USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > The story of the Irish in Boston, together with biographical sketches of representative men and noted women > Part 33
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41
DONNELLY, ROBERT, health inspector, born in Cambridge, April 10, 1853. He attended the public schools of his native place until he was twelve years of age. He represented Ward 7 in the Common Council of 1883-84; is a member of the American Legion of Honor, and at present employed as a health inspector by the city of Boston.
DONOVAN, EDWARD J., State Senator (Third Suffolk), was born in Boston, March
356
THE IRISH IN BOSTON.
15, 1864. He was educated in Boston's public schools, and is a graduate of the Phillips Grammar School, West End. In school, young Donovan displayed marked ability in declamation, and in later years has won a high reputation as an eloquent and effective public speaker. When quite young he lost his estimable father (Lawrence), who, for more than a quarter of a century, was among the prominent merchants of Boston, being a leading tobacconist. For some years Ed- ward has been one of the most efficient and trusted accountants in the employ of Brown, Durrell, & Co., one of the largest jobbing houses in the United States. When hardly twenty-one years of age young Donovan took an interest in public affairs, and at- tracted attention by his activity, especially in Ward 8. He was elected a representa- tive to the General Court for the years 1887- 88, and Senator from the Third Suffolk Dis- trict for the year 1889. In 1887 he was the youngest member of the House, and is the youngest man ever elected to the Massachu- setts Senate. During his legislative service he has served on the Committees on Street Railways, Military Affairs, Water Supply, and Special Committee on Soldiers' Records, and has demonstrated his high talent and ability to perform yeoman service for the people and the Democratic party, as a champion of every cause needing a helping hand. Dur- ing his three years in the Legislature he has won the distinction of being one of the most eloquent and forcible debaters. Mr. Donovan is of an even temperament, and more than ordinarily well balanced mentally. He is a member of numerous societies, at the present time (1889) being president of the Hendricks Club of Boston, one of the most influential Democratic organizations in Massachusetts.
DONOVAN, JAMES, grocer, born in Boston, May 28, 1859. He has been engaged in the grocery and provision business since he left school. He was a member of the Common Council in 1882, and was five years in the Legislature from Ward 16, and served on the
Committees of Mercantile Affairs, Prisons, Redistricting, and Railroads. He repre- sents the Fourth Suffolk District in the Senate the present year.
DONOVAN, PATRICK J., contractor and builder, was born in Charlestown, April 9, 1848. He was educated in the Grammar and Charlestown High Schools, and was first employed as a clerk in a provision store. He is now a contractor and builder. He was a member of the Charlestown Fire Depart- ment during eight years, one of the Board of Engineers before the annexation; served in the Common Council of 1882, '83, '84, and represented Charlestown in the Board of Aldermen of 1885, '86, '87; he was Chairman of the Board in 1887. He was invariably punctual in attendance at the meetings of the two branches of the city government. He is a member of the Charlestown Veteran Firemen's Association. During nine years he was a member of the Democratic City Committee, for seven years a member of the State Committee, six years of which he was its assistant secretary, and is also a mem- ber of the Charlestown Bachelors' Club, and a past sachem of the same. He represented the Sixth Congressional District as a delegate at the Democratic National Convention at Chicago, and for some time has stood high in the councils of the Democratic party.
DOOGUE, WILLIAM, Superintendent of Common and Public Grounds, born in Brocklaw Park, town of Stradbally, Queen's County, Ireland, May 24, 1828. He came to this country with his parents, four brothers, and four sisters in 1840. The family settled in Middletown, Conn., the same year. Young William went to the public schools in that town, and graduated from the high school, 1843.
He was apprenticed to George Affleck & Co., Hartford, Conn., for five years, during which time he learned the science of flori- culture, horticulture, and landscape garden- ing at their celebrated nurseries. At the expiration of his term of apprenticeship, Mr.
WILLIAM DOOGUE.
