faithful. No call for service came to him in its behalf to which he
did not respond. The highest office in the Society he might have had
and political preferment could have been his from the appreciative
citizens of Rhode Island and Massachusetts, but he turned from them
lest his time and efforts might be diverted from that branch of
history he loved so well. As long as his strength held out, he was in
the harness serving the Society and, at our last annual meeting in New
York, unable to walk, he was carried from the Grand Central Depot to
the Manhattan Hotel, and there he conducted to the end the magnificent
dinner and entertainment that followed the meeting. The effort was
almost fatal, and during the night loving and tender friends watched
over him but, by determined will, he rallied and reached his pretty
villa at Sea View from which he never departed again in life. In all
his work for the Society, he was ably assisted by his noble wife, Mary
H. Sullivan Murray, a lady of great intelligence and refinement, who
took up the work of the Secretary-General and faithfully maintained it
until a member could be selected to relieve her. In paying our deep
tribute to her husband, it would be amiss not to mention the faithful
wife and assistant who now mourns with us his loss.
“We wish to record here the great benefits which we have received from
the work and services of our first Secretary-General and pay tribute
to his learning and ability; we further record the deep sorrow with
which we look upon his vacant place, and, lastly, we record our loving
tribute of affection for Thomas Hamilton Murray as a man, fearless,
honest and faithful, an upright citizen and an earnest member of the
Society.
“‘The soil out of which such men as he are made is good to be born on,
good to live on, good to die for and be buried in.’”
_Resolved_, That the American Irish Historical Society, in appreciation
of the services and efforts in its behalf by Thomas Hamilton Murray,
late Secretary-General, unanimously adopts the minute prepared by Mr.
Lee, orders that it be spread in full upon the records of the Society,
and that a copy of the same under the seal of the Society be presented
to the widow, Mrs. Mary H. Sullivan Murray.
The following are a few of the many letters received by Mrs. Murray
immediately before and after the death of our late Secretary-General:
NEW YORK, May 9, 1908.
_Dear Mrs. Murray_: I am pained to learn of Mr. Murray’s low
condition. You have my heartfelt sympathy. Mr. Magrath has just
called, and spoke of his visit. I am still hoping that Mr. Murray will
rally.
I am writing Mr. Lee of Providence to call, as I understand Mr. Murray
wishes to see some member of the Society.
We have missed Mr. Murray greatly the last few months and will miss
him always, for he may be considered as the founder of that honorable
association of men, the American Irish Historical Society.
With the assurance of my esteem and regard together with my sincere
sympathy, I am, dear madam.
Very truly yours,
JOHN D. CRIMMINS.
MRS. THOMAS HAMILTON MURRAY,
Humarock Beach, Sea View, Mass.
(Telegram.)
NEW YORK, June 5, 1908.
MRS. T. H. MURRAY,
Sea View, Mass.
We tender you our deepest sympathy in this hour of your great
bereavement. Will attend funeral.
FRANCIS J. QUINLAN.
(Telegram.)
NEW YORK, June 5, 1908.
MRS. M. H. S. MURRAY,
Sea View, Mass.
Sincere and profound sympathy on the death of your husband.
JOHN D. CRIMMINS.
NEW YORK, June 6, 1908.
MICHAEL J. JORDAN, Esq.,
3 DeWolfe Street, Dorchester, Mass.
_Dear Mr. Jordan_: I have received the news of Mr. Thomas Hamilton
Murray’s death with profound regret, and am very sorry that an
important engagement for Monday will prevent my going to Boston for
the funeral.
I beg you will convey to Mr. Murray’s family my sincere sympathy and
condolence in their sad bereavement.
[Illustration:
RIGHT REVEREND PHILIP J. GARRIGAN, D. D.
Bishop of Sioux City, Ia.
Vice-President of the Society for Iowa.
]
We have all suffered a great loss in his death; and the noble work he
carried forward so devotedly in developing the Irish chapter in
American history will not readily find again as zealous or able an
advocate. He had been the steady reliance of the Society. The
patriotic work he did will long be a pride and glory to the race he
loved and the cause so faithfully served.
With profound regret and sincerely sympathizing with all his friends
and fellow members, I am,
Faithfully yours,
JNO. J. LENEHAN.
ELIZABETH, N. J., June 7, 1908.
_Dear Mrs. Murray_: Accept my sincere condolences on the death of your
dear husband, which I read in the _New York Herald_ this morning with
profound sorrow.
