USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > The story of the Irish in Boston, together with biographical sketches of representative men and noted women > Part 37
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
382
THE IRISH IN BOSTON.
he still continues to transact. He represented Ward 15 in the Common Council of 1888, serving on the Committee on Parks and Markets.
MURRAY, GEO. F. H., deputy collector of internal revenue, born on board a Peabody packet ship (American vessel) at sea, while his parents were coming from Australia, on Dec. 12, 1858. He attended the Boston public schools and St. Charles College, Ellicott City, Md. In 1878 he returned to Boston, and became employed by Endicott & Macomber, insurance agents. He later engaged with C. A. Richards, wine merchant, but after a short period entered the insurance business again, on his own account. In 1885 he was appointed to his present position as a deputy collector of internal revenue. He represented Ward 13 in the Common Council, 1883, '84, '85, and was secretary of the Demo- cratic Ward and City Committee in 1884, '85, '86. He is a life member of the Young Men's Catholic Association of Boston College, and a member of the Bay State Club, Charitable Irish Society, Montgomery Veteran Associa- tion, Bachelor Club of South Boston, John Mitchell Branch, I.N.L., and Captain of Com- pany B, Ninth Regiment.
MURRAY, JEREMIAH A., kitchen-furnish- ing goods, born in Boston in 1843. He attended the public schools, and early in life engaged as a dealer in kitchen-furnishing goods, his present business. From 1862 to 1865 he served as sergeant in Light Battery, Eleventh Massachusetts Regiment, in the Army of the Potomac. He represented old Ward 3 in the Common Council of 1875-76. He is a member of the Catholic Order of Foresters, Knights of St. Rose, and Dahlgren Post 2, G.A.R.
MURRAY, RICHARD J., court officer, born in Boston, Nov. 13, 1859. He attended the Mayhew School, and after completing his education became employed as clerk. He was later employed for two years as water- inspector for the city of Boston. He was a
member of the Democratic Ward and City Committee for six years, and represented Ward 8 in the Common Council of 1885-86. He was appointed an officer of the Supreme Judicial Court in 1887, his present position. He is a member of the Fourth District Demo- cratic Congressional Club.
NAPHEN, HENRY.1
NOONAN, DANIEL, printer, born in County Limerick, Ireland, Feb. 7, 1834. He arrived in this country at an early age, and attended the Boylston School of this city. He was a member of the State Police from November, 1867, to August, 1873. He served in the General Court of 1875-76.
NORRIS, MICHAEL W., trader, born in County Cork, Ireland, in 1855. He immi- grated to this country in 1864, and settled in Boston. He graduated from the Boylston School, and at the age of fifteen went to work as messenger for the Western Union Tele- graph Company. He afterward engaged as a seaman on the Lakes, and for a time was employed at the Pittsburg Lead Mills. He later returned to this city, and became employed by Haskell & Son, fish dealers. After a brief visit to the South in the interest of the fish business, he again returned to Boston in 1877, where he has since resided. He represented Ward 13 in the Common Council of 1888-89, serving on a number of important committees. He is a member of the Royal Society of Good Fellows, A.O.H., Charitable Irish Society, American Society Hibernians, Fourth Congressional Club, and the National Athletic Association.
NUNAN, THOMAS F., shipper, born in South Boston, Aug. 29, 1843. He graduated from the Lawrence School in 1859, and attended the High School for one year. In 1860 he became employed by. Christopher Blake, furniture manufacturer, with whom he remained for fourteen years. He is a
1 See Lawyers.
JOHN B. O'BRIEN
383
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
member of the Irish American Club, City Point Lodge, Knights of Honor, American Hibernians of South Boston, and represented Ward 15 in the Common Council of 1886, '87, '88, '89.
