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Below is a family biography included in the book,  Portrait and biographical record of Lehigh, Northampton and Carbon counties, Pennsylvania published in 1894 by Chapman Publishing Company.  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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THOMAS H. MULLIGAN. The simple record of an honorable life is the best monument that can be reared to any citizen, and we shall therefore not attempt to enlarge upon the history of the gentleman above named who is proprietor of a hotel in Allentown. He was born in County Donegal, Ireland, September 10, 1845, and was the son of John and Ellen (Terry) Mulligan, also natives of the Emerald Isle. The father of our subject spent his entire life in his native land, where he died in 1880, at the age of seventy -six years. His wife survived him ten years, dying in December, 1890, when in her seventy-seventh year.

Thomas Mulligan, of this sketch, passed his boyhood in Ireland, where he acquired a fair education, and when reaching his eighteenth year decided to try his fortune in America. Crossing the Atlantic in 1863, he landed on American shores some days later, and, making his way directly to this state, began working in the coal mines of Schuylkill County, where he remained for six years, or until compelled to cease his labors in that direction on account of an accident in which he lost his leg.

In 1869 he of whom we write came to Allentown and opened a hotel, which he has conducted successfully since that time. He is very prominent in the public life of the city, and is one of the stockholders in the Allentown & Bethlehem Rapid Transit Company. In his political relations he always votes the Democratic ticket, in which body he is an active worker. He is a member of the Board of Trade, and is one of the organizers and charter members of the Hibernian Fire Company of Allentown. He is extensively interested in business and residence property in the city, and in his career as a man of business has displayed an excellent capacity for the management of affairs with tact, promptness and discretion.

August 8, 1873, Mr. Mulligan was united in marriage with Miss Catherine McCafferty, daughter of Hugh and Kate (Sweeney) McCafferty. The lady was born in Allentown, and by her union with our subject has become the mother of seven children, namely: Emma, John, Mary, Theresa, Catherine, Ellen and Thomas, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Mulligan are members of the Catholic Church. They occupy a beautiful residence on the corner of Ridge and Allen Streets, and are looked upon as among the most substantial people in the city.

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This family biography is one of numerous biographies included in the book, Portrait and biographical record of Lehigh, Northampton and Carbon counties, Pennsylvania published in 1894 by Chapman Publishing Company. 

View additional Lehigh County, Pennsylvania family biographies here: Lehigh County, Pennsylvania Biographies

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