357
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
Doogue was admitted into the firm as a full partner under a five years' contract. He studied botany for three years under Profes- sor Comstock, of Trinity College, Hartford, Conn., and came to Boston, 1856. After his arrival here he assumed the entire man- agement of the floricultural and horticultural business of the late Charles Copeland at Boston and Melrose. The well-known and highly successful greenhouses in "Floral Place" were established by Mr. Doogue nearly twenty-five years ago, and from that establishment floricultural decoration re- ceived its first impetus in Boston. In 1871, the centennial year, Mr. Doogue laid out grounds and made a tropical and sub-tropical display on the centennial grounds at Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, Penn. His skill was practically recognized and he was presented with two gold and two silver medals and diplomas. He has been the Superintendent of the Common and Public Grounds since 1878, and the people and press of Boston have approved and extolled his work. During the year 1887, the Massachusetts Horticultural Society en- deavored to influence the city government to allow that body to erect a building on the Public Garden, "to be devoted to the study and advancement of floriculture." Mr. Wil- liam Minot, Jr., actively interested himself on behalf of the society's plan, but the able and vigorous protest against the innovation which was made by Mr. Doogue aroused the sentiment of the press and the public, and frustrated the designs of the Massachusetts Society. From the first year of Mr. Doogue's superintendence, down to the present time, the flower exhibits upon the Public Garden and in other portions of the city have sur- passed the most beautiful in the country. The flowers and plants under his manage- ment have been artistically arranged in beautiful and varied designs, and have fre- quently won for him extended praise.
DRISCOLL, JOHN D., house and sign painter, born in Cork, Ireland, Dec. 3, 1832. He immigrated to this country when very
young, and attended the Boston public schools. From 1861 to 1863 he served in the war as a member of the Ninth Massachusetts Regiment, and was honorably discharged after the battle of Gettysburg on account of a disability. He reënlisted in the Second Massachusetts Cavalry in 1864, but was re- jected, however, because of his former disa- bility. He was a member of the Old Fenian Brotherhood, also of the F. B. Council, of the G.A.R. Post 7 since 1869, and is a member of the Irish Legion of St. Patrick. He was employed as messenger at City Hall during Mayor O'Brien's administration.
DRYNAN, JOHN, shipping-agent, born in Cork, Ireland, in 1832. He came to this country in 1833 with his parents when only one year old. He was educated in the Boylston and Eliot Schools of this city. He is by occupation a shipping-agent, but for some time past has not been engaged in business. He was a member of the Legisla- ture of 1870-71, and of the Common Council from Ward 6 in 1877-78. He was con- nected with the old Columbians in 1858- 59.
DUGGAN, THOMAS H., plumber, born in County of Kilkenny, Ireland, March II, 1848. He was educated in the schools of his native place, and came to this country, and settled in Boston about 1863. He went to work at his trade soon after his arrival here. He was employed by S. B. Allen for eight years, and subsequently as a journey- man for Lockwood F. Lamb and others. In 1873 he engaged in business for himself, and at present employs about forty workmen. He opened at one time a branch office for the extension of his business in New York City, which was managed successfully for about four years, but recently the business there has been discontinued. Mr. Duggan served in the Common Council of 1886, '87, '88.
DUNLEA, JAMES J., gate-tender, born in Roxbury, June 22, 1857. He was educated
358
THE IRISH IN BOSTON.
in the public schools, and is employed as a gate-tender on the Providence Division of the Old Colony Railroad. He is a Demo- crat, and represented Ward 22 in the Legis- lature during 1887. While there he was a member of the Committee on Labor.
DWYER, PATRICK D., insurance agent, born in Galway, Ireland, in 1857. He came to this country with his parents when nine years of age. He attended the old Mayhew School in Boston, where he received his early education. For eleven years after leaving school he was employed by Hogg, Brown, & Taylor, dry-goods merchants. In 1883 he was appointed chief inspector under the Boston Water Board, which position he resigned shortly afterward. He was a mem- ber of the Legislature for 1884, 1885, and 1886, serving on the Committees on Claims and Railroads. He was elected to Senate of 1887 and 1888, and was a member of the Committees on Claims, Insurance, and Li- brary. He was the vice-president of the Democratic Ward and City Committee during the years 1887, '88, '89. He is a member of the · Catholic Union and Charitable Irish Society. Mr. Dwyer is now the only candidate for election to the presidency of the Democratic Ward and City Committee, a political dis- tinction much prized by Boston Democrats. As a Democrat he is a faithful adherent to the principles laid down by Thomas Jeffer- son and Andrew Jackson. In every local political campaign in Boston during the last six years his efforts have been directed towards increasing the numerical strength of the Democratic vote, and he has done effective service as an organizer and a public speaker.
FALLON, JAMES O., gas inspector, born in the County of Sligo, Ireland, and came to America in 1846, and settled in Lawrence, Mass. He graduated from the Lawrence High School at Lawrence, Mass., and in 1858 he took up his residence in Boston. He was in the employ of Messrs. C. & M. Doherty for a while, and afterwards entered into the liquor business for himself, which he
followed until 1885, when he was appointed a gas inspector. He has been a member of the Democratic Ward and City Committee for twenty years, and the chairman of the Ward Committee since 1880. He was a member of the Legislature in 1870-71, and served on the Committees on Leave of Ab- sence, Pay-roll, and the Fisheries.
