Biography--Harrison City, Clare Co.  
John Quinn 

Submitted for use by USGENWEB Clare County, Michigan  October 2002  
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JOHN QUINN, Biography / Harrison City, Clare County, Michigan 
 
Portrait and Biographical Record of Northern Michigan.  Chicago: Record 
Publishing Co., 1895. 
 
 
JOHN QUINN, of Harrison, was Mayor of this city for one term, has been a 
member of the Council, and in every possible way has manifested his genuine 
interest in the increasing prosperity of the place with whose welfare his own has 
been interwoven for the past fifteen years.  In 1894 he was elected on the 
Republican ticket to his present position as Prosecuting Attorney of Clare 
County.  In June, 1889, he was appointed Postmaster, and served as such for a 
term of four years.  During this period he read law and was admitted to the Bar in 
November, 1893.  At one time he was a member of the State Board of 
Equalization; in the winter of 1889-90 he was Secretary of the County Republican 
Committee, and has frequently been a delegate to County, District and State 
Conventions.  For one term he was Township Treasurer, and he also served as 
Township Clerk and Supervisor, being Chairman of the board of the latter.  At 
present he is Chairman of the Board of Education, and he is a well known friend 
to educational measures. 
 
Born in Seneca County, N.Y., November 15, 1854, the gentleman of whom we 
write is a son of MICHAEL and ANN QUINN.  They were both natives of Ireland, 
where they resided until about 1849, at which time they became residents of 
Seneca County, having settled on a farm.  In 1865 they came to Michigan, and 
for eighteen years resided in Calhoun County, after which they passed their 
remaining years with their children.  The mother died March 8, 1892, at Harrison, 
aged eighty-three years.  The father, who was born in 1798, is still living.  Of their 
ten children all but two were born in the Emerald Isle, and four of the number 
were buried in that land.  JOSEPH was drowned at Saginaw about 1871, and left 
a family of five children.  During the Civil War he was in the United States navy 
service.  MICHAEL died from the effects of wounds received in the war, when he 
was a member of Company E, One Hundred and Forty-eighth Regiment of New 
York Infantry.  BRIDGET is the wife of JOHN CALDWELL, of Lansing, this state.  
PETER, who died in St. Paul, Minn., unmarried, enlisted at the age of sixteen 
years in Company A, Thirty-third New York Infantry, but subsequently was 
transferred to the cavalry service.  JULIA married JOHN L. SMITH, and died 
during the present year at Port Huron, Mich. 
 
JOHN QUINN is the youngest in his parents' family and with them came to this 
state, where he grew to manhood.  He received his education at Battle Creek.  In 
1874 he went to Saginaw, and while working in a shingle-mill met with two 
accidents by which he lost the fingers on both hands.  He then returned home 
and continued his studies in the public schools.  Later he entered the employ of 
W.H. & F.A. WILSON, of Isabella County, lumbermen, as bookkeeper, and as 
such he acted altogether about twelve years.  In 1882 he founded the Clare 
County Cleaver, which he published for about eight years.  He was next in a 
hardware business as a member of the firm of Stephens & Quinn.  For one and 
one-half years he operated a sawmill; for a year and a-half conducted a livery, 
and for a short time was proprietor of the Johnson House.  He now gives his 
whole attention to his law practice and public duties.  For many years he 
supported, or helped to support, his parents, and since boyhood has been self-
reliant. 
 
In 1878 Mr. QUINN married JENNIE, daughter of H.C. DODGE, of Durand, 
Mich.  She was born in New York State, and was called to the better land June 
22, 1894, leaving two sons: WILLIAM J., aged fifteen; and STANLEY F., aged 
eleven years.  For five years she was a clerk in the postoffice, during her 
husband's tenure of office, and became acquainted with every resident of 
Harrison and vicinity.  She won a place in their hearts that years will be required 
to efface.  She was an active member of the Congregational Church and a 
lovable Christian woman. 
 
JOHN QUINN is a member of the local lodge and encampment of the 
Independent Order of Foresters, and is also a Knight of Pythias.  He is a good 
citizen and never fails to use his influence or means in behalf of all movements 
tending to benefit the community which he expects to make his permanent home. 
 
 
Submitted for use by USGENWEB Clare County, Michigan