Galway - Bios Galway-Pennsylvania, USA

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Ireland Genealogy Projects Archives
Galway Index
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File contributed by:  C.L.

BIOS GALWAY-PENNSYLVANIA, USA

	THOMAS CONROY, foreman of the Duquesne works of the
Carnegie Steel Works, was born November 15, 1861, in county
Galway, Ireland, son of Michael and Mary (True) Conroy.
Michael Conroy was born in the same county in Ireland in
which his son was, and there he followed farming for his
livelihood. He married Mary True, daughter of Thomas and
_____ (Devine) True, of county Galway, Ireland. Michael and
Mary (True) Conroy were the parents of the following
children: 1. Patrick, born in county Galway, Ireland; lived
in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, for many years and died in
1905, in Ireland. 2. Michael Jr., lives at Homestead,
Pennsylvania, where he worked for many years in the rolling
mills of the Carnegie Steel Company. 3. Thomas, of whom
later. 4. Mary, died in infancy. The mother, Mary (True)
Conroy died in 1864. For his second wife Mr. Conroy married
Mary, daughter of Owen and Mary Flaherty, of county Galway,
Ireland, who bore him five children: 1. Nora, who became the
wife of Michael Wallace, of county Galway, Ireland; she died
in 1898. 2. John. 3. Ellen. 4. Mary, died in infancy. 5.
Ann, now the wife of John Flaherty, of Boston,
Massachusetts.
	Thomas Conroy, of this notice, came to America in 1879,
and located first at a point in Schuylkill county,
Pennsylvania, where he worked at firing a steam boiler for
about one year, then came to Homestead, Pennsylvania, where
he was employed in the Carnegie Steel Works from the time
they first opened until 1882, then removed to McKeesport,
Pennsylvania, where he had employment in the National
Rolling Mills, at the boilers. In 1893, seeing an
opportunity of improving his condition, he moved to
Duquesne, Pennsylvania, and was there employed by the Howard
Plate Glass Company, having charge of their steam boilers,
where he also hoisted sand for the Carnegie Steel Works for
fourteen years. Mr. Conroy in politics is a staunch
Republican, and is serving as one of the councilmen for the
third ward in Duquesne borough. He belongs to Holy Name
Roman Catholic Church of Duquesne, Rev. Father David
Shannon, pastor. He is also connected with the Ancient Order
of Hibernians and Catholic Benevolent Association.
	He married September 22, 1882, Bridget Conley, daughter
of Edward and Mary (Cole) Conley, of county Galway, Ireland.
To them have been born five children: 1. Michael John, born
August 20, 1883, died July, 1885. 2. Edward Francis, June
28, 1885, died in infancy. 3. Thomas Francis, August 20,
1886. 4. Mary, August 10, 1888. 5. Patrick John, June 1,
1892.

- Source: Boucher, John Newton. A Century and a Half of
Pittsburg and Her People. New York: Lewis Pub. Co., 1908