FALLON, THOMAS F., plumber, born in Providence, R.I., Dec. 7, 1858, and came to Boston about 1859. He attended the pub- lic schools, and after leaving school was ap- prenticed to Messrs. Regan & Duggan. In 1884 he went into the plumbing business for himself. During the years 1885, '86, '88 he served in the Common Council.
FANNING, ROBERT C., United States laborer, born in Boston, Jan. 16, 1849. He attended the public schools, and afterward entered the junk and ship-chandlery business with his father, which he continued till 1874. Later he was engaged in weighing gold for the Boston & Albany Corporation. In 1886 he was appointed United States laborer in the Weighers' Department. He was a mem- ber of the Common Council, 1888-89. He is District Judge Advocate of District Assem- bly No. 3 of Massachusetts Knights of Labor, and chairman of the Board of Appeals for the State Assembly. He is also a member of Company C, Ninth Regiment, M.V.M.
FARRELL, JOHN H., inspector, born in Cambridge, Mass., Jan. 6, 1841. He gradu- ated at the public schools and at French's Commercial Institute. From 1858 to 1867 he was engaged as book-keeper, from 1867 to 1877 in the grocery business, from 1878 to 1880 as a clerk. In 1880 he was ap- pointed an inspector of milk and vinegar at Cambridge, which position he held until 1885. In 1886 he accepted his present position as Custom-House inspector.
FARRELL, JOHN R., merchant tailor, born in Sheffield, England, of Irish parents, in De- cember, 1832. He came to this country in childhood, receiving his education in the
359
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
public schools of Lowell, Mass. During the late Rebellion he served as captain of a com- pany of the Fifty-fifth and also of the Forty- eighth Massachusetts Regiments. He was later a lieutenant-colonel of the Ninth Massa- chusetts Regiment, holding the office from May 12, 1866, to April 22, 1868. He rep- resented Ward 12 in the Legislature of 1884.
FARREN, PATRICK H., salesman, born in County Donegal, Ireland, in 1837. He immi- grated to Boston in 1842, and was a pupil in the Boston public schools until 1852. He was later apprenticed to John W. Mason as ship-carver, remaining with him four years, and was afterwards employed in various capacities till 1857, when he went to Rich- mond, Me., and engaged in the carving busi- ness for himself. He returned to Boston in 1861, and engaged in the provision business until 1873. He then accepted a position as travelling salesman for Chase & Sanborn, of this city, the position he still holds. He rep- resented Ward 3 in the Common Council of 1862 and in the Legislature of 1863. He was elected a Director of Public Institutions in 1885. He was a member of the old Colum- bian Association, and has been connected with the principal Irish charitable societies of this city for some years past.
FARREN, THOMAS G., grocer, born in Boston, March 20, 1858. He attended the public schools and graduated at the English High School. He is at present en- gaged in the grocery business at the North End. In 1887-88 he represented Ward 7 in the Legislature, serving on the Committees of County Estimates and Insurance; and for four years has been treasurer of the Ward 7 Democratic Committee.
FAY, THOMAS, Jr., paymaster, city treas- urer's office, City Hall, born in Roxbury, April 9, 1853. He received his early educa- tional training in the public schools of this city. He represented Ward 19 in the Legis- lature of 1881-82, serving on the Committee on County Estimates, and was one of the monitors during his first term.
FEE, THOMAS, deputy sheriff, born in Hingham, Mass., Aug. 13, 1850. He at- tended the Hingham Grammar School and the Boston Evening Schools. He served an apprenticeship of three years at the machine trade with the American Tool and Machine Company. He was afterward employed at the Hinckley Locomotive Works. He left his trade later, and was employed as a salesman in a boot and shoe store. In 1875 he be- came connected with the sheriff's office of Suffolk County. He was appointed consta- ble of the city of Boston by Mayor Prince in 1877. On Jan. 1, 1884, he was appointed deputy sheriff by Sheriff O'Brien. He is a member of the Charitable Irish Society, Royal Arcanum, Ancient Order of United Workmen, Royal Society of Good Fellows, Montgomery Light Guard Veteran Associa- tion, and the Democratic City Central Com- mittee.
