Bios.Tulsa,OK QUINN, Thomas J. 
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Posted by Charmaine Keith on Tue, 13 Oct 1998
Surname: QUINN, NOLAN, O'TOOL
Vol. 3, p. 1226 
THOMAS J. QUINN 
Now serving as one of the city commissioners of Tulsa, Thomas H. Quinn has been a resident of Tulsa County for the past six years, and is the owner of extensive farm and other property in this locality. Mr. Quinn is a self-make business man, has been hard worker since he was in his teens, and for many years was in business, in farming, and active in affairs in the vicinity of St. Louis. 
Thomas J. Quinn was born in Galena, Jo Daviess County, Illinois, November 12, 1855, a son of Patrick and Margaret (NOLAN) Quinn. Both parents were born in Queen's County, Ireland, were married there, and came to America on their wedding trip, traveling by a sailing vessel. Eight children were born to their union, and only two are now living, Thomas J. being the youngest child. The parents first located in Greenville, Wisconsin, subsequently removed to Galena where the father was engaged in contracting as a road and street builder, and finally went to St. Louis, Missouri, where he continued as a contractor in street work. In politics he was a democrat. Both parents are now deceased. 
Thomas J. Quinn spent his early boyhood in St. Louis, attending school there for several years. The first money he ever earned was in helping unload potatoes from cars to wagons, and his pay was taken out in collecting the potatoes that dropped to the ground during the process of loading. He was at that time twelve or thirteen years of age, and soon afterwards found work in a rope-walk, and later in a brick yard. It was all hard labor, and that was the apprenticeship for his career. He was subsequently connected with paving and street work and at the age of twenty-three engaged in business for himself as a builder and contractor in St. Louis. His activities extended to the handling of real estate and building as an investment. He was president of the Glendale Quarry Company of St. Louis. In 1895 Mr. Quinn bought a farm of 360 acres in St. Louis County and gave most of his attention to its management for the next fourteen years. 
Having sold his property and other interest in St. Louis County, Mr. Quinn came to Tulsa in 1908, and here engaged in the real estate business, handling farmland. He is also the individual owner of 400 acres of fine farm land in Tulsa County. In April, 1914, he was elected city commissioner of the police and fire department, and has since given much of his time to the duties of this office. While living in Eureka, in St. Louis County, he served several terms as president of the school board, and was largely responsible for a noteworthy improvement made in the local school system. He raised the general grade of the school, and through his efforts the fine high school building was constructed. He has always taken an active part in democratic politics, and served as a delegate to several state conventions in Missouri. 
Mr. Quinn is a member of Tulsa Lodge No. 946, B. P. O. E., and of Tulsa Council No 1104 of the Knights of Columbus. On December 31, 1878, he married Miss Mary O'TOOL, who was born in St. Louis. Of their union have been born a fine family of twelve children, eight of whom are living: Edward J.; David W.; Leo P.; Thomas R.; Irene Margaret; Blanche Mary; William J., Mary and Louis all three of whom died in infancy; Joseph F.; Belle; and George F., who died at the age of eight years. Mr. Quinn also has nineteen grandchildren. 
Transcribed by Charmaine Keith, October 12, 1998