USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > The story of the Irish in Boston, together with biographical sketches of representative men and noted women > Part 40
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About this time Mr. Brown made Messrs. Fitz and Durrell a very liberal offer to form a copartnership, which was accepted, and in two years were given equal shares in the firm of Brown, Durrell, & Co. It is understood that when Fitz and Durrell were boys together in the employ of E. B. Bell & Co., they formed a resolution to both go into business some day for themselves, and it was put into execu- tion in the formation of the present concern. He is a very active business man, an industrious worker, and a careful manager. The house of which he is now one of the partners started in a compara- tively small way, and is at present doing the largest business in the line of wholesale hosiery and fancy dry goods in Boston, selling their wares in nearly every State in the Union. The many charitable, generous, and kindly deeds of Mr. Fitz will never be known. Suffice it that the institutions for the relief of the poor and unfortunate, as well as the poor people themselves, share his fortune. His purse is always ready to support the cause of Ireland, and his splendid business ability is applied to the construction of the legitimate machinery which yields fruitfully the helpful financial product that is sent from New England to Ireland.
WILLIAM H. BRINE.
William H. Brine was born in Boston, and educated at the public schools. When fourteen years of age he entered the employ of Mr. Jonathan Wheeler, at East Cambridge. There he remained
THOMAS B. FITZ.
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
two years, and it may be of interest to our readers, and espe- cially to those of the young men who contemplate embarking in commercial life in a great city, to know that he received per week a salary of one dollar, his present position showing what may be achieved by self-denial, energy, and activity. We next find him in the employ of Hogg, Brown, & Taylor, of Boston, with whom he remained two years. This city then had a population of about 190,000, and the present growth up to 450,000 must appear to him astonishing. The growth of the dry-goods trade, in which his busi- ness ranks, has been very remarkable, especially when the great opposition of New York is considered. The sales of twelve dry- goods houses, strictly wholesale and wholesale and retail combined, last year amounted to $75,000,000, thus proving that the dry-goods business of Boston is the main feature in the city's commerce, repre- senting a larger total than any other industry ; and when the sales of the exclusively retail dealers are also included, the total must be truly enormous.
Having mastered the intricacies of the dry-goods business, and. being truly regarded as a promising young business man of adminis- trative and executive ability, he entered the employ of Mr. John. Harrington, at Somerville. In 1861, a few months later, on Mr. Harrington enlisting in the cause of the Union, so manifest had his; ability become, and so great was. the confidence of his employer, that he was offered and accepted a partnership. It will thus be seen that. he has been connected with the present house over twenty-seven years. Mr. Brine justly ranks as a representative New England business man, thoroughly posted in his line of trade, and fully alive to the modern modes of doing business, and whose position, finan- cially and socially, is fully assured. He visited Europe in 1885, and although the firm had been connected with leading houses in England and Germany, by visiting the principal marts of trade in England and on the Continent, his ideas of the world's traffic were considerably enlarged. His visits to Nottingham, Balbriggan, and other places noted for their hosiery industries were very interesting and proved of great value to him in his business. This was supplemented by a
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tour on the Continent, Vienna, for small-wares, being an objective point. Mr. Brine owns some one hundred and sixty acres of land, beautifully located at Manomet in Southern Plymouth County, Mass. This property is valued at $25,000. There are in Manomet two hotels, one of which is on his premises.
The present firm of Brine & Norcross was organized in 1.884, under the same title as now, succeeding to the old business so long conducted by John Harrington & Co. The premises then consisted of two stores, at 17 and 18 Tremont Row and 70 and 72 Tremont street, those on Washington street and Pemberton square having been added in 1886 and 1888 respectively. The firm now consists of the two original partners, Mr. William H. Brine and Mr. J. Henry Norcross. Mr. John Harrington retired in 1884. He is known to most of our older citizens as one of Boston's prominent and success- ful merchants, who through a long business career enjoyed the con- fidence of the commercial world and the respect of the community generally. The credit of the house has never been questioned under the two managements.
PATRICK MAGUIRE.
Patrick Maguire was born in County Monaghan, Ireland, on the 5th of December, 1838. He came to America when a child, at the early age of seven years, his first home being at Charlottetown, Prince Edward's Island, where his youth was spent. He there learned the trade of printer. When but ten years of age, he entered the office of "The Gazette," and served his time as an apprentice. The Provinces, however, did not offer the opportunity for business ad- vancement which an ambitious, energetic, and able young man has the right to expect, and Mr. Maguire left Charlottetown in 1852, re- moving to Boston, where he engaged in his trade as a journeyman printer. In this occupation he continued until the age of twenty- seven, when, giving up active work at his trade, he entered the real- estate business, in which his energy, enterprise, and sound com- mercial judgment soon established him in a leading position. In a few years Mr. Maguire built up a large and substantial business, to
PATRICK MAGUIRE.
