John Cohalan
John Cohalan owned a small holding in Courtmacsherry before he left for the United States at the height of the famine in 1848. His wife, Catherine McCarthy, had already died and John Cohalan was accompanied to America by his three young daughters and his son, Timothy, who was twelve years old.
It is worth noting that Catherine McCarthy’s family already had a notable connection with the United States. She was the daughter of Captain Eugene McCarthy who had served as an aide-de-camp to the Marquis de la Lafayette during the American Revolution. Eugene McCarthy had returned to Ireland after the Revolution.
The Cohalan family first settled in Pierrepoint in upstate New York but by 1849 they had moved to Middletown, Orange County, a town in the Hudson Valley. John Cohalan, according to the 1861 Census did not remarry and had begun trading as a grocer.
Timothy Eugene Cohalan
Timothy, son of John Cohalan, became involved in the building trade and also established a very successful glass business. Timothy Eugene Cohalan died 8 December 1909. The following obituary published in the Southern Star gives a comprehensive outline of his life and career.
Southern Star 1 January 1910
Famous Courtmacsherry Man
His death in America
The late Timothy Eugene Cohalan
Sketch of his Career
We take the following notice of the career and death of Timothy Eugene Cohalan, formerly of Courtmacsherry, from the ‘Sunday Union’, the organ of the Catholic Societies of Greater N.Y.
“Timothy Eugene Cohalan, father of Daniel F. Cohalan and Surrogate John F. Cohalan, died Wednesday at his house, No. 1090, St. Nicholas Avenue. Mr. Cohalan would have been seventy-five years old on January 1 next.
A man of great willpower, Mr. Cohalan, when his physician announced last Friday night that he would not live out the night, disputed the latter’s judgement saying he would not die until the feast of the Immaculate Conception, which was Wednesday. He died at 5 o’clock Wednesday morning, surrounded by his family.
Mr. Cohalan was born in Courtmacsherry, Co. Cork, Ireland. He came to this country in 1848. After several years in New York he married Miss Ellen O’Leary, niece of Rt. Rev. Msgr. O’Leary, Clonakilty. When their children were still young, the family moved to Orange County, New York.
Although never active in politics like his sons, Mr. Cohalan, not once since he came of age, failed to cast his vote, except in the recent election, when illness prevented him from doing so. He leaves a wife, five sons, all of whom are lawyers and two daughters. He was buried Friday in Middletown, New York, his former home.
Timothy Cohalan (1835-1909) and Ellen O’Leary (184-1923) had the following offspring:-
John Patrick Cohalan (1862-1873)
Cornelius Cohalan (1864-1865)
Michael Joseph Cohalan (1867-1926)
Daniel Florence Cohalan (1867-1946)
Catherine Cohalan (1869-1873)
Mary Cohalan (1871-1943)
John P. Cohalan (1873-1950)
Timothy Eugene Cohalan (1877-1951)
Aileen O’Leary Cohalan (1877-1968)
Florence Cohalan (1880-1883)
Anne Cohalan (1882-1883)
Denis Cohalan ( )
OUR OLD PIONEERS ARE GOING ONE BY ONE
One of the great figures of Catholic history in the State of New York has passed away in Timothy Cohalan. He and a few strong characters like him, working under the leadership of Archbishop McCloskey, opened the way and blazed the path for the thousands of Irishmen flying from misgovernment across the ocean to worship God here, free from prosecution or tyranny.
Sixty years ago, when he came here as a boy of thirteen, Know Nothingism was taking life and flaming into a blaze, that during the early 50s swept over the land, sweeping down convents and ? in its deadly course. Men like Cohalan had to gather together to defend their churches, their clergy, their families, their lives from savagery of sectarian and race bigotry.
They were stalwart men in those days, as conditions of life required them to be. And, in the days when, here in the city, Archbishop Hughes was filling St. Patrick’s Cathedral with armed men to resist an incendiary mob, Timothy Cohalan, out in Orange County, was organising the country districts to support the head of the diocese and secure a chance for Irishmen to live here and for Catholics to worship here.
He was an Irishman of advanced Nationalist principles. A son of United Ireland and an organiser by nature, he used a huge fortune, gained by business, capacity and energy of a high order, to organise his countrymen for the redemption of their native land, as his sons are doing today.
He was a man who believed in the intellectual as well as the political progress of his people. After the war had ended and after the Fenian movement had been frustrated, Cohalan financed a number of publications to keep up the national spirit. The ‘Irish People’, a weekly, was kept up for many years by his funds. ‘The Emerald’, a periodical of high class Irish art and literature was published at his expense – employing poets, historians and artists at goodly salaries tro teach American Irishmen how Ireland was and ought to be ‘a nation once again’.
Bonds had been issued, ‘payable after the recognition of the Irish Republic’ and Cohalan took them at face value – keeping them as a legacy for his descendants. Thousands and thousands of dollars he paid for them ‘gladly, proudly’ – not grudging anything for the cause.
His later years in business life were devoted to carrying on a flass factory in Middletown, then in the real estate business. He could have been a millionaire had he held his fortune for himself but he gave it to his country. He died, however, in good circumstances, and left his admirable family well placed in life. He was, in most respects, a model for our people. He was patriotic, religious, good living, warm hearted, great-souled, magnetic – a Celt of the Celts – a Catholic of the Catholics. He was a link of continuation of the great chains from Governor Dongan and De Witt Clinton, John Hughes, John McCloskey, Eugene Kelly and on to our present generation of gifted and able Irishmen – among whom his own son, Daniel Cohalan, already holds a place in the front rank in our onward march among the American people molding the Celts as an influential factor in the development and sustainment of the great interests of the American Republic.
One by one they leave us, these great pioneers of our race, having done nobly their work. Timothy Cohalan was the last and one of the greatest called away in our days. His name and memory will long be held in respect and grateful memory. May we have many of his kind to perpetuate the principles he helped to introduce into this great Empire State of the New World.