We have lost a noble and a true friend to the American Irish
Historical Society. In looking back over the past it is consoling to
think his life has been a most exemplary one. How much better would
our communities be, if we had more such men as your husband. His good
and simple life was a model for all. He was a man whose character was
the soul of buoyancy and kindness.
With deep grief,
I remain respectfully,
JAMES L. O’NEILL.
220 Franklin Street.
HARTFORD, CONN., June 8, 1908.
MR. MICHAEL J. JORDAN,
3 DeWolfe Street, Dorchester, Mass.
_Dear Sir_: Your telegram received, and I regret exceedingly that I
was unable to reach Boston in time for Secretary Murray’s funeral.
I was very, very sorry to hear of his death, and while it is a great
loss to his family, our Society has lost a very valuable member.
Please convey my sympathy to the family.
I do not know what the circumstances of the family are, but certainly
the Society if necessary should do something to assist them at this
time. I know that in his home loving hands did all they could for him
and it is for the Society to assist financially if necessary.
Very truly yours,
PATRICK GARVAN.
NEW YORK, June 9, 1908.
MICHAEL J. JORDAN, Esq.,
3 DeWolfe Street, Dorchester, Mass.
_My dear Mr. Jordan_: Your telegram notifying me of the time of Mr.
Murray’s funeral reached me yesterday morning on my return to the
city. I regret exceedingly the untimely death of our friend. He was a
devoted and whole-souled worker in the cause of historic truth. I have
never met anyone who surpassed him in zeal and unselfishness. He
leaves vacant a place in the ranks of the lovers of the Irish race and
the adherents of the Catholic Church which it will be hard to fill.
I have not the address of his family. May I ask you kindly to extend
to them my heartfelt sympathy?
Yours very truly,
Edward J. McGuire.
PROVIDENCE, R. I., June 22, 1908.
MRS. THOMAS HAMILTON MURRAY,
Carlton Road, Sea View, Mass.
_Dear Mrs. Murray_: I am very sorry to learn of the death of Mr.
Murray. I did not hear of it till it was too late for me to attend the
funeral to show the respect and esteem I have felt for him from the
first time I met him, several years before the American Irish
Historical Society was organized. From that time to this our relations
were most cordial and my most sincere sympathy is extended to yourself
and your family for the great loss you have sustained. It is a great
loss. You and your family have not alone felt this loss, but everyone
who had or has any interest in American Irish history must also
recognize it. It will be hard to get a man to fill his place in this
latter capacity. Again let me express my sincere sympathy with you in
your bereavement.
Let me thank you for the return of the pictures that I received last
Saturday. I was thinking, before their receipt, where I would send a
letter addressed to you expressive of my sympathy at your loss but
could not make up my mind where to send it. I saw the Sea View
postmark on the envelope over the pictures and I send this to that
address.
Yours very respectfully, and in sincere sympathy,
JAMES MORAN.
26 South Water Street.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND, July 9, 1908.
_Dear Mrs. Murray_: I have only now heard of dear Tom Murray’s death
and I am so grieved over it that I can hardly contain myself to write
you this letter.
While his demise was not entirely unexpected it is nevertheless a
great shock, and I hasten to extend my deep and heartfelt sympathy in
this your time of sorrow. You have lost a good and worthy husband and
I a true friend, of whom I was very fond, and I’m sorry that I was far
away from home when he was taken by loving and tender hands to his
last resting place.
A clipping from a newspaper sent by my mother told the sad story. She
sent it several days ago, but as I have been going about from place to
place the news missed me till now.
May God bless and protect you is my humblest wish for you this night.
Yours with much sorrow,
THOMAS Z. LEE.
NEW YORK, July 11, 1908.
MRS. THOMAS HAMILTON MURRAY,
48 Carlton Road, Sea View, Mass.
_Dear Madam_: I am just in receipt of a journal of the American Irish
Historical Society with printed request that I acknowledge it to the
Secretary-General. Would that I could, and that he were still with us!
I learned some weeks ago of his death and I beg to offer you my
sincere sympathy and pray Our Lady, the Consoler of the Afflicted, to
comfort you and the Lord to grant him His reward, the reward of the
faithful and just.
Respectfully yours,
D. P. MURPHY, JR.
NEW YORK, July 13, 1908.
MRS. T. H. MURRAY,
Humarock Beach, Sea View, Mass.
