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| Daniel Healy 1857-1912 |
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| Caher, Kenmare, Co Kerry |
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| Daniel Healy Baptism Record 23 December 1857 |
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| Cork, Co. Cork |
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| S.S. Washington Steamliner |
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| Daniel Healy age 4 years immigration, City of Washington, 1862 |
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| On Deck a steamliner - New York harbor in the distance |
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| 1870 US Federal Census of Hancock Michigan |
Around 1865 Daniel began his education in Hancock at the Quincy Mine Company school. From 1865 -1867 he attended the original school then the new school when it was completed in 1867. Also at the age of 9 years he worked in the mines, at the Stamp Mill, or the Copper Smelting plant in Hancock.
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| Quincy Mining Company School in Mason - 1865-67 |
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The new Quincy Mining Company School was built in 1867 near Frenchtown. Frenchtown was a neighborhood at the Quincy location. It was one of several neighborhood designed and built by the Quincy Co. for their employees. Other neighborhoods were Hardscrabble, Limerick,
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| Quincy's underground workers posed near the boiler and hoist house between No. 3 and No. 4 shafts. ca. 1875-80. The low boare-and-batten structure is a snowshed built over the Tramroad. About eight to ten boys sit atop the snowshed on the far left. The water barrels on the roof are for fire protection. photo courtesy of The Library of Congress |
Due to the time-frame of 1875-80, that this photo was taken, and because Daniel's father Maytor Healy worked underground in the Quincy mines, it is possible that Maytor Healy and Daniel's brother, Maytor James Healy may be in this photo. Maytor Sr. would have been between 58 and 63 years of age, Maytor James Healy would have been between 11 and 16 years old.
There are no records of Daniel Healy working for the Quincy Mining Co. in Hancock and in later years, at the time of Daniel's death, there are accounts that suggest Daniel Healy had epilepsy and suffered from seizures. [13] He may have not been physically strong enough for a mining career, which may have contributed to his opportunity for higher education in Indiana. During this time Daniel Healy would have been between 18 and 22 years of age, living in Indiana and earning a teaching certificate.
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| Laborers pose outside Quincy Mine Rockhouse, 1875 |
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| Old College building, Valparaiso Normal School in Indiana 1873 |
Around 1878 Daniel Healy had somehow saved enough money working in the copper industry to leave Michigan and move to Indiana where he earned his teaching certificate at Northern Indiana Normal School. He then moved to Marquette Michigan where his sister, Julia and her family lived and began teaching school at the new Marquette High School.
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| Marquette High School, corner of Pine and Ridge St. Marquette Michigan 1880. |
Leadville Colorado was booming mining town and speculators were flooding into the booming town hoping to strike it rich, and creating opportunity for business owners. Ellen sent Daniel a letter, inviting him join her in Leadville. He left Marquette Wisconsin and headed west for Colorado.
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| 1880s Leadville, Colorado (Image from WesternMiningHistory.com) |
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| Add caption |
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| Chestnut St. Leadville Colorado 1885, Leadville's homicide rate in October 1880 was ten time greater than that of Chicago in 1929. When Daniel arrived, in 1885, Leadville was a young town having been established just 8 years previous in 1877 with an estimated population of 40,000 people. It had 100 licensed saloons and a dozen gambling houses operating around the clock. It had gas lighting, water mains and 28 miles of streets, churches, hospitals, banks and schools. Many business buildings were constructed with bricks hauled in by wagons. An 1879 Leadville Chronicle newpaper article describes the atmosphere of Leadville- "Leadville never sleeps. The theatres close at three in the morning. The dance houses and liquor shops are never shut. The highwayman patrols the street in quest of drunken prey. The policeman treads his best to and fro. The music at the beer halls is grinding low. A party of carousers is reeling through the streets. A mail coach has just arrived. There is a merry party opposite the public school. A sick man is groaning in the agonies of death. Carbonate Hill with her scores of brightly blazing fires is Argus-eyed. Three shots heard down below the old court house. A woman screams. There is a fight in a State Street casino. The sky is cloudless. A man stand dreaming in front of the Windsor looking at the stars... he is away from home. A barouche holding two men and two women comes rushing up Chestnut Street. Another shot is heard down near the city jail. A big forest fire lights up the mountains at the head of Iowa gulch. (2) |
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| August Meyer Boarding House The boardinghouse was built in 1878 on the southeast corner of Harrison and Tenth in Leadville Colorado. It was originally owned by August R. Meyer, a mining engineer from St. Louis who established the first ore sampling works in Leadville. Mr. Meyer sold the boarding house to Patrick Albert and Nellie Healy Kelly in 1881. |
Patrick Albert Kelly had initial financial success in Leadville which enabled them to purchase an investment property, the boardinghouse on Harrison and Tenth from August Meyer in 1881. Daniel Healy helped Ellen and Patrick with the boardinghouse operations while also looking for additional work. In 1887 Daniel obtained a position as mail carrier for the Leadville Post Office.