--------------------------------------------

	WESLEY SIMPSON WAKEFIELD, one of the skilled engineers
of Greater Pittsburg, was born in West Wheatfield township,
Indiana county, Pennsylvania, October 30, 1857. He descends
from the following ancestral line:
	The founder of the Pennsylvania branch of the Wakefield
family in the United States was David Wakefield (I) born on
the family estate on the road between Aughrim and
Ballinasloe, Galway county, Ireland. He was the son of
Robert Wakefield of the same estate, the son of Robert
Wakefield (who died in England in the prime of his life from
wounds received in battle), the son of Doctor Albert
Wakefield, who was the son of John Wakefield, the emigrant
from England to Ireland.
(I)	David Wakefield, founder of the family in this country,
married the daughter of Jeremiah Wade, a wealthy landed
proprietor and neighbor of the Wakefields in Galway county,
Ireland. He emigrated to America between 1768 and 1773.
Tradition says that he was implicated with his brothers,
Robert, beheaded; Gilbert, arrested with Robert and
imprisoned for life, and Samuel, who escaped in a rowboat to
Scotland, in the plot against Catholic rule in Ireland, and
when detected David was hidden by his wife in a hogshead of
clothes, with which she embarked to America and was three
days out at sea before the captain of the ship knew he was
on board. By this means it is confidently believed that he
made his escape to this free country. Upon his arrival in
Baltimore he first settled in Path Valley, situated between
the Tuscaroras and Conecocheague mountains, in Perry county,
then known as Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, where some of
the younger of his children were born. After residing there
for about sixteen years he settled on the north side of the
Conemaugh river, opposite Squirrel Hill, now New Florence,
then in Cumberland, but now in Indiana count, at a point
where now stands the village of Centreville. After remaining
there some two years and finding the title to his land was
defective, they moved five miles to the northwest, to near
the headwaters of Richard's Run in Wheatfield township,
sometime between 1788 and 1794, and there remained and where
David died and was buried in the family burying-ground on
the farm site of the old homestead. After his death the
widow went to reside with her eldest daughter, Joanna, who
married William Carroll, a nephew of Charles Carroll, of
Carrollton, Virginia, who was one of the signers of the
Declaration of Independence and who lived in the Wolf Creek
settlement, Mercer county, where she died and her remains
were laid beside her husband's. The descendants of David
Wakefield and wife were as follows: 1. Thomas, born 1757,
married Elizabeth Morton, niece of John Morton, who signed
the Declaration of Independence; died in 1844; was in the
Revolutionary war and shared the hardships of the winter at
Valley Forge with General Washington. 2. Rev. James, born
November 11, 1767, married Mary Clark; died February 18,
1840; was the first Methodist minister in Indiana county. 3.
John, married Elizabeth Newton, 1803, who was his nurse
while ill at a hotel on a visit to Dublin, Ireland. 4.
Jeremiah, married Isabella Lynn. 5. David, born in October,
1778, married Jennie C. Carnahan. 6. Joanna, married William
Carroll. 7. Margaret, married Thomas Bracken. 8. Mary,
married her nephew, Robert Wakefield.
(II)	David Wakefield, the grandfather of the Subject, was
born October 11, 1778, in Path Valley, Perry county,
Pennsylvania; married Jennie C. Carnahan, also of Indiana
count, where he lived and died September 16, 1844, and was
buried by the side of his wife in the family burying ground,
where tombstones mark their resting place. His wife was the
daughter of Alexander and Elizabeth Carnahan. The issue of
David Wakefield and wife (II) was as follows: I. John w.,
born April 10, 1806; removed to Indianola, Iowa; married
Fannie Byers; died January 13, 1873. 2. Elizabeth, born
August 24, 1808, married Jacob Gamble; died February 28,
1859. 3. Mary, born January 4, 1812; married George Gamble;
died May 21, 1880. 4. James, born June 8, 1814; married
Cynthia Palmer; was a farmer and surveyor; inherited a share
of the Wakefield estate; died February 18, 1888. 5. Jane,
born June 10, 1818; married William Palmer, and they moved
West; died December 19, 1892. 6. Jeremiah, born April 19,
1823; married Lucinda Palmer; died September 27, 1887. 7.
Caroline, born October 7, 1825, unmarried, died April 4,
1889. 8. Thomas P., born September 10, 1829; married Ann
Sides; served in the Civil war; died January 27, 1865.
(III)	Jeremiah Wakefield, the subject's father and the son
of David Wakefield (II) and wife, was born April 19, 1823,
in the Wakefield homestead, West Wheatfield township,
Indiana county, Pennsylvania, and was reared on his father's
farm, having but a limited advantage for education, but by
personal application, however, he fitted himself for the
duties and obligations of life. While yet but a mere lad he
taught school in the country districts and became an
important factor in promoting the best interests of the
community. He was of a truly studious nature  and enjoyed
the good library which he gathered around him. July 2, 1844,
he was married to Lucinda Palmer, daughter of Peter and
Frances (Gafney) Palmer, a prominent farmer on the “Ridge”
not far from the Wakefield farms. They lived on the farm
that he inherited from his father's estate and followed the
occupation of a farmer. He became an earnest advocate of the
public school system, as well as every other enterprise for
the uplift of man and had the general endorsement of all
about him. Being an adherent of the Methodist Episcopal
church, he organized the first society of that denomination,
known as the “German Methodist Episcopal church' (because it
was a largely German community). He was thoroughly good and
had the interests of the church at heart; his brothers in
Methodism made him a local preacher of that denomination.
Later he was ordained minister of the Gospel and a member of