O'BRIEN, CHRISTOPHER, born in Dublin, Ireland, Nov. 27, 1839. He came to this country in 1844, and received his early edu- cation at the Mayhew School of this city. He became employed as a laborer for a time, and in 1863 enlisted in the navy, and served on board United States steamer " Ni- agara " for three years and six months. He returned to Boston in 1867, and shortly after- ward engaged in the liquor business, in which he has continued ever since. He represented Ward 6 in the Common Council of 1887. When quite a young man he actively prac- tised athletic sports, particularly in the aquatic line. He rowed with George Faulkner at various times from 1858 to 1863, and was an active member of the McClellan, Commercial, and Boston Boat Clubs. He is at present a member of A.O. Foresters, John A. Andrew Post 15, G.A.R., and the Kearsarge Veteran Association.
O'BRIEN, JAMES M., elected to serve as a member of the Common Council during the year 1889. -
O'BRIEN, JAMES W.1
O'BRIEN, JOHN B., sheriff of Suffolk County, State of Massachusetts, born in 1844. He attended the public schools in this city. At seventeen years of age he entered the army as a private in the Twenty-fourth Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteers, and served three years. At the battle of Deep Run, Va., Aug. 16, 1864, he was severely wounded, but remained at his post of duty till the expira- tion of his term of service, in October, 1864, when he received an honorable discharge. In the year 1865 he entered the sheriff's office as clerk and collector, and in 1872 was
appointed deputy sheriff by Sheriff John M Clark. In the year 1883, Mr. Clark wishing to retire from the office of sheriff, Mr. O'Brien received the unanimous support of all parties, and was elected Sheriff of Suffolk County, which office he has held for nearly three years, performing its duties to the sat- isfaction of all and with credit to himself. On the first day of October, 1886, he received by acclamation the nomination of the Repub- lican party, and on October 20, the nomina- tion by acclamation of the Democratic Convention, for sheriff, for another term of three years.
Mr. O'Brien has filled various other places of trust and honor in the city. He was su- perintendent of St. Joseph's Sunday-school for ten years, president of St. Joseph's Con- ference, of St. Vincent de Paul Society six years, president of St. Joseph's Temperance Society five years, clerk of the Emigrant Savings Bank four years. He is a member of the Catholic Union of Boston, the Charita- ble Irish Society, Massachusetts Catholic Order of Foresters, the Grand Army of the Republic, and he is the president of the Home for Destitute Catholic Children, on Harrison avenue. Hon. John M. Clark, sheriff of Suf- folk County for more than a quarter of a century, speaking of Mr. O'Brien since his election, said : " He stands without a peer in the array of sheriffs of this Commonwealth, in the way of his bright accomplishments and ability."
The judges of the court are warm in com- mendation of his administration.
O'CONNOR, DENNIS, born in County Cork, Ireland, June, 1840. He was educated in Dublin, and graduated from the Normal School of that place. He was a teacher of the National Board of Education for nine years. He immigrated to this country in July, 1865, and located in Boston. He engaged in the liquor business shortly after he became a resident here, and in 1869 formed with his brother the partnership of D. & T. O'Con- nor, which has since continued. He rep-
1 See Lawyers.
384
THE IRISH IN BOSTON.
resented Ward 8 in the Legislature of 1877- 79 and in the Common Council of 1878.
O'CONNOR, MICHAEL, contractor, born in Oranmore, County Galway, in 1831. He was brought up with his mother's folks in Kilrush, County Clare, where he received his musical education under Bandmaster Hurley, playing 2d clarinet in Father Meehan's band of temperance boys at the age of nine. Three years later he and Michael Gamble played the clarinets in the band, and were a part of the parade that received Smith O'Brien in Limerick on his return after his imprisonment, July 4, 1848. Mr. O'Connor came to Boston in 1849, with nothing but a set of clarinets and a flute as his stock in trade. He was mustered into the service of the United States as bandmas- ter, Ninth Regiment, June 11, 1861, to go to Washington.
