Biography of 	BYRNES, (Col.) William H., IRE., then Orleans Parish, Louisiana
Submitted by 	Mike Miller August 1998

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Byrnes, Col. William H., of New Orleans, was born in Ireland in the 
year 1845, and died in New Orleans, La., 1910.  He came with his 
parents to America when a boy, and grew to manhood in the city of New 
Orleans, where he attended the public schools and in due course of time 
graduated from the Boys' high school of that city.  Shortly following 
his graduation he became connected with the meat packing business and 
continued in this line of industry several years. However, the young 
man was ultimately attracted to the fire insurance business, and from 
the first of his connection with this it became evident that he was 
specially qualified for this line of endeavor.  His rise in the 
insurance business was very rapid, through the successive stages of his 
upward career to the presidency of the Hibernia Fire Insurance Co., 
which station he occupied at the time of his death and for a number of 
years previous to this.  Col. Byrnes was regarded as a very able 
business man, and was held in highest esteem throughout an unusually
wide circle of acquaintances and friends.  He had long been numbered 
among the best known, most active, progressive, and sagacious business 
men of the city, and being unassuming, pleasant, and considerate of 
others, easy of approach, genial and optimistic, he enjoyed a 
deservedly wide popularity among all classes of people.  He was a man 
of the most splendid physique and physical development, easy and 
graceful in manner and of commanding bearing, but in no sense proud or 
boastful.  Col. Byrnes was a Catholic in religious faith, and a member 
of the Knights of Columbus and several social organizations, among 
which were the Pickwick, the Chess, Checkers and Whist, and several 
other clubs.  He was a democrat in politics, and took an active part in 
political affairs, at all times upholding democratic principles and the 
interest of his party, but insisting upon the best available men being 
elected to office.  He never sought political preferment or advantage 
for himself, though political honors might easily have been his; for 
nearly 20 years as a member of the New Orleans Levee board and later as 
a member of the Dock board, he rendered conspicuous service in 
upbuilding the port and commerce of the city.  Five successive 
governors of the state gave him the rank of colonel on their military
staffs.  He was content as a private citizen, doing  fairly and justly 
with his fellowman and maintaining the strictest regard for personal 
integrity.

A life-long friend has said of him:  "He was a true and noble man, a 
good citizen, a sagacious business man, a staunch friend, and a beloved 
husband and father."  Col. Byrnes was married to Miss Ellen Conery, who 
was born in the City of New Orleans and a daughter of Edward Conery, a 
prominent steamboat owner and ship chandler.  Five children were born 
to Col. And Mrs. Byrnes, these being  Edward C.,  William H., Jr.,  
Ellen Mary,  Ann Mercedes, and  Marie Carmelite.  The mother of these 
children preceded her husband in death.  She died in 1895.

Source:  Louisiana: Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events,
Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form, volume 3,
pp. 750-751.  Edited by Alc e Fortier, Lit. D.  Published in 1914, by 
Century Historical Association.