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| Daniel Healy at the Summit of Mount Massive, Colorado 1880-1890 |
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| Daniel Healy, Virginia McMechen, Mr. Clark, Leadville Colorado, 1890s |
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| Daniel Healy, assistant Postmaster, Leadville Colorado 1889 |
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| Daniel Healy Assistant Postmaster 1891 In 1887 Daniel was promoted to Assistant Postmaster. After six years, he left this position and entered into the insurance and real estate business. His new business enterprises became quite successful. Even so, Healy continued to live in the boardinghouse on the hill. |
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| Miss Nellie Healy 1864-1945 |
Daniel had a cousin living in Quebec Canada named Nellie Healy. Both Daniel and Nellie Healy's fathers had immigrated together from Ireland to America. Nellie's father was an early widower, and young Nellie Healy spent most of her youth in a Catholic convent in Quebec Canada. Nellie completing her formal education, earning a teaching certificate and was teaching school. Daniel knew of Nellie's health issues and thought the high altitude in Colorado would improve her condition. He sent her a letter requesting she join him in Leadville and help in the operation of the boardinghouse.
Nellie joined her cousin Daniel in 1895 and began working the day-to-day operations freeing Daniel to make improvements on the "Kelly Place" boardinghouse.
Nellie joined her cousin Daniel in 1895 and began working the day-to-day operations freeing Daniel to make improvements on the "Kelly Place" boardinghouse.
Early in the year of 1895, Daniel's sister, Ellen was pregnant, expecting their third child. She was living in their boardinghouse with her family, Patrick, two daughters Mary and Belle, her brother Daniel and cousin, Nellie. About May 25th she went into labor. It was a hard birth and during the process she delivered a son who they named Patrick Kelly after his father and grandfather, sadly he died at birth. Ellen Healy did not recover and died the same day as her son, on May 25, 1895.
Ellen's services were held at the Roman Catholic Church of Annunciation chapel in Leadville, Colorado.
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| Annunciation Catholic Church, Leadville Colorado |
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| In 1898, Daniel added a third floor to the "Healy House" to accomodate more boarders, most of them school teachers and miners. |
In 1898 we see Daniel entering the world of politics. On Sept 30, 1897 he and his brother in law - Patrick Kelly were judges at the Democratic Convention, serving as judges in the 16th Precinct [8]
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| Leadville Colorado 1902, a panoramic view of framed houses and Leadville High School at 120 West 9th Ave. with arched stone windows. |
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| The Herald Democrat, Leadville, Colorado, 1906. Daniel Healy was a well liked, successful businessman. |
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The body of Daniel Healy was found yesterday morning near the edge of Turquoise Lake, where he drowned in two feet of water beside a small boat which he had arranged for fishing. The discovery was made by Henry O'Keefe and young Carl Schroeder less than a half hour after Mr. Healy had left them to fish in another part of the lake.