SKETCH OF HIS CAREER
Timothy Cohalan who died on the feast of the Immaculate Conception was a fervent son of the faith, who asked as a special favour of God that he might be admitted to His Presence on the day dedicated to the honour of His Blessed Mother. He knew his days were numbered; he had a continuous experience of sickness and suffering for more than a year, and when they told him that he might die on Sunday, the doctors so told him – he said that he would be spared until Wednesday, the day of the Blessed Mother. And he was. He had done much to build up the Holy Religion of Christ in this state of New York and his sturdy Christian service of the earlier days seemed to have been kept in mind for him in his last hours by the Divine Head of the Church of his fathers.
He, in a sense was a son of Revolution – a patriot from the very cradle. He was a young boy in Ireland when his father and uncles and kinsmen were rallying to the magic cries of Meagher, John Mitchel, Smith-O’Brien. Down in Cork, it was said that the twelve year old Timothy insisted in starting up with a crowd of fellow school lads to join Smith O’Brien in Tipperary. O’Brien’s rising failed and famine and persecution fell upon the land and young Cohalan, with his three sisters left his native land in the fatal year of forty-eight. He had heard of O’Mahony in the Comeragh Mountains and Dohehy flying from the persecution and he, with his kindred, had had something to do to save that brave patriot from the blood-hounds that were after him – as recorded in the thrilling book ‘The Felon’s Track’.
Some years passed and O’Mahony became head of the Fenian Brotherhood in America and Michael Doheny became an American Colonel in the Union Army. And the old time young worshipper of their masculine sentiments came in from Middletown to tell the Fenian leaders that he was the young Timothy Cohalan of Dunmanway (sic) County Cork, who drank in the Fenian principles from their utterances when he was a boy and who was now grown to manhood, ready with such worldly means as he had gained to back up their movement to put an end to English misrule over Ireland.
It was a welcome and substantial alliancde for the Fenian chiefs. For Cohalan, by this time, as a successful businessman and with a lavish hand, poured it into the then lean treasury of the Fenian Botherhood.
The writer remembers the big, six-foot figure, as he came into O’Mahony’s office, 22, Duane Street, week by week, with his flahoolagh checks – five hundred dollars and 1,000 dollars at a time. ‘Ah Cohalan’ O’Mahony used to say ‘ You have the heart of a patriot and you seem to have the treasury of a king? If there were ten men in America like you, Ireland would be free before five years’. ‘No matter, Colonel’ he used to say ‘Ireland owns all I have and all I am. My last dollar or my last drop of blood is here as she may need them’. It is one of our early memories of New York life, this first meeting with Timothy Cohalan by the present writer, then a youth fresh from the West and employed for some time in the office of Colonel O’mahony, then the Chief of the American Fenians, as James Stephens was of the IRB or Irish Fenians. Sometimes, O’Mahony would dictate glowing words of gratefullness and eulogy to be transmitted to Timothy Cohalan at Middletown. It was thus that we learned first of the greatness of his patriotism and the largeness of his big Irish heart. He favoured us with a friendship in those days which, during all of the forty years thereafter, up to the time of his death, was one of the best, as it was about the first that we made in the city of New York. We mourn his death as the severing of a lline sacred to our early memories and pray God to be good to his soul.
Let us trace Timothy Cohalan’s early course in New York State briefly
In 1848, at the age of thirteen, he, with three sisters, arrived in Middletown, Orange County, from their native place in County Cork, Ireland. There were just six persons of his race then living in Middletown – four of them were Catholics. It was necessary to go to Port Jervis or some other place twenty or thirty miles distant, to get Mass. It was at the time of which Timothy Cohalan’s fellow pioneer, Rev. James Hourigan, of Binghampton used to say that Archbishop Hughes was able to furnish one priest for the whole territory ‘from New York to Dunkirk’. After some years, Cohalan started a business and acquired enough means to erect a home for himself which for some time served as a church for the people whom he gathered with his wagon from far and near and which afforded a place of rest for the priest whom they could get to visit him.
After years, the people grew more numerous and required a larger place for Worship. Mr. Cohalan hired the Town Hall and the priest, when he came, said Mass there.
Daniel Florence Cohalan (1867-1946)
Daniel Florence Cohalan was the fourth child and fourth son of Timothy Cohalan and Ellen O’Leary.
New York Times 18 May 1911
COHALAN’S CAREER
As Handy in Tammany Politics as He was in College Baseball
‘Daniel F. Cohalan was born in Middletown, Orange County, N.Y. forty-three years ago. He was mentioned for the Supreme Court bench to which he has just been appointed in 1907 but declared that he did not desire judicial honours because he preferred his law practice and the excitement of active participation in politics. The statement was made only a few days ago in his behalf that he was not an active aspirant for the vacancy made by the elevation of Supreme Court Justice James A. O’Gorman to the United States Senate.
Justice Cohalan is one of five brothers, all of whom graduated from Manhattan College, three of them with honors. All five of them- Daniel, the eldest; John P., the present Surrogate and former State Senator; Timothy, Michael and Dennis – played on the Manhattan College Baseball Team. Justice Cohalan himself played in a nine which defeated Yale and contested a game with the New York Giants.
The father of the new Justice came to this country about sixty years ago with his parents and settled in Orange County. They were the first Irish Catholics in Middletown and the first mass celebrated in the county was held in the home of the new Justice’s grandfather.
Justice Cohalan was admitted to the Bar in his twenty-first year and practised law in Orange County until the family removed to the Bronx about 1900 after his father had suffered reverses in the glass business in which he had been so successful that he was able to send his sons to college. During his residence in the Bronx, the future Justice associated himself with Matthew F. Breen, now a City Magistrate, in a fight against Louis F. Haffen. Mr. Breen was then one of the chief lieutenants of Louis F. Heintz, who defeated Haffen for the office of Superintendent of Public Improvements, an office corresponding roughly to that of Borough President under the present charter.