*
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
which he still gives his personal attention, and was intrusted with the management of important estates.
The establishment of " The Republic " by Mr. Maguire, in 1882, was a notable event in the history of weekly journalism in Boston. Mr. Maguire saw that the field was open for the entrance of a journal of a different class from any at that time in existence, and he pro- duced it with a success which was immediate and which has been continuous. "The Republic," which bore evidence in every depart- ment of skilful workmanship, quickly took its place among the leaders of popular thought and opinion, and has continued to exert an increasing influence. It is a monument to the enterprise and ability of its founder, who has impressed his strong individuality upon the journal, remaining from the first issue to this day its editor, proprietor, and publisher.
Mr. Maguire has been for a quarter of a century one of the leaders of the Democratic party in Boston and in the State of Massa- chusetts. His first vote was cast for Stephen A. Douglas for Presi- dent in 1860. As soon as he came of age, which occurred in the year preceding that of the Douglas campaign, he was chosen a member of the Democratic City Committee of Boston, and in that body he has held a seat to the present time, occupying the president's chair for three years in succession, in which he demonstrated a genius for political leadership. While so prominent for many years in the work of the party, Mr. Maguire accepted no office for himself; but in 1883 he was nominated member of the Executive Council of the Commonwealth from the Fourth Councillor District, and was elected by a substantial majority. He was reelected in 1884 and again in 1885, to serve for those years. Mr. Maguire was chosen in 1884 a delegate to the National Democratic Convention at Chicago, where he took a prominent part in advocacy of the nomination of Mr. Cleveland. He was also a delegate to the National Convention of 1888, at St. Louis: In 1885 Mr. Maguire was appointed a member of the Board of Park Commissioners of the city of Boston, a position in which he is now serving, and is identified with the successful development of the great system of public parks in the city.
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THE IRISH IN BOSTON.
DENIS H. TULLY.
Denis H. Tully, who was so well known as one of the most ex- tensive produce and wine merchants in Boston, died April 10, 1887. Mr. Tully was born in Ireland, and came to America in 1854, and entered the counting-room of a large wholesale house. Having practised civil engineering for some time in his native land, this early training proved of great advantage in his future career as a successful merchant. In 1857 he became connected with the late John S. Blake, of Central Wharf, Boston, in a short time rising to be that gentleman's chief assistant, and managing his extensive Mediterranean business. Upon Mr. Blake's death, in 1873, Mr. Tully became his successor as proprietor and owner of the establishment, and continued in active business until the time of his death. He was also treasurer of the Boston Beer Company, a corporation whose charter dated from 1828. From too close application to business, Mr. Tully's health gave way, and two years ago he had a severe attack, from which he recovered sufficiently to allow of his visiting Ireland for a few months, from which he derived much benefit. Mr. Tully was a devout Cath- olic, being a member of the congregation of the Church of the Immaculate Conception, and a benefactor of that church and of Boston College, and also of many worthy charitable institutions of Boston.
By the will of the late Denis H. Tully, of Boston, Catholic churches and institutions in this city and Worcester were enriched by the sum of $90,000. To the Archbishop of Boston, $10,000 was bequeathed, to be applied by him toward reducing the debt on the Cathedral of the Holy Cross, and for the benefit and improvement of the church; $10,000 was also bequeathed to the Archbishop for the improvement and advancement of the Boston Ecclesiastical Semi- nary.
The president of Boston College received $8,000 for the im- provement of the college, and an additional $2,000 to be kept sepa- rate from the general fund, the income to be devoted to a prize to be offered at the annual commencement exercises.
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
The pastor of St. Mary's Church received $10,000, to be devoted to reducing the church debt and for the support of the parish.
