Encyclopedia Dubuque
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Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
CONNOLLY, Thomas
Family History: http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=neville_tree&id=P2664
CONNOLLY, Thomas. (County Tipperary, Ireland, Mar. 2, 1837-Dubuque, IA, Dec. 28, 1903). Vice-President, National Carriage Builders of America. Connolly began business in Dubuque on August 23, 1858, with the purchase of a small factory on the corner of Locust and Eighth STREETS. At about the same time, he established a small wagon factory on Bluff Street across from the WALES HOTEL. In 1860 the Eighth Street factory was burned to the ground. The building was an uninsured loss, and Connolly was forced to pay 25 percent interest on money he borrowed to resume business.
Connolly built a large wagon factory on Seventh and Iowa streets in 1872. The quality of the workmanship was realized the following year at the IOWA STATE FAIR. His company was awarded the "red ticket first premium" for its three-seated carriage, track wagon, and two seated sleigh and cutter. The company won the sweepstakes premium for the best and largest display. (1)
The 1874 annual report of the Iowa State Agricultural Society reported that Connolly won the prize for "best shifting top buggy" and received a diploma and ten dollars. In the same year he also won the prize for "best two-horse sleigh" and received a diploma and five dollars. He won the "best carriage beck yoke and received three dollars, "best track wagon" and "best single sleigh" and received five dollars in each category, and best display of vehicles and received twenty-five dollars. (2)
The company was destroyed by fire four times including twice in 1875. (3) Coming back each time, by 1885 Connolly's factory produced one thousand buggies, carriages, and sleighs annually ranging in price from $100 to $1,500. That same year, Connolly's "manufactory" or carriage-manufacturing plant contributed sales of $200,000 to the local economy with such products as buggies, carriages, sleighs and bicycles. The first "paddy-wagon" for transporting criminals was purchased by the Dubuque Police Departyment from the company on August 31, 1887. (4) In 1910 the company occupied a building 125 feet by 100 feet and was recognized as the largest carriage manufacturer west of the MISSISSIPPI RIVER. (5)
Unlike Austin Augustine COOPER, a business rival but friend, Connolly was interested in automobile production. In 1905 ADAMS-FARWELL AUTOMOBILES used chassis built by the Connolly company. (6) National Automobile Museum in Reno, Nevada owns the last existing of the ADAMS-FARWELL AUTOMOBILES, a Series 6 40/45 hp Touring Victoria, coachbuilt by the Connolly Carriage & Buggy Company. This car was invited to the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in 2011 where it won the Charles A. Chayne Trophy for the most advanced technology of its period. (7)
Financially successful through his carriage factory, Connolly had one of Dubuque's most elegant mansions built in 1893 on the 1600 block of Iowa Street. (8) Fine woods floated down the MISSISSIPPI RIVER from forests in Wisconsin and Minnesota were used in the construction. (9) Connolly personally supervised the selection of the planks discarding all but the perfect. (10) The home was one of the few in Dubuque with a carriage step, a raised platform three feet off the ground enabling visitors to leave their carriages without soiling their clothes on the ground. (11) The home was still present in 2013 adjacent to JACKSON PARK although it had been reduced from its former state by fire.
Connolly was not just involved in wagon and carriage manufacturing. As early as 1887 with the prosperity gained from his company in Dubuque, Connolly purchased 1500 acres near Fort Collins, Colorado. This ranch raised fine-blooded bulls and stallions for the improvement of range herds. Newspapers at the time noted the high demand for such animals. (12)
Connolly was an active civic supporter of Dubuque. He encouraged the construction of the Julien Hotel and the BANK AND INSURANCE BUILDING. He served as president of the DUBUQUE FIRE AND MARINE INSURANCE COMPANYand the Bank and Insurance Building and was director of the Hotel Julien Building Company, Iowa Trust and Savings Bank, and the KEY CITY GAS COMPANY. (13) He was succeeded in his business by his son Maurice CONNOLLY. (14)
The 1867 and 1868-69 Dubuque City Directory gave the address for this business as the northeast corner of 8th and Locust.
The 1870-1871 Dubuque City Directory stated that this business could be found on the northwest of 8th and Locust and the east side of Bluff between 8th and 9th.
The 1875-1876 Dubuque City Directory through the 1911-12 Dubuque City Directory located this business at the southwest corner of Iowa and 7th. He was listed as an auto dealer in 1911.
The 1915 Dubuque City Directory listed 298 7th as the address.
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Source:
1. "The State Fair," Dubuque Herald, Sept. 12, 1873, p.. 5. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Qg9eAAAAIBAJ&sjid=-18NAAAAIBAJ&pg=2244,4979481&dq=connolly+carriage+manufactory+dubuque&hl=en
2. Annual Report of the Board of Directors By Iowa State Agricultural Society (1874), p. 152
3. "Iowa State News," Lyons Weekly Mirror," July 17, 1875, p. 2. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ioEmAAAAIBAJ&sjid=EgEGAAAAIBAJ&pg=4879,951852&dq=connolly+carriage+manufactory+dubuque&hl=en
4. Bielema, Ross, "Equipment Would Past Men of Law Stare in Awe," Telegraph Herald, Feb. 23, 1988, p. 45. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=UY5dAAAAIBAJ&sjid=j1wNAAAAIBAJ&pg=5243,4668086&dq=connolly+carriage+manufactory+dubuque&hl=en
5. "Dubuque Has Largest Carriage Factory West of the Mississippi," Telegraph Herald, January 24, 1910, p. 1. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ESlCAAAAIBAJ&sjid=gKoMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3202,239641&dq=connolly+carriage+manufactory+dubuque&hl=en
6. "First Enclosed Auto Was Built in Dubuque," Telegraph Herald, Jan. 29, 1939, p. 17. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=gtdBAAAAIBAJ&sjid=BaoMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3207,4929966&dq=connolly+carriage+manufactory+dubuque&hl=en
7. National Automobile Museum. Online: http://nationalautomobilemuseum.blogspot.com/2012/01/1906-adams-farwell-wins-special-award.html
8. Wright, David. "Little Time Remains for the Nagle Mansion," June 15, 1972, p. 19. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=dQ9RAAAAIBAJ&sjid=BsQMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5276,6747849&dq=connolly+carriage+manufactory+dubuque&hl=en
9. Ibid.
10. Ibid.
11. Ibid.
12. "Local News in Brief," Dubuque Daily Herald, Mar. 22, 1887, p. 4. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=OXtFAAAAIBAJ&sjid=qrwMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1150,4363042&dq=connolly+carriage+manufactory+dubuque&hl=en
13. "Rich Manufacturer Dies," Davenport Daily Republican, Dec.l 27, 1903, p. 32. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=4Q5cAAAAIBAJ&sjid=AFUNAAAAIBAJ&pg=3793,4196341&dq=connolly+carriage+manufactory+dubuque&hl=en
14. "Dubuque Has Largest Carriage Factory..."
"Our Spirited Years," Telegraph Herald, 1976
