My Genealogy Hound

JOHN T. BROSNAHAN, a successful merchant and undertaker of Ware, on Bank Street, opposite Ware Savings Bank, was born in the town August 25, 1857, son of Benjamin and Ann (Lynes) Brosnahan, and grandson of John Brosnahan, a skilful physician and the son of a lawyer. Grandfather Brosnahan had six children, of whom three reached adult life, namely: Ellen, who married a Mr. Brosnahan (not a relative), and went with him to Australia, both being cultured people and in good circumstances; Mary, who came to America, where she married Garrett Fleming, and spent the remainder of her life in Thompsonville, Conn.; and Benjamin Brosnahan, father of the subject of this sketch.

Benjamin Brosnahan was born in Ireland in 1815, and he came to this country about the year 1850. He followed the vocation of a school-teacher for many years, both in Ireland and in the country of his adoption, but never accumulated much property. He was married after coming to America to Miss Ann Lynes, the ceremony having been performed in Ware in 1851. She was also a native of Ireland, and came hither from County Kerry shortly after he did. Seven children were born of their union, of whom one son and three daughters are now living, namely: Mary Brosnahan, residing in Westfield, Mass.; John T. Brosnahan; Ellen Brosnahan, residing in Ware; and Margaret, who also resides in Ware. Mary Brosnahan follows the occupation of a seamstress, and her sisters are mill operatives. Their father died in 1878, and their mother two years later, fifty-six years of age.

John T. Brosnahan received a limited common-school education. At the age of nine years he went to work in the old brick mill as doffer, at a salary of about forty cents per day. He was employed in this way for two years, attending school during the winter months. When he was sixteen years old he commenced to work the year round, and secured a position in the Stephens Mill; but he afterward returned to the old brick mill, and for six years worked there as a weaver. He wove some of the blue drilling shown at the Centennial Exhibition of 1876. He next became a clerk in the store of J. Keefe & Co., dealers in general merchandise, who also carried a line of caskets and undertakers’ supplies. The store was managed by a brother of Mr. Keefe until his death. This event happened four years ago, when Mr. Brosnahan became manager. He acted in this capacity up to September, 1895, at which time he resigned and formed a co-partnership with Samuel Rohan. The business so prospered under Mr. Brosnahan’s management that four persons are now employed where two were formerly sufficient; and there are now but two or three larger general merchandise establishments in Ware, while the house does the largest undertaking business in that section. Mr. Brosnahan possesses natural talents for business. His pleasing address, joined to his perseverance and his habit of close attention, are sure to succeed anywhere. In his new venture he has the best wishes of the business men of Ware. On June 26 last he was granted a diploma from the Oriental School of Embalming at Boston, Mass., certifying that he is well qualified as a competent embalmer of the dead.

On September 24, 1884, he was joined in marriage to Miss Sarah Barrett, born in Canada, a daughter of Morris Barrett and his wife, whose maiden name was Rollins. Both her parents are now dead. She has borne her husband six children, as follows: John, nine years old; Mary, who is seven years of age; Mildred, two years younger; Rose, three years of age; Walter, who is two years old; and Agnes Catherine, an infant. Mr. Brosnahan casts his vote with the Democratic party. He has served his townsmen six years as Overseer of the Poor, and is a member of the Democratic Town Committee. He is a member of the Visiting Committee of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, with which he is affiliated; and he and his wife are worshippers at the Catholic Church of All Saints’.