He served with the Ninth, and participated in the battles of Mechanicsville, Hanover Court-House, Gaines's Mill, Fair Oaks, and Malvern Hill, and was mustered out at Har- rison's Landing by order of the War Depart- ment in 1862, with all other bands in the corps. After going home he became band- leader in the Naval Station in Boston, under Admirals Stringham, Montgomery, and Rodgers, organizing the first regular band at that station.
Mr. O'Connor is now in the business of general contracting. After the Ninth was mustered out, the survivors living in Boston formed the Society of the Old Ninth, to meet once a year " to fight the battles and reunions over again," and help comrades if required.
O'CONNOR, PATRICK, grocer, born in Ire- land, Oct. 15, 1842. He was educated in his native country, and came to America in 1857. He settled in Boston upon his arrival, and has remained here ever since. He is at present engaged in the grocery business. He represented Ward 2 in the Common Council in 1870-71, and was a member of the Legis- lature of 1872.
O'CONNOR, THOMAS, born in Cork, Ire- land, May 30, 1849. He was educated in the National Schools of his native place, and came to this country in 1867. He located in Boston, and engaged in the liquor business. In 1869 he formed a partnership with his brother, under the firm name of D. & T. O'Connor, which has since continued. He represented Ward 8 in the Common Council of 1877, and was chairman of the Demo- cratic Ward Committee during 1877-78. He is a member of the National Irish Athletic Association, Montgomery Club, Montgomery Veteran Association, and of the executive committee of the Massachusetts Protective Liquor Association.
O'DONNELL, JAMES, born in County of Donegal, Ireland, June 22, 1846. He was educated in the National School of Carndon- nough, in Barony of Irishowen; his teacher was Philip Doherty. Mr. O'Donnell came to this country in July, 1863. He was first employed as clerk by Philip O'Donnell, and finally became his partner in the liquor busi- ness in 1876. He served in the Common Council of 1876 from Ward 7, being a mem- ber of the Committees on Bonds of City Offi- cers, Bathing, etc.
O'DOWD, ANDREW A., clerk and account- ant, born in Cork, County of Cork, Ireland, . Jan. 29, 1851. He arrived in this country in 1856, and located in Boston. He graduated from the Eliot Grammar School in 1864, and afterwards attended the English High School. He was for a time employed by the Insulated Lines Telegraph Company, later as clerk for Richards & Co., and for ten years clerk in the office of the Paving Department. In 1886 he was appointed to his present position as clerk and accountant in the office of the Superintendent of Bridges. He served in the Common Council of 1879-80, and is a member of the Catholic Order of Foresters, and was director of Young Men's Catholic Association during 1876, '77, '78.
O'FLYNN, THOMAS, grocer, born in Ire- land, March 1, 1846. He was educated
385
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
under the Board of National Education in his native country. He immigrated to this coun- try when quite young, and began business as a grocer's clerk at seventeen years of age. He worked at this occupation in New York City for a time, and is now engaged in the same business in this city. He was elected clerk of Ward 19 in 1878, and to the Common Council for the years 1883, '84, '85. He has for many years been identified with various local benevolent and business organizations in this city. He took a prominent part in the organization of the Irish National Land League of the United States; was the chief mover in organizing the Retail Grocers' As- ·sociation of this city, - the idea having been first suggested by him in the " New England Grocer," during September, 1878. In 1883 he was elected a member of the Democratic Ward and City Committee. During Gover- nor Robinson's administration he was ap- pointed a Justice of the Peace.
