Born in Kenmare, Ireland, 1835; he came to this country when he was
seven years of age. He died late in 1907. Mr. Shea was very successful
in business. He went to work for Andrew Berrian, a pen manufacturer, in
1849, and after being employed by Bard Bros. of Philadelphia, Alexander
Morton and Leroy W. Fairchild, he entered the factory of Aikin, Lambert
& Co., the Maiden Lane, New York, jewelers, as foreman. In 1869 he was
admitted to partnership, and when the concern was incorporated, he
became its vice-president, which position he held up to the time of his
death. Mr. Shea never married and is survived by a sister, Mary, and a
brother, Michael. He was a brother of the late Denis Shea, clothier of
Broome and Crosby streets, who was the Republican district leader of the
Second district from early in the 90s, until his death, about three
years ago. John B. Shea was his trustee.
Rt. Rev. Mgr. THOMAS H. WALLACE.
He was born in Somersworth, N. H. He died in Lewiston, Me., November 1.
After finishing his course in the Somersworth High School, he graduated
in 1864, entered Holy Cross College, Worcester, Mass., and carried off
the highest honors of his class at his graduation in June, 1868. In the
following September he entered the Theological Seminary of St. Sulpice,
Montreal. He was ordained priest by the first bishop of Portland, the
Rt. Rev. David William Bacon, D. D., in the Cathedral, Portland, Me.,
August 5, 1871. After his ordination he was first sent as assistant to
the pastor at Waterville, whose parish included twelve or fifteen
missions. Here the young priest began his mission work and displayed
that tireless energy and zeal that gave promise of his future success.
In 1872 he was transferred to St. Dominic’s Church in Portland to assist
the Rev. Eugene M. O’Callaghan, who is now the Rt. Rev. Monseigneur, and
vicar general of the diocese of Manchester, N. H. The careers of both
priests have been very similar, each of them receiving the purple in
1905. Father Wallace succeeded Father O’Callaghan as rector of St.
Dominic’s and to this day both are most lovingly remembered by the old
members of the parish. In August, 1876, Father Wallace was appointed
rector of St. Joseph’s, Lewiston, which has been the scene of his labors
for the past thirty-one years. He found St. Joseph’s with a debt which
he set to work at once to pay off. In March, 1880, he purchased the
Bonallie Block on Main Street. He remodelled this block and fitted it
for a school for the girls of the parish at an expense of $30,000. He
placed the school under the charge of the nuns of Notre Dame from
Montreal. In 1886 he purchased the fine property at the corner of Bates
and Walnut streets, at a cost of $25,000. This lot fronts on the City
Park and is the most beautiful site for a church in the state. He began
work at once on the foundation of the church and on June 24, 1887, the
corner stone was laid by the lamented Bishop Healy, with appropriate
ceremonies. The dedication sermon was preached by the Rt. Rev. Thomas J.
Conaty, D. D., who is now bishop of Monterey and Los Angeles, Cal. The
first mass in the sacred edifice was celebrated in 1890.
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