The body reposed in a solid oak drop side, full couch casket, with oxidized silver extension bar handles, and the plate bore the following inscription: “Patrick A. O’Brien, 1850–1909.”
The following acted as pallbearers: John A. Driscoll, Michael Roache, William J. Carroll, James O’Neil, Thomas Gilmartin and Cornelius F. Lynch. Burial was in the family tomb in the Immaculate cemetery.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF NEW MEMBERS.
The members named below furnished biographical sketches at the request of the Secretary-General, and it is earnestly requested that those who have not furnished such sketches do so at their earliest convenience, as the Society desires to have its files complete as may be.
Brady, Joseph P., was born May 26, 1869, at Portsmouth, Virginia. He is a son of Margaret E. and the late Colonel James D. Brady, both natives of Portsmouth, Virginia. His paternal grandparents were born in Ireland. His maternal grandmother was also born there. Mr. Brady was educated at McCabe’s University School, the University of Virginia and Georgetown University, from which last named institution he graduated in 1896 with degree LL. B. He was admitted to practice law June 29, 1896, and was so engaged when appointed Clerk of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia on October 3, 1898. Mr. Brady was appointed United States Commissioner for the Eastern district of Virginia on April 6, 1897, and was on January 2, 1905, appointed Clerk of the United States Circuit Court for the Eastern district of Virginia, all of which positions he now holds with headquarters at Richmond, Virginia.
Burke, John E., was born in historic Richmond on the James, in the year 1858, where he received a public school education, graduating in the High school in 1874. His father and mother were both natives of Ireland, but came to Virginia in early life, the former being but eleven years of age and the latter nine; therefore the son can justly claim to be a thorough Irish-American. He was compelled, through force of circumstances, to go to work on the completion of his common school education. He selected as his avocation the printing business, and served a long and faithful apprenticeship in one of the largest establishments in the Capital city. He was ambitious, however, and after working for a short period in the capacity of journeyman printer in his native city, determined to make Norfolk his home, get down to hard and incessant toil, and eventually establish a business of his own. He was tendered the position of foreman of the Virginian job printing office by the late lamented Michael Glennan, the owner thereof, which he accepted, and at once entered upon his duties with that earnestness and vim which is characteristic of the man. His energy and executive ability proved valuable factors in making his administration a successful one, and he was highly commended therefor by his employer. A few months thereafter the business over which he had presided was purchased, a co-partnership was formed, and Mr. Burke became the senior proprietor. Today there stands in his adopted city, as a monument to his skill and good management, the largest and best equipped printing plant in this section of the Southland—owned and controlled by Burke & Gregory, sole proprietors. Mr. Burke was a member of Norfolk Typographical Union and worked hard with his fellow members for the uplift of the craft. He has also been an officer and influential member of the United Typothetæ, an organization of the employing printers, and his wise council was always invoked when questions of great moment presented themselves. He is generally considered an indefatigable worker for Norfolk’s interest. He is a member of the Business Men’s Association, 200,000 League, and kindred organizations. As an evidence of the people’s appreciation of him, Mr. Burke was elected sheriff in 1894, which position of trust he filled with signal ability. In 1902 he was elected a member of the City Council, and he championed the people’s interest on every question before that body. For his faithful performance of duty he was returned to the Council at two subsequent elections and remained a member thereof until he resigned, on account of change of residence into another ward of the city.
Cavanagh, Howard W., was born in Alpena, Michigan, June 12, 1867, and is the son of James and Mary Cavanagh, each of whom are of Irish extraction, James Cavanagh, who was born in Jefferson County, New York, being the son of Michael Cavanagh, who came to New York State from Ireland in 1826, and of Mary Wilkinson, his wife, born in Canada and the daughter of James Williamson, who came to Ontario from Ireland about the same time. Michael Cavanagh was a Catholic and James Williamson a Protestant. When the subject of this sketch was only four years old, his father and mother removed from Alpena, Michigan, to Oakville, Canada, where he remained and attended school, being an undergraduate of the University of Toronto, until the fall of 1885 when he started to attend the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, taking the law course and being admitted to the bar in April, 1887, and graduating with the degree of LL. B. in June, 1887, being then only 19 years of age and the youngest member of his class. Mr. Cavanagh spent one winter in Detroit in the law office of Hon. John W. McGrath, afterwards Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of Michigan, and when he was twenty-one he went to Alpena, Michigan, his birthplace, and practiced law for five years and subsequently, in 1896, he removed to Battle Creek, Michigan, and opened an office, from which place he removed to Homer, Michigan, where he has remained since. He is prosecuting attorney for Calhoun County with offices at Homer and Battle Creek, Michigan. His family consists of his wife and one daughter, having married Miss Ula M. Cunningham in 1899. His daughter, Helen M., was born in July, 1904. Mr. Cavanagh has held several offices in the town in which he has been living, having been village attorney, trustee, justice of the peace, member of the school board and has been identified with many fraternal orders, being a Shriner and Knight Templar.