WILLIAM LONERGAN, merchant, Cairo, Ill. The writers of this book are largely indebted to the man whose name heads this sketch for much valuable information that perhaps could have been obtained from no other source. Mr. Lonergan was born May 20, 1833, in Pottsville, Penn. His parents, Michael and Bridget (Riley) Lonergan, were both of Irish birth. They were married in Pennsylvania, and had three children, William being the eldest. His father died while he was yet a small boy, and as a consequence he was deprived of many of the advantages which are the common enjoyment of most boys, especially those that are the result of education. Although he was deprived of the benefit of even a common school, yet by application to stud\and by close observation, he has been able to succeed very well, and now manages his mercantile business without the aid of a bookkeeper. He came to Cairo in 1852, and has been engaged in various business enterprises ever since, the past nineteen years in the flour and commission trade. He has had a large experience as a steamboat man, and during the late civil war was mate on the boat used as Gen. Grant's flag-ship and headquarters. He was married in 1858 to Miss Mary Kinney, who was born in Louisville, Ky., but reared in Cairo by Robert H. Cunningham. They have had eight children, the three oldest of whom are deceased. Their names are Michael. William E., John K., Alice, Mary, Margaret, Frank and Thomas Lonergan. The family belongs to the Catholic Church of Cairo. Mr. Lonergan enjoys the enviable reputation of never having been intoxicated. He has served the county as Constable and the city of Cairo on the Board of Councilmen.
Extracted 31 Mar 2017 by Norma Hass from 1883 History of Alexander, Union, and Pulaski Counties, Illinois, Part V, page 30.
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