Northumberland County PA Archives Biographies.....Kearney, William E. 1859 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@gmail.com August 6, 2005, 4:15 pm Author: Biographical Publishing Co. WILLIAM E. KEARNEY, dealer in real estate in Shamokin and Coal townships, and justice of the peace of Shamokin, has led a remarkably busy life and is a self-made man. He was born January 11, 1859, in Trevorton, Northumberland County, Pa., and was educated in the public schools of Shamokin. While a youth he began his career, as many of his companions did, by working at the breaker as a slate-picker. He followed that and other occupations in and about the mines until he reached manhood, when he engaged in mining, working as a miner for a period of two years. Although mining was a useful and remunerative occupation it did not altogether suit our subject's fancy, and. as he also wished to see something of the world, in August, 1881, he went to New York City to seek employment more suited to his tastes. Soon after his arrival in New York he apprenticed himself to learn the barbers trade, discovering in a very short time that he had much natural talent in that direction, and during his two years' stay in New York he not only mastered the tonsorial art but also learned the associate art of hair dressing and manufacturing hair jewelry, wigs, etc. After becoming thoroughly proficient he returned to his native county and started in business for himself at Shamokin, where he now has a large hair-dressing establishment, manufacturing wigs and all kinds of hair jewelry, including such articles as ladies' and gentlemen's watchguards, breastpins, bracelets, finger rings, earrings, and various other kinds of ornaments, together with hair flowers, wreaths, crosses, and many other beautiful designs in hair work. Mr. Kearney is truly master of this art and takes especial pride in this branch of his business, conscientiously filling all orders entrusted to him with such fine workmanship that his ability is easily recognized. He has found this business to be not only a pleasure to him but very profitable, as one may judge by the large amount of real estate which he owns in the town of Shamokin and Coal township. In the fall of 1898 he accepted the contract} from Shamokin borough to pave its principal thoroughfare, Independence street, with Mack paving blocks, the amount involved approximating $20,000. In March, 1889, our subject, with his brother, M. A. Kearney, and W. E. Deibert organized the Shamokin Lock & Novelty Manufacturing Company. Since his election as justice of the peace in 1890 and his subsequent re-elections to the same office, our subject has dealt largely in real estate, buying and selling not only for others but for his own profit, thus acquiring valuable realty interests both in town and country property. Mr. Kearney is a true Democrat of the Jacksonian type and takes an active interest in all the local, state, and national conventions held by his party. He was delegate to the convention that nominated Jenks for governor of Pennsylvania, and one of the alternates to the convention which nominated Polk for Congress against H. E. Davis, another prominent candidate for nomination. Patrick Kearney, grandfather of our subject, was a native of County Mayo, Ireland. Mathew Kearney, son of Patrick Kearney and father of our subject, was also born in Ireland, whence he emigrated to America, May 2, 1847, accompanied by his mother, wife and three sisters. He first located in Clintonville, Mass., but shortly afterward moved to the anthracite coal regions of Pennsylvania, first locating in Luzerne County, then Carbon County, then, in 1850, at Trevorton, Northumberland County, and finally in 1865 he located permanently in Shamokin. He was a miner and contractor,— driving tunnels in connection with the mining of coal. He had the reputation of being an expert, and drove many of the large tunnels in the early development of the coal industry about Shamokin. Politically he was a Democrat and was tax collector of the borough of Shamokin at the time of his death, which occurred October 31, 1870. His widow, Ann (Devitt) Kearney, survived him for nearly nineteen years, passing from life to eternal rest March 25, 1889. They were the parents of eleven children, the following six of whom are still living: Mathew A., who owns a modern hotel in Shamokin and receives a liberal share of public patronage; William E., the subject of this sketch; Daniel, a skilled detective on the Chicago police force where he has served for twelve years; Annie, now the beloved wife of J. F. McLaughlin of Pottsville, Pa.; James J., a successful attorney-at-law at Shamokin; Bridget, an accomplished young lady of-Pottsville, Pa. On April 28, 1892, our subject was united in marriage with Margaret Sweeney, a charming and accomplished young lady, and their home is made happy by the presence of three children: Mathew Wilfred A.; Daniel Webster; and Mary Margaret Adela. Additional Comments: Extracted from: Book of Biographies of the Seventeenth Congressional District Published by Biographical Publishing Company of Chicago, Ill. and Buffalo, NY (1899) This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/pafiles/ File size: 5.5 Kb