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Below is a family biography included in the book, Portrait and Biographical Record of Johnson and Pettis County Missouri published by Chapman Publishing Company in 1895.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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EDWARD HURLEY. Perhaps no class of men deserve more credit for the upbuilding of our cities than do our real-estate men and contractors. Literally this is true, for not only do they lay out our towns, and persuade men from other cities to invest, but they erect the houses which they plan. To this class of men belongs our subject, who has performed an important part in the growth and prosperity of Sedalia, and who has erected many of its beautiful buildings.

Our subject is a native of the Emerald Isle, and was born in County Roscommon in 1835, being one of five sons and three daughters who came to bless the union of Thomas and Mary (Maunion) Hurley. The father was an agriculturist by occupation, and both parents were natives of Ireland. They lived long and useful lives, the father dying at the age of eighty-two years, and the mother when in her ninety-third year. Of the eight children in the parental family, two sons and two daughters still survive. Our subject was third in order of birth, and is the only one in America.

Mr. Hurley spent the days of his boyhood and youth in his native land, and received his education in its private schools. When but sixteen years of age, however, he went to London, England, and apprenticed himself to a brick-layer of that city. There he remained until 1854, when, having mastered his trade and hearing of the great opportunities offered by America to young men who were willing to work, he decided to emigrate to this country, and upon landing in New York began at once to work at his trade. He continued to work at that business until 1858, at which time he went to Chicago and later to Peoria, where he engaged in contracting and building. After some time spent in that city he removed to St. Louis, where he was similarly engaged.

March 2, 1872, our subject came to Sedalia and began in business here. Many of the substantial business blocks of the city bear evidence of his handiwork, and his taste is also demonstrated in the many private residences of the prominent citizens. Among the more imposing of the business blocks may be mentioned the Marien Building, and the Cassidy and Clooney Buildings, the Hurley Block (on East Third Street, with seventy feet front), and Hurley’s Hall (located on the corner of Grand and Fifth Streets), his own fine residence and the Lamy Factory. The latter building is the largest in Sedalia, being 152x60 feet, three stories in height, with a basement. It was completed in less than sixty days on contract and is a remarkable piece of work. Besides his work in Sedalia, he has contracted for and erected many buildings in surrounding towns, being widely known for his careful attention to the details of his work, and he employs about thirty men. He also deals quite extensively in real estate, doing a profitable business in that line. McEnroe & Hurley’s Addition to Sedalia, which consists of a tract of five acres located in East Sedalia, was laid out by Mr. Hurley.

The marriage of our subject occurred in Chicago, and united him with Miss Catherine Hayes, also a native of Ireland. They have become the parents of seven children, named as follows: Etta, Edward, Emmett, Thomas, Stella, William and Austin. The children are all at home, and it seems indeed a very center of hospitality and good cheer.

Mr. Hurley is a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, in which he is now serving as Trustee. He was for one term City Collector of Sedalia, and was one of the organizers of the Bank of Commerce, in which he now holds office as Director. He is also a prominent member of the Sedalia Catholic Benevolent Association, and has in fact served the public faithfully in every position to which he has been called. A Democrat in politics, he has for years been a member of the city and county committees, and is ever active in all measures for the good of his party. Socially he is identified with Equity Lodge No. 69, A. O. U. W.

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This family biography is one of the numerous biographies included in the Pettis County, Missouri portion of the book,  Portrait and Biographical Record of Johnson and Pettis County Missouri published in 1895 by Chapman Publishing Co.  For the complete description, click here: Pettis County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Pettis County, Missouri family biographies here: Pettis County, Missouri Biographies

View a map of 1904 Pettis County, Missouri here: Pettis County, Missouri Map

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