Cork - Donovan, Daniel Hurley  December 15, 1872

***********************************************
Ireland Genealogy Projects Archives
Cork Index
Copyright

************************************************

File contributed by: Louisa Donovan weezid@aol.com August
31, 2009, 5:14 pm

DONOVAN, DANIEL HURLEY  DECEMBER 15, 1872

Obit. taped in family Bible:
Daniel H. Donovan. one of our oldest and most highly
respected citizens, died Thursday night, in the 57th year of
his age. his life had been one of energy and usefulness, and
although not possessed of great learning or brilliant
talents, he was for a long time a leading man in the
community and wielded nuch influence.
Mr. Donovan was born in 1815, at Rosscarbery, on the
southern coast of Ireland. Hisfather came to America when
Mr. D. was an infant, and settled in Philadelphia.  Left an
orphan at an early age, young Donovan apprenticed himself to
a carpenter, and after learning the trade, took a leading
part in the organization of the Trades' Union of
Philadelphia, which resulted in the establishment of the
“ten hour system.”
At the age of eighteen he married, and two or three years
afterwards emigrated to the then Iowa teritory, where he
remained several years, and then setled permanently in St.
Louis. The second year after his arrival here he was elected
Alderman from the First ward, which consisted of that par of
the city lying south of Cerr street, and now embracing the
Second Congressional Distrcit.  His total vote was
sixty-five, which was a majority of all the votes cast.
In 1841 he was elected to the Legislatire, and there
contracted the disease which ultimately caused his death.
From 1847 to 1849 he held theoffice of Superintendent of
Waterworks.  In 1859 he was appointed by President Buchanan
Collector of Customs of this port, but resigned on the
breaking out of the war. In the early days of the war he was
again Superintendent of Waterworks, and was removed by
military order.  Abandoning the political life at the close
of the war, he enaged in real state business, and in company
with his son established one of th larest real estate houses
in thecity.  He was one of the originators, and the first
President of the St. Louis Mutual Life Insurance Company.
Mr. Donovan was a man of great public spirit, a clear
thinker, and a forcible and fervent orator.  He advocated
many measures of public utility, and was the father of the
Mechanics' Lien Law in this state.
He was the first to recommend the Metropolitan Police system
in st. Louis, which for over ten years has been in force.
In politics he was a life-long and uncompromising Democrat
of the old school, and was a leader of that party for nearly
thirty years.  He leaves a family of five- three sons and
two daughters, all grown, and three of them married.
A social party was held at Mr. Donovan's residence on
Thursday night, and at about ten o'clock Mr. D. complained
of illness and the party dispersed in consequence.  In a
short time thereafter he expired in his chair.  The funeral
will take place on sunday afternoon at two o'clock from No.
1827 Morgan street, to St. Bridget's church, corner of
Twenty-fifth and Carr.

Additional Comments:
This obituary was taped into the Donovan family Bible, which
we inherited in 1994.


Source:
St. Louis, Missouri, USA newspaper