My Genealogy Hound

HON. MICHAEL J. LENNON, the present Representative of Lehigh County in the State Legislature, resides in Allentown. He was born at Laury’s Station, North Whitehall Township, Lehigh County, May 30, 1860, and is the son of Michael Lennon, Sr., whose birth occurred in County Clare, Ireland. In his native isle he carried on farm pursuits, which he followed for a few years after coming to America. Later the father of our subject engaged in building railroads, and was in the employ of the Lehigh Valley Road for a continuous period of thirty years, or until a short time before his decease, in 1882, when seventy years of age.

Mrs. Catharine Frances (Kenney) Lennon, the mother of our subject, was likewise a native of County Clare, and received her education in the town of Ennis. She was the daughter of Michael Kenney, and was a very talented and accomplished lady, coming of a prominent family in Ireland. She departed this life in Hokendauqua, this county, in 1885, at the age of sixty-six years. The parents emigrated to America in 1847, landing in Philadelphia. They later made their way to Bellefonte, Centre County, which place was the home of Pennsylvania’s distinguished War Governor, Hon. Andrew Gregg Curtin, whose father is a descendant of the house of Kenney, and therefore related to our subject’s mother.

The original of this sketch spent his boyhood days in attendance at the district school, and when a lad of sixteen years commenced to learn the art of telegraphy, under the instruction of W. H. Mealy, operator for the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company at Catasauqua. Young Lennon was soon proficient in that branch, and occupied at different times positions along the entire line until 1884, when he was made train dispatcher at Bethlehem. He continued to act in that capacity until 1890, when he transferred his connection to the new Schuylkill & Lehigh Valley Railroad Company, running from the main line at Lizard Creek Junction to Pottsville. His connection with the management of this division, continued until his election to the State Legislature, in the fall of 1892.

Hon. Mr. Lennon was one of the three members representing Lehigh County, and at the primary election polled the largest vote over eight competitors. He is very popular among the citizens of Allentown, and especially well thought of by the railroad men with whom he has been associated for so many years. In the Legislature he served on the Committee on Education, Public Health and Pensions, and on the former he strongly advocated the bill providing for free books in the public schools, and assisted in getting it passed. As one of the Committee on Public Health he favored organizing Local Boards of Health for the various boroughs in the commonwealth, which bill was also passed.

Mr. Lennon has always taken an active part in school affairs, and in 1886 was elected a member of the board, which position he held for three years. At the present time he is a member of the Board of School Controllers, with which he has been connected for the same length of time. In 1889 our subject was elected to represent, the Sixth Ward in Allentown in the City Council, and on the expiration of his term was re-elected, holding the position until entering upon the duties of his present office. He was an active and progressive member of the Council, and the author of several reforms in the interest of the tax-payers. He was also greatly interested in the establishment of a free public hospital for Allentown, and upon his election to the Legislature introduced a bill asking for an appropriation for this purpose.

In politics our subject is a stanch Democrat, a member of the Board of Trade and various social and political organizations in the city. He still retains his connection with the Lehigh Valley Railroad as Dispatcher of the Pottsville Division, which in itself is evidence of his good business management.

November 26, 1884, Hon. Michael J. Lennon and Miss Katie, daughter of John Harkins, were united in marriage, and to them has been granted a family of five children, all daughters, viz.: Catharine Kenney, May Agnes, Gwendolynn, Blanid and Claire. Mr. and Mrs. Lennon are members of the Church of the Immaculate Conception.