Genealogy research by Mark Humphrys.
Genealogy research by Mark Humphrys.
John O'Farrell,
P.A. left Co.Cork, never went back.
Went to America.
He
arrived in America in 1889
[Shearer, 2017].
He became a journalist.
[Shearer, 2017]
says he wrote for the
Boston Post
and became the paper's western correspondent, based in
Tacoma, Washington.
Profile
thought he wrote for the
New York Sun
and the
Boston Globe
as a western correspondent.
Later in 1921 census he is living in Canada and it says he arrived in Canada in 1890.
But it does seem he lived in USA at that time.
He returned to Ireland to marry in 1892.
He is listed on mar cert as "gentleman", then living
Tacoma, Washington.
He
mar 1892 to Lizzie Flanagan [Elizabeth, born 5 July 1868].
His business throughout his career was in North America.
But he
never permanently left Ireland.
They lived periodically in Dublin, but travelled all over the world.
Children would be put in school or convent while parents were abroad.
Their dau was born in 1894 in Ireland,
at Lizzie's father's house,
Portmahon House, Dublin.
Copper mining in Montana:
He got involved in the massively expanding copper mining business in
Montana.
He was said to be
one of the original investors in the
Anaconda Copper Mining Company,
based in Butte, Montana.
Not sure if that is true, since he was associated with Anaconda's great competitor
F. Augustus Heinze.
The competition for mining was called the War of the Copper Kings.
In any case,
P.A.
made a lot of money in copper mining and investing.
Associate of F. Augustus Heinze:
By 1895 he became an associate of
F. Augustus Heinze,
one of the "Copper Kings",
who owned mines in Butte, Montana.
Profile
says he was
"confidant of and publicity man for
F. Augustus Heinze, the brilliant mining engineer, surveyor, financier and operator".
He was involved in mining in Spokane, Washington.
Child born in Spokane 1898.
He became editor of Heinze's paper
The Reveille
(also called The Butte Reveille).
This was a newspaper established by F. Augustus Heinze and published in Butte from 1898 until 1909.
Heinze used the newspaper to influence public opinion, promote his business interests
and promote his political interests.
1902 newspaper
describes The Reveille as
"Heinze's Scurrillous Campaign Sheet".
P.A. wrote an 1899 book
about the competition for copper mining in Butte.
His book takes Heinze's side and is scathing
about the rival "Copper Kings"
Marcus Daly and William A. Clark.
So much so that the book was stopped from being sold in Butte.
Later in 1921 census they are living in Canada and it says Lizzie arrived in Canada in 1901.
But they are living in USA at that time.
Child born in Butte 1901.
Obscenity charge:
The Reveille
ran a controversial
editorial cartoon
attacking Senator William A. Clark in 1902.
As a result of this, O'Farrell and others were arrested in Oct 1902
on an obscenity charge.
It is unclear how this case ended.
Heinze moved to New York in 1907,
where he lost much of his fortune
in the Panic of Oct 1907,
and fell into legal problems.
Profile
says P.A. followed Heinze to New York
"and was with him when he went under".
Canadian Pacific Railway:
He became publicity agent for the
Canadian Pacific Railway
(Canada's first trans-continental railway, built 1881-1885).
He became an associate of
Thomas Shaughnessy, 1st Baron Shaughnessy
(President of the Canadian Pacific Railway 1899 to 1918).
Obituary says P.A. played a prominent part in the development of the Canadian Pacific Railway.
They moved to Canada.
Lizzie's
family back in Ireland
were involved with Irish politics (Irish Parliamentary Party).
Her brother-in-law from 1919 was W.T. Cosgrave.
Obituary says P.A. was a friend of
T. P. O'Connor and
John Dillon and
John McCormack and
Senator George Crosbie and
Brother Patrick Jerome Hennessy and
Prof. William Magennis.
They lived in Vancouver, Canada.
[Shearer, 2017]
says they lived at the
Hotel Vancouver, downtown Vancouver,
"on and off from 1920 through 1924".
They are listed
in 1921 census
as guests
at the Hotel Vancouver.
From here.
All Catholic.
He is a journalist.
Lizzie's brother-in-law W.T. Cosgrave
was the first prime minister of Ireland, in 1922-1932.
P.A. was on the Reception Committee that met W.T. Cosgrave
on his official visit to the US and Canada in Jan 1928.
It was the first overseas visit by an Irish Prime Minister.
He was with W.T. and his party when their train had an accident in Canada
in which the engine driver was killed.
See letter of
17 Dec 1928
from W.T.
sent to Lizzie at Hotel Vancouver, Vancouver.
P.A. wrote articles about metals and economics.
[Shearer, 2017]
says he lost much
of his fortune in the 1929 stock market crash.
Lizzie's father died 1931.
They
came back to Ireland c.1931.
At death he is listed as a journalist, formerly of Vancouver.
P.A. dies in Dublin, 1933:
He died at his wife's family home,
Portmahon House, Dublin,
14 Dec 1933, age 78 yrs
[GROI].
See death cert
from here.
See
death notice in
Irish Independent, Friday,
December 15, 1933.
Funeral 16 Dec 1933.
He was
bur Glasnevin Cemetery.
At funeral were
W.T. Cosgrave and
Dick Mulcahy and
John A. Costello
and
Prof. William Magennis.
See
funeral report
in
Irish Independent,
December 18, 1933.
Lizzie lived on for many years.
She died c.1962/63, age c.94/95 yrs.
She might be Elizabeth O'Farrell who died 6 Jan 1957, Vancouver, age 86 (born 1871).
See record.
P.A. and Lizzie
had issue:
"Mrs. P.A. O'Farrell"
(sister-in-law of W.T. Cosgrave)
is
listed prominently in a report of the massive funeral of
Michael Collins
in Dublin on 28 Aug 1922.
From Cork Examiner,
29 Aug 1922.
Also here.
Also listed here is her sister Mrs. Cosgrave.
Also Mrs. Rynne of Limerick
and her father
Stephen O'Mara.
Obituary of P.A. O'Farrell.
Irish Independent,
Saturday, December 16, 1933.
P.A. O'Farrell grave.
He and other O'Farrell family are buried in the
Flanagan grave (his wife's family) in Glasnevin Cemetery, Dublin.
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