Shortly after his marriage to Hanna O’Leary, a distant cousin, about ten years ago, Mr. Cohalan left the Bronx to move into what is now the Thirty-second Assembly District and was invited to participate in politics by State Senator Charles F. Murphy,leader of the Tammany Organisation. Leaders of the organisation frankly admitted that Mr. Cohalan’s place in Tammany will be hard to fill if he actually severs all his ties with Mr. Murphy. There are none of the Assembly district leaders who are close to Mr. Murphy who size up to Mr. Cohalan in any way, and it would be a long guess to speculate upon whom Mr. Murphy will turn for advice on the outside.’
Daniel F. Cohalan and his wife Hannah O’Leary had seven children
Aileen Cohalan (1900-2000
Conn Cohalan (1902-1950)
Kathleen Cohalan (1903-1979)
Patrick J. Cohalan (1907-1978)
Daniel Florence Cohalan (1908-2001)
Dermot O’Leary Cohalan (1908-1915)
Gerald Cohalan (1911) died at birth with his mother Hannah.
Daniel Cohalan continued to visit Glandore and holiday there with his children after Hannah, his wife, died.
The Southern Star published this article by ‘XYZ’ entitled ‘Judge Daniel F. Cohalan – An Impression’ on 3 August 1912.
“A tall, thin, wiry, supple, tough, thewed, man – thoughtful, reserved, clean-shaven, pleasant faced – with lips that readily lend themselves to a genial smile and eyes that can flow into a sunny laugh. A homely man who revels in the companionship of his children – bright, intelligent, mischevious youngsters – the fond pledges of a love ‘that was more than love’ – a love that not even the icy hand of Death could chill’.
A humble man who despises the affected accent and the loud dress, who never assumes an air of superiority, and is entirely free from any patronising or posturing. A hospitable man, for though the shadow of an unforgotten sorrow has clouded is life – though he ever yearns for the vanished hand and longs to hear the voice that is still, yet he likes to see others relishing the joys of life and making a harvest of the day, and he finds infinite pleasure in presiding over a company of guests assembled at his lavish table.
An intelligent man, a gentleman, a scholar, who by his energy, ability and probity has raised himself to a position of pre-eminence and prestige in one of the greatest and most progressive cities of the world. An American? Yes, thoroughly, but also an Irishman – ‘kindly Irish of the Irish’ – who intensely loves the old motherland, her people, her language, her history, sad and tragic as it is; her antiquities, her green fields and her rugged hills, her murmuring seas and her changeful skies. And, though you may not agree with some of his opinions, you must admit he is genuine and sincere; and you will see at once that he is keenly, in fact, fanatically interested in the glory and welfare of poor Mother Éire. The Judge has none of the boisterous wit that sets the table in a roar. He does not shake and laugh in Rableais’ easy chair. But he is full of the quiet, subtle, delicate humour that tickles the intellect.
A strict teetotaller, he would give a good account of himself in the statium; he is an admirable tennis player, and – let me whisper it – he has no unreasoning hostility to a little rubber of cards. And, mind you, like Mrs. Battle, he insists on the rigour of the game. The late W. T. Stead, who perished on the Titanic, once wrote of an illustrious and much loved prelate, now gone to his reward, that he was ‘the best forty-five player in Ireland’. I venture to think that the eminent ecclesiastic would have found the learned Judge a very tough antagonist. The Judge has preserved the religious and spiritual temperament peculiar to the Celt. The race for power, the glamour of the Almighty Dollar, the hustle and bustle of American life, the growing scepticism of the age have not blunted the simple faith which is the greatest glory of Ireland. How would you sum him up? A man, a keen man, a man of strong will and strong character – a ‘still strong man’ whose ‘soft, low voice’ is indicative of tremendous reserve power – a man with a head to plan, a heart to love and a hand to do – a man gifted with the best and brightest qualities”.
In 1913, Daniel Cohalan was appointed a Judge of the Supreme Court of New York.
To help look after her nieces and nephews, Margaret (Madge) O’Leary went to New York with her brother-in-law, the widower, Daniel Cohalan and his children, after they had spent their annual holidays in Glandore.
Skibbereen Eagle Saturday, March 06, 1915.
‘The Hon. Daniel F. Cohalan, Supreme Court Judge of New York, who is well known in Ireland, particularly in Munster, has been married to Miss Margaret O’Leary, a sister of the Justice’s first wife. Judge Cohalan is a son of Mr. Timothy E. Cohalan and with his family, he has visited the old home in County Cork annually for many years. He has purchased a fine old mansion at Glandore; where he spends his summer holidays. Miss O’Leary, who is 27 years of age was born in Curriheverin, Timoleague. Her bridesmaid was a daughter of the Judge, and the wedding ceremony was performed by her brother, Rev. Patrick O’Leary.’
Daniel F. Cohalan and his second wife, Margaret O’Leary had one child - Joan Cohalan (1917-1924)
In March 1916, a new umbrella organisation called Friend of Irish Freedom (FOIF) was formed with John Devoy and Daniel Cohalan at its head. This was a support organisation for the Revolution. Though their membership of Clann na nGael, both Devoy and Cohalan knew of the impending Rising. As far back as 1914, these two men had a meeting in Cohalan’s house with Sir Roger Casement at which it was arranged to finance Casement’s trip to Berlin to the tune of $3,000.
After the Rising, tensions arose in the FOIF with regard to the emphasis on its future direction. While some prioritised the cause of Irish Freedom, others felt more emphasis should be placed on improving the status of the Irish in the U.S. and reducing the influence of the United Kingdom in America. Nevertheless large sums of money were raised by the FOIF for the ‘relief of suffering in Ireland’ and they facilitated speaking tours of the U.S. by Liam Mellows, Hanna Sheehy-Skeffington and others. When Harry Boland and Patrick McCartan came to the U.S. as representatives of Sinn Féin they became concerned that the FOIF were emphasising self-determination for Ireland. They saw this as a lesser demand than that of an Irish Republic.
By the time Eamonn De Valera arrived in the U.S. in 1919 there was a great deal of tension between the FOIF and Sinn Féin factions.
