & Adams, supplemented his legal studies at the Law School, and was ad- mitted to the bar in 1878. He was a mem- ber of the Massachusetts Legislature in 1881- '82-'83, and the State Senate during 1884. He has been a resident of South Boston for several years, but is at present located in Los Angeles, Cal.
DACEY, TIMOTHY J., born in Boston on the IIth of October, 1849; died Dec. 15, 1887. . His parents came to this country from Ireland about fifty-five years ago. His
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father, John Dacey, afterwards took an active part in municipal affairs, serving in the Common Council in 1860 and 1861, and was elected to the lower branch of the Legisla- ture in 1863 and the year following. Young Dacey was a graduate of the Eliot Grammar School, receiving a Franklin medal in 1863. He passed through the English High School, and completed his education at Holy Cross College, Worcester. He subsequently be- gan the study of the law at the Harvard Law School, and graduated in 1871, being ad- mitted to the bar in the same year. Mr. Dacey early in life became interested in poli- tics, and first entered the public service as a member of the Common Council from old Ward 2 in 1872, being reelected in the fol- lowing year. He became a candidate for the lower branch of the General Court, and was elected for the session of 1874. In 1875 he was elected a member of the State Senate, where he served two terms, winning the approbation of his constituents and the citizens at large by his admirable course while a member of that body. He was a member of the judiciary committee during both sessions. He was appointed a member of the Board of Trustees of the City Hospital on Feb. 7, 1873, and was a member till the time of his death, being president of the board during five years. He was a delegate to the National Democratic Convention at St. Louis in 1876, which nominated Samuel J. Tilden. In January, 1877, he was ap- pointed First Assistant District Attorney of Suffolk County. He first became a member of the School Board in 1880 for two years, and in 1883 he was again elected to the Board, his nomination being tendered by the Democrats and Republicans alike. Mr. Dacey was returned to the Board in 1885 for the term of four years, and for three years was president of that body. He also served on many of the important committees prior to his election as chairman. He was identified with a number of political and social organi- zations, and once was president of the Chari- table Irish Society. He was a member of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Com-
pany of Boston, and was one of a special committee which visited Great Britain as guests of the Ancient and Honorable Ar- tillery Company of London on the occasion of the jubilee anniversary of the latter company.
DALY, ANTHONY C., lawyer, born in Bos- ton, Oct. 11, 1853. He was educated in the public schools of this city. He subse- quently studied law, and was admitted while quite a young man to practice at the Suffolk County bar. He represented Ward 6 in the Legislature of 1878. A short time afterwards he accepted a position as attorney for a rail- road in the West, where he is now located.
DOHERTY, PHILIP J., lawyer, born in Charlestown, Jan. 27, 1856, where he has always resided. He is of Irish parentage, and is the grandson of James and Mary Munnegle, of the Parish of Desertagney, Ireland. He graduated at the Harvard Gram- mar School in 1870, and at the Charlestown High School in 1874. At an early age he began the study of law, and completed his course at the Boston University Law School in 1876, receiving the degree of LL.B. He was admitted to the Suffolk bar, June 4, 1877, and has been an active practitioner ever since. He was elected by the Democrats of Ward 5 to the Legislature of 1884-'85-'86, and during his three years of service in the General Court did effective work for his constituency and the working-classes throughout the State generally. During his last term of legisla- tive experience he was the acknowledged leader of the Democratic side of the House, and his subsequent vigorous and eloquent campaign speeches for the Democratic party have placed him in a position of prominence throughout the Commonwealth. The first year that Mr. Doherty served in the Legisla- ture he worked hard for the passage of the bill to abolish contract convict labor; also in favor of the bill providing that no minor under eightecn years of age, and no woman, shall be obliged to work more than ten hours a day. He strongly advocated the Free Text- Book Bill and the bill for the establishment
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of benevolent building associations for the assistance of poor people in obtaining homes. In the year 1885 he was the only member of the Democratic party honored with a position on the Judiciary Committee; he strongly supported the Employers' Liability Bill, the abolition of the poll-tax as a prerequisite for voting, and took an active part in other matters of important legislation. At the Democratic State Convention, in the fall of that year, by an eloquent and masterly speech he nominated Hon. F. O. Prince as the candidate for governor. In 1886 Mr. Doherty was the nominee of his party for Speaker of the House. He advocated the Weekly Payment Bill, which became a law. He favored annual elections, the local rights bill, arbitration, soldiers' exemption bill, bill for employment of minors and women, and labor legislation. He was elected to the Board of Aldermen of. 1888 by the Indepen- dent Democrats of Charlestown, and was a delegate to the National Democratic Conven- tion at St. Louis the same year. In 1889 he was appointed a member of the Water Board by Mayor Hart, his present position.
