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Below is a family biography included in the Biographical Review Volume of Biographical Sketches of The Leading Citizens of Hampshire County, Massachusetts published by Biographical Review Publishing Company in 1896.  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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MICHAEL E. COONEY, proprietor and manager of the Florence Hotel, at Florence, Mass., was born in Haydenville, July 1, 1849, son of Michael and Rosanna (Martin) Cooney, both of Irish birth.

Mr. Cooney’s father was a stone mason by trade. He came to this country in 1844, locating at first in Holyoke, Mass., where in 1848 he married Rosanna Martin. They settled in Haydenville, where he carried on a teaming business for several years, and where his death occurred in October, 1882. His wife survived him ten years, dying at the age of sixty-six. They were the parents of nine children, of whom four are deceased. Of these latter, two died in infancy; Kate died when fourteen years; and Rosina, wife of William Larkin, of Williamsburg, died at the age of twenty-seven years, leaving one daughter, Rosanna.

Michael E. Cooney was the eldest child of the family. Having obtained a good education in the place of his nativity, he learned the brass-finisher’s trade, at which he subsequently worked in various places for some thirteen years. In 1881 he removed with his family to Florence; and the following year he purchased the Florence Hotel, which he has since conducted with signal success, winning popularity as a host who understands well how to cater to the tastes and wants of his guests. He has also devoted a portion of his time for the past few years to farming and raising tobacco. He has a pleasant dwelling-house on South Main Street, which he took possession of last year. Mr. Cooney was married in February, 1879, to Margaret Mahoney, a native of Ireland, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Mahoney, who emigrated to the United States in 1870. Neither of her parents is now living. Mrs. Mahoney died in July, 1889, aged seventy-three years, and Mr. Mahoney in November, 1893, at the venerable age of fourscore years. They were the parents of five children, namely: James, who is in the electric business in Boston; William, a brass finisher in Lorain, Ohio; Bridget, the wife of Robert Tranor, of Fall River, Mass.; John, a mechanic of Haydenville; and Margaret, the wife of Mr. Cooney. The family circle of Mr. and Mrs. Cooney has been enlarged and enlivened by the advent of three bright and healthy children, namely: William, an active lad of sixteen years, in school at Northampton; Michael, a strong lad of thirteen years; and Theresa Maria, an interesting little girl of nine years. On political questions Mr. Cooney follows the lead of the Republican party, but has never sought or held office, devoting his time and attention to his private affairs.

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This family biography is one of the numerous biographies included in the Biographical Review Volume of Biographical Sketches of The Leading Citizens of Hampshire County, Massachusetts published in 1896. 

View additional Hampshire County, Massachusetts family biographies here: Hampshire County, Massachusetts Biographies

View a map of 1901 Hampshire County, Massachusetts here: Hampshire County Massachusetts Map

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