O'GRADY, THOMAS, architect, born in Rox- bury, Mass., March 27, 1858. Graduated from the Comins Grammar School in 1872, and from the Roxbury High School in 1875. He was taught a special course in the depart- ment of architecture at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, under the instruction of Prof. William R. Ware, and was gradu- ated with the class of 1880. Later he studied in the office of Ware & Van Brunt, Boston, for two years, and there received invaluable and practical knowledge of his profession. He studied one year in Baltimore, Md., at Charles Carson's office, returned to his native city, and established himself in the architectural profession. His best skill in design is displayed at the Convent of the Good Shepherd, Troy, N.Y., in a memo- rial granite and marble monument, erected by the Redemptorist priests, and now orna- menting their lot at Calvary Cemetery. St. Anne's School of Industry and Reform- atory of the Good Shepherd, Albany, N.Y .; the new parochial residence in St. James' parish, Boston; and the residence of S. M. Weld, at Wellesley, Mass., - are all beautiful
specimens of his ability. He was instructor of architecture at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1887-88; a member of the American Institute of Archaeology and Bos- ton Society of Architecture. He was elected to the School Board in 1887, and his tenure of office will continue until 1890. He re- ceived prize No. 2 for the second best design in the competition of architects for the Bos- ton Public Library building. The prize for design on the new Court House, Boston, was awarded him from among eighty Boston con- testants. He is the originator of a standard periodical, " The Technological Architectural Review;" the first number appeared in 1888. It is issued monthly, and contains heliotype reproductions of drawings by the students of the Institute, which are selected by four jurors, of whom Mr. O'Grady is one. The published drawings are the finest executed in the school.
O'KANE, JOSEPH, clerk of the Common Council, born in Boston, Jan. 11, 1847. He attended the Boston Grammar and Latin Schools, and afterwards went to Holy Cross College, Worcester, Mass. He was ap- pointed assistant clerk of the Council by Clerk Washington P. Gregg, October, 1865. He retained the position of assist- ant clerk for nineteen years. Mr. Gregg resigned in 1884, and Mr. O'Kane then suc- ceeded him to the clerkship. The succes- sive councils have unanimously elected him clerk since that time. He was a member of the School Committee from 1873 to 1876. The organizations with which he has been prominently associated are the Catholic Ly- ceum, of which he was the president. IIe was president of the Massachusetts Catholic Total Abstinence Union in 1874, and super- intendent of the Sunday School of the Cathedral of the Holy Cross. He has ad- dressed assemblages on behalf of the tem- perance cause, to which he strongly adheres.
O'MEALEY, JOHN W., druggist, born in Boston, June 25, 1861. He was educated in the public schools, and graduated from
386
THE IRISH IN BOSTON.
the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy, of which institution he is now a director. He was employed ten years for Kelley & Durkee, and is at present with Heath & Co. He was a Democratic member of the Common Council of 1886, and served in the Legisla- ture of 1887 from Ward 17.
O'NEIL, JOSEPH H., of the firm of M. F. & J. H. O'Neil, dealers in china, glass, and earthenware, was born in Fall River, March 23, 1853. Educated in public schools of Bos- ton. He was a member of the School Com- mittee in 1874, '75, '76, and a member of the House of Representatives from 1878-82, in- clusive, and in 1884. He served on the Com- mittees on Liquor Laws, Public Buildings, Street Railways, on Rules and Orders, on the Revision of the Statutes, and on Redistrict- ing the State, among others. In the national campaign of 1884 he ran against General Collins for Congress, but was defeated. He was a director and president of the Board of Directors for Public Institutions, and was the City Clerk in 1887-88. He was re-nomi- nated and elected to Congress in 1888, from the fourth district. He has been a member of the Democratic Ward and City Committee for many years.
O'NEIL, JOHN W., painter, born in Charles- town, Sept. 21, 1859. He graduated from the Winthrop Grammar School, July, 1875. He was elected a member of the Democratic City Central Committee in 1885, and repre- sented Ward 4 in the House of Representa- tives during this year, serving on the Committee on Election Laws He was a strong advocate of the Australian system of balloting. He is a member of the St. Francis de Sales Total Abstinence Society.
O'RILEY, ALLEN, furniture dealer, born at Shercock, County Cavan, Ireland, 1825. Emigrated from Ireland in 1847, and came to Boston in 1849. He was educated in Ireland. Elected to the City Council in 1865. He was a member of the City Coun- cil of Somerville later. He has retired from business and politics. His membership in
the Massachusetts State Militia, the Dragoons, covers a period of sixteen years.