DWYER, WILLIAM WHITTON, lawyer, born in Dublin, Ireland, Nov. 19, 1840. He graduated from the Dublin High School and Trinity College, and was admitted attorney to Superior Court of Law and a solicitor of High Court of Chancery in Ireland, January, 1861; practised law in Dublin for a short period; came to Boston June 15, 1872, and was admitted to Suffolk bar in 1875. He was appointed a justice of the Municipal Court for the East Boston District, May 23, 1879. He is Judge-Advocate of the Mont- gomery Light Guards, and a member of the Irish National League. He is Past Grand Ruler and Representative from Massachu- setts to the Supreme Assembly of the Royal Society of Good Fellows; a Past Sachem and Representative to the Great Council of Massachusetts in the Improved Order of Red Men; a member of the Supreme Council Royal Conclave of Knights and Ladies, Iron Hall, Pilgrim Fathers, and Irish Charitable
Society. He attended the funeral of Father Cahill, at New York, as a delegate of the latter society, and has several times acted as a delegate to the Democratic State con- ventions.
FARRELL MICHAEL F., lawyer, born in Kilkenny, Ireland, Sept. 13, 1848. He im- migrated from Ireland to New York, in 1862, but did not settle in Boston until November, 1864. He was educated in the public schools of New York City and at Boston College. He was admitted to the Middlesex County bar, June, 1871, and to the United States Circuit Court in 1876. He was a member of the School Committee of Somerville from 1874 to '79. He is a mem- ber of the Irish Charitable Society.
FITZGERALD, JAMES E., lawyer, born in Boston, April 25, 1855. He graduated at the Lyman Grammar School, studied at the Boston English High School, at private schools, and afterwards entered the Boston University Law School. He was admitted to the Suffolk County bar in 1886, and made his headquarters at the law office of Swasey & Swasey, Boston. He has been a self-reliant man, and was engaged in the paper-stock and metal business from 1874 to 1882, the business success which followed enabling him to defray his educational expenses. His services in the City Council, from the year 1882 to 1884, as well as a member of the House of Representatives, from 1886 to 1887, were of the most meritorious kind. He served on many important committees in both branches of the government, and nu- merous improvements were made in his dis- trict by his exertions. He had charge of and admirably forced the passage of a bill in the House for the appropriation of two million five hundred thousand dollars for the im- provement of public parks and squares. The bill was passed through a Republican House and Senate. He was the organizer and is the present president of the Democratic As- sociation of Ward 2. While in the House of Representatives he was appointed one of
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a committee to attend the centennial cele- bration of the adoption of the Constitution at Philadelphia, Penn. He presented the order to the House which made Labor day a legal holiday. Senator Alpheus B. Alger introduced a similar order to the Senate on the same day.
FLATLEY, THOMAS, lawyer, and Deputy Collector of the Port of Boston, was born at Claremorris, Ireland, in 1851. He graduated at a private classical school, and matricu- lated in Queen's College, Galway. While he was at college, the insurrection, or, as it was popularly known, "the rising," com- manded the attention of every Irishman, and fired the hearts of the Irish national patriots. Mr. Flatley was but a boy, and quite an in- spired one, for he took an active part in preparing for the movement against England. He mustered a battalion of patriotic young men, received a commission, and draughted a plan of campaign in his section of the country. He planned a strategic movement whereby his men could capture arms and accoutrements, which they needed badly. Mr. Flatley was to order a number of his men to engage in a sham fight in the public square of the town, and while the police would be busy endeavoring to restore order, the remainder of the battalion would capture the police arsenal. Afterwards, the police were to be taken prisoners, and to be offered the alternative of being court-mar- tialled or swearing allegiance to the Irish republic. The order for "the rising " was countermanded on the eve of March 5, 1867, which was a fortunate occurrence for Ire- land. Flying columns of English soldiers were sent through the provinces with orders from the English commander to arrest " cen- tres " and suspects. Mr. Flatley, among others, fled the country.