FENNESSEY, JEREMIAH G., crier of Supe- rior Court, born in Glanworth, County Cork, Ireland, April 4, 1857. He came to this country July 31, 1868, and settled in Bos- ton. He attended the Quincy Grammar School for two years. In 1870 he was employed at harness-making, and served eighteen months. He afterwards worked in a natural history store for six years. In 1878 he was engaged as conductor on the Metropolitan Railroad. He is at present holding the position as crier of the Superior Court. He was a member of the Demo- cratic City Central Committee of 1881, '82, '83, and of the Legislature of 1883, and the Democratic State Central Committee of 1884. He is a prominent Democrat of Boston, and is a member of a very large number of social and fraternal organizations. He is a total abstainer, but not a prohibitionist.
FITZGERALD, DESMOND, civil engineer, born in Nassau, N.P., May 20, 1846. He immigrated to Providence, R.I., in 1849, and in 1870 removed to Boston. He attended the Providence High School, Phillips Acade- my, and studied a year in Paris. He held
360
THE IRISH IN BOSTON.
the position of Deputy Secretary of State of Rhode Island for about a year, and also acted as private secretary to General Burnside. He subsequently adopted the profession of a civil engineer, and has been engaged on im- portant public works since 1867. He was appointed superintendent and resident en- gineer of the Boston Water Works in 1873, his present position. During his experience he has been engaged for four years in build- ing railroads in the West, and for two years was chief engineer of. the Boston & Albany R.R. He is president of the Boston Society of Civil Engineers, a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, treasurer of the Council of the N.E. Meteorological Society, and Fellow of the Royal Meteorological Society of England.
FITZGERALD, JAMES E.1
FITZGERALD, THOMAS F., American Bank- Note Company, born in Ireland, Dec. 20, 1848. He received a common-school education. He was engaged with the American Bank- Note Company. He served in the Legis- lature of 1873, '74, '75, and represented the Sixth Suffolk District in the Senate of 1876- 77. He was returned to the Legislature again in 1879 from Ward 13.
FITZPATRICK, JOHN B., deputy sheriff of Suffolk County. He was an officer of the Supreme Judicial Court for many years, and has been identified with city, State, and na- tional affairs. He was a member of the Common Council in 1880, '81, '82, '83, and served on the most important committees. As a debater he is clear and forcible, and an excellent organizer. He is president of St. Joseph's Conference of St. Vincent de Paul Society; a member of St. Joseph's Court No. 1I, M.C.O.F., and other benevo- lent societies. He is a Democrat in politics.
FLANIGAN, WILLIAM H., accountant, born in Charlestown, Nov. 7, 1851. He gradu- ated from the Lyman School, attended the
English High School one year, took a course at private study and at Comer's Commercial College. He was employed four years as book-keeper for Gibbs & Stinson, two and one-half years in counting-room of Jordan, Marsh, & Co., four years as cashier for R. H. Stearns & Co., six years as assistant clerk and two years as clerk of the East Boston Ferries, and appointed accountant in the Mayor's office a few years ago, when the new city charter took effect. He is a mem- ber of the Montgomery Veteran Association, and resides in East Boston.
FLATLEY, MICHAEL J., hotel-keeper, born in Ireland, where he received a part of his education. He came to America when a boy, and finished his schooling here. He has been the proprietor of the Jefferson House in Boston for several years. He was a member of the Common Council of 1873- 74, and represented the Third Suffolk Dis- trict in the Senate of 1875, '76, '77, '78, serving on the Committees on Labor, Prisons, and State House. While in the upper branch of the Legislature he was an indefatigable worker for prison reform, and initiated the legislation which finally resulted in the law forbidding the use of the gag in penal insti- tutions and houses of correction. He was a trustee of the State Primary and Reform School in 1881, and a member of the Gover- nor's Council in 1882.
FLATLEY, THOMAS.1
FLYNN, EDWARD J.1
FLYNN, JAMES J., late superintendent of streets, born in St. John, N.B., in 1834, died in Boston, March 27, 1884. When only two months old he arrived in this city with his parents and located in old Fort Hill. He was educated in the public schools, and was a graduate of the Boylston Grammar School. At the age of twenty-one he was elected by the Democratic party as a ward officer, which position he filled for four years.
1 See Lawyers.
361
BIOGRAPHICAL, SKETCHES.