PLUNKETT, CHRISTOPHER, day inspector, Boston Custom House, born at Mount Bellew, County Galway, Ireland, April 20, 1829; died at Medford, Nov. 25, 1888. His father and mother came to this country and settled in Boston, Mass., in 1834, where his father followed his business as a stucco- worker. The boy Chris followed his parents to Boston at an early age, and after three years' private schooling he entered the em- ploy of Hudson & Smith, proprietors of the Maine "Telegraph " and superintendents of the Merchants' Exchange News Room, where he stayed a number of years. When Hugh Downing, of Philadelphia, introduced the magnetic telegraph between New York and Boston, he offered young Plunkett a position, which he accepted, and remained in for some time. After 1847, when Irish immi- gration was very heavy, he was one of the organizers of the Irish Emigrant Society, which was for the purpose of assisting and protecting newly arrived immigrants. He served as a member of the board of di- rectors for some years. Captain Plunkett served the State creditably in the militia' as a lieutenant in the Shields Artillery, Capt. Edward Young, one of the Irish-American companies which was disbanded by the Know-Nothing Governor, Henry J. Gardiner. At the time of the attack on Fort Sumter, in April, 1861, Captain Plunkett held a lucra- tive position in the city of Boston. On the first call to arms he relinquished his position and threw all his energies into the recruiting and assisting in organizing the Ninth Massachusetts Regiment. He raised his company, and was elected captain of Company B, Otis Guards, April 29, 1861, and commissioned by Governor Andrew, May 2, 1861, and went to the front with the regiment. But a difference having arisen between the captain and colonel, it cul- minated in the resignation of the former, only to return again in a short time as an enlisted man. He was rapidly promoted to
387
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
second and first lieutenant, and performed staff officer's duty at brigade headquarters, and during the first battle of Fredericksburg, in December, 1862, while running orders in front of Marye's Heights to the brigade to ad- vance at double-quick, he had his horse shot dead under him, and received a slight wound in the left leg. In 1863 he was one of three officers, with eighteen men, detailed on de- tached duty to proceed to Long Island, Bos- ton Harbor, for recruits to fill up the reduced ranks of the regiment, where he stayed eight weeks, when he asked to be relieved and sent back to his regiment.
Captain Plunkett participated in all the battles with his regiment, from Antietam to the battle of North Anna river, on the twenty- third day of May, 1864, in which battle he had his right arm shot off by a twelve-pound solid shot. He also received a bad wound in the left side. The same shot killed two of his men, Privates Kelly and Sheehan. This was within eighteen days of the expira- tion of the term of service of the regiment. When the regiment was mustered out on Boston Common he was in the Mansion House Hospital, Alexandria, Va. In 1866, Gen. Darius N. Couch, who was then collector of the port of Boston, appointed Captain Plunkett a day inspector in the Boston Custom House, which position he held until his death.
POWERS, EDWARD J., printer, born in Boston in 1859. He attended the Lawrence and Bigelow Grammar Schools, and is at present engaged as a job printer. He repre- sented Ward 14 in the Common Council of 1886, '87, '88, serving on the Committees on Common, Public Library, Badges, Fourth of July, Assessors' Department, Department of Survey and Inspection of Buildings. He is a member of the Charitable Irish Society, St. Vincent de Paul Society, Park Square Club, Young Men's Catholic Association, Winthrop Council 538 R.A., and was con- nected with Company K., Ninth Regiment, in 1879.
QUIGLEY, CHARLES F., leather manufact- urer, born in St. John, N.B., Jan. 1, 1855. He located in Cambridgeport, Mass., in 1868, and attended the public schools. About 1869 he learned his trade as a currier, and has followed the different branches of the business ever since, and is at present a member of the firm of Quigley & Mc- Donough, leather manufacturers, Chelsea, Mass. He represented Ward 2 in the Com- mon Council of 1881, '82, '83.