The association for the care of destitute Catholic children got $10,000; the Little Sisters of the Poor, $10,000; Carney Hospital, $5,000; the House of the Good Shepherd, $5,000; Holy Cross College, Worcester, $5,000; the new infant asylum on Dudley street, formed from St. Mary's Infant Asylum, $2,000; the House of the Angel Guardian, $2,000. This most thoughtful friend of the poor further bequeathed to his executrixes and executors the sum of $10,000, to be devoted to the deserving poor and destitute of the city, and to be expended through the instrumentality of the several paro- chial conferences of St. Vincent de Paul. This bequest was given with special reference to the parish poor of St. Mary's, St. Stephen's, St. James', St. Francis de Sales, St. Joseph's, and St. Mary's in the Charlestown district, St. Patrick's, and to the Conference of the Im- maculate Conception. Mr. Tully appointed his sisters, Cecilia Tully and Margaret M. Tully, to be executrixes, and Edward A. Kinney and Wm. S. Pelletier to be executors. They are exempt from surety. Holyhood Cemetery was bequeathed $1,000, the income to maintain the burial lot in good condition. After a number of private be- quests in addition to the charities above mentioned, the balance of the estate was bequeathed to the sisters of the deceased.
HENRY A. McGLENEN.
The popular business agent of the Boston Theatre is the son of Irish parents, and was born in Baltimore, Md., Nov. 28, 1826. He attended the schools of his native place, including one term at St. Mary's College. At an early age he learned the printer's trade with John Murphy, the well-known Baltimore printer and Catholic book publisher. In 1845 he came to Boston, where he worked "at the case " in the newspaper offices. In 1846 he resigned a position on the " Daily Advertiser " to go to Mexico as a member of Company A, First Massachusetts Regiment, commanded by Edward Webster, son of Daniel Webster, and remained in the service until the return of the regiment, July, 1848. He then resumed work as a printer, and re-
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ceived a varied experience in that line. In 1866 he became adver- tising and advance agent for many of the prominent public attractions which made successful tours throughout this country. About 1869 he accepted this present position, which he has filled very acceptably ever since. He is a member of the Boston Press Club, president of the Association of Massachusetts Volunteers in Mexico, vice-presi- dent of the National Association of Mexican War Veterans, Boston Light Infantry Veteran Association, Royal Arcanum, Boston Athletic Association, and as the representative of the Mexican Volunteers, recently presented to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts a flag received by them from Gen. Winfield Scott.
The regiment did meritorious service under General Taylor on the Rio Grande and under General Scott on the Vera Cruz line, and on the eve of their departure for home the regiment was presented with a beautifully wrought silk standard, which was made by the Catholic nuns in a Mexican convent, at an expense of several hundred dollars. It was held by the survivors of the regiment until recently, when they presented it to the State of Massachusetts.
The following correspondence is self-explanatory. The standard is one of five presented by General Scott to State troops. It had originally a blue ground, which is now faded to a yellowish drab .. The flag bears, beside the United States arms, the words, " Massa- chusetts Volunteer Infantry."
BOSTON, Jan. 23, 1889.
GENERAL, - I ask your acceptance for the Commonwealth of the accompany- ing standard given to the regiment of Massachusetts Volunteers in Mexico by Maj .- Gen. Winfield Scott, in recognition of faithful service performed in the cam- paigns of 1847-48. My surviving comrades are few, and each year lessens the number. When we have passed away, the standard will remain a testimony that the representatives of the Bay State, in a service which brought honor to our flag, and vast domain and exhaustless wealth to the nation, were deemed worthy of special commendation by the great captain of his day.
Very respectfully yours,
H. A. McGLENEN.
To Adjutant-General S. DALTON, M.V.M.
- --
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE, BOSTON, Jan. 23, 1889. H. A. MCGLENEN, EsQ. : -
MY DEAR SIR, - I am in receipt of your communication of this date, asking my acceptance for the Commonwealth of the standard given to the regiment of Massachusetts Volunteers in Mexico, by Gen. Winfield Scott, as a testimonial of faithful service performed in the campaign of 1847-48. His Excellency the Governor directs me to acknowledge the receipt of this valuable relic and to accept the same, with the assurance that it will be preserved with great care.
I am, sir, respectfully, your obedient servant,
SAMUEL DALTON, Adjutant-General.
DENNIS J. HERN.
