My Genealogy Hound

MICHAEL K. McDONOUGH, a wholesale and retail dealer in coal, wood and stone, of Dunkirk, was born in County Clare, Ireland, September 25, 1842, and is a son of Michael and Mary (Kelley) McDonough. The McDonoughs and Kelleys were old families of County Clare, where they had resided for several generations. Michael McDonough was born and reared in his native county, where he passed his life, and died in March, 1849, when but forty-two years of age. He was a farmer, a consistent member of the Catholic church, and a careful and hard-working man. He married Mary Kelley, and reared a family of seven sons and two daughters. Mrs. McDonough was a Catholic in religious belief, and in 1853 came to Dunkirk, where she passed away in 1869, at sixty-five years of age.

Michael K. McDonough, at twelve years of age, came from Ireland to the United States, and became a resident of Dunkirk city, in whose public schools he received his education. Leaving school he was employed for some time as a hand on a farm, and during the late civil war was an employe in the freight department of the Erie railroad, at Dunkirk, where his daily business was to call off all freight for shipment before it was placed on the cars. In May, 1865, he established his present wholesale and retail coal and wood business, to which he has since added sewer pipe, stone, sand, gravel and loam. His office and yards are at 130 Railroad avenue. He is also engaged in contracting on public works, and makes a specialty of excavating and teaming. Mr. McDonough commands a good trade at his yards, has been very successful in all of his business enterprises, and owns some valuable real estate in Dunkirk, besides a good farm in Sinclairville. He is a member of St. Mary’s Roman Catholic church, of Dunkirk. He is a democrat in political opinion, and has served for nine years as a member of the city council, besides holding other municipal offices. Since thirteen years of age he has made his own way in life, and achieved business success by his own efforts.

On June 3, 1871, he united in marriage with Bridget Breen, daughter of Michael Breen, of Dunkirk. They have three children, two sons and one daughter: Joseph M., George W. and Kate A.