James J. Egan
James J. Egan is one of the foremost business men of Circleville, Ohio, and his career bears evidence of his personal worth. He is at present engaged in the grocery business, wholesale and retail, is a produce dealer, and is proprietor of the Union House, one of the best-known hotels in tlie city. He was born in County Cork, Ireland, in the Barony of Duhallow, May 1st, 1842, and his father, John Egan, was also a native of that county and of Celtic stock. The latter followed the occupation of a farmer in his native country, and died there in 1889, when seventy-seven years of age. His wife, whose maiden name was Catherine O 'Sullivan, was born in County Limerick, Ireland, and came of a very old and prominent family. Her father was a large farmer and a representative man of his county. Her mother died in 1880. Of the live cliildren born to Mr. and Mrs. Egan, two were sons and three daughters, and all are living.
James J. Egan, the eldest of the above-mentioned family, was the only one who came to the United States. He has a sister, Hannah, now Mrs. Murphey, in Australia, but the other children are in the Emerald Isle. Our subject was reared in his native country and received his education in the schools of the same. On the 17th of May, 1873, he left Queenstown on the steamer "Smyrna," and landed in New York ten days and sixteen hours later. He was employed in a wholesale confectionery store until 1875, when, in April of that year, he came to Circleville. Eleven days after reaching that city, he engaged as clerk for Foresman & Bro., in the large mill, and continued with this firm for one year. He was subsequently employed as clerk by Mr. Fred Warner, in the grocery business, continued with him two years, and in 1879 he started out for himself in the grocery business in Circleville. This he has since carried on, and has met with well-merited success. He carries on his affairs on the soundest business principles, and his record lends to these pages, and to Circleville, credit and standing, He owns a one-half interest in the Union Hotel building with William Heffner, but conducts it alone, and he also owns a one-half interest in the Buck Block, where he has his store, with the same gentleman. Less than two years ago, Mr. Egan remodeled his hotel, and is as popular with his numerous patrons as he has been successful in his enterprise. He is the beau ideal of a hospitable landlord, attends to the wants of his guests most efficiently and without ostentation. Mr. Egan is also a stockholder in the Opera House Company, and is interested in many other business enterprises, in all of which he has been more than ordinarily successful. He conducts his affairs on strict principles, and the success crowning his efforts is only a natural consequence.
Our subject was lirst married, in 1877, to Miss Eliza Sullivan, of New York, now deceased. In 1881 he selected his second wife in the person of Miss Mary J. Warke, of New York City, and they are the parents of five interesting children: John Parnell, Robert Emmett, Catherine Mary, Sarah and Lizzie. In politics, Mr. Egan has always adhered to the Democratic party, and is a stanch supporter of its principles. He was treasurer of the Central Executive Committee for two years, and was Canal Collector under Gov. Hoadley for two years. He is on the building committee of the parochial school in Circleville, and is active in all worthy movements. He is a member of St. Joseph Church, and is a Knight of St. Joseph.
From PORTRAIT & BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF FAYETTE, PICKAWAY AND MADISON COUNTIES, OHIO - Chapman Bros. [Chicago, 1892]