Dennis J. Hern is the general superintendent of the Mutual Union Telegraph Company, and general manager of the Mutual District Messenger Company. He was born in Boston, Mass., Aug. 19, 1853, and graduated from the Boylston Grammar School, on old Fort Hill, in 1863. Thence he went to work for the United States Telegraph Company, then located in the basement of the old State House in Boston, Mass., and which was merged finally into the American and Western Union Company. He advanced steadily upward through the various grades of positions, such as clerk, operator, and manager, until he was appointed the superintendent of the Atlantic and Pacific- Telegraph Company in 1879, which gave him the honor of being the youngest superintendent in the telegraph service in the United States. Mr. Hern was associated with Prof. Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor of the Bell telephone, and also with Prof. Thomas A. Edison, both of whom he assisted in their earliest scientific experiments between the years 1875 and 1880, and he received from these gentlemen liberal offers to join them in their enterprises, which he declined because of his penchant for the telegraph service. In 1880 the Western Union Company secured control of the Atlantic and Pacific Com- pany's stock, and Mr. Hern was invited by the New York officials of that company to accept a position with them corresponding to the one he had held in the service of the other corporation. At
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THE IRISH IN BOSTON.
that time the electric light shone brilliantly upon a new field for investment and profit, and our subject hastened to New York, where he, with Alderman " Boss " Mclaughlin, and Mr. Thomas Nevins, the chief engineer of the Brooklyn Fire Department, formed the Brook- lyn Electric Light Company. Mr. Hern owned one-fifth of the capital stock of the company, which he afterwards sold to Mr. Mclaughlin and others. Mr. Parker C. Chandler, of Boston, and Mr. James M. Prendergast, the well-known Boston cotton-cloth commission merchant, were associated with Mr. Hern in the Brook- lyn venture, and the company, among other things, secured the contract for lighting the streets of Brooklyn and the Brooklyn bridge. During this period Mr. Hern was the managing director of the luminous Electric Manufacturing Company of New York, then located on Bond street, in which several hundred men were employed in the manufacture of telegraphic and electric-light apparatus. Early in 1881 Mr. Hern assisted others to organize and capitalize the Mutual Union Telegraph Company of New York, whose capital reached the sum of three million dollars, and it was built to compete with the Western Union Telegraph Company. He was appointed general superintendent of the corporation from New York to Bangor, and he personally supervised the construction of its entire line system in the New England States, and the arrangement and appointments of the vast number of branch offices. Mr. Hern still retains his position in this corporation, notwithstanding that the Western Union Company controls the stock of the Mutual Union Company. He is a director for the Electrical Development Manu- facturing Company of Boston, which has a large manufactory on Congress street in this city, wherein the manufacture of electric-light apparatus is effected. In January, 1883, he organized the Mutual Union District Messenger Company in Boston, to furnish messengers to collect and deliver messages and telegrams for telegraph com- panies, and for the collection and delivery of messages, parcels, etc. for the public. A similar organization had existed in Boston and New York, and it had not been financially successful, nor had it ever paid a dividend, owing in a measure to inefficient management of
DENNIS J. HERN.
419
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
the business. Mr. Hern selected for his company during the forma- tion period a good staff of men of superior abilities and boys; the latter he had well drilled and trained to the service, and their deportment and clothing were scrupulously looked after, so as to attract the patronage of the public. He established well-appointed offices and distributed call-boxes throughout the city. Four offices and forty messengers and the necessary clerk hire made up the plant and working force in the beginning, and the connections with different points numbered less than five hundred. To-day the com- pany has forty-five hundred connections, it owns two hundred and twenty miles of wire, and employs four hundred messengers. Nearly a quarter of a million telegrams are received and delivered monthly in the city and vicinity by the company, besides a large number of letters and packages. The monthly revenue from it is over $10,000, The pay-roll shows annual payments to the messengers of $100,000, which goes directly into the poor families of Boston, which makes this great undertaking one of the great charities of our proud city. One-third of the four hundred messenger boys who are employed by the Mutual District Company are orphans, and Mr. Hern is ever on the alert for the employment and advancement of such as those. They are well cared for by the company, provided with good uniforms, they have established rules to regulate their habits and behavior, and are coached in their training school at 22 Exchange street. Mr. Hern is a positive and firm advocate of the payment of liberal wages to the employés of the concern, and this has had much to do with its success. Many organizations and clubs claim Mr. Hern on their rolls of membership, chief among which are the New York Electrical Society, composed of the prom- "inent telegraph and electrical engineers of this country ; the Electric Club of Boston; and the Boston Clover Club. He is a director in the telegraph and messenger companies at Newport, R.I., Water- bury, Conn., Brooklyn, N.Y., and Denver, Col. He is well known to nearly all of the leading business men in the Eastern States, and he was general manager of the Eastern Telegraph Company in New Hampshire and Maine, of which Governor Robie was the president.
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THE IRISH IN BOSTON.
JAMES A. FLANAGAN.
James A. Flanagan, contractor and builder, born at West- field, King's County, N.B., Oct. 8, 1845. He came to this country when quite a young man. He attended the public schools of New Brunswick, and after working on a farm, learned his trade as a carpenter and builder. About 1862 he gained a knowledge of mechanical drawing at the Newton Evening Drawing-Schools. He came to Boston in 1876, and was engaged as foreman for D. J. Donovan, builder. In 1882 he formed a copartnership with his employer and brother, under the firm name of Donovan & Flanagan Bros. Since the death of the former, Dec. 31, 1886, the business has been carried on by the Flanagan Bros. The firm is at present doing a business of over two hundred thousand dollars per year. Mr. Flanagan is a charter member of the Master Builders' Association.
JOHN B. REGAN.
John B. Regan, boot and shoe dealer, born in County Cork, Ireland, June 21, 1838. He came to this country in November, 1848, and located in Boston, where he attended the Quincy Gram- mar School. He learned the printing business with John H. East- man, at which he was engaged from 1853 to 1860. In 1865 he established himself at the present site on Essex street, in the boot and shoe business. He is a member of the Charitable Irish Society, Montgomery Veteran Association, and has contributed considerable information about early Irish settlers in Boston. He is noted for his fondness of historical researches in this direction, and he has suc- ceeded in unearthing much valuable material pertaining to the Irish of the colonial period.
J.P. MURPHY CO
JOHN B. REAGAN.
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LEADING BUSINESS MEN.
A LIST OF LEADING BUSINESS MEN IN BOSTON.1
Alley, John R.,
Cogan, Joseph,
Bishop, Robert,
Coleman, C. A.,
Blake, C.,
Collier, P. F.,
Brine [& Norcross ],
Collins, James, & Co.,
Broderick, John
Collins, Patrick,
Brophey, Thomas,
Conlon, John,
Brown, Durrell, & Co.,
Cullen, James B., & Co.,
Burke, Patrick F.,
Crowley, Peter C.,
Boyle Bros., Boyle, J. A.,
Curran, M., Curtin, John,
Boyd, J. & J., & Co.,
Boston Furniture Co.,
Curry, Michael C.,
Callaghan, J. H.,
Callaghan, John H., & Co.,
Carey, Jeremiah,
Callaghan, Thomas O., & Co.,
Carey, P. F.,
Daly, John C.,
Calnan, James W.,
Dasey, Charles V.,
Campbell Bros.,
Day, Callaghan, & Co.,
Campbell, P. J., & Sons,
Dee Bros. & Co.,
Campbell, Patrick,
Deasy, Timothy,
Cannon, Austin,
Doolan, John,
Cannon, Peter,
Dee Bros.,
Canney, Patrick,
Dempsey Bros.,
Cleag, John P.,
Devine Bros.,
Casey, James D.,
Devine, Dennis D.,
Casey, Maurice F.,
Devine, James V.,
Cashman, Keating, & Co.,
Dobbins, Henry,
Cassidy, John E.,
Doherty Bros., Doherty, Henry,
Cavanagh, John, & Son,
Cawley & O'Connor,
Doherty, Michael, & Co.,
Clarke, Michael T.,
Doherty, Patrick,
Clarke & Ryan,
Dorchester Mfg. Co.,
1 Any names of other business men or firms not on this list will be carefully kept for enrolment in later editions of this book, if they are sent to the author.
Curran & Joyce,
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THE IRISH IN BOSTON.
Donahoe & Brennan,
Gaffney, Peter,
Donnelly, James J.,
Gaffney, Thomas, & Co.,
Dooley's Hotel,
Gallagher, J.,
Dowling, James,
Galvin Bros.,
Dooling, James,
Galvin, John M.,
Driscoll, C. F., & Co.,
Gately, M. R., & Co.,
Dugan, James,
Gibbon, John S., & Co.,
Donegan, John,
Gates & Co.,
Donohoe, Patrick,
Giblin, Hugh,
Donohoe, Chrysostom,
Gleason, James A.,
Dunne, F. L.,
Gorman Bros.,
Dwyer, John, & Co.,
Gormley, James,
Dyer, J. & P.,
Gormley, John, & Son,
English, William,
Grace, James J.,
English, Maurice,
Gratton, J. T.
Fagan, James,
Greeley, Patrick,
Green, Patrick J.,
Fay, Martin,
Haggerty, Roger,
Finnegan, Patrick, & Co.,
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