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Encyclopedia Dubuque

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QUIGLEY, John P.

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Ancestry: https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/29686331/person/230022543813/facts?_phsrc=cbC1534&_phstart=successSource

QUIGLEY, John P. (St. Louis, MO, June 29, 1825--Salt Lake City, UT, Oct. 19, 1902). Dr. John P. Quigley, son of Patrick QUIGLEY and Catherine QUIGLEY received his education in Dubuque. He studied medicine in Galena for two years and then pursued his medical studies here and in Cleveland, Ohio.

In 1850, Dr. Quigley traveled to California and remained there five years before returning to Dubuque in 1855. Dr. Quigley held the office of City Treasurer and City Alderman for seven years. He served as a member of the Board of Education and was elected City Recorder in 1878. In that year, he lost the primary for election to the office of county treasurer. It was believed this was due to his support of an local ordinance impounding stray cattle in the city. (1) In 1880 he was hired to be an agent of the Manhattan Life Insurance Company. (2)

Quigley was an important proponent of a PONTOON BRIDGE to cross the MISSISSIPPI RIVER. He believed it would be easy to construct approaches from both sides of the river toward the middle. Just short of the main channel, the construction would stop. The span between the two approaches would be filled by a large, flat-bottomed barge tied to the roadway. One end of the pontoon would be detachable enabling an engine and cable to swing it sideways to let riverboats pass up or downstream.

The idea was finally rejected in favor of a high bridge that would allow boats to pass underneath.

Quigley moved to Salt Lake City in his final years to live with his son. (3)

See: Charles A. QUIGLEY

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Source:

1. "The Defeat of Dr. Quigley," Dubuque Herald, October 12, 1878, p. 4. Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=uh8FjILnQOkC&dat=18781012&printsec=frontpage&hl=en

2. "Caught on the Fly," Dubuque Herald, August 31, 1880, p. 4

3. "Dr. Quigley is Dead," Dubuque Herald, October 25, 1902, p. 3

Oldt, Franklin T. History of Dubuque County, Iowa. Chicago: Western Historical Company, 1880, p. 860