the Pittsburg Conference, where he served as a supply at
Greenville, Diamondville, Strongstown and Belsane.
Politically he was a Jefferson Democrat and ever took an
active part in public and political affairs. He was honored
by his party by being elected county commissioner in 1885.
His residence was at the county seat, Indiana, during his
incumbency, where he died during the term for which he was
elected on September 27, 1887, of capillary bronchitis, the
result of a severe cold. His remains were interred in the
old family burying ground on the Wakefield homestead, West
Wheatfield township, Indiana county, Pennsylvania. The
children born to Mr. and Mrs. Jeremiah Wakefield were as
follows: 1. Mary J., born January 21, 1846, married Jacob
Mack, a farmer of Indiana county, and died in April 1906. 2.
Martin L, born July 12, 1848, died September 3, 1852. 3.
William E., born December 22, 1850, died February 5, 1868.
4. Caroline E. born February 21, 1853, married John H.
Campbell, a farmer now residing in Indiana county. 5.
Elizabeth M., born January 1, 1855, married John H.
Kissinger, a music teacher and composer, residing at
Blairsville, Pennsylvania. 6. Wesley S., the Subject, born
October 30, 1857, of whom later. 7. Clara F., born February
12, 1860, died September 29, 1865. 8. Martha Emma, born
January 28, 1862, died October 10, 1865. 9. George
Washington, born March 20, 1865, married Miss _____
Campbell, and is in the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad
Company at Blairsville.
      The subject's mother, Lucinda (Palmer) Wakefield, was
the daughter of Peter and Frances (Gafney) Palmer, born May
4, 1823, and died January 13, 1890, after suffering nine
months from an operation for a tumor under her arm on the
right side. She was buried with the other deceased members
of the family in the old family burying ground on the
Wakefield farm. She was a devoted member of the Methodist
Episcopal church and always exemplified her Christianity by
her daily walk.
(IV)	Wesley Simpson Wakefield (Subject) was born on his
father's farm in West Wakefield township, Indiana county,
Pennsylvania, October 30, 1857. He attended the public
schools of the township and the higher schools of the
county, among others the Indiana Normal, and took a private
course of instruction in civil engineering. His first
engagement at engineering work was in 1881 as transit man in
Kentucky on the Paris, Georgetown & Frankport Railroad,
under George W. Luffer, who located the famous Pack-Saddle
Hollow line of the Pennsylvania Raiilroad. In 1882 Mr.
Wakefield was appointed assistant engineer by the chief
engineer, O.W. Barnes, engaged in the survey of an
opposition line to the Pennsylvania system. In the winter of
1882-83, when Mr. Luffer was made division engineer in the
location of a line in the Perkiornen Valley in Montgomery
and Lehigh counties from Norristown to Allentown,
Pennsylvania, Mr. Wakefield was appointed assistant to the
chief engineer in charge of the field operations. Having
completed that work on May 5, 1884, he engaged in the
engineering department of the city of Pittsburg under the
directorship of Edward M. Bigelow, serving continually until
August 1, 1903, when he resigned to engage in the private
practice of hi profession, which he has since followed in
Greater Pittsburg. Here his services have been a part of the
work accomplished in her rapid advancement and substantial
development. When he was first employed by the city he had
charge of the extension of the sewer system and the first
great efforts along that line were under his direction. The
first sewer in the now populous section of East Liberty on
Collins avenue was constructed under his immediate
supervision, where now there is scarcely an alley on which
there is not a public sewer. The Two Mile Run, or
Thirty-third Street Basin main trunk line, was built under
his supervision.
      The Pittsburg charter of 1888 made it impossible to
extend the line of operation in engineering accomplishments
by gathering under one head all the municipal engineering
divisions. In this Mr. Wakfield's work was no insignificant
part, for many enterprises were carried to a successful
issue through his efforts, some of which may be enumerated
as the location of Beechwood and Grant Boulevards, drives
and walks in Highland Park; location and estimate of supply
main from Reservoir No. 2 to downtown district. He also had
charge of the field work in the preparation of plans and
estimated cost for the construction of a filter plant,
besides other lines of work in the development and extension
of Pittsburg. During the winter of 1893-94, “the hard times
winter” so well recalled by the poor class, when they
received one dollar a day subscribed by the citizens of the
municipality and augmented one hundred per cent by Andrew
Carnegie for laboring in and beautifying the parks, Mr.
Wakefield was placed in charge of the engineering of
Highland Park. He commenced when all looked unpromising, but
took the abandoned reservoir – now beautiful Lake Carnegie –
cleaned it out and put it in its present condition. This
with many more improvements were made by the direction of
the subject.
	Mr. Wakfield is a member of the Emery Methodist
Episcopal church on Highland avenue, and is a member of the
board of trustees which built and dedicated, October 6,
1907, the new church. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity,
including Washington lodge No. 253, F. and A.M. in which he
has filled all the chairs; Pittsburg Chapter No. 268.;
Duquesne Commandery No. 72; all Pittsburg Masonic societies.
As a member of the Board of Trade he is serving on the
committee on Municipal Affairs. Politically he is a
supporter of the Republican party and takes great interest
in all local movements.  He was united in marriage to Miss
Jessie Robinson, September 22, 1895, at Greensburg,
Pennsylvania, her home. By this union the issue is as
follows: 1. Jessie Virginia, born May 22, 1897. 2. Paul
Vincent, born August 29, 1899. 3. Wesley Simpson, Jr., born
February 5, 1901.

