Humphrys genealogy

Genealogy research by Mark Humphrys.


My ancestors - Flanagan - Contents


O'Farrell



P.A. O'Farrell.
From profile. See full size.
See other scan. And original.
See other scan.



John O'Farrell,
sea captain,
had issue:
  
  1. P.A. O'Farrell,
    Patrick Aloysius O'Farrell, Patrick, Pat,
    born 1855 [obituary and death cert say age 78] or 1857 [1921 census says age 64].
    He was from Cobh (Queenstown), Co.Cork.
    He is probably Patrick Farrell who was bapt 7 May 1854, Carrigtohill RC church (just NE of Cobh), son of John Farrell and Mary Buckley. See bapt entry from here. His parents are living at Ballyannan, Mogeesha par (on an inlet of the harbour, SE of Carrigtohill, NE of Cobh).

    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:


    1. Finola O'Farrell,
      Finola Mary O'Farrell, NOT Fenola,
      born 24 Feb 1894, Portmahon House, Dublin [GROI].
      She is listed in 1911 census as a student age 17, boarding in Sion Hill, Dublin.
      Listed with parents in Vancouver in 1921 census. Unmarried.
      She mar 1921-25 to Gerry Gorges and had issue.


    2. (dau) O'Farrell,
      born Ireland.
      She died in infancy, bur Glasnevin Cemetery, no inscription.
      Possibly Anne O'Farrell, born and died 1895.

    3. Liam O'Farrell,
      born Europe.
      He died Europe, age 6 yrs, bur Glasnevin Cemetery.

    4. Michael P. O'Farrell,
      born Montreal, Canada.
      He died young, bur Glasnevin Cemetery.


    5. Brendan O'Farrell,
      born 2 Feb 1898, Spokane, Washington.
      1901 census says born America. Think 1911 census is wrong to say born Dublin.
      Age given as 5 in 1901 census (think inaccurate).
      NOT Brendon.


    6. Desmond O'Farrell,
      born 1901, Butte, Montana, USA.
      He was educ Castleknock College, Dublin.
      He died at St. Vincent's Hospital, Dublin, 23 Nov 1910, age 9 yrs.
      He died of "tubercular meningitis" [GROI].
      His address at death is given as his grandfather's house, Portmahon House, Dublin.
      He was bur Glasnevin Cemetery.





P.A. O'Farrell's 1899 book.
See full size and inside cover.
Lot 1300 in auction Prospecting the West, Davis Brothers Auction, 12 June 2022.



"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.


  

1902 cartoon

The Reveille printed the following cartoon attacking Senator William A. Clark in 1902.
As a result, the editor P.A. O'Farrell, and others connected to the paper, were charged with obscenity.
The Fergus County Argus, October 29, 1902 (below) says: "His charge was the result of a cartoon representing Senator W.A. Clark and several other prominent men in an alleged obscene pose and which appeared in the Reveille a short time ago."
The cartoon seems to show Senator Clark in Emperor's New Clothes pose.
It is unclear how the case ended.
See notes.
  

The controversial 1902 cartoon.
See full size.

  

The obscenity case against The Reveille in 1902.
From p.11 of Fergus County Argus, October 29, 1902.


  

References

  


Sources yet to be consulted



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