John McGroarty (New York politician)
John McGroarty (February 14, 1838 – December 23, 1911) was an American real estate dealer, politician, and saloonkeeper from New York.
Life
[edit]McGroarty was born on February 14, 1838, in Brooklyn, New York.[1]
After attending public school, McGroarty initially worked as a hatter. He later began working in the real estate business and became successful.[2]
McGroarty was Alderman of the 9th Ward of Brooklyn from 1868 to 1874. In 1873, he was elected to the New York State Assembly as a Democrat over Republican John Oakey, representing the Kings County 9th District (Wards 9 and 21 of Brooklyn and the towns of Flatbush, Flatlands, Gravesend, New Lots, and New Utrecht). He served in the Assembly in 1874,[3] 1875,[4] 1876,[5] and 1877.[6]
In 1878, McGroarty was appointed Harbor Master.[7] He held the post for two years, until Governor Alonzo B. Cornell appointed a Republican successor. In 1890, Governor David B. Hill appointed him Port Warden of the Harbor of New York.[8] He held that office until 1895. He was in the saloon business for around twenty-six years, beginning in around 1884 when he purchased a saloon on Montague Street. The saloon was a popular gathering place for local politicians and proved successful. When the saloon burned down with the neighboring Brooklyn Academy of Music, he opened a new saloon on Court Street and ran it for six years. The saloon and his eyesight began to decline, and by 1910, rendered totally blind by cataracts, he closed the saloon.[9]
McGroarty was a member of the Church of St. Joseph. His children were Jennie (wife of Dr. Edward J. Megarr), Alice, Margaret, and John C. (named after McGroarty's friend Senator John C. Jacobs).
McGroarty died at his daughter Jennie's home after a protracted illness from kidney trouble on December 23, 1911.[10]
References
[edit]- ^ McElroy, William Henry; McBride, Alexander (1874). Life Sketches of Government Officers and Members of the Legislature of the State of New York for 1874. Albany, N.Y.: Weed, Parsons and Company. p. 248 – via Google Books.
- ^ McElroy, William H.; McBride, Alexander (1875). Life Sketches of Government Officers and Members of the Legislature of the State of New York for 1875. Albany, N.Y.: Weed, Parsons and Company. p. 235 – via Google Books.
- ^ McBride, Alexander (1874). The Evening Journal Almanac, 1874. Albany, N.Y.: Weed, Parsons & Co. p. 126 – via Internet Archive.
- ^ McBride, Alexander (1875). The Evening Journal Almanac 1875. Albany, N.Y.: Weed, Parsons & Co. p. 146 – via Internet Archive.
- ^ McBride, Alexander (1876). The Evening Journal Almanac, 1876. Albany, N.Y.: Weed, Parsons & Co. p. 123 – via Internet Archive.
- ^ McBride, Alexander (1877). The Evening Journal Almanac, 1877. Albany, N.Y.: Weed, Parsons & Co. pp. 137–138 – via Internet Archive.
- ^ "Ferriage". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Vol. 39, no. 94. 5 April 1878. p. 2 – via Brooklyn Public Library Historical Newspapers.
- ^ "John McGroarty Wins". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Vol. 50, no. 361. Brooklyn, N.Y. 31 December 1890 – via Brooklyn Public Library Historical Newspapers.
- ^ "John M'Groarty, Blind, Gives Up His Business". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Vol. 71, no. 268. New York, N.Y. 27 September 1910. p. 5 – via Brooklyn Public Library Historical Newspapers.
- ^ "John M'Groarty is Dead". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Vol. 72, no. 354. New York, N.Y. 23 December 1911. p. 2 – via Brooklyn Public Library Historical Newspapers.
External links
[edit]- 1838 births
- 1911 deaths
- Politicians from Brooklyn
- American businesspeople in real estate
- 19th-century American legislators
- New York (state) city council members
- Democratic Party members of the New York State Assembly
- Saloonkeepers
- Deaths from kidney disease
- Catholic politicians from New York (state)
- 19th-century New York (state) politicians