QUIGLEY, Patrick J.

QUIGLEY, Patrick J. (Binghamton, NY, June I, 1837--Dubuque, IA, Feb. 28, 1917). Quigley, the son of John Quigley, came to Dubuque County with his parents. His father farmed. In 1854 Patrick started surveying in Minnesota and upon the death of his father helped to support his mother and sister. In 1863 he moved to his brother-in-law's farm near Sageville, then came to the city of Dubuque and opened a grocery store on First Street and also became interested in the grain and lumber business. After a trip west, Quigley returned to Dubuque and in 1871 was elected clerk of the circuit and district courts and served until 1881. (1)

In 1881 Quigley started the Dubuque Democrat,a local newspaper. (2) Within a few years, he purchased a half-interest in the Dubuque Telegraph which had been started on July 5, 1870 by Dennis MAHONY. (3) He remained with the paper only one year before selling his interest to Mahony's widow. A brief interest in living in South Dakota was ended when drought struck. Quigley hurried back to Dubuque and rejoined the Democrat. He repurchased his interest in the "Telegraph" and then merged the papers in 1884. (4) Quigley served as the business manager until his death. (5)

Quigley's "Telegraph" strongly supported its allies and politics and attacking those with which it did not agree. This led to Quigley often being named a defendant in libel suits. A colorful person, he sat outside during slow times at the paper and clipped his nails while watching the activity. Susceptible to chest colds, he wore a long beard and stuffed copies of the newspaper under his overcoat to insulate him from cold. (6)

With the merger of the Dubuque Telegraph and Dubuque Herald on November 1, 1901, Quigley became the business manager and eventually the publisher. Upon the death of P.J. Quigley in 1917, Fred W. WOODWARD acquired additional shares giving him controlling interest in the newspaper.(7)

Beyond an interest in the paper, Quigley contributed generously to those who suffered from natural or man-made calamities. Through his efforts, $5,000 in preferred stock of the Telegraph-Herald was given to FINLEY HOSPITAL (THE), Dubuque Boys' Welfare Association, ST. VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY, St. Joseph's Mercy Hospital, ST. ANTHONY'S HOME FOR THE AGED, HOUSE OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD, MOUNT PLEASANT HOME, and the ST. FRANCIS HOME. He also made sizable donations to the DUBUQUE INDUSTRIAL CORPORATION and the Julien Hotel fund.(8)

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Source:

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

2. Cooper, Brian. "8 Publishers Forged the Vision, Telegraph Herald Commemorative Edition: Past, Present and Future, March 26, 2012, p. 5A

3. Ibid.

4. Ibid.

5. "Death of P. J. Quigley," Editor & Publisher, January 6, 1917, p. 34

6. Cooper

7. "History of Woodward Communications and its Leadership," Online: http://www.wcinet.com/wci-history

8. "Three Months' Illness Fatal to P. J. Quigley," Telegraph Herald, February 29, 1917, p. 1