Will County IL Archives Biographies.....FLYNN, JOHN ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Paula Winke-Martisek wranglerjack@comcast.net September 12, 2007, 10:26 pm Author: GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD JOHN C. FLYNN, who is traveling salesman for the wholesale shoe house of Drur, Selbie & Co., of Portsmouth, Ohio, has made Joliet his home since 1892. He was born in Mooers, Clinton County, N. Y., February 25, 1857, a son of John and Catherine (Cassaday) Flynn, natives respectively of Ireland and Canada. His father, who was born near Dublin, remained in his native place until he was about twenty, and then crossed the ocean to New York, where he spent two years. Returning to Ireland he remained there for two years. On coming to America for the second time he settled in Mooers, N. Y., and secured employment there as a railroad contractor. During the last five years of his life he was engaged in the mercantile business at Mooers. At the opening of the Civil war he espoused the cause of the Union and enlisted as a private in the Ninety-sixth New York Infantry, which he accompanied to the front and in which he continued until the expiration of his term of service. His only wound was received in the battle of the Wilderness and was not of a serious nature. In religion he was a Roman Catholic. He died in Mooers when fifty-four years of age, and his widow has since continued to make that place her home. Of their seven children we note the following: Margaret is deceased; Mary A. lives in Minneapolis, Minn.; Stephen is a farmer near Mooers; Frank died in Iowa; Thomas is deceased; John C. was sixth in order of birth; and the youngest is James M., of Cleveland, Ohio. When he was only nine years of age the subject of this sketch began to do for himself. As a newsboy on passenger trains he gained his first knowledge of business. Meantime, however, he did not neglect his studies, but attended school when it was possible. In 1876 he entered the express office at St. Albans, Vt, where he remained for three years. From there in 1880 he went to Portsmouth, Ohio, as local agent for the Singer Sewing Machine Company, but resigned that position in June, 1881, and became traveling salesman for Drur, Selbie & Co. The house at that time was a small one and had only one commercial traveler besides himself; but such has been its growth that it now keeps fourteen men constantly on the road. At first the territory assigned to him was very large, including Illinois, Kentucky, Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania and Iowa, but now he travels only in northern Illinois, eastern Minnesota and Wisconsin. As the house manufactures only shoes of a fine quality, only the best trade is desired; hence only large towns are visited. For years he made his headquarters in various places, as seemed most convenient for his business, but since 1892 he has resided in Joliet. During that year he married Miss Nellie Sullivan, of this city. They lost one child in infancy and have two sons living, John C. and James S. Politically Mr. Flynn is an independent Democrat, supporting the party in national issues, but voting for the best man in local elections. In fraternal matters he is connected with the Modern Woodmen of America and the Royal Arcanum. Additional comments: Genealogical and Biographical Record of Will County Illinois Containing Biographies of Well Known Citizens of the Past and Present, Biographical Publishing Company, Chicago, 1900 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/will/bios/flynn1690nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/ilfiles/ File size: 3.7 Kb