- Source: Boucher, John Newton. A Century and a Half of
Pittsburg and Her People. New York: Lewis Pub. Co., 1908

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	JAMES LAWRENCE WALSH, a prominent steel worker and the
owner of a valuable business block at the corner of West
Grant and North Second street, Duquesne, is the son of
Lawrence Walsh and wife, Margaret O'Dea Walsh, of county
Galway, Ireland, where the Subject was born in 1854. He
attended the National School of Tullokyne, Ireland. After
gaining his education he spent three years in his native
land engaged in the grocery and liquor trade. In June, 1874,
he came to America landing at Boston harbor and in that
neighborhood worked on a farm for one year, and in the
following August came to Port Perry, Pennsylvania. He
followed labor with the Edgar Thomson Iron Works, then in
course of construction. After working two years at this he
with about twenty other workmen were laid off, and during
the years of 1875 and 1877 Mr. Walsh traveled through the
states of West Virginia and Ohio working at odd occupations
at numerous places. In March, 1877, he returned to the
Carnegie Steel Company, where he was employed constantly in
various capacities for twenty-five years, with the single
exception of a short time he was in Bellaire, Ohio. He is at
this time what he has been for several years, a tried and
trusty steel pourer or “ladle man” where only skilled men
can fill the position.
	Politically Mr. Walsh is an independent voter. He with
the family are members of the Holy Name Catholic church,
Father David Shannahan, pastor. He was married May 22, 1879,
to Adelia Conley, of Brinton, Pennsylvania, daughter of
Lawrence and Mary (Cosgrove) Conley. The ten children by
this union were as follows: 1. Margaret, deceased. 2.
Lawrence, born September 23, 1881, a graduate of the
Pennsylvania State College and St. Vincent's College; he is
a civil engineer and employed with the Devoe Company. 3.
Mary, born September 30, 1883, attended the public schools
of Duquesne and Grove City College; she is now a teacher in
the schools of Versailles township, Allegheny county,
Pennsylvania. 4. Jane Bernadette, born October 23, 1885,
deceased. 5. Margaret, born December 26, 1887, attended the
public schools of Duquesne, and graduated from the Duquesne
high schools, and is now an instructor in the Duquesne
public schools. 6. Lenora E., born April 11, 1890,died in
infancy. 7. James, Jr., born September 11, 1891, now
attending St. Francis College at Loretto, Pennsylvania. 8.
Walter Michael, born September 17, 1893, attending the same
school as the last named. 9. Thomas Francis, born January
31, 1899, died in infancy. 10. Bertille Antony, born
September 17, 1900.
	Mr. Walsh's parents were blessed with the following six
children: Mark, Margaret, Adelia, Jane, Hanorah, and James
Lawrence, the subject.

- Source: Boucher, John Newton. A Century and a Half of
Pittsburg and Her People. New York: Lewis Pub. Co., 1908
--------------------------------------------

	John H. Carey, owner and proprietor of the Carey House,
Erie, Pa., was born August 20, 1845, in Kilimer, county
Galway, Ireland. His parents, James and Bridget (Kelly)
Carey, were also natives of the Emerald Isle. They emigrated
to America in 1849 and settled in Erie. They reared a family
of eight children, of whom three were boys and five were
girls. After receiving a common school education Mr. Carey
went to sea and led the life of a mariner fourteen years,
eight years of which were served in the capacity of second
mate. The vessels on which he served were engaged in
blockade running during the civil war. He was employed in
the fitting out of the famous Rebel privateer “Alabama” at
Liverpool. During his time at sea he helped save four crews,
three on the Atlantic Ocean and one on the Spanish Main; he
made four trips across the Atlantic, two around Cape Horn
and one around Good Hope. In 1866 he came to Erie and
engaged in the saloon business, which he has since
successfully followed. In 1872 he purchased his present
property, where he conducts a first-class restaurant. He was
married August 30, 1871, to Miss Mary, daughter of
Bartholomy Crowley of Erie. Politically he is a Democrat,
and has served five years in the city council. He is a
member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church.

- Source: Nelson's biographical dictionary and historical
reference book of Erie County, Pennsylvania : containing a
condensed history of Pennsylvania, of Erie County, and of
the several cities, boroughs and townships in the county :
also portraits and biographies of the governor's since 1790,
and of numerous representative citizens. Erie, Pa.: S.B.
Nelson, 1896.