Killilea, Matthew

Other Events:

• Reference Number: 3236
• 1860 Census: 1860, Poygan, Winnebago, Wisconsin, USA
• 1880 Census: 1880, Poygan, Winnebago, Wisconsin, USA

Notes:

1860 Census:
Mathew Killelay29
Mary Killelay35
Michael Killelay9
Elizabeth Killelay7
John Killelay2

1880 Census:
Walt. Killilea52
Mary Killilea52
John Killilea22
Walt. Killilea19
Henry Killilea18
Julia Killilea12

Matthew married Murray, Mary 21 Jul 1847. Mary was born Abt 1828; died 31 Jul 1917. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Reference Number: 3236

Other Events:

• Reference Number: 3236
• Biography: 1897; Wisconsin Men of Pregress Page

Notes:

Biography:
KILLILEA. Matthew Robert, one of the young members of the Milwaukee bar, is the son of Matthew and Mary Murray Killilea, natives of Ireland, the former of whom came to Wisconsin in 1848, and has resided in the state ever since. M. R. Killilea was born in the town of Poygan, Winnebago county, Wis. The rudiments of his education were acquired in the district school, and were supplemented by a course in Daggett's Business College in Oshkosh. Afterward he entered the college of law in the University of Wisconsin, and was chosen president of his class in 1891, and graduated in June of that year. During his course in the university he was a member of the Phi Delta Phi society. In 1892 he was appointed assistant district attorney by Leopold Hammel, but could not serve on account of not having been in practice for the time required under the law. He was the Democratic nominee in 1894 for the lower house of the legislature in the district [image: MATTHEW ROBERT KILLILEA] composed of the Second and Fourth wards, but was defeated by his Republican opponent, Edward Notbohm. He has, for some time, been actively interested in athletics, and is president of the Milwaukee Base Ball club. He is a member of the Calumet and Bon Ami clubs, and a Knight of Pythias, Garfield Lodge, No.83. In religion he is a Catholic, and is yet single. He is a young man of fine, natural abilities, good attainments, and has promising future before him.
From; Men of Progress. WISCONSIN. A SELECTED LIST OF BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES AND PORTRAITS OF THE LEADERS IN BUSINESS, PROFESSIONAL AND OFFICIAL LIFE.
TOGETHER WITH SHORT NOTES ON THE HISTORY AND CHARACTER OF WISCONSIN. EDITED BY ANDREW JACKSON ALKENS AND LEWIS A. PROCTOR, MILWAUKEE:
The Evening Wisconsin Company. 1897.

Other Events:

• Reference Number: 3236
• 1880 Census: 1880, Poygan, Winnebago, Wisconsin, USA
• Biography: 1897

Notes:

1880 Census:
Walt. Killilea52
Mary Killilea52
John Killilea22
Walt. Killilea19
Henry Killilea18
Julia Killilea12

Biography:
KILLILEA, Henry James, one of the young lawyers of Milwaukee who has achieved no little distinction for one of his age, is a native of Wisconsin, having been born in the town of Poygan, Winnebago county, June 30th, 1863. His parents, Matthew and Mary Murray Killilea, were born in Ireland, but came to Wisconsin in 1849, and settled in Winnebago county, which was then practically a wilderness. There they made a comfortable home, however, which they have ever since occupied. There the boy, Henry, grew up, devoting himself, as most farmers' [image: HENRY JAMES KILLILEA.] boys are compelled to do, to work on the farm and to attendance, during the winter, upon the district school. At the age of twelve he was sent to the graded school in the neighboring village of Winneconne, and afterward to the normal school in Oshkosh, in which he was fitted for college. During these years he was engaged in the work on the farm whenever the school did not claim his time, and in this way he has acquired that vigorous physical health which he has always enjoyed. After completing his preparation for college the taught school in Clay Banks, Door county, and Oakwood, Wisconsin, the latter, if not a high school, at least of higher grade than the ordinary country school. Though not expecting to make teaching a life business, he was a thorough and very successful instructor, and, had he chosen to make teaching a profession, he would doubtless have been as successful in it as he has been in the law. Through teaching he secured a mental development which has been of advantage to him since, and, at the same time, the money with which to prosecute his studies, though this was not absolutely necessary, as his Page 250 parents were in sympathy with his desire for a professional life, and not averse to aiding him in accomplishing it. In the fall of 1882, when but little past his nineteenth birthday, he began directly his professional studies by entering the law department of the University of Michigan, from which he graduated in 1885. Always a close and careful student he was at the same time greatly interested in all kinds of athletic sports and a participants in most of those practiced at colleges. Upon leaving the university he came directly to Milwaukee, formed a partnership in the law with Paul M. Weil, and began the practice of his profession. The partnership with Mr. Weil was dissolved in 1887, and another formed with Oscar Fiebing, and this firm was very successful in building up a large practice. At first Mr. Killilea gave much of his attention to criminal practice, and was very successful in handling this class of cases. Possessing a thorough knowledge of law, good judgment in the arrangement of his cases, quick to perceive the strong and the weak points of evidence, skillful as an examiner and effective in presenting his case to a jury, he has rapidly gained a standing at the bar which is not surpassed by many older in the profession. As one of the attorneys of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway company he had entered upon a new and broader field of effort, to which his friends are confident he will prove himself entirely equal. In politics he is a Democrat, and he has been one of he most prominent and influential of the young leaders of the party. He was three years a member of the Democratic state central committee and three years chairman of the county committee. The only office which he has held is that of member of the school board. He was one of the organizers of the West bank, and is now one of is directors. He was married, in 1888, to Miss Louise Meinderman, a native of Michigan, and a graduate of the university of that state.

Henry married Meinderman, Louise Abt 1888. Louise was born Bef 1870, , , Michigan, USA; died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Reference Number: 3236