In 1856 he engaged in the grocery business at South Boston, in which he continued for nearly three years. In 1859 he entered the business for the sale of ship stores on Broad street, where he was located for about ten years. He later engaged in the liquor trade until 1878, when he opened an office as a broker and dealer in real estate. He repre- sented old Ward 7 in the Legislature of 1865-66, and served in the Common Council of 1865, '66, '68, '69, '71, '72, '73, '74, '75, '76, '77, and he was a member of the Board of Aldermen in 1879, 'So, '81. In 1883 he was again a member of the Common Council, and was elected president of that body, being the first Irish-American who held that office. In the same year he was appointed superintendent of streets of the city of Boston, the position he held at the time of his death. He was a member of the Charitable Irish Society, Knights of St. Patrick, and other organizations, and was at one time captain of the old Montgomery Guard, Ninth Regiment, M.V.M .;
FOGARTY, JEREMIAH W., assessor's clerk, born in Boston, Sept. 1, 1846. He graduated from the Quincy School, 1860, and the English High School in 1863. He then engaged in the railroad business, and was employed as chief business clerk at the East Boston office of the Boston & Albany Rail- road. He was appointed assessor's clerk in 1875, and also receiving-teller of the col- lector's department. He has been secretary of the Charitable Irish Society since 1885, and is one of the committee appointed to complete a history of the society.
Fox, JAMES W.1
GAGAN, EDWARD, born in Charlestown, Dec. 14, 1849. He was educated in the public schools of this vicinity. In 1863 he shipped in the navy, from which he was honorably discharged at the expiration of his service in 1865. Some years ago he learned
the trade of an iron moulder, but is at present engaged in the liquor business in Charlestown. He is a member of Abraham Lincoln Post, has been a member of the Democratic Ward and City Committee for a number of years past, and represented Ward 5 in the General Court of 1885.
GALLAGHER, JAMES H., born in Boston, Sept. 29, 1855. He attended the Mayhew School of this city. He became employed after leaving school at furniture polishing, and later worked about five years as a glazier. About 1872 he engaged in the liquor business, which he has continued since. He represented Ward 7 in the Common Council of 1883, '84, '85; and during the latter year was a member of the Board of Public Institutions. He was at one period presi- dent of the West End Athletic Club and West End Boat Club. On Jan. 31, 1883, he was appointed a Justice of the Peace by Governor Butler.
GALLAGHER, WILLIAM, real estate, born in Boston, Nov. 8, 1818, died at South Boston, June 1, 1884. He was educated in the public schools, and was at one time engaged in the stove trade. He was also largely connected as trustee and commissioner of real-estate transactions, and held the office of first assistant assessor in 1860, '62, '65, 67, '70, '73. In 1863-64 he represented old Ward 12 in the Common Council. He was for many years identified with the Phillips Con- gregational Church, holding offices in the church and society. He was one of the original incorporators of the South Boston Savings Bank, a member of St. Paul's Lodge F. and A.M., St. Matthew's R.A. Chapter, and St. Omer Commandery of Knights Templars. He was always identified with matters of local interest in the South Boston district. He was the father of Hon. Charles F. and Mr. William Gallagher.
GALLIVAN, WILLIAM J., United States clerk, born in Boston, Feb. 2, 1865. He was a graduate of the Lawrence Grammar
1 See Lawyers.
362
THE IRISH IN BOSTON.
and Boston Latin Schools, and Harvard Uni- versity, class of 1888. He was for a time employed as extra clerk in the Assessors' Department, also for the registrars of voters of the city, and is now clerk in the warehouse department of the United States Custom House in Boston. He is a member of the Young Men's Catholic Association of Boston College, and of the School and College Alumni.
GALVIN, OWEN A.1
GARGAN, FRANCIS, agent, Republic Mills, born in Boston, Dec. 25, 1846. He was educated in the public schools of this city, and also at the Georgetown College, D.C., where he studied one year in the senior class. He represented Ward 8 in the Legislature of 1878.
GILMAN, JOHN E., settlement clerk at Board of Directors' office of Public Institu- tions, born in Boston, Mass., Dec. 22, 1844. He was educated at the Boston public schools. When fourteen years of age he was withdrawn from school and apprenticed to Pond & Duncklee, tinsmiths. He enlisted at Boston in the Twelfth (Webster) Regi- ment, Massachusetts Volunteers, Aug. 5, 1862. He was sent to Camp Cameron, Cambridge, and afterwards ordered to the seat of war. He joined his regiment at Rapidan river, Va., Aug. 13, 1862, and was attached to Thomp- son's Independent Pennsylvania Battery, and engaged with them in battles at Rappahan- nock Station, Thoroughfare Gap, Bull Run, 2d, and Chantilly. On Sept. 1, 1862, he re- joined the regiment at Hall's Hill, Va., and engaged in battles at South Mountain, Md., September 14; Antietam, September 17; Fredericksburg, December 13; and Chan- cellorsville. He fought on the memorable field of Gettysburg, July 1 and 2, 1863. During that fearful and decisive struggle for the preservation of the Union Mr. Gilman gallantly faced the horror and peril
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.