_Dear Madam_: I received the JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN IRISH HISTORICAL
SOCIETY, Volume VII, 1907, and beg leave to thank you for the same. It
is admirably gotten up in Mr. Murray’s usual good style and nicely
illustrated, and well bound.
It is like all the previous numbers, a monument to the great ability
and devoted industry of your husband. His loss to the Society is
indeed very great. His devotion to the work of this Society endeared
him to all who knew of his earnest efforts, and his work in its behalf
has made for him a most enduring monument.
Very truly yours,
JNO. J. LENEHAN.
The following memorial to the late Major John Crane, prepared by Hon.
Eugene A. Philbin, was also unanimously adopted, and it was voted to
send a copy thereof to the family of Major Crane:
MEMORIAL OF JOHN CRANE.
“It very rarely happens that it is given to a man to be a source of
inspiration to his fellowmen in more than one phase of human effort. A
man may, during his life, have given evidence of exalted and
self-denying patriotism, or have been conspicuous in the great field
of charity, or an example of the highest type of the successful and
upright business man, or a great leader in movements for the uplifting
of mankind, but the average man cannot hope to establish a claim for
recognition for more than one of these achievements. John Crane,
however, was entitled to credit for a distinguished career in all. He
was born in Morgan County, Ohio, on the 10th day of February, 1840.
His mother died while he was quite young and his father took the
family to the State of Wisconsin. War was declared between the North
and South when he had hardly attained manhood, but, with two other
young men, he organized a company of volunteers and was elected first
lieutenant. This company offered its services to the governor of the
State and was assigned to the Sixth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. The
regiment was ordered to the Army of the Potomac, and was incorporated
with other regiments which were known as the “Iron Brigade,” and as
such attained great distinction for noteworthy services during the
war. Mr. Crane served with the Sixth Wisconsin until the winter of
1862, when he resigned, but only for the purpose of aiding in the
organization of the Seventeenth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, an Irish
regiment which was being raised in that State. He was successful in
organizing Company A, and became its first lieutenant. This regiment
in March, 1862, was ordered South, and their first stop was at St.
Louis, whence they went to Tennessee, arriving at Pittsburgh Landing,
Tennessee, a couple of days after the Battle of Shiloh. The regiment
was assigned to the division of General McArthur, with whom it served
during the campaign, taking part in numerous skirmishes and the Battle
of Corinth. About this time the Adjutant of the regiment resigned and
Lieutenant Crane was appointed Adjutant, which position he held until
the close of the war. Upon the organization of the Seventeenth Army
Corps, Gen. J. B. McPherson commanding (afterwards killed before
Atlanta), the regiment became one of the regiments of this Corps,
taking part in the campaign before the Siege of Vicksburg. They
participated in the siege, and the regiment, Lieut.-Col. Thomas
MacMahon commanding, joined with others in making the first assault on
the breastworks at Vicksburg, May 19, 1863. The regimental officers
and men were most highly commended by their commanding officer. John
Crane bore a distinguished part in this assault and was personally
complimented by the general commanding. The Seventeenth Corps was part
of the Army of the Tennessee under General Sherman and served in all
its campaign before Atlanta and on the march to the sea.
Notwithstanding the fact that John Crane was of a naturally impulsive
nature, during the battle his ability to command and exercise a
considerate supervision of his men was never affected. His bravery was
characterized by unfaltering fearlessness, but never marred by
recklessness. He remained in the service until the war was concluded.
“In the year 1868 Mr. Crane engaged in business with Colonel MacMahon,
to whom reference has been made. Later William A. MacMahon, who served
in the same regiment, entered the business, which was conducted under
the name of Crane & MacMahon at the time of Mr. Crane’s death, which
occurred on April 8, 1908, in New York City. The tie that had been
formed with the MacMahon brothers in the service was strengthened by
Mr. Crane’s marriage to their sister in the year 1866. She still
survives him.
“From the outset, even when his time was much taken in forming his
business relations and organizing his affairs, he was deeply and
practically interested in charity. He commenced then the practice
which was continued to the end of his life, not only of giving most
liberally, but also of devoting his time and personal attention to the
relief of the poor. For many years he was chairman of the finance
committee of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and it was largely due
to his gentle but firm persistency that persons able to do so were
made to contribute. It was rarely that a meeting of the committee was
held that there was not some practical suggestion by him towards
procuring those already interested to take a still greater interest or
to secure the sympathy of people who had not already contributed in
the great work. His effort in this important field was never limited
to satisfying the physical suffering of the moment, but included a
practical and effective course, having for its end not only the
provision for pecuniary resources, but the inspiration of new courage
and hope. The battle always became easier and the prospect more
hopeful after a visit from John Crane.