The whole town was stunned when the news of Mr Healy's untimely death spread yesterday afternoon.The explanation of the fatal accident which carried away one of the best known and most respected citizens of Leadville is that Mr. Healy while arranging his fishing tackle in the boat, was stricken with the attack of a malady from which he has been suffering for years, and sinking into the shallow water was drowned. The body was found face downward at 11:05 yesterday morning and for an hour after that both Mr. O'Keefe and the Schroeder boy worked desperately to resuscitate him. But from the time that the body was taken from the water and laid on the shore Mr. Healy showed not signs of life. After getting all the water from the body and after restoring to every method they knew of to revive a drowning man. Mr. O'Keefe clutched at the last straw of hope that there might still be life and sent for Dr. R. J. McDonald, who went to the scene of the accident. It often happens that a man nearly drowned will revive after considerable time. But when the physician arrived at the lake yesterday afternoon Mr. Healy was past all human aid. It is the opinion of Mr. O'Keefe that life had gone when the body was first discovered. The remains were removed from the lake and brought to the coroner's office at 4:30 yesterday afternoon. When the news of her cousin's death was broken to Miss Nellie Healy, who has been ill at her home 912 Harrison Avenue, for the past few days, she was prostrated with grief. Henry O'Keefe who with the Schroeder boy, discovered Mr. Healy's body, gives the following account of the accident. "We went out Saturday afternoon to have an outing and fishing Turquoise lake and were staying in our cabin near the head of the lake. Yesterday morning we started out to fish. The boy, and Mr. Healy and I were fishing near the spring just below where Mrs. Priddy's and our own cabins are located. After our arrival at the spot, Mr. Healy who was a short distance from us, called, "As usual, I've forgotten something, I have no bait." I told him where mine was and he got it. "Shorthly after that he called again to us and said, "I've broken the tip of my rod." With that he sid something about getting the boat and fishing from there, and turned to go back toward the cabin. It was a little after 10:30. "He had been away from young Schroeder and I for about twenty minutes when we decided to change our location and moved off along the shore toward the cabin. We had gone but a short ways when we saw the old canvas boat in the water. As we drew nearer we saw Mr Healy face downward in a kneeling position in the water. "Both of us rushed into the shallow water and one on either sided turn the body on the bank. The first thing I did was to open the clothing around his chest. This done I put my ear against the left side of his chest and listened. But I could not detect the faintest sound of a heart beat. "Not wanting to trust my hearing alone I told the boy to listen. He did but said that he could hear nothing. "This was the work of a minute. Then we rolled him over and poured the water from his lungs. Next we tried artificial respiration." The Schroeder boy says that at this point the dark color on Mr. Healy's face became somewhat paler and that from this they took hope. But in a moment he had turned darker again. "Our efforts met with no success", say's Mr. O'Keefe. "Not once did he show any signs of life. For an hour we worked his arms in hopes of starting respiration and used every device we knew to clear the lungs and stomack of water. At twelve I told the boy to go to the dam and telephone for a doctor. He was discouraged when he left but I kept woking with the body. I was not willing to give Dan up but before Dr. McDonald arrived I had to admit that he had gone. "He had not been in the water for very long when we arrived, for the rim of his hat had not soaked throught. He evidently put the canvas boat in the water and showved the prow up on the ice, which was but a few feet fom the bank, before he went to the cabin. In the boat was found some fishing tackle and the pole which he had broken some time before. At the cabin I found my fishing kit on the bed and some of the tackle strewn over the covers. Apparently Mr. Healy had gone to the house to get some tackle. "I think that he must have had one of the attacks to which he was subject when he waded into the water at the side of the boat. He must not have got in the boat or even reached it, because an old snowshow which was in the stern was still there and it would have been knocked overboard if anyone had stepped into the boat".
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Dan Healy was 52 years old and a native of Ireland. He was born in Co. Kerry and came to America with his parents when he was a child of five years. The Healys settled in Hancock, Michigan and during his youth Mr. Healy worked in the stamp mills where were located there.