For a while after his arrival in this country he engaged in mercantile life, but his desire to perfect his studies impelled him to enter Georgetown College, Maryland, in 1868. He passed a brilliant examination there, and received his degree of Bachelor of Arts and
a diploma, after acquitting himself most cred- itably in the law department. He subse- quently became a member of the college faculty. Later, he associated with his brother, P. J. Flatley, Esq., in law practice. He is a pronounced Democrat in politics, and was appointed Deputy Collector of the Port of Boston in 1885. Mr. Flatley was at one time secretary of the Irish national organization in America.
FLYNN, EDWARD J., lawyer, born in Bos- ton, June 16, 1859. He graduated from the Eliot Grammar School, the English High School, Boston College, Class of '81, Boston University, and Harvard Law School. He was admitted to the bar in 1884, and has since practised law in Boston. He repre- sented Ward 6 in the Legislature of 1885-'86, and was identified with the Metropolitan Police Bill, the Credibility of Witnesses' Bill, the resolve to abolish the poll-tax as a pre- requisite for voting, the Biennial Election Bill, and others. In 1888 he was also a member, serving on the Judiciary Committee and on Constitutional Amendments. He is; a member of the Democratic Ward and City Committee, and one of the Board of Directors; for East Boston Ferries.
Fox, JAMES W., lawyer, born in Boston,, August 15, 1849. He was educated in the public schools, and studied law in the office. of Hon. Henry W. Paine. After his admis- sion to the bar he began the practice of law in this city. He was a member of the Com- mon Council from Ward 13 in 1876, and of the Legislature in 1877.
GALVIN, JOHN E., lawyer, born in Boston, November 8, 1857. He was educated in the public schools; is a graduate of the Eng- lish High and Latin Schools and the Har- vard Law School. He was admitted to the Suffolk bar in 1879, and is now engaged in the active practice of law in this city.
GALVIN, OWEN A., United States District Attorney, was born in Boston, of Irish par-
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ents, June 21, 1852. After studying in the Boston public schools he entered the law office of Charles F. Donnelly in 1872, where he made his preparatory law studies in con- junction with a course of study which he re- ceived at the Boston University Law School, from which institution he graduated with the Class of 1876. He was admitted to the bar Feb. 29, 1876, and remained in the office of Lawyer Donnelly until 1882, where he acquired a varied, extensive, and practical experience in the multifarious intricacies of civil law and its successful application to complex cases. Mr. Galvin opened an office immediately. His attainments and good qualities were quickly recognized and appre- ciated, his list of clients grew to flattering proportions, and his lucrative practice has constantly increased ever since. He was elected a member of the House of Repre- sentatives in 1881, from Ward 8. He served in the Senate during the years 1882, 1883, and 1884. He was a candidate of the minority for the presidency of the Senate in 1884, a vice-president of the Democratic City Central Committee for two years, of which organization he has been a member for the past ten years. He has been one of the leading men in educational, benevolent, re- formatory, and political movements which have passed into the history of his native city. He was elected High Chief Ranger of the Massachusetts Catholic Order of Foresters, 1882-'83, from Cheverus Court, No. 6. In 1883 he was on the committee of investiga- tion who visited the State's penal institutions; on their report of the subsequent year the Re- formatory Prison at Concord, Mass., and the Homoeopathic Hospital for the Insane were established. Mr. Galvin's services on other committees, while in the public service, in- cluded Labor, Liquor, Harbor, Public Lands, Election, and Education; he was on the latter during four years. His appointment as First Assistant District Attorney by the Hon. George M. Stearns, then United States Attor- ney, placed him in a position of honor and trust. Mr. Stearns resigned his office Sep- tember, 1887, and the attention of President
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