The FOIF spent a good deal of time and energy campaigning against American involvement in the League of Nations while De Valera and Sinn Féin were enthusiastic supporters. Cohalan and Devoy saw this and any co-operation between the U.S. and Great Britain as an affront to their ambitions for Ireland.
The bitter split between De Valera and Cohalan came to a head and the rift became irreconcilable when De Valera, in a conscious attempt to realign the Sinn Féin away from Germany, declared that an independent Ireland would not provide bases for Britain’s enemies.
The FOIF executive continued to be loyal to Cohalan and while it was, after an initial reluctance, helpful in promoting the Irish Bond issue being promoted by Sinn Féin, it was otherwise a spent force and the Sinn Féin viewpoint became the percieved voice of Ireland in America.
On his return from Americe, De Valera remarked ‘Big as the country is, it was not big enough to hold the Judge and myself’.
Daniel F. Cohalan was a product of his background. He had been reared on stories of Famine and emigration and like many of those with whom he associated, old wrongs were not forgotten.
In 1924 he resigned from the N. Y. Supreme Court and returned to private practice; citing the inadequacy of the salary to support his large family as the reason.
The Southern Star Saturday March 15, 1924.
‘An extraordinary and wholly unprecedented tribute was paid by the leaders of the New York Bar to Former Justice of the Supreme Court, Daniel F. Cohalan, on February 5, by a dinner at the Metropolitan Club’ says “The Gaelic American”. Martin Conboy presided, and among those present were many of the most distinguished lawyers in the city, most of whom differ wholly from the guest of the evening on public questions, but who freely expressed their belief in his absolute honesty of purpose, his independence of character, his fearlessness in expressing his views, his downright Americanism and his great ability as a lawyer. No such tribute has ever been paid to had a man who had resigned from the Bench and who therefore is no longer in a position to confer favours on them.
The dinner was private.............the speakers included Henry W. Taft (brother of the former President) who is President of the Bar Association, former U.S. Senator James A. O’Gorman, President of the New York County Lawyers’ Association, former Judge of the Court of Appeals Samuel Seabury; ex-Justice of the Supreme Court Morgan J. O’Brien; former Governor Nathan L. Miller; James W. G. Gerard (Ambassador to Germany under President Wilson); Alton B. Parker (Democratic Candidate for President in 1904); Edmund L. Mooney (President of the Alumni of N.Y. Law Schools); etc.’
On the question of Ireland, Daniel Cohalan represented the old ways. The following extract demonstrates how the ‘new’ Ireland was emerging after Independence.
Cork Examiner Thursday April 2, 1925.
“The Friends of St. Patrick”, a society which includes some of the most prominent citizens of New York State, gathered together at the Alnmac Hotel, on Saturday evening, March 14th, to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. “The Friends of St. Patrick” hold an annual dinner late in the autumn. The idea of holding his autumn dinner was first convceived a few years ago by those sons and daughters of Erin who made the trip to the ‘ould’ country. On their return they met together to talk over their reminiscences . St. Patrick’s Day, of course, would be the proper one on which to have a social gathering, but there are so many Irish reunions on that date that by choosing another day the Friends of St. Patrick would be able to attend both functions,. About 150 sat down to dinner. The room was artistically decorated with green foliage and Irish emblems. The Irish and American flags blended harmoniously with the decoratios. Some of the most prominent Irish-Americans representing the various professions, literature and art, also successful business men of New York city were present. The veteran Irish patriot, Mr. John Devoy, was there. The ladies, who were well represented, added greatly to the brilliance and success of the evening. The Hon. John Kenlon, Chief of the New York fire brigade was chairman. On his right were Mr. Lindsay Crawford, Irish Free Trade Consul of New York and Mr. Dermot Lynch, who was a well-known figure in the Irish cause; on his left sat the Hon. Daniel F. Cohalan and Mr. George Harris of the White Star Line, Cove, with Mrs. Harris, who were guests of the evening.
The chairman, in a very able speech gave a short synopsis of Irish history from the introduction of Christianity by St. Patrick up to the present day.
The Hon. Daniel Cohalan, a well-known brilliant orator, followed. He spoke of the past and present history of Ireland and predicted a great future for the country, provided the Irish people would unite and work together for its common welfare.
Mr. George Harris informed all those present of the quiet and peaceful conditions prevailing in Ireland. Many people were under the impression, he said, there was a famine in Ireland. Mr. Harris assured them that while there was some distress in the West, owing to the fact that constant wet weather prevented people saving their potatoes and turf, there was no famine. The Free State Goverment were providing coal and seed potatoes and were also a considerable sum of money in improving the roads, thereby giving a great deal of employment.
Mr. Harris extended a cordial welcome to Ireland to all those present on behalf of the Irish Tourist Association. He assured them that all main roads have been put in good order and motoring can now be enjoyed over the whole country. He said the railway service in Ireland has been greatly improved since the amalgamation of the railway companies and that the hotels have been improved under the guidance of the Irish Tourist Association. He added they could all help Ireland by taking a trip to the old country and recommending all their friends to go there for their holidays instead of journeying to other countries.”
The Wall Street Crash and the Depression had a serious effect on Cohalan’s finances and had an impact on his outlook on life. He was discouraged by the close ties between the U.S. and British governments and he opposed the decision of America to enter the Second World War. The Allied victory killed any remnants of the isolationism he had espoused all his public life.
Daniel Cohalan died on 12 November 1946 and the controversy over his relationship with De Valera was re-ignited in the published obituaries.
His obituary in the The Gaelic American was a fulsome tribute.
“Judge Cohalan was regarded by friend and foe as the outstanding leader of the Irish Race and rightly so; for no man ever served his people to greater advantage than did Justice Cohalan and no man was ever more unjustly accused or maliciously maligned.”
But, the Irish Press, founded by Eamonn De Valera, his old proantagonist, qualified its praise in assessing Cohalan’s career.
“There can be no doubt that Judge Cohalan was a sincere friend of Ireland’s cause. Obstinate in his views and difficult to work with, he was, nevertheless generous to a degree, and the help which he gave the independence movement in American in the early years was the greatest value.”