“Careless their merits or their faults to scan,
His pity gave ere charity began.”
“Since he carried into business the great elements of character that
had made him a distinguished and able soldier and was constantly
inspired by the broad spirit of charity which engendered the desire
for fair dealing, it was only natural that his efforts should meet
with success and that he and his associate should attain a position in
the business world distinguished for an honorable policy and ability
to produce effective results.
“The reward which attended his efforts in the great spheres of life,
to which reference has already been made, caused a deeper appreciation
of the value of spiritual inspiration. He realized that the battles
that he had fought on the field of war and in civic life had been won
because of his reliance not upon man or things, but upon the Supreme
Being. He took advantage of every opportunity to convey this great
lesson to his fellowmen. When about ten years before his death
Governor Roosevelt appointed him a member of the board of trustees of
the Soldiers’ Home in Steuben County, New York state, he was given an
opportunity that probably brought him more real gratification than any
other one thing in his philanthropic career. He organized at the
Soldiers’ Home religious societies which furnished spiritual
gratification to the veteran soldiers, and also gave them a new
occupation that tended to relieve the monotony of institutional life.
It seemed to him as if he were again, after the lapse of so many
years, participating with pathetic care and solicitation in the
careers and welfare of those who, under his guidance, were giving
their lives to their country. It is not difficult to imagine what this
opportunity meant to Major Crane. It is needless to say that the duty
was discharged, not only in a manner that gave happiness to the
inmates at the time, but also inaugurated methods that were so
meritorious as to remain permanently to the advantage of the Home.
“Major Crane never entered actively into politics, although he was a
man of clear and positive views as to public welfare. From time to
time he freely lent his voice and aid to movements having for their
object civic betterment.
“He was for many years the almoner of the Friendly Sons of St.
Patrick, and gave the same intelligent and able consideration to the
appeals made to the Society by the unfortunate as he had given to many
other cases of distress. He was a most active and faithful member of
the latter society, and, in fact, was deeply interested in anything
that concerned the Irish race and furnished evidence of the great
benefits it had conferred upon mankind.
“Major Crane was especially interested in American-Irish history
because of its eloquent testimony in support of Irish virtue and
ability. His own noble record will always be a bright page in the
annals of the race in this country.
“Unbounded courage and compassion join’d,
Tempering each other in the victor’s mind,
Alternately proclaim him good and great,
And make the hero and the man complete.”
MEMORIAL OF HON. HUGH KELLY.
In the death of Hugh Kelly, President of the corporation of Hugh Kelly &
Co., 79 Wall Street, New York City, the downtown business community of
New York lost a man of sound judgment of men and affairs, and a true
friend.
Mr. Kelly was born in Chicago, September 24th, 1858, and when a year old
came to New York, where he lived thereafter. He was graduated from the
College of the City of New York with high honors and was later honored
with the degrees of Master of Arts and Doctors of Laws by Fordham
University. In 1871 he entered the West Indian trade and in 1884
established the house of Hugh Kelly & Co., which is well-known
throughout the cane sugar world. He was very successful in designing and
constructing several of the largest and most modern sugar cane factories
in Cuba, Porto Rico and Santo Domingo, and was one of the best known
merchants in that industry.
He was president of several sugar companies in the West Indies, but
found time also to devote himself to maritime and municipal affairs, and
was in the directorate of the United Fruit Company, The Emigrant
Industrial Savings Bank, the Nipe Bay Company, and other industrial
enterprises. He was also a Trustee of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the Roman
Catholic Orphan Asylum, Calvary Cemetery, the Sevilla Home for Children,
and the Central Islip State Hospital.
Mr. Kelly served the city as a member of the Board of Education from
1895 to 1898, and was Treasurer of its Finance Committee.
He was Vice-President of the Maritime Exchange in 1894 and 1895,
President in 1896 and 1897, and for seven years was on its directorate.
Mr. Kelly was made president of The Oriental Bank in an effort to save
it shortly before it failed last Winter. He was a director in the bank
at the time of the financial depression, and when the bank was
threatened Mr. Kelly took up the task, two or three days after his
return from Europe, of realizing on the bank’s assets and meeting the
claims against it. He was going along very well when fresh bank failures
caused a run on the Oriental, which led to its suspension.
