Passaic County NJ Archives Biographies.....Daniel John SHEEHAN, February 1, 1847 - September 23, 1903
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Debora Miller deanna306@aol.com February 22, 2008, 9:15 am

Author: Copied from Obituary

Daniel John Sheehan was born February 1, 1847 in Manchester, Lancashire, 
England, the son of Patrick Sheehan and Elizabeth Toole.  He came to this 
country in 1850, and resided with his parents in New York City.

Daniel was educated in parochial school and graduated from DeLaSalle Institute 
in 1864, He then came to Paterson and was employed by his uncle, John O'Neill, 
a pioneer in the silk dyeing industry in Paterson. John O'Neill and Sons Silk 
Dyeing Company was located at 209-213 Paterson Street. He remained with John 
O'Neill & Son until 1869, when he formed a partnership with Raphael See and 
purchased the O'Neill establishment, forming the company of See & Sheehan.

The company was a very profitable one, and known throughout the country for 
their extraordinary dyeing of color. Raphael See retired in 1899, and the 
company became known as The Dan J Sheehan Silk Dyeing Company. On February 1, 
1902, Daniel converted to a stock company, of which he was president. 

In 1896, when the Wilson Tariff Bill was under debate in Congress, the Silk 
Industry Association of Paterson, composed of every manufacturer in this part 
of the country, sent a comittee to Washington to look after the interests of 
the industry which was being threatened by importations of manufactured 
Japanese silk. Daniel served as secretary of this committe and performed 
valuable work. He also served as secretary of the Silk Dyeing Association of 
America.

On October 12, 1870, Daniel married Margaret Condon at St. John R.C. Church. 
Together they had three sons. Francis Joseph born July 9 1875, John Daniel 
born July 18, 1878, and Joseph William born July 6, 1881.

In 1884, Daniel suffered a double loss.  On July 31, his wife Margaret died of 
consumption, leaving him to raise thier three young sons.  On August 20, he 
lost his father to paralysis.  However, this double loss did not deter 
Daniel.  He soon met Margaret Burk, and in 1885, she became his new wife.

Daniel and Margaret went on to have three children.  Mary Adele born February 
15, 1886, Isabella born April 23, 1887, and Daniel Jr, born 22 Jun 1889.

Daniel was an active member of St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church, having gone 
there from St. John when the church opened.  He had been a member of the Choir 
at St. John when he was young. He was also active in the management of the 
affairs of the Old Ladies Home in Totowa when the establishment was first 
organized, having been secretary for a number of years and was very energetic 
in furthering its interests. He was an active member of the Holy Name Society 
of St. Joseph Church, the Hamilton Club, Silk City Council, and the Catholic 
Benevolent Legion, Silk Dyers Association of America, Silk Association of 
America, and the Silk Industry of Paterson.

Daniel was energetic and active, and made his impress felt on everything with 
which he was connected, both in business and social affairs. He was a man of 
strong convictions, impulsive and outspoken, and generous where charity 
appealed to him.

Daniel died on September 23, 1903 at his home 389 Ellison St. He had suffered 
from Angina Pectoris for 6 months prior to his death. He is buried in the 
Sheehan family plot at Holy Sepulcher Roman Catholic Cemetery, Totowa, NJ.

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