John Cohalan owned a small holding in Courtmacsherry before he left for the United States at the height of the famine in 1848. His wife, Catherine McCarthy, had already died and John Cohalan was accompanied to America by his three young daughters and his son, Timothy, who was twelve years old.
It is worth noting that Catherine McCarthy’s family already had a notable connection with the United States. She was the daughter of Captain Eugene McCarthy who had served as an aide-de-camp to the Marquis de la Lafayette during the American Revolution. Eugene McCarthy had returned to Ireland after the Revolution.
The Cohalan family first settled in Pierrepoint in upstate New York but by 1849 they had moved to Middletown, Orange County, a town in the Hudson Valley. John Cohalan, according to the 1861 Census did not remarry and had begun trading as a grocer.
Timothy Eugene Cohalan
Timothy, son of John Cohalan, became involved in the building trade and also established a very successful glass business. Timothy Eugene Cohalan died 8 December 1909. The following obituary published in the Southern Star gives a comprehensive outline of his life and career.
Southern Star 1 January 1910
Famous Courtmacsherry Man
His death in America
The late Timothy Eugene Cohalan
Sketch of his Career
We take the following notice of the career and death of Timothy Eugene Cohalan, formerly of Courtmacsherry, from the ‘Sunday Union’, the organ of the Catholic Societies of Greater N.Y.
“Timothy Eugene Cohalan, father of Daniel F. Cohalan and Surrogate John F. Cohalan, died Wednesday at his house, No. 1090, St. Nicholas Avenue. Mr. Cohalan would have been seventy-five years old on January 1 next.
A man of great willpower, Mr. Cohalan, when his physician announced last Friday night that he would not live out the night, disputed the latter’s judgement saying he would not die until the feast of the Immaculate Conception, which was Wednesday. He died at 5 o’clock Wednesday morning, surrounded by his family.
Mr. Cohalan was born in Courtmacsherry, Co. Cork, Ireland. He came to this country in 1848. After several years in New York he married Miss Ellen O’Leary, niece of Rt. Rev. Msgr. O’Leary, Clonakilty. When their children were still young, the family moved to Orange County, New York.
Although never active in politics like his sons, Mr. Cohalan, not once since he came of age, failed to cast his vote, except in the recent election, when illness prevented him from doing so. He leaves a wife, five sons, all of whom are lawyers and two daughters. He was buried Friday in Middletown, New York, his former home.
Timothy Cohalan (1835-1909) and Ellen O’Leary (184-1923) had the following offspring:-
John Patrick Cohalan (1862-1873)
Cornelius Cohalan (1864-1865)
Michael Joseph Cohalan (1867-1926)
Daniel Florence Cohalan (1867-1946)
Catherine Cohalan (1869-1873)
Mary Cohalan (1871-1943)
John P. Cohalan (1873-1950)
Timothy Eugene Cohalan (1877-1951)
Aileen O’Leary Cohalan (1877-1968)
Florence Cohalan (1880-1883)
Anne Cohalan (1882-1883)
Denis Cohalan ( )
OUR OLD PIONEERS ARE GOING ONE BY ONE
One of the great figures of Catholic history in the State of New York has passed away in Timothy Cohalan. He and a few strong characters like him, working under the leadership of Archbishop McCloskey, opened the way and blazed the path for the thousands of Irishmen flying from misgovernment across the ocean to worship God here, free from prosecution or tyranny.
Sixty years ago, when he came here as a boy of thirteen, Know Nothingism was taking life and flaming into a blaze, that during the early 50s swept over the land, sweeping down convents and ? in its deadly course. Men like Cohalan had to gather together to defend their churches, their clergy, their families, their lives from savagery of sectarian and race bigotry.
They were stalwart men in those days, as conditions of life required them to be. And, in the days when, here in the city, Archbishop Hughes was filling St. Patrick’s Cathedral with armed men to resist an incendiary mob, Timothy Cohalan, out in Orange County, was organising the country districts to support the head of the diocese and secure a chance for Irishmen to live here and for Catholics to worship here.
He was an Irishman of advanced Nationalist principles. A son of United Ireland and an organiser by nature, he used a huge fortune, gained by business, capacity and energy of a high order, to organise his countrymen for the redemption of their native land, as his sons are doing today.
He was a man who believed in the intellectual as well as the political progress of his people. After the war had ended and after the Fenian movement had been frustrated, Cohalan financed a number of publications to keep up the national spirit. The ‘Irish People’, a weekly, was kept up for many years by his funds. ‘The Emerald’, a periodical of high class Irish art and literature was published at his expense – employing poets, historians and artists at goodly salaries tro teach American Irishmen how Ireland was and ought to be ‘a nation once again’.
Bonds had been issued, ‘payable after the recognition of the Irish Republic’ and Cohalan took them at face value – keeping them as a legacy for his descendants. Thousands and thousands of dollars he paid for them ‘gladly, proudly’ – not grudging anything for the cause.
His later years in business life were devoted to carrying on a flass factory in Middletown, then in the real estate business. He could have been a millionaire had he held his fortune for himself but he gave it to his country. He died, however, in good circumstances, and left his admirable family well placed in life. He was, in most respects, a model for our people. He was patriotic, religious, good living, warm hearted, great-souled, magnetic – a Celt of the Celts – a Catholic of the Catholics. He was a link of continuation of the great chains from Governor Dongan and De Witt Clinton, John Hughes, John McCloskey, Eugene Kelly and on to our present generation of gifted and able Irishmen – among whom his own son, Daniel Cohalan, already holds a place in the front rank in our onward march among the American people molding the Celts as an influential factor in the development and sustainment of the great interests of the American Republic.
One by one they leave us, these great pioneers of our race, having done nobly their work. Timothy Cohalan was the last and one of the greatest called away in our days. His name and memory will long be held in respect and grateful memory. May we have many of his kind to perpetuate the principles he helped to introduce into this great Empire State of the New World.