Attorney-General Jackson had receivers appointed but they were soon
removed by the Court. Full payment to every depositor was eventually
made through an arrangement with the Metropolitan Trust Company, which
took over the Oriental Bank’s assets. Mr. Kelly in his desire to keep
the bank on its feet when he accepted the presidency refused to accept a
cent of remuneration, his sole desire being to keep the bank going. The
strain under which he labored at that time, and the many false rumors
which those antagonistic to the bank had issued, preyed upon him
greatly, and an acute nervous ailment forced him to give up work three
weeks before his death, which occurred October 30th, 1908, at 3 a. m.
The funeral was held at St. Patrick’s Cathedral on November 2d.
Archbishop Farley celebrated solemn requiem mass. Some of the other
church dignitaries who assisted in the service were Mgr. Lavelle, Mgr.
Hayes, Father McCluskey and Father McQuade.
The pall bearers were Joseph Rigney, Michael E. Bannin, Thomas E.
Murray, Col. John McAnerney, Richard S. Treacy, James H. Post, President
of the National Sugar Refining Company, Joseph W. Foster, Frank
Schaffer, Vice-President of Hugh Kelly & Co., Thomas Mulry, President
Emigrant Industrial Savings Bank and Myles Tierney, President of the
Hudson Trust Company. The interment was in Calvary Cemetery.
Mr. Kelly is survived by his widow, three sons and four daughters.
Personally, Mr. Kelly was a quiet, hearty, genial man, easily
approachable and warm-hearted, seeming to have time for every demand
upon him in spite of his numerous responsibilities, and a host of
friends esteemed him most highly for his ability, integrity and sound
judgment. In the business life of New York in which he moved, he will be
deeply missed.
The following memorial to the late James Jeffrey Roche, Esq., was also
unanimously adopted, and it was voted to send a copy thereof to his
family:
Mr. Joseph Smith of the _Boston Traveler_, one of the founders of the
Society, and at the invitation of its officers, presented the following
memorial to the late Hon. James Jeffrey Roche, LL. D., which was ordered
spread upon the records and a copy thereof sent to the family of Dr.
Roche:
[Illustration:
JAMES JEFFREY ROCHE, LL. D (Deceased).
Patriot, Editor, Diplomat and Poet. One of the Founders of our
Society.
]
MEMORIAL OF JAMES JEFFREY ROCHE.
Under the skies of that brave mountain land,
Where Alpine shepherds feudal might defied,
Where struggling freedom warring cent’ries spanned,
There in the shadows of the hills he died.
He died as dies some long sweet summer day,
When fruits are golden on the burdened trees;
The sun’s pale glory on the sky’s blue gray,
And night comes fragrant on the cooling breeze.
They brought him home and laid him down to rest,
To sleep forever in his narrow bed,
Amid the scenes and friends that he loved best,
At rest forever with his sacred dead.
JOSEPH SMITH, in the Boston Traveler.
James Jeffrey Roche was born in the little Quaker town of Mountmellick
in Queen’s County, Ireland, the son of Edward and Mary (Doyle) Roche and
was taken while yet an infant of a few weeks, to Prince Edward’s Island,
whither his parents emigrated. He grew up in Charlottetown, where his
father Edward Roche, an accomplished scholar, conducted a school; and he
supplemented the training given him by his scholarly father by a course
at the Jesuit College of St. Dunstan’s in Charlottetown, from which he
was graduated. Among his college classmates were Chief Justice Sullivan
of Prince Edward’s Island and Archbishop O’Brien of Halifax, N. S.
Mr. Roche settled in Boston in 1866 and was engaged in business there
for some years; but his peculiar gifts and tastes drew him to journalism
and letters; and in 1883 he became one of the staff of the _Pilot_,
under his brilliant friend John Boyle O’Reilly; and after his death he
succeeded to the post of editor-in-chief of the paper which he filled
with vigor and brilliancy, in full keeping with the traditions of such
predecessors as Thomas D’Arcy Magee, O’Reilly and others. The _Pilot_
was the avowed champion not only of the Irish people and of their
religion, but it stood ready to do battle with persecution, injustice,
intolerance and wrong, no matter against what race or creed they were
directed; and no individual paper in the world did better or more
effective work for the men and cause of the Irish race; and under the
management of James Jeffrey Roche, zeal and fidelity to all good causes
were always fortified by sanity and justice and tempered by humor, good
temper and a fine inhospitality to passion and demagoguery.