Bio of O'BRIEN, James E. (b.1870), Hennepin Co., MN
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EXTRACTED FROM: History of Minneapolis, Gateway to the Northwest; 
Chicago-Minneapolis, The S J Clarke Publishing Co, 1923; Edited by: Rev. 
Marion Daniel Shutter, D.D., LL.D.; Volume I - Shutter (Historical); 
volume II - Biographical; volume III - Biographical
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Vol II, pg 668-671
JAMES E. O'BRIEN
For over two decades James E. O'Brien has been a representative of the
Minne­apolis bar and his success is attested by the important and extensive
clientele accorded him, as well as by the consensus of public opinion, which
names him with the leading attorneys of the city. He was born on a farm near
Lake City, Minnesota, June 6, 1870, a son of Richard and Margaret (McShane)
O'Brien, the former a native of the state of New York and the latter of Ireland.
In 1866 the father came to Minnesota, settling on a farm in Wabasha county, and
to the cultivation and improvement of that prop­erty he devoted his remaining
years.
Reared on a farm, James E. O'Brien attended the country schools and the high
school at Lake City, Minnesota, afterward becoming a student at the State
University, in which he completed an academic course in 1892, while three years
later he was graduated from the law department of that institution. In June,
1895, he was admitted to the bar and for two years thereafter he filled a
clerical position in the office of C. J. Tryon, since which time he has followed
his profession independently in this city, with the exception of a limited
partnership with the Hon. James C. Haynes, who served as mayor of the city for
five terms. Mr. O'Brien engages in general practice in the federal and state
courts and the passing years have brought him a large and constantly increasing
clientele. He prepares his cases with great thoroughness and his arguments are
forceful and convincing, while his deductions are at all times logical. Although
well grounded in the principles of common law when admitted to the bar, he has
continued throughout the whole of his professional life a diligent student of
those elementary principles which constitute the basis of all legal science and
this knowledge has served him well in many a hard fought forensic combat.
Mr. O'Brien was married July 8, 1897, to Miss Agnes Byrnes of Minneapolis, and
they have become the parents of two sons, Richard and John, who are twins. Mr.
O'Brien has never been neglectful of the duties and obligations of citizenship,
and during the World war he served as chairman of the draft board for the second
district of Minnesota. His professional connections are with the Hennepin
County, Minne­sota State and American Bar associations and he is also identified
with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and the Minneapolis Athletic Club.
He has ever conformed his practice to the highest ethical standards, and natural
talent, acquired ability, determination and energy, have brought him to a
position of prominence in the ranks of his profession.