U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ -- USGenNet Inc. -- Please read the U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on the following page: ------------------------------------------------------------------- Gilligan, Patrick J. (1848-1924) ------------------------------------------------------------------- Men of West Virginia, Volume II Biographical Publishing Company George Richmond, Pres.: C. R. Arnold, Sec'y and Treas. Chicago, Illinois, 1903 Pages 641-643 PATRICK J. GILLIGAN.— The stone work of many of the most pretentious architectural accomplishments in Wheeling is directly traceable to the skill and intelligent understanding of Patrick J. Gilligan, one of the most successful stone contractors and builders in that part of the State. His birth, which occurred in County Sligo, Ireland, March 17, 1848, chanced upon the day held in greatest veneration by all Irish hearts, which is devoted to a recapitulation of the numerous virtues to which the admirable St. Patrick was heir. It was not surprising therefore that Thomas and Sarah (White) Gilligan availed themselves of this happy augury, and named their son after the patron Gaelic saint. Thomas Gilligan, who was a merchant during his active life in Ireland, lived and died in his native land, but two of his children, William and Margaret, came to America in the early "sixties" and were followed by their mother and the rest of the family in 1869. James, Thomas, and Patrick J. took up their residence in Wheeling, and there their mother died at the age of 76 years. Having learned the trade of a stonemason in his native land, Patrick J. Gilligan thought to apply it for a livelihood in America, but upon arriving in Wheeling there seemed nothing to do in his line, so he was engaged at the Norway Iron Works from June until April. Following this he was employed in cutting and laying stone for what is now the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad bridge, at Bellaire, Ohio, and later worked in Wheeling for several contracting parties. Until the dissolution of the firm of Seabrook and McGannon, he remained the firm's foreman of masonry, and had charge of the construction of bridges and culverts between Short Creek and Wheeling. Going to Pittsburg, he worked a few months for contractors, eventually engaging as foreman of masonry on the Pittsburg Water Works. He then undertook the improvements on Brownsville avenue, Pittsburg. After a short time, Mr. Gilligan worked for prominent contractors of Wheeling. He was then employed on the Cleveland, Lorain & Wheeling Railway bridges, and in 1878 took a contract for work two and a half miles north of St. Clairsville, Ohio. This task accomplished, he worked at building and stone cutting for eight months at Kirkwood, Ohio, since which time he has contracted and built in Wheeling. At the present time he is engaged upon the construction of two of the largest blocks in the city, those of the News Publishing Company and the Locke Shoe Company. While making a specialty of stone construction, he has by no means confined himself to this branch of work, for St. Joseph's Academy, the old Grant House, Henry K. List's bank, Mrs. Hazlett's building, and many others equally important, were reared from the foundation up by Mr. Gilligan. He built the stonework of the Eighth Ward school house and the annex of the same. In 1878, Mr. Gilligan married Catherine Reilly, a native of West Virginia and a daughter of Peter and Margaret Reilly. From this union nine children have resulted, viz.: Thomas P., who assists his father in the building business; Margaret F., who is assistant bookkeeper and stenographer for the Hicks & Hoge Dry Goods Company: Charles P., who is also in business with his father; Mary S., who is attending school; John J.; Catherine V. H.; Sarah M., who died at the age of three and a half years; Frances D., who also died when three and a half years old; and William, who died at the age of seven months. Mr. Gilligan is a stanch upholder of Republican principles, and with his family is a member of the Catholic Church. ------------------------------------------------------------------- DEATH CERTIFICATE, Ohio County WV, #3841 FULL-NAME: Patrick John Gilligan BIRTH-DATE: March 17th, 1848 BIRTH-PLACE: Ireland DEATH-DATE: March 26th, 1924 AGE-AT-DEATH: 76y-0m-9d DEATH-PLACE: Wheeling Hospital, Wheeling, Ohio County, WV MARITAL-STATUS: Widowed OCCUPATION: Stone Mason / Contractor FATHER: Thomas Gilligan (born in Ireland) MOTHER: Sarah Whyte (born in Ireland) CAUSE-OF-DEATH: Aedema of Lung INFORMANT: Joseph Gilligan (of Wheeling, W.Va.) BURIAL: Mt. Calvary ------------------------------------------------------------------- If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access other biographies for Ohio County, WV by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/wv/ohio/bios.html -------------------------------------------------------------------