Edgar Thomas Gallagher was born near Olney, Illinois on October 5, 1862 to Bartholomew Gallagher and Mary Conner. Edgar’s father, Bartley, was a journeyman carpenter who had emigrated from Ireland and made his first stop in Ohio where he married and had two children before moving to the Olney area where he had the last of this three children including Edgar. The 1870 federal census listed their children and ages as William 15, Missouri 13, Edgar 6, Mary L. 3 and Thomas 6.
According to the Marion Evening Press, the family moved from Olney to Marion in 1871 where the father, established a lumber and furniture business. After the father died in 1880, the oldest son, William, in company with J.M. Aikman took charge of the lumber business called Gallagher & