SOURCE: Commemorative biographical record of the west shore of Green Bay, Wisconsin 
Microfilm of original published: Chicago : J.H. Beers, 1896. 718 p. : ports.
LDS Microfilm #0924759     Pages 681 - 682

J. W. MOLLOY, sheriff of Florence county, was born in Russell county, Canada West, January 6, 1858, and is a son of Michael and Sarah (Downing) Molloy, who were born in Canada, where they now reside.

The father was a farmer by occupation.   They had a family of six children, three sons and three daughters, as follows: Sarah, now Mrs. James, of Canada; Catharine, now Mrs. Freymier, of Toronto, Canada; Nellie, married, who is a resident of Cornwall, Canada; James, residing in Russell county,  Canada; Michael, in Florence county, Wis., and J. W., whose name introduce this sketch.

J. W. Molloy was reared in Russell county, Canada, and educated in the schools of that country.  In 1876, at the age of eighteen, he came to Marinette, Wis., and drove logs on the river, working in the woods until his removal to Quinnesec, Mich.  In September 1880, he came from Quinnesec to Florence, Wis., when there were no roads here, built a livery barn, and was in the livery business one year.  In 1882 he conducted a hotel at Crystal Falls, Mich., then returning to Florence kept a restaurant and saloon.  The barn which he had erected here was burned in 1888, and he then built his present barn.  He has a fine stock of rigs, horses, buggies, etc., and has been interested in the livery business in Florence since the town was organized.  He also owns eighty acres of land adjoining the city, and, in connection with his other interests, is engaged in lumbering and logging.

Mr. Molloy was united in marriage in 1885, at Ishpeming,  Mich., with Mary Bresnehen, who was born in that place, and they have had four children, namely: Clara, Sarah, Florence and Howard. Mr. Molloy was the first man naturalized in Marinette county, and has seen the progress and growth of Marinette.   He is a  Republican in  politics.   For one year he was under sheriff of Florence county, in 1888 was elected sheriff, and was again elected in 1894, coming into office in January, 1895; he has also served two terms as supervisor.  Socially he is a member of Fisher Lodge No. 222, F. & A. M., and has held office in the Lodge.