Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

the United States, also, this ancient Lein-
ster house has been honorably represented.
One of the most noted men who
held public office during President Jackson's
administration was Edward Kav-
anagh, United States Minister to Portu-
gal, while equally illustrious in military
circles was General James Cavanagh, of
Brooklyn, New York, who served with
distinction in Meagher's Irish Brigade
during the Civil War.
Thomas Cavanagh, grandfather of
Thomas C. Cavanagh, was born in Balla-
cedere, County Sligo, Ireland. He learned
the dry goods business in his native land
under the instruction of his father, an im-
porting merchant, and there married, his
wife a member of the Dunbar family. He
was preceded to America by some of his
children, bringing others with him, and he
settled in New Haven, Connecticut. In
New Haven he founded a dry goods business,
of which he was the successful head
until his retirement, a few years prior to
his death, which occurred when he had
almost attained the century mark. He
was a man of influence and importance in
his city and prominent in the affairs of
the time. All of his six children came to
America and here followed careers of use-
fulness and worth.
Lawrence Cavanagh, son of Thomas
Cavanagh, was born in Ballacedere,
County Sligo, Ireland, and as a youth of
fifteen years left his home, journeying to
the Isthmus of Panama. This was dur-
ing the gold excitement, but he did not
continue westward to the mining camps,
joining his parents in New Haven after
a short time. Entering the employ of the
New York, New Haven & Hartford Rail-
road, he was for about fifty years in the
service of this road, one of its trusted veterans,
who had met every emergency and
responsibility in a career that contained
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
many incidents of thrilling and absorbing
interest. At the time of the famous railroad
bridge accident in Norwalk, he was
sent to the scene in charge of the wreck-
ing train, and when the work of rescue
was completed and the line open he was
assigned to duty in charge of the Norwalk
station, a post he filled until his
death. He was a man of sturdy virtues,
a loyal friend, a loving, just father, de-
pendable to the last extreme. He was a
lifelong Democrat, content to express his
beliefs at the polls, never entering public
life.
He married Margaret Murphy, born in
Tipperary, Ireland, daughter of James
Murphy, and they were the parents of
six children: Margaret; Thomas C, of
whom further ; Mary, married Richard
Bennett, and resides in Brooklyn, New
York; John J. (q.v.) ; Catherine, married
Joseph L. O'Brien, of Norwalk, Connec-
ticut; and Daniel O'Connell.
Thomas C. Cavanagh, son of Lawrence
and Margaret (Murphy) Cavanagh, was
born in Norwalk, March 16, 1858, and was
educated in the public schools. He
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learned the printer's trade, which he followed
as a journeyman for about five
years. Subsequently he entered the employ
of the New York, New Haven &
Hartford Railroad Company, and for a
similar length of time was in the Norwalk
office. This position was followed by
three years in the express business, which
gave Mr. Cavanagh an opportunity to
start in business on his own account. At
first be began in a small way with one
team, and now operates five or six motor
trucks. In 191 5, in partnership with A. J.
Collins, a sketch of whom appears else-
where, Mr. Cavanagh purchased the Palace
Theatre. This is the principal amusement
place in South Norwalk, and it fur-
nishes an unusually high grade of vaude-