Bios.Tulsa,OK BYRNE, Thomas J. 
=======================================================================
USGenWeb NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free Information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access.
====================================================================== 
Posted by Earline Sparks Barger on Sat, 02 Jan 1999
Surname: BYRNE, NOLAN, HIMES, HEARNE
THOMAS J. BYRNE
Vol. 3, p. 980 
One of the fast-growing business enterprises of Tulsa, which has contributed materially to the commercial importance of this vigorous Oklahoma city, is the Tulsa Sheet Metal Company, which has been developed under the energetic management of its proprietor, Thomas J. Byrne. Mr. Bryne's success has been self -attained, for he started life without any advantages, and has worked his own way to financial independence and the ownership of the leading industry of its kind at Tulsa. 
Thomas J. Byrne was born in Ireland, July 13, 1870, and is a son of Thomas J. and Elizabeth (NOLAN) Byrne, native of Erin. In 1871 the father brought his family to the United States and located at Middletown, Ohio, where he purchased a home and small tract of land, and was engaged in the poultry business up to the time of his death, in 1912, when he was eighty-six years of age, the mother having passed away some years before. There were six children in the family, of whom four are still living, and Thomas J. was the second in order of birth. The public and parochial schools of Middletown, Ohio, furnished Thomas J. Byrne with his educational training, and as a youth his first employment was at tobacco stripping, for which he received $1.50 per day. At Cincinnati, Ohio, he subsequently learned the tinner's trade, and later he removed to St. Paul, Minnesota, where he followed his vocation until work became dull in his line, and he secured work chopping wood, in the meantime living in a log cabin in the timber. He later spent some time in traveling, with the end in view of learning something about the country, as well as finding a suitable location, and in his travels visited Chicago, Detroit, Montreal, Boston, various points in the New England states and Indianapolis, Indiana. Later he went to Logansport, in that state, where he worked at his trade for a time, always seeking to better his condition, and from there went to Philadelphia, where he worked as a draughtsman and superintendent of shops. He also visited Atlanta, Georgia, and Cleveland, Ohio, and at the latter place was employed by Rudolph & Son, where he designed a metal window, which was approved by the fire insurance companies. 
In June, 1910, Mr. Byrne came to Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he soon bought out the sheet metal manufacturing business of Edward HIMES, and founded his present business at No. 19 West First Street. Here he manufactures and deals in such products as metal windows, skylights, cornice, guttering, spouting, roofing, tanks, metal cisterns pumps, heating apparatus, ventilating apparatus, cresting, corrugated iron, roof jacks, well buckets, garbage cans, filters, furnaces, tile, hip shingles, brick and stone, face siding, metal shingles, oil filters, stove pipe, steam tables, wall ties, ornamental iron work, canopies and arches. he does all kinds of work in sheet iron, copper, tin, zinc and corrugated iron, and handles building supplies of every description. A specialty of his business is the "Byrne" ventilator and bungalow heaters. The Tulsa Sheet Metal Company has grown and developed rapidly and with it has grown the reputation of its proprietor. In business circles he has become known as an able, energetic business man, whose fidelity to engagements is proverbial. He maintains independent views in political matters, and is fraternally affiliated with the local lodges of the Knights of Pythias and the Fraternal Order of Eagles. 
In 1913 Mr. Byrne was married to Miss Bessie HEARNE who was born near Atlanta, Georgia. 
Transcribed by: Earline Sparks Barger, December 16, 1998