William J. Onahan (1913)
(Intellectual Gold Amid the Dross)
Most Sincere Regards
of the Author
Francis O'Neill
Xmas 1913
Biography:
William James Onahan (1836-1919) was a leading figure in Chicago's Catholic movement. Born November 24, 1836 in Leighlin Bridge, County Carlow, Ireland, the family emigrated to Liverpool when William was young. His mother died of cholera when he was roughly 13, and the family sailed to America, arriving in New York on St. Patrick's Day. His father and sisters moved on to Chicago, and William joined them there in 1854. After a series of jobs, he was elected to Chicago's Board of Education in 1863, and went on to be the City Collector in 1869, serving for five terms. He went on to serve as City Comptroller and City Commissioner, as well as Board President for the Public Library and President of the Columbia Club - a Catholic Society. He also had the distinction of serving as Treasurer for Chicago's World Fair, and organized the World's Catholic Congress meetings in Baltimore and Chicago, for which Pope Leo XIII bestowed upon him the distinction of Camereri of cape and sword. O'Neill must have crossed paths with Onahan in many facets of life in Chicago, most likely through his work with the World's Fair, and while Onahan served as the President of the Irish Catholic Historical Society. William J. Onahan died January 12th, 1919. A full biography written by his daughter can be found here. (Research by Christopher Richardson)
Provenance: University of Saint Mary of the Lake, Feehan Memorial Library. Thanks to Christopher Rogers of University of St. Mary Church of the Lake for his scans and steadfast research on both provenance of this collection and Onahan's biographical details.