SKETCH OF HIS CAREER
Timothy Cohalan who died on the feast of the Immaculate Conception was a fervent son of the faith, who asked as a special favour of God that he might be admitted to His Presence on the day dedicated to the honour of His Blessed Mother. He knew his days were numbered; he had a continuous experience of sickness and suffering for more than a year, and when they told him that he might die on Sunday, the doctors so told him – he said that he would be spared until Wednesday, the day of the Blessed Mother. And he was. He had done much to build up the Holy Religion of Christ in this state of New York and his sturdy Christian service of the earlier days seemed to have been kept in mind for him in his last hours by the Divine Head of the Church of his fathers.
He, in a sense was a son of Revolution – a patriot from the very cradle. He was a young boy in Ireland when his father and uncles and kinsmen were rallying to the magic cries of Meagher, John Mitchel, Smith-O’Brien. Down in Cork, it was said that the twelve year old Timothy insisted in starting up with a crowd of fellow school lads to join Smith O’Brien in Tipperary. O’Brien’s rising failed and famine and persecution fell upon the land and young Cohalan, with his three sisters left his native land in the fatal year of forty-eight. He had heard of O’Mahony in the Comeragh Mountains and Dohehy flying from the persecution and he, with his kindred, had had something to do to save that brave patriot from the blood-hounds that were after him – as recorded in the thrilling book ‘The Felon’s Track’.
Some years passed and O’Mahony became head of the Fenian Brotherhood in America and Michael Doheny became an American Colonel in the Union Army. And the old time young worshipper of their masculine sentiments came in from Middletown to tell the Fenian leaders that he was the young Timothy Cohalan of Dunmanway (sic) County Cork, who drank in the Fenian principles from their utterances when he was a boy and who was now grown to manhood, ready with such worldly means as he had gained to back up their movement to put an end to English misrule over Ireland.
It was a welcome and substantial alliancde for the Fenian chiefs. For Cohalan, by this time, as a successful businessman and with a lavish hand, poured it into the then lean treasury of the Fenian Botherhood.
The writer remembers the big, six-foot figure, as he came into O’Mahony’s office, 22, Duane Street, week by week, with his flahoolagh checks – five hundred dollars and 1,000 dollars at a time. ‘Ah Cohalan’ O’Mahony used to say ‘ You have the heart of a patriot and you seem to have the treasury of a king? If there were ten men in America like you, Ireland would be free before five years’. ‘No matter, Colonel’ he used to say ‘Ireland owns all I have and all I am. My last dollar or my last drop of blood is here as she may need them’. It is one of our early memories of New York life, this first meeting with Timothy Cohalan by the present writer, then a youth fresh from the West and employed for some time in the office of Colonel O’mahony, then the Chief of the American Fenians, as James Stephens was of the IRB or Irish Fenians. Sometimes, O’Mahony would dictate glowing words of gratefullness and eulogy to be transmitted to Timothy Cohalan at Middletown. It was thus that we learned first of the greatness of his patriotism and the largeness of his big Irish heart. He favoured us with a friendship in those days which, during all of the forty years thereafter, up to the time of his death, was one of the best, as it was about the first that we made in the city of New York. We mourn his death as the severing of a lline sacred to our early memories and pray God to be good to his soul.
Let us trace Timothy Cohalan’s early course in New York State briefly
In 1848, at the age of thirteen, he, with three sisters, arrived in Middletown, Orange County, from their native place in County Cork, Ireland. There were just six persons of his race then living in Middletown – four of them were Catholics. It was necessary to go to Port Jervis or some other place twenty or thirty miles distant, to get Mass. It was at the time of which Timothy Cohalan’s fellow pioneer, Rev. James Hourigan, of Binghampton used to say that Archbishop Hughes was able to furnish one priest for the whole territory ‘from New York to Dunkirk’. After some years, Cohalan started a business and acquired enough means to erect a home for himself which for some time served as a church for the people whom he gathered with his wagon from far and near and which afforded a place of rest for the priest whom they could get to visit him.
After years, the people grew more numerous and required a larger place for Worship. Mr. Cohalan hired the Town Hall and the priest, when he came, said Mass there.
Daniel Florence Cohalan (1867-1946)
Daniel Florence Cohalan was the fourth child and fourth son of Timothy Cohalan and Ellen O’Leary.
New York Times 18 May 1911
COHALAN’S CAREER
As Handy in Tammany Politics as He was in College Baseball
‘Daniel F. Cohalan was born in Middletown, Orange County, N.Y. forty-three years ago. He was mentioned for the Supreme Court bench to which he has just been appointed in 1907 but declared that he did not desire judicial honours because he preferred his law practice and the excitement of active participation in politics. The statement was made only a few days ago in his behalf that he was not an active aspirant for the vacancy made by the elevation of Supreme Court Justice James A. O’Gorman to the United States Senate.
Justice Cohalan is one of five brothers, all of whom graduated from Manhattan College, three of them with honors. All five of them- Daniel, the eldest; John P., the present Surrogate and former State Senator; Timothy, Michael and Dennis – played on the Manhattan College Baseball Team. Justice Cohalan himself played in a nine which defeated Yale and contested a game with the New York Giants.
The father of the new Justice came to this country about sixty years ago with his parents and settled in Orange County. They were the first Irish Catholics in Middletown and the first mass celebrated in the county was held in the home of the new Justice’s grandfather.
Justice Cohalan was admitted to the Bar in his twenty-first year and practised law in Orange County until the family removed to the Bronx about 1900 after his father had suffered reverses in the glass business in which he had been so successful that he was able to send his sons to college. During his residence in the Bronx, the future Justice associated himself with Matthew F. Breen, now a City Magistrate, in a fight against Louis F. Haffen. Mr. Breen was then one of the chief lieutenants of Louis F. Heintz, who defeated Haffen for the office of Superintendent of Public Improvements, an office corresponding roughly to that of Borough President under the present charter.
