Thomas Finegan (May 8, 1852 – August 9, 1921) was an American manufacturer and politician from New York.
Life
Finegan was born on May 8, 1852, in Haverstraw, New York. His parents were machinist James Finegan and Catherine McManus, Irish immigrants from County Monaghan. He attended school in this village until he started working at 15. Finegan worked in various capacities under brick manufacturers Wood & Keenan. He then worked in boating and railroading in different parts of the country. This was followed by working as a bricklayer on several big public projects across the country, including the Brooklyn Bridge, the New York State Capitol, and the Chicago Sewage Project.
In 1881, Finegan returned to Haverstraw and opened a retail cigar store. A year later, he purchased a mineral water business. In 1895, he began brewing ale and porter, and in 1900 he started brewing lager beer as well. In 1891, he leased a brickyard and started manufacturing bricks. He was also involved with real estate in Haverstraw and neighboring town of Stony Point. He served as town assessor for Haverstraw.
In 1891, Finegan was elected to the New York State Assembly as a Democrat, representing Rockland County. He served in the Assembly in 1892, 1893, and 1903. He served on the Commerce and Navigation Committee as well as the Electricity, Gas, and Water Supply Committee.
Finegan's wife was Julia Kohler. Their children were Mrs. Thomas Gagan, Julia, Regis, James E., and Thomas Jr. He was a member of the Foresters of America.
Finegan died on August 9, 1921. He was buried in St. Peter's Cemetery.
References
- ^ Lloyd, Will L. (1892). The New York Red Book. Albany: James B. Lyon. p. 124.
- ^ McCabe, Michael, ed. (13 August 1921). "Death Came Suddenly". The Rockland County Times. Haverstraw, N. Y.: Michael McCabe. pp. 1, 4.
- ^ Tompkins, Arthur Sidney (1902). "Part II, Biographical". Historical Record to the Close of the Nineteenth Century of Rockland County, New York. Nyack, N. Y.: Van Deusen & Joyce. p. 64.
- Murlin, Edgar L. (1893). The New York Red Book. Albany: James B. Lyon. pp. 127–128.
- Murlin, Edgar L. (1903). The New York Red Book. Albany: J. B. Lyon Company. p. 135.
- Phelps, Henry Pitt (1893). New York State Legislative Souvenir. Chicago: Phelps & Kellogg. p. 34.
External links
| New York State Assembly | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded byFrank P. Demarest | New York State Assembly Rockland County 1892-1893 |
Succeeded byOtis H. Cutler |
| Preceded byGeorge Dickey | New York State Assembly Rockland County 1903 |
Succeeded byMatthew Hurd |
- 1852 births
- 1921 deaths
- People from Haverstraw, New York
- American people of Irish descent
- Democratic Party members of the New York State Assembly
- American real estate brokers
- American brewers
- Businesspeople from New York (state)
- American manufacturing businesspeople
- American industrialists
- 20th-century members of the New York State Legislature
- 19th-century members of the New York State Legislature