Although a breadwinner at an early age and having little opportunity to get a schooling, Mr. Healy was ambitious and determined to have a college education. During the years he worked in the stamp mills he finally succeeded in saving enough money to help him through a college course. He entered Valp University in Indiana and after four years of study graduated from that school. After receiving his college degree Mr. Healy went to Marquette, Michigan, where he taught school for three years. In 1885 he gave up teaching and came to Leadville. For a year and a half after arriving here he was employed as a clerk in the office of Justice ?. Later he worked for some time as a mail carrier in the post office. When J. R. Kerwin was appointed post master of Glenwood Springs, Mr. Healy went there and accepted the position of assistant postmaster. He lived in Glenwood for a number of years and later came back to Leadville. At that time Colonel Goodell had been . --- offered Mr. Healy a position as money order clerk. Shortly after this he was promoted to the position of assistant postmaster. In this position Mr. Healy demonstrated his ability so that when W. W. Old took charge of the post office after Colonel Goodell's retirement, he retained Mr. Healy as his assistant. Old was engaged in the real estate and insurance business at the time that he became poastmaster and shortly after he failed. Mr. Healy bought the business and has built it up during the years that he owned it. During those years he won an enviable reputation for honesty and integrity in his business dealings. State Mine Inspector John R. Curley, who was a close personal friend of Mr. Healy, says of his character in this respect: "The quality of honesty was more emphasized in him than in any man whom I think I have ever met. He was absolutely reliable and never heard of anyone's doubting his integrity. Anything that savored of underhandedness was foreign to his nature. He could not conceive of stooping to a dishonest act." He was agent here for a number of large insurance companies and for some of the best known blocks in the city among which are the Emmett, the Chicago, the Quincy and the Boston, and the owners had the same faith in Mr. Healy's integrity that was expressed by Mr. Curley. Mr. Healy for years was active in political life as a member of the Democratic party. He was a member of the Democratic State Central Committee. At the time that Ed. McCarty ran for sheriff he was chairman of the Democratic County Central Committee and conducted the campaign. There is one incident in connection with his political life that has often been mis-understood by his political opponents and which had been the cause of some feeling between them. Now that Mr. Healy is dead it is only right and just that the matter be explained. When Henry M. Teller was running for senator the Democrats had control of the state senate and the Republicans of the lower house in Denver. Jesse F. McDonald had defeated Mr. Healy for the office of senator from Lake County. Following this election, after which Mr. McDonald took his seat in the senate, there was displayed among the various factions in the legislature at Denver some had political blood. This blood came to the surface when several Democrats lost their seats in the house on the ground of an illegal election. The Democrats who held the whip hand in th senate wanted to retaliate by oporating in the territory where they were stronger. They came to Mr. Healy who had been defeated in the election and proposed to him that he begin a contest with Mr. McDonald for the seat in the senate. In Justice to Mr. Healy it may be said that fora . long time he declined to entertain the proposal. He said that he had no desire to enter such a contest and at first gave a flat refusal. But the prominent Democrats of the state brought more pressure to bear on him and urged him to begin the contest. Their argument to Mr. Healy was that it was a duty to his party, a moral obligation on his part to enter the contest. After much deliberation Mr. Healy most reluctantly and against his own personal wishes consented to contest the Lake county senatorship and the result was that Mr. McDonald lost his seat. Mr Healy was later ousted when the Republicans gained control. Mr Healy a few years ago made an extensive trip through Europe. In 1908 his brother, Patrick, and his sister-in-law asked him to accompany them as a guest on the tour through Europe. They traveled through the British Isles, France, Italy and Germany. His brother, Patrick a wealthy sheep and cattle man of Wyoming still survives him. Some years ago when his brother had gone through an exceptionally hard and long winter and was sorely in need of money to "get on his feet" again, Mr. Healy gave him considerable financial assistance. He left the money in the hands of his brother to be invested in the sheep and cattle business and the investment has proven profitable. In insurance investments and property Mr. Healy leaves behind him a comfortable fortune of from $20,000 to $25,000. He held a policy in New York Life Insurance Company and other companies. Mr Healy belonged to the Knights of Pythias and the Knights of Robert Emmet. He is survived by two brothers, Patrick of Ogden and Maytor J. an --- residing in Utah, by two sisters Mrs Young, of Marquette, Michigan and Mrs. Hoppenyan, of Ashland, Wisconsin and by a cousin, Miss Nellie Healy, of Leadville. With a short and dignified service, which was characterized by simplicy, the remains of the late Daniel Healy were laid to rest yesterday afternoon in St. Joseph's cemetery. The love of simplicity and the