Thomas Francis Gilroy
1839-1911
Thomas F. Gilroy’s early years in America were tough going for him, his mother, two aunts and two younger brothers. They lived in run-down tenements and were not greeted with open arms by New Yorkers. These conditions make even more remarkable his rise from poor, Irish immigrant boy to the chief executive of the great city of New York.
Young Tom spent about six years in New York Public Schools which turned out to be the limit of his formal education. He was the n apprenticed to the leading New York printing firm, A.O. Jenkins, and became the chief support of his family.
This was his first step in preparing to earn a living and, proved to be much more to him. It gave him the opportunity to read extensively and was the source of his education. He worked hard, developed himself broadly, turned out to be quick at figures and acquired a knowledge of history, economics and literature. He advanced rapidly and, by 1860, he was put in charge of a department of the Jenkins concern.
About this time, Tom found that many of the top jobs were closed to him by the anti-Catholic and several other special groups. He decided he would move to a political career and, as a first step, he joined a Volunteer Fire Company.
These companies were really clubs that attracted the liveliest spirits and young leaders in their neighborhoods or political wards. In addition to their fire fighting duties they exercised some political power and the members were known to all the local tradesmen, saloon-keepers and residents.
Tom’s ability to influence votes was recognized by the Democrats and he quickly became associated with Tammany Hall, one of the leading political organizations in the city. This connection helped in receiving an appointment in 1863 to the position of City Clerk, Croton Aqueduct Board.
He was also married in that same year to Mary Sheridan, a local girl. Over the years, they have eleven children.
During the following years he kept his membership in Tammany Hall and held many elective jobs in the New York City administration including City Clerk (1885), New York Country Sheriff (1888), Commissioner of Public Works (1889) and Mayor (1893-95).
Although he was associated with some questionable characters in Tammany Hall like "Boss" Tweed and "Hal" Genet, he always maintained a clean personal reputation. It was widely accepted that each time Tom Gilroy was elected to a City job, he cleaned house, reduced excess personnel, cut budgets and taxes and improved operations.
During his term as Mayor he was responsible for the improvement of City roads and pavement, the locations of connections of City lighting to underground positions, changing from horse-drawn streetcars to cable and trolley drives. He also advocated the testing of the first "horse-less carriages" in New York. These were manufactured by Bentz French Autocars. Macy’s And Gimbels’s, two important retailers, each bought one for show pieces. During his administration, plans were made for the future New York subway.
Tom Gilroy’s wife died in 1899 and after five years as President of the 12th ward bank, he retired. He was a fine looking man, devoted to his family, a good public speaker with a flair for politics and a sportsman who liked traveling, swimming, driving horses and dancing.
He died on December 2, 1911, at his home in Far Rockaway, New York and is buried at the Althea Plot in Woodlawn Cemetery in Bronx, New York.
