Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

Columbus, of Waterbury, the Benevolent
and Protective Order of Elks, of Nor-
wich, the Independent Order of Foresters,
and the Knights of Columbus.
The interest of Father McGuane in the
cause of Irish freedom has always been
most intense, and he has given liberally
of his time, abilities and means for the
furtherance of those activities which
promise to bring to the land of his fore-
fathers such blessings of liberty as are
enjoyed by the country of his birth, the
land to which he has ever been a whole-
hearted loyal citizen.
McELROY, Joseph A.,
Engineer, Contractor,
There is nothing in this world that happens
merely as a matter of chance. Life
is filled with surprises but back of each
one of them is a well-defined cause. As
a boy attending the public schools of
Bridgeport, Joseph A. McElroy did not
expect to see the countries whose history
he was then studying, yet each step in his
career brought him nearer to them. He
was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut,
March 20, 1859, son °f Charles and Margaret
(Donnelly) McElroy.
Charles McElroy was born in Armagh,
Ireland, and died in December, 1869. He
was but a boy when he came to America
he located for a time in New York City
before removing to Bridgeport, Connec-
ticut. He learned the trade of millwright
and followed this occupation until his en-
listment in the Civil War. He was a
member of the Seventeenth Connecticut
Volunteer Regiment, and was wounded
at Gettysburg and never fully recovered.
He served from the beginning of the war
until he was disabled, and was a member
of the Grand Army of the Republic Post
in Bridgeport, being the first veteran to
be buried from Elias Howe Post. He
;
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
9°
married Margaret Donnelly, a native of
Omagh, County Tyrone, Ireland, and
they were the parents of the following
children, all deceased but Joseph A., of
this review: 1. Rev. Charles J., was edu-
cated in St. Charles College, Baltimore,
and, pursued his theological studies in
Troy Seminary ; he was assigned to the
Cathedral in Hartford, Connecticut, as a
curate, and his first pastorate was in New
Milford, thence he was transferred to
Derby ; his last pastorate was in St. Augustine's
Church, Bridgeport, where he
was rector for about seven years until
called by death. 2. James H., of Bridge-
port. 3. John, of Bridgeport. 4. Joseph
A., of whom further. 5. Thomas F., of
Bridgeport. 6. Mary, married Dr. Edward
Fitzgerald. 7. Harry A.
Joseph A. McElroy was educated in the
public schools. At an early age he went
to work in a factory, and finally he served
an apprenticeship to the trade of machinist
in the shop of Coulter & McKenzie,
and for the following three years worked
as a journeyman in Providence and Bos-
ton. During these years he had been preparing
himself for college entrance, and
matriculated in Stevens Institute of Technology,
Hoboken, New Jersey, from
which he was graduated with the degree
of M. E. in 1887. His first position was
with the United Gas Improvement Com-
pany, of Philadelphia, and in their inter-
ests he went to Omaha, Nebraska, as
assistant superintendent of the gas works.
Thence he went to Cuba on a sugar estate,
returning to Connecticut in due time and
locating in Danbury, where hatter's machinery
was made. In 1890 Mr. McElroy
became identified with the Field Engineering
Company, of New York City, and
was in charge of their construction work
in the western part of New York State.
After two years spent with this firm, Mr.
McElroy became interested in street rail-