JOHN CURRIER GALLAGHER John Currier Gallagher, whose life ended so suddenly at his home in New Haven, on March 29, 1912, in the midst of a career already notable and promising still move lofty achievement, was an exception to that rule which claims that death is needed to awaken the appreciation of our fellows and that the prophet is not without honor save in his own country. For Mr. Gallagher's strong but genial personality had won both recognition and affection from the outset of his public life, and there was none of his fellow citizens at the time of his death who he held a larger place in public esteem than he. There were but few of the departments of the community's life that Mr. Gallagher did not take part in, and of these such difficult realms as those of politics and public life, yet there was never a time when he was credited with other than honest, altruistic motives, and a capability which more than met the requirements of his office. He was a member of a distinguished Maryland family, though born himself in the city and state which remained his lifelong home. His father, the Hon. James Gallagher, was extremely prominent in democratic politics in Connecticut, having moved to New Haven prior to the Civil war, of which city he was an established resident at the time of his son's birth there, August 24. 1857. Upon reaching the proper age, the latter was sent to the Eaton public school in New Haven, and there laid the foundation of the education which distinguished him in after life. He next attended the Hopkins grammar school, where he completed the preparatory portion of his studies, and from there went to the Sheffield Scientific School of Yale University, from which he was graduated with the class of 1819. Strongly influenced at this time by his father's public career and by the many prominent men with whom he was thrown in contact, a large proportion of whom were of the legal profession, the young man had his own attention turned very strongly to that profession, as the best possible entree to the life that appealed to him. He returned therefore to Yale, this time becoming a student in the Law School, and graduated in 1881 with the degree of LL. B. Upon admission to the bar in the same year, Mr. Gallagher entered the law office of the Hon. William C. Robinson, who later became dean of the law department of the Roman Catholic University, of Washington, D. C. Almost at once, upon putting behind him the things of his boyhood and his student days, and taking his place as an active member of society, the young man turned his attention to politics, for which his father's activities had naturally developed in him a very strong taste. In 1882 he was chosen secretary of the democratic state committee, serving in that position until 1885. His ability was of so pronounced an order that in the year 1883 he was nominated and duly elected a member of the New Haven common council, serving in that body that year and the next. Ten years later he was elected alderman, and held the office of president of the aldermanic board in 1894. He became associated with the Hon. Livingston W. Cleaveland, under the firm name of Gallagher & Cleaveland, and this connection continued until the appointment of Mr. Cleaveland as judge of probate for the district of New Haven in 1895, when Mr. Gallagher was made clerk of the same court. Two years later lie was appointed assistant clerk of the superior court for New Haven county. This latter office he held for ten years, and in June, 1907, became clerk of that court. Mr. Gallagher continued this office until his death and proved one of the most effective the court had ever enjoyed, performing the complex and difficult duties in a most adequate manner. Mr. Gallagher was a very conspicuous figure in the social and fraternal life of New Haven. He was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of the Royal Arcanum, of the Knights of The Maccabees and the Improved Order of Heptasophs. But it was as a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen that he was best known, his influence in that organization extending without the borders of his home state and making itself felt throughout the country. For many years he had devoted a great deal of his time and energy to the interests of the order and held well nigh all of the offices in its gift. He was grand master workman of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts in the years 1896 and 1897, which at that time had supervision over the interests of the more than fifty thousand members of the order in New England. When the Connecticut Grand Lodge was organized, Mr. Gallagher became advisory counsel to it. He was appointed many years before his death to the board of directors of the Supreme Lodge of the national body, and later became supreme foreman of the body, the next highest office in the order, being second only to that of supreme master workman. He was next in line to the office of supreme master workman and he would have reached this honorable position at the next meeting had he lived. Besides his fraternal associations, Mr. Gallagher was a member of a number of important and influential clubs, among which may be mentioned the Quinnipiac Club of New Haven, the Graduates Club, the New Haven Colony Historical Society, and the New Haven Chamber of Commerce of which he was the secretary for eighteen years. Mr. Gallagher was twice married. His first wife was Laura Ives, a daughter of George and Cornelia (Dickerman) Ives, of New Haven. Her marriage to Mr. Gallagher took place on June 28, 1888, and there were three children born to them: Hera S., Katherine I. and John Currier, Jr. The death of the first Mrs. Gallagher occurred February 3, 1900, and on April 8, 1901, Mr. Gallagher was married to Bessie K. Radigan, a daughter of John and Catherine (Ross) Radigan, of New Haven, Connecticut. One child was born to this union, a son, James Roswell. The death of John Currier Gallagher was the occasion of one of the most
impressive tributes ever offered to a citizen of New Haven, in which the
distinguished men of the city and state joined in great numbers. From all
sides testimonials of regard and affection poured in upon his bereaved
family and the United Workmen's lodge, of which he was so highly prized
a member. Bench and bar as well as the various branches of the state government
united with the press in a chorus of praise of the faithful public servant,
the public-spirited citizen, the devoted friend, the charitable and upright
man. The words of many of those who spoke and wrote were eloquent of the
strong personal emotion which so large a circle of associates felt, and
a selection from them will form the most fitting close to this brief review
of his life. The various journals of the Ancient Order of United Workmen
in all quarters of the country had memorial articles full of eulogy, and
among these the Connecticut organ, which said in part as follows:
Not less eulogistic was the daily press, an editorial in the New Haven
Register running as follows:
From among the other press notices which space forbids the reproduction
of here, it will suffice to give an extract from an editorial in the Times-Leader,
of March 29,1912, as follows:
The funeral of Mr. Gallagher was an imposing function, many of the most
eminent men in the state were there and among the honorary pall bearers
were numbered two ex-governors of the state, as well aa a number of judges
in the supreme and superior courts. The exercises at the meeting of the
bar association were also impressive, Justices Gager, Cleaveland and Williams
pronouncing eulogies in honor of Mr. Gallagher, and the association adopting
resolutions, which, after an introduction in the form of a sketch of his
life, ran as follows:
Modern History of New Haven
Illustrated Volume II New York – Chicago
pgs 198 - 202 |
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NEW HAVEN COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES pages / text are copyrighted by Elaine Kidd O'Leary & Anne Taylor-Czaplewski May 2002 |