Untitled Document

Thomas Brady

Thomas Brady, wholesale and retail dealer in malt liquors, Kewanee , Ill. , is a native of County Cavan , Ireland , and son of Patrick and Catherine (McCabe) Brady, who reared to man and womanhood eight children and buried four in infancy. Thomas Brady was born May 3, 1845 , and came to America in 1863. Two older sisters had preceded him to this country by a few years, and with them, in New York , he spent his first three weeks in the “new country.” From New York he went to Chicago , where he got employment of the Michigan Central Railway Company as check clerk, a position he filled about 13 months. From that time on, for six months, he was a railroad man; with the Illinois Central a few months at Cairo , Ill. , as check clerk; then back to Chicago where, in different departments, he was with the Chicago , Burlington & Quincy Company 11 years. It was with this company, in the capacity of car repairer, that he came to Kewanee in 1865 and filled the position seven years. His next employment was with the Haxtun Steam Heater Company, and in 1873 he engaged in the liquor business, which, with the exception of a year or two, he has since followed. He owns a farm of 160 acres in Kewanee and Burns Townships ; some three or four houses and lots in Kewanee village; carries on his liquor business, and is an extensive bottler of malt liquor and soda water. All Mr. B. has he has acquired by his individual industry, for he came to this country as poor as pioneers generally were.

Independent in politics, devoted to his business, a consistent member of the Catholic Church and a highly respected citizen. He was married at Kewanee, April 5, 1866 , to Miss Rose Ann Traynor, a native of Ireland , and has had born to him nine children, --Katie Ann, John P., Thomas, Frank, Mamie, Martha, Willie, Rose and James, who died in infancy.

1885 Portrait & Biographical Album of Henry County, Illinois, page 495

Transcribed by Jan Roggy

Illinois Ancestors