QUIGLEY, EDWARD L., insurance, born in East Boston, Feb. 17, 1859. He attended the Adams Grammar School, and became employed in the insurance office of C. W. Holden in February, 1872, where he has had a business connection ever since. He represented Ward 5 in the Common Council of 1885-86. In addition to his insurance office in Boston he has another one in Charlestown. He is a member of the Young Men's Catholic Association of Boston College.
QUIGLEY, JAMES L., finisher, born in Bos- ton, Sept. 8, 1848, where he has always resided. He was educated in the Mayhew and Eliot Grammar Schools of this city. He is by trade a furniture finisher, and has been quite prominent in local politics. He has been a member of the Democratic Ward and City Committee for a number of years. He was an assistant assessor in 1876, and represented Ward 6 in the Legislature of 1877, '78, '79, '80, and was a member of the Senate of 1881.
QUINN, DENIS J., clerk, born in Boston, on Old Fort Hill, June 2, 1861. He is a grad- uate of the Quincy Grammar School. IIe has been in the employ of Messrs. Carter, Rice, & Co. for the past five years. Mr. Quinn has been prominently identified in Ward 12 politics for several years, and was elected to the Legislature for 1888. He is also a member of the Democratic Ward and City Committee.
388
THE IRISH IN BOSTON.
QUINN, PATRICK H., elected to serve as a member of the Common Council for the year 1889.
QUINN, PHILIP H., clerk, born in Boston, March 11, 1859. He attended the old Boyl- ston, and afterward the Quincy School, from which he graduated in 1872, and also grad- uated from the English High School in 1875. He then became engaged with his father, Capt. John Quinn, in the stevedore business, which he still continues. He rep- resented Ward 12 in the General Court of 1886, '87, '88, and served on the Committees on Taxation, Harbors, and Public Lands. He is a member of the Ward 12 Oak Club, composed of prominent Irish-Americans.
READE, JOHN, real estate and under- taker, born in Kilkenny, Ireland, Dec. I, 1824. He immigrated to this country May I, 1846. He lived two years at Blackstone, Mass., and twenty years at Milford, Mass., when he became a permanent resident of Charlestown. During the war he served as first lieutenant in the Fifty-seventh Massa- chusetts Regiment, and was in active service three and a half years, participating in all the battles fought from the Wilderness through to Petersburg. He was captured at the blowing up of the mine, and impris- oned for ten months and seven days at Columbus, S.C. He was afterward brevetted captain by Andrew Johnson for meritorious services. He represented Charlestown in the House of Representatives of 1880, '81, and '82, serving on the Committees on Street Railroads and Parishes and Religious Socie- ties. He is a Justice of the Peace, a member of Post II, G.A.R., Union Veterans No. 3, Charitable Irish Society, Montgomery Light Guard Veteran Association, and Ancient Or- der of Hibernians. He is engaged in the real-estate business, and is also an under- taker in Charlestown.
REARDON, PETER J., marble-cutter, born in Boston, Dec. 17, 1859. He was a graduate of the Bigelow School. He was also a promi- nen+ member of St. Augustine's Lyceum.
He represented Ward 15 in the General Court of 1886.
REILLY, EDWARD F., clerk, born in Bos- ton, Oct. 8, 1853. He removed to Charles- town in 1859, and attended the old Harvard and High Schools, from both of which he graduated. He was first employed by Parker & Dupee in the wool business, and is at present with Nichols, Dupee, & Co. He assisted in organizing St. Mary's Young Men's Temperance Society in 1876, and was vice-president the second year of its exist- ence. He has taken an active interest in politics for twelve years past, was secretary of the Democratic City Committee of 1887- 88, and has been a member of the Common Council of 1886, '87, '88.
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.