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 ATRICK REILLY, Master Mechanic of the P., D. & E. R. R. Co.. is one of the prominent citizens of Mattoon. He is the son of Edwin and Elizabeth (Mulligan) Reilly, and was born March 9, 1833, in County Meath, Ireland. Edwin Reilly emigrated to America in 1835, and settled in Utica, N. Y., but not feeling satisfied with his surroundings there, he resolved to move farther westward with his family, and came to Toledo, Ohio, where he found a good opening for employment, and made that city his home for the remainder of his life. He was an active, energetic man, and endeavored to give his children the best education which the early days afforded. He had a family of eleven children: Patrick, Bernard, Edward, Margaret, Kate, Elizabeth, John, William, James and Mary; Edward, John and an infant unnamed are deceased. The elder Reilly became a patriotic citizen of his adopted country, and in politics always voted the Democratic ticket. Patrick Reilly was an infant when his parents crossed the Atlantic to make their home in a new country. He received a practical education, and at the age of fifteen years found employment with the Syracuse & Utica Railroad Co. Having gained some experience in the railroad business, he obtained a position as machinist on the Illinois Central Railroad, in Chicago, which he retained several years. He was then general foreman for the C., B. & Q. R. R. for a long time, and in 1880 was offered his present position on the P., D. & E. R. R. He has the supervision of from seventy to ninety men in the shops, and from thirty to fifty engineers and firemen on the . He is faithful and reliable in the discharge of his important duties, and possesses the entire confidence of the company by whom he is employed. In 1854, Mr. Reilly was married to Miss Mary Duffy, the daughter of Christopher Duffy. Mr. and Mrs. Reilly have a family of eleven children, whose names are as follows: Lizzie, Mary, William, Katie. Annie, Charles, Drusilla, Nellie, Lucy, Emily and George. Drusilla is a graduate of the High School of Mattoon. Mary became the wife of Frank Flemming, who is book-keeper for a mercantile house in Montana, where they now reside; she is the mother of one daughter, named Helen. William is storekeeper for the P., D. & E. R. R. at Mattoon, and chief clerk for his father; he was elected Alderman of the Third Ward by the Democratic party, and served two years in that capacity. Charles is a mechanic in the P., D. & E. R. R. shops in this city. Mr. Reilly belongs to the Masonic fraternity and is a stanch supporter of the Democratic party. He is a man of excellent business qualifications, and a highly respected citizen of Mattoon. |
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