Shortly after his marriage to Hanna O’Leary, a distant cousin, about ten years ago, Mr. Cohalan left the Bronx to move into what is now the Thirty-second Assembly District and was invited to participate in politics by State Senator Charles F. Murphy,leader of the Tammany Organisation. Leaders of the organisation frankly admitted that Mr. Cohalan’s place in Tammany will be hard to fill if he actually severs all his ties with Mr. Murphy. There are none of the Assembly district leaders who are close to Mr. Murphy who size up to Mr. Cohalan in any way, and it would be a long guess to speculate upon whom Mr. Murphy will turn for advice on the outside.’
Daniel F. Cohalan and his wife Hannah O’Leary had seven children
Aileen Cohalan (1900-2000
Conn Cohalan (1902-1950)
Kathleen Cohalan (1903-1979)
Patrick J. Cohalan (1907-1978)
Daniel Florence Cohalan (1908-2001)
Dermot O’Leary Cohalan (1908-1915)
Gerald Cohalan (1911) died at birth with his mother Hannah.
Daniel Cohalan continued to visit Glandore and holiday there with his children after Hannah, his wife, died.
The Southern Star published this article by ‘XYZ’ entitled ‘Judge Daniel F. Cohalan – An Impression’ on 3 August 1912.
“A tall, thin, wiry, supple, tough, thewed, man – thoughtful, reserved, clean-shaven, pleasant faced – with lips that readily lend themselves to a genial smile and eyes that can flow into a sunny laugh. A homely man who revels in the companionship of his children – bright, intelligent, mischevious youngsters – the fond pledges of a love ‘that was more than love’ – a love that not even the icy hand of Death could chill’.
A humble man who despises the affected accent and the loud dress, who never assumes an air of superiority, and is entirely free from any patronising or posturing. A hospitable man, for though the shadow of an unforgotten sorrow has clouded is life – though he ever yearns for the vanished hand and longs to hear the voice that is still, yet he likes to see others relishing the joys of life and making a harvest of the day, and he finds infinite pleasure in presiding over a company of guests assembled at his lavish table.
An intelligent man, a gentleman, a scholar, who by his energy, ability and probity has raised himself to a position of pre-eminence and prestige in one of the greatest and most progressive cities of the world. An American? Yes, thoroughly, but also an Irishman – ‘kindly Irish of the Irish’ – who intensely loves the old motherland, her people, her language, her history, sad and tragic as it is; her antiquities, her green fields and her rugged hills, her murmuring seas and her changeful skies. And, though you may not agree with some of his opinions, you must admit he is genuine and sincere; and you will see at once that he is keenly, in fact, fanatically interested in the glory and welfare of poor Mother Éire. The Judge has none of the boisterous wit that sets the table in a roar. He does not shake and laugh in Rableais’ easy chair. But he is full of the quiet, subtle, delicate humour that tickles the intellect.
A strict teetotaller, he would give a good account of himself in the statium; he is an admirable tennis player, and – let me whisper it – he has no unreasoning hostility to a little rubber of cards. And, mind you, like Mrs. Battle, he insists on the rigour of the game. The late W. T. Stead, who perished on the Titanic, once wrote of an illustrious and much loved prelate, now gone to his reward, that he was ‘the best forty-five player in Ireland’. I venture to think that the eminent ecclesiastic would have found the learned Judge a very tough antagonist. The Judge has preserved the religious and spiritual temperament peculiar to the Celt. The race for power, the glamour of the Almighty Dollar, the hustle and bustle of American life, the growing scepticism of the age have not blunted the simple faith which is the greatest glory of Ireland. How would you sum him up? A man, a keen man, a man of strong will and strong character – a ‘still strong man’ whose ‘soft, low voice’ is indicative of tremendous reserve power – a man with a head to plan, a heart to love and a hand to do – a man gifted with the best and brightest qualities”.
In 1913, Daniel Cohalan was appointed a Judge of the Supreme Court of New York.
To help look after her nieces and nephews, Margaret (Madge) O’Leary went to New York with her brother-in-law, the widower, Daniel Cohalan and his children, after they had spent their annual holidays in Glandore.
Skibbereen Eagle Saturday, March 06, 1915.
‘The Hon. Daniel F. Cohalan, Supreme Court Judge of New York, who is well known in Ireland, particularly in Munster, has been married to Miss Margaret O’Leary, a sister of the Justice’s first wife. Judge Cohalan is a son of Mr. Timothy E. Cohalan and with his family, he has visited the old home in County Cork annually for many years. He has purchased a fine old mansion at Glandore; where he spends his summer holidays. Miss O’Leary, who is 27 years of age was born in Curriheverin, Timoleague. Her bridesmaid was a daughter of the Judge, and the wedding ceremony was performed by her brother, Rev. Patrick O’Leary.’
Daniel F. Cohalan and his second wife, Margaret O’Leary had one child - Joan Cohalan (1917-1924)
In March 1916, a new umbrella organisation called Friend of Irish Freedom (FOIF) was formed with John Devoy and Daniel Cohalan at its head. This was a support organisation for the Revolution. Though their membership of Clann na nGael, both Devoy and Cohalan knew of the impending Rising. As far back as 1914, these two men had a meeting in Cohalan’s house with Sir Roger Casement at which it was arranged to finance Casement’s trip to Berlin to the tune of $3,000.
After the Rising, tensions arose in the FOIF with regard to the emphasis on its future direction. While some prioritised the cause of Irish Freedom, others felt more emphasis should be placed on improving the status of the Irish in the U.S. and reducing the influence of the United Kingdom in America. Nevertheless large sums of money were raised by the FOIF for the ‘relief of suffering in Ireland’ and they facilitated speaking tours of the U.S. by Liam Mellows, Hanna Sheehy-Skeffington and others. When Harry Boland and Patrick McCartan came to the U.S. as representatives of Sinn Féin they became concerned that the FOIF were emphasising self-determination for Ireland. They saw this as a lesser demand than that of an Irish Republic.
By the time Eamonn De Valera arrived in the U.S. in 1919 there was a great deal of tension between the FOIF and Sinn Féin factions.
