Crilly
Portrait and Biographical Record ~ Pages
Kindly submitted by: Lea Nissley
Hon. Hugh E. Crilly, formerly a member of the State Legislature from this county,
claims Ireland as his native land, having been born there in
1852. He is the son of James Crilly, who emigrated to America
two years after his son's birth, locating in Pennsylvania, in
the city of Allentown. His wife, prior to her marriage known as
Mary McDonald, was also born in the Emerald Isle, and was a lady
of great natural talent and ability.
The original of
this sketch attended the public schools of Catasaqua and this
city until attaining his fourteenth year, when he was obliged to
make his own living, and was variously employed entil becoming
an employee in the rolling-mills of Allentown. There he obtained
a practical knowledge of the iron business in all its details
and remained until 1873. That year he began contracting for
buildings and sewers, in which business his father was engaged.
In the spring of 1891 Mr. Crilly was given the contract for
grading the roadbed and laying the track of the Allentown &
Bethlehem Rapid Transit Railroad, the greater portion of which
was completed the same year. The following year he builr the
South Bethlehem branch, having in his employ at the time between
two hundred and three hundred men. He also built a road for the
same company running from Allentown to Catasaqua, and in every
piece of workmanship gave entire satisfaction.
Mr. Crilly has constructed many bridges in Lehigh County, and
has just recently completed a viaduct for the new electric road
known as the Lehigh Traction Company. He is a stockholder in the
Allentown and Bethlehem Rapid Transit Company, and has also been
instrumental in inducing many large factories to locate in this
city. In the fall of 1884 he was elected to represent this
county in the legislature, serving a term of two years, and in
1886 was re-elected to the same position. During the first
session he introduced a bill prohibiting the publication and
sale or immoral literature, and had the satisfaction of having
it passed, the law going into effect in July, 1885. Mr. Crilly
is a member of the Board of Trade, of which he is one of the
organizers, and in politics votes with the Democratic Party.
May 12, 1887, our subject was united in marriage with Miss Mary
Cannon, a native of Ireland, who came to America with her
grandfather when quite young. They became the parents of a
daughter, Mary, who is now deceased. They are both members of
the Catholic Church, and are people who move in the best circles
of society in the city.
|