John Gilligan

JOHN GILLIGAN, a representative business man of West Latrobe, achieving success by means of honorable transactions, was born May 2, 1856, in Kenton county, Kentucky, whither his parents-John and Anna (Morley) Gilligan-came to upon their arrival from Galway county of Conart, Ireland, in 1849 and 1851, respectively.

The common schools in the vicinity of his birthplace afforded John Gilligan the opportunity of obtaining a good English education, and upon laying aside his books at the age of fifteen years he was apprenticed to the Pittsburg Locomotive works to learn the trade of machinist, he serving a period of four years. He then secured employment with the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company, with whom he remained fifteen years. In 1890 he established the West Latrobe Foundry and Machine Company, founders, machinists, boilermakers and blacksmiths, machinery and supplies, heating and ventilating engineers, Latrobe, Pennsylvania, and has continued the same up to the present time (1906). He has been a resident of Latrobe for more than fifteen years and is universally respected throughout the community. He is a member of the K. of C., B. P. O. E., Lodge No. 907, of Latrobe, Pennsylvania. He is a Democrat. Mr. Gilligan married, September 14, 1878, Anna M. Soisson, born in Cambria county, Pennsylvania, August 12, 1855, a daughter of Joseph and Caroline (Filcer) Soisson. Their children are: Thurston A., born June 10, 1880; William Lewis, December 27, 1881; John J., May 4, 1884; Charles L., July 3, 1886; Raymond B., June 24, 1889; Emil B., September 10, 1891; Mary J., September 10, 1893; and Soisson L., December 2, 1899. Mr. Gilligan and his family are members of the Catholic church.

Source: History of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, Volume II, by John N. Boucher. New York, The Lewis Publishing Company, 1906, Page 296.
Transcribed by Carol C. Eddleman for the Westmoreland County History Project.
Contributed for use by the Westmoreland County Genealogy Project (http://www.pa-roots.com/westmoreland/)

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