Biographical Sketch of Bernard CORR (b. 1828); Philadelphia Co., PA

Contributed to the PAGenWeb Archives by Diana Smith 
[christillavalley@comcast.net] 

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"Philadelphia, A History of the City and its People; A Record of 225 Years"
Publisher:  S. H. Clark; Philadelphia; 1912  
Author, Ellis Paxson Oberholtzer
Vol. 4, page 169
 
BERNARD CORR

     It has been said that words, looks and actions constitute the alphabet 
that spells character. There is no difficulty in determining what is the 
outcome of this combination of the forces in the life of Bernard Corr, for 
public opinion is unanimous in placing him with the representative business 
men of the dry whose varied and important interests have gained him 
recognition as a man of large affairs. While now eighty-one years of age, 
he is still active in business and is the sole owner of the wholesale 
liquor store located at Beach and Brown streets.
     He was born in Ireland, June 14, 1828, and spent his youthful days in 
that country, but on attaining his majority sailed for America in the fall 
of 1840 as a passenger on the steamship Wyoming, which was thirty-one days 
in completing the voyage. He started with but limited capital and had but 
eighty cents on reaching Philadelphia. He also owed his passage money to 
his brother John, who came a year before. Both his parents remained 
residents of the Emerald isle until called to their final rest. The father 
died at the age of eighty-seven years, and the mother at eighty-six years 
in County Deny, Ireland.
     The educational privileges of Bernard Corr were limited and in his 
native country he had learned and followed the weaver's trade, but soon 
after coming to the United States he secured a position in a local store 
and it was only a few years before he came to be recognized as a man of 
influence and importance in business activities, notwithstanding the fact 
that he possessed nothing but industry, energy and pluck when he came to 
the new world. Carefully saving his earnings, his economical expenditure 
and his unfaltering industry at length brought him sufficient capital to 
engage in business en his own account. He had both the energy to persevere 
and the ability to supply modern ideas to modern conditions, and the present 
establishment of Bernard Corr, wholesale liquors, at Beach and Brown 
streets, stands as a monument to his enterprise. His first establishment was 
on Second street above Columbia avenue, and later he removed to Fourth and 
Jefferson streets, from which point he came to his present location. He is 
still vigorous and active as he possesses the strong stimulus of Irish 
blood, but he does not take the heavy burdens of life upon him today as he 
did forty or even twenty-five years ago. The house conducts a wholesale 
business in brandies, wines, liquors, etc., with a large local trade, and 
makes shipments throughout Pennsylvania and adjoining states. The patronage 
has become extensive and that Mr. Corr has ever maintained cordial relations 
with his patrons is indicated by the fact that the names of some of them 
have been upon his books for more than thirty years. The wholesale liquor 
trade, however, docs not measure the extent of his activities or services. 
He has been a director of the Kensington National Bank and also of the 
Fairmount Park Transportation Company. Moreover, his real-estate holdings 
are very extensive, for as the years have passed he has made judicious 
investment in property until his holdings are now very large.
     In Philadelphia, in 1851, Mr. Corr was united in marriage to Miss 
Catharine Timmany, and unto them were born six children: Michael B., who 
died at the age of twenty-two years; Bernard J., who died at the age of 
twenty-eight; Catharine, the wife of James Gorman; Ina B., the wife of 
Charles J. Jones; Mamie G., the wife of Stanley J. Smith; and Catharine, who 
died in infancy. Mr. Corr has been a director of the Friendly Sons of St. 
Patrick and is a member of the Catholic church.


 

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