“The Church Would Look Foolish Without Them”: Patrick O’Neil, Bronx, New York

PATRICK J. O’NEIL, who for a number of years has been active in Bronx real estate transactions, was born March 4, 1871, in Tipperary County, Ireland, and hails from an old and successful family of that country. He was educated in the Christian Brothers’ College, of Cashel, Tipperary County, from which he graduated, and came to this country in 1882, arriving on May 24. He began at once to learn the stonecutting trade, but did not follow his vocation long, as the firm he was employed by failed. He sought employment of the Second Avenue Railroad Company, and succeeded in securing a good position, which he kept up to 1889. It was during this year he realized the fact that one through careful speculation in real estate could make considerable money, so he opened up an office and, incidental to his regular business, he acted as agent for several large insurance companies. It was not long before he was heard from, and today he enjoys a large and lucrative clientage. Mr. O’Neil has resided in this section for some time, and is widely known, both in a social and political way. He is Tammany Hall Captain of the Seventy-fourth Election District, and a member of the Tammany Hall General Committee of the Thirty-fifth Assembly District, belongs to the Jetterson Club, Bronx Club, the Bronx Country Club, the Knights of Columbus, the Royal Arcanum, No. 1618, is a worshipper of the Catholic faith and is a member of the Holy Name Society. ‘I’he Patrick J. O’Neil Association was organized by him some time ago, and is today one of the largest in the Bronx, he being the standard bearer. On July 11, 1900, Mr. O’Neil married Miss Stella Walsh, who is connected with Public School No. 20, Bronx. She is also a member of the Daughters of Isabella, Court Columbia, and a member of Seton Circle of the Bronx.

Randall Comfort, ed., History of Bronx Borough, City of New York (New York: North Side News, 1906), 410.