The FOIF spent a good deal of time and energy campaigning against American involvement in the League of Nations while De Valera and Sinn Féin were enthusiastic supporters. Cohalan and Devoy saw this and any co-operation between the U.S. and Great Britain as an affront to their ambitions for Ireland.
The bitter split between De Valera and Cohalan came to a head and the rift became irreconcilable when De Valera, in a conscious attempt to realign the Sinn Féin away from Germany, declared that an independent Ireland would not provide bases for Britain’s enemies.
The FOIF executive continued to be loyal to Cohalan and while it was, after an initial reluctance, helpful in promoting the Irish Bond issue being promoted by Sinn Féin, it was otherwise a spent force and the Sinn Féin viewpoint became the percieved voice of Ireland in America.
On his return from Americe, De Valera remarked ‘Big as the country is, it was not big enough to hold the Judge and myself’.
Daniel F. Cohalan was a product of his background. He had been reared on stories of Famine and emigration and like many of those with whom he associated, old wrongs were not forgotten.
In 1924 he resigned from the N. Y. Supreme Court and returned to private practice; citing the inadequacy of the salary to support his large family as the reason.
The Southern Star Saturday March 15, 1924.
‘An extraordinary and wholly unprecedented tribute was paid by the leaders of the New York Bar to Former Justice of the Supreme Court, Daniel F. Cohalan, on February 5, by a dinner at the Metropolitan Club’ says “The Gaelic American”. Martin Conboy presided, and among those present were many of the most distinguished lawyers in the city, most of whom differ wholly from the guest of the evening on public questions, but who freely expressed their belief in his absolute honesty of purpose, his independence of character, his fearlessness in expressing his views, his downright Americanism and his great ability as a lawyer. No such tribute has ever been paid to had a man who had resigned from the Bench and who therefore is no longer in a position to confer favours on them.
The dinner was private.............the speakers included Henry W. Taft (brother of the former President) who is President of the Bar Association, former U.S. Senator James A. O’Gorman, President of the New York County Lawyers’ Association, former Judge of the Court of Appeals Samuel Seabury; ex-Justice of the Supreme Court Morgan J. O’Brien; former Governor Nathan L. Miller; James W. G. Gerard (Ambassador to Germany under President Wilson); Alton B. Parker (Democratic Candidate for President in 1904); Edmund L. Mooney (President of the Alumni of N.Y. Law Schools); etc.’
On the question of Ireland, Daniel Cohalan represented the old ways. The following extract demonstrates how the ‘new’ Ireland was emerging after Independence.
Cork Examiner Thursday April 2, 1925.
“The Friends of St. Patrick”, a society which includes some of the most prominent citizens of New York State, gathered together at the Alnmac Hotel, on Saturday evening, March 14th, to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. “The Friends of St. Patrick” hold an annual dinner late in the autumn. The idea of holding his autumn dinner was first convceived a few years ago by those sons and daughters of Erin who made the trip to the ‘ould’ country. On their return they met together to talk over their reminiscences . St. Patrick’s Day, of course, would be the proper one on which to have a social gathering, but there are so many Irish reunions on that date that by choosing another day the Friends of St. Patrick would be able to attend both functions,. About 150 sat down to dinner. The room was artistically decorated with green foliage and Irish emblems. The Irish and American flags blended harmoniously with the decoratios. Some of the most prominent Irish-Americans representing the various professions, literature and art, also successful business men of New York city were present. The veteran Irish patriot, Mr. John Devoy, was there. The ladies, who were well represented, added greatly to the brilliance and success of the evening. The Hon. John Kenlon, Chief of the New York fire brigade was chairman. On his right were Mr. Lindsay Crawford, Irish Free Trade Consul of New York and Mr. Dermot Lynch, who was a well-known figure in the Irish cause; on his left sat the Hon. Daniel F. Cohalan and Mr. George Harris of the White Star Line, Cove, with Mrs. Harris, who were guests of the evening.
The chairman, in a very able speech gave a short synopsis of Irish history from the introduction of Christianity by St. Patrick up to the present day.
The Hon. Daniel Cohalan, a well-known brilliant orator, followed. He spoke of the past and present history of Ireland and predicted a great future for the country, provided the Irish people would unite and work together for its common welfare.
Mr. George Harris informed all those present of the quiet and peaceful conditions prevailing in Ireland. Many people were under the impression, he said, there was a famine in Ireland. Mr. Harris assured them that while there was some distress in the West, owing to the fact that constant wet weather prevented people saving their potatoes and turf, there was no famine. The Free State Goverment were providing coal and seed potatoes and were also a considerable sum of money in improving the roads, thereby giving a great deal of employment.
Mr. Harris extended a cordial welcome to Ireland to all those present on behalf of the Irish Tourist Association. He assured them that all main roads have been put in good order and motoring can now be enjoyed over the whole country. He said the railway service in Ireland has been greatly improved since the amalgamation of the railway companies and that the hotels have been improved under the guidance of the Irish Tourist Association. He added they could all help Ireland by taking a trip to the old country and recommending all their friends to go there for their holidays instead of journeying to other countries.”
The Wall Street Crash and the Depression had a serious effect on Cohalan’s finances and had an impact on his outlook on life. He was discouraged by the close ties between the U.S. and British governments and he opposed the decision of America to enter the Second World War. The Allied victory killed any remnants of the isolationism he had espoused all his public life.
Daniel Cohalan died on 12 November 1946 and the controversy over his relationship with De Valera was re-ignited in the published obituaries.
His obituary in the The Gaelic American was a fulsome tribute.
“Judge Cohalan was regarded by friend and foe as the outstanding leader of the Irish Race and rightly so; for no man ever served his people to greater advantage than did Justice Cohalan and no man was ever more unjustly accused or maliciously maligned.”
But, the Irish Press, founded by Eamonn De Valera, his old proantagonist, qualified its praise in assessing Cohalan’s career.
“There can be no doubt that Judge Cohalan was a sincere friend of Ireland’s cause. Obstinate in his views and difficult to work with, he was, nevertheless generous to a degree, and the help which he gave the independence movement in American in the early years was the greatest value.”