desire to avoid ostentation, which were traits of Mr. Healy's character, were expressed in the services which were held as the last tribute to him. Friends of Mr. Healy - men and women from all stations in life - went to the house to view the remains of the good citizen whom Leadville lost last week. The burial and funeral services were conducted under the direction of the Knights of Robert Emmett, of which Mr. Healy was a member. They consisted in the reading of the burial ritual both at the house and at the grave by the past officer, J.J. Quinn. With the reading of the ritual concluded the remains were borne from Mr. Healy's house 912 Harrison Avenue, by eight members of the order and friends of the deceased. They were: Edward McCarty, Michael Brennan, John R. Curley, O.E. Rogers, J.J. Quinn, George Ward, Hugh Lanney and Dennis Lynch. In pronouncing the last words of the ritual of the Knights of Robert Emmett over the body of Mr. Healy, Mr. Quinn said: "We can accompany the body of our brother no further. The Supreme Ruler of the Universe had ordained that each must enter the portal of the mysterium beyond alone, and we must now bid a farewell forever to all of our brother that was mortal." "It is well. Our Father's will is law. All that he requires in nature is good. We hope and believe that this mortal has put on Immortality, and is but transferred to a higher, nobler and broader existence beyond the dark portal to which we have followed him. As our guide conducted the brother safely trought the mysterium of his initiation, we believe the All Father has sent his messenger of love and ternderness to conduct him safely through the mysteries of the great beyond. "Yes, brother, we shall miss you, although we know that you have gained a higher sphere: that you are freed from the mortal body which clogs our effort and weighs us down to sordid things of earth. We shall miss you and mourn that you shall hold a place among us no more, but your memory will ever be cherished by your loved ones and the ..... for your generous deeds in behalf of others and your unwavering sould and fidelity to the principles for which their society was organized. "Let us all bow our heads for a moment in silent thought of the brother who has gone, and in sympathy for those who loved and now mourn him. "Mysterious Almighty Power! We invoke thy continued love, compassion and care of comfort, guide and protect those left in grief; and as we separate for our several homes, let us reflect that in an hour we know not of, we too must to the way of all the earth, and may this reflection assist us to square our actions while still among the living more nearly by the Great Rule. Whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, do ye even so to them - Amen." The services were held in a room on the upper floor of Mr. Healy's pleasant home on the hill. The members of the family immediately preceeding the simple ceremony had taken their farewell to the brother and cousen, who peacefully, slept in the handsome flower covered casket. The family present included the two brothers, Patrick and Maytor, the sisters, Mrs. Young and Mrs. Hoppenyan and Miss Nellie Healy, his cousin. The attendance at the funeral and varied class of men and women who came to view the remains was an index of the wide esteem in which Mr. Healy was held by the people of Leadville. Men and women from every walk of life came to the house before the ceremony and men of all occupations stood with bowed heads in mute tribute as the body was borne out. Many of the most prominent citizens made up the cortage that accompanied the remains to the grave. They were men whose judgement of men is sound and valuable. A large number of these citizens represented the professional class of Leadville - lawyers, physicians, jurists, and mining engineers. Many were among the most prominent and successful merchants and mining mend of the city and many were tradesmen and miners. Mr Healy was a man of large acquaintance and the character of the attendance at his funeral show that he had won the respect or the friendship of those with whom he came in contact of life. - The Carbonate Chronice, May 27, 1912 - Leadville Colorado
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Sources
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[4] The Rise and Decline of Leadville Colorado as the United States Silver Capital, 1860 - 1806, by Bonnie K Goodman
[6] The Leadville Democrat Newspaper
[8] The Herald Democrat Newspaper of Leadville, Sept 30, 1897
Daniel Healy and Patrick Kelly, judges of the 16th Precinct at the Democratic Convention
[9] Leadville, Colorado City Directory 1889,
Patrick Kelly is working as a miner, living at 912 Harrison Ave.
Daniel Healy is Assistant Postmaster
[10] Lake County Public Library,
[11] Timeline of Leadville City History from 1860 , created by Lake County Public Library
[12] Lake County Cemetery Records
Includes Evergreen Cemetery, St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, and others.
[13] Obituary of Daniel Healy, Carbonate Chronicle, May 27, 1912,
page 3
Daniel Healy and Patrick Kelly, judges of the 16th Precinct at the Democratic Convention
[9] Leadville, Colorado City Directory 1889,
Patrick Kelly is working as a miner, living at 912 Harrison Ave.
Daniel Healy is Assistant Postmaster
[10] Lake County Public Library,
[11] Timeline of Leadville City History from 1860 , created by Lake County Public Library
[12] Lake County Cemetery Records
Includes Evergreen Cemetery, St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, and others.
[13] Obituary of Daniel Healy, Carbonate Chronicle, May 27, 1912,
page 3
