Mike O’Brien, an old-time banjoist and ballad singer, who had been with Sanford’s and other minstrel companies, died at Algiers, La., April 28, 1869.
Edwin Holmes, a popular minstrel tenor, who was with Duprez and Green’s and later Duprez and Benedict’s Minstrels for about six years, commencing in 1862, died in Boston, Mass., July 11, 1879.
Ned Greenland was one of the best beloved characters in theatredom. Though many years dead, his praises are yet sung to-day. He was treasurer and business agent for Hooley’s Minstrels in Brooklyn, N. Y., for several seasons.
He died in Brooklyn, N. Y., August 4, 1883.
Mike Kanane, a famous dancer in the good old minstrel days, died in San Francisco, Cal., December 7, 1886.
Stephen B. Ball was a famous vocalist of Ordway’s Aeolians in Boston as early as 1851; he retired about 1856, and became director of the choir of the Old School Street Church in that city. He was a fine singer and vocal teacher.
He died in Boston, Mass., September 27, 1881.
Harry Lehr. Of this famous minstrel’s talents and abilities there was no divergence of opinion; manager, critic and performers were unanimous in their verdict that he never had a superior as a comedian. One manager, John L. Carncross, went further and declared that he never had an equal.
His first professional appearance was with a small minstrel company in Camden, N. J., February 22, 1846.
At the age of 16 he organized a troupe of his own.