Chatham County GaArchives Biographies.....O'Byrne, Michael 1861 - living in 1913
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 October 13, 2004, 5:36 pm

Author: William Harden
p. 612-613

   MICHAEL 0'BYRNE. The law firm of which Michael A. 0'Byrne is the senior
member has had a long and favorable career in Savannah. It was originally
composed of himself and the late P. J. 0 'Connor, with the firm name of O'Connor
& 0'Byrne. In 1896, Mr. Walter C. Hartridge was admitted to the firm, which then
became O'Connor, 0'Byrne & Hartridge. Mr. O'Connor, who had for many years been
one of the prominent lawyers of Savannah, died in November, 1909, and on January
1, 1910, Mr. Anton P. Wright was admitted to the firm, the style of which was
then changed to its present name—0'Byrne, Hartridge & Wright. It is one of the
strongest law firms in Savannah and enjoys a large general practice,
particularly in connection with real estate, corporation and commercial interests.

   As a member of this firm, Mr. 0'Byrne has gained reputation and practice with
each succeeding year. Those who have entrusted important affairs to his
management know how well and honorably he has guarded their interests. In all
matters where the object is to safeguard the investment of capital, or where
competent counsel is required in directing the organization and successful
management of commercial and industrial enterprises in which weighty financial
interests are involved, his services have been increasingly sought for. He has.
been especially successful in real estate and law and litigation affecting
property interests, and his counsels are often required where such interests are
involved.

   In addition to his law practice, Mr. 0'Byrne has many other interests that
are of marked importance. He is the president of the Hibernia Bank, a successful
financial institution of constantly growing prosperity, with capital, surplus
and undivided profits in excess of $350,000. He has filled the position of
president of this bank with such skill and prudence as to gain for it the
highest confidence of the public. He is also the president and has charge of the
finances of the John Flannery Company, the famous cotton house that was founded
and for a long number of years controlled by the late Capt. John Flannery. He is
first vice-president of the Commercial Life Insurance Company and a member 'of
the executive committee of the board of directors of the Savannah Brewing Company.

   For about twenty years Mr. 0'Byrne was actively connected with the First
Regiment Infantry, National Guard of Georgia, during most of the time being a
member of the Irish Jasper Greens, one of the companies of that regiment. Mr.
0'Byrne became sergeant of his company, and later was made quartermaster of the
regiment. From this position he was later promoted to the rank of adjutant of
the regiment. Mr. 0'Byrne has creditably filled several public positions of
trust. For twenty years he has been a member of the Savannah board of education
and has given much time to the duties and responsibilities of that office. He is
commodore of the Savannah Yacht Club, also president of the Savannah Base Ball
Association. In various other ways he is closely associated with the business
and social affairs of the city. He is a member of the Savannah Automobile Club,
the Oglethorpe Club, Golf Club and Music Club, and is president of the Atlanta
Club.

   Mr. 0'Byrne has long been known for his quiet but powerful influence in local
politics and in general civic affairs. In religious affiliation he is a Catholic
and a member of the Cathedral parish in Savannah, and is chairman of its
financial committee. Much credit is due to Mr. 0'Byrne for his able assistance
in the building of the beautiful cathedral of St. John the Baptist, one of the
finest specimens of Gothic architecture in the United States. He was a member of
the building committee, and was generous of his time and financial support
during the erection of this noble edifice. He has similarly taken an active part
in supporting various philanthropical and charitable organizations. He is a
member of the Savannah Benevolent Association, member of the finance committee
of the Associated Charities of Savannah, president of the Female Orphans
Benevolent Society, vice-president of the St. Vincent de Paul Society, and is
vice-president and trustee of St. Joseph's Male Orphanage, an institution of the
diocese of Savannah, located at "Washington, Wilkes county, Georgia. He has long
been a prominent, member of the Knights of Columbus.

   Mr. 0'Byrne was born in Savannah in 1861, attended the public schools of this
city and received his finishing education at St. Vincent's University, near
Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, the leading college of the Benedictine order in
America. He was graduated from St. Vincent's with the class of 1881. He then
studied law in Savannah in the office of Jackson, La.wton & Basinger, this firm
being composed of Gen. H. R. Jackson, Gen. A. R. Lawton and Maj. W. S. Basinger,
all of them distinguished lawyers and leaders at the Savannah bar. Mr. O'Byrne
was admitted to practice in 1883. His law business, which forms the main part of
all his activities, has been very profitable, and has made him one of the most
substantial citizens of Savannah, a position in life that he has reached through
his own efforts and ability.

   Mr. 0 'Byrne has been twice married. His first wife was Miss Marie McDonough,
a daughter of John J. McDonough, a prominent manufacturer and one time mayor of
Savannah. She is survived by three children, namely: Eleanor, James Raymond, and
Charles 0'Byrne. Mr. 0'Byrne's present wife, to whom he was married at her home
in Bridgeport, Connecticut, was before her marriage, Miss Sara Lorene Wren,
daughter of Peter W. "Wren, a man of large affairs in Bridgeport and president
of the Pequonnock National Bank of that city. Of this second union one child was
born, Sara Wren 0'Byrne.



Additional Comments:
From:

A HISTORY OF SAVANNAH AND SOUTH GEORGIA
BY
WILLIAM HARDEN

VOLUME I
ILLUSTRATED
THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY
CHICAGO AND NEW YORK
1913


File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/chatham/bios/gbs164obyrne.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/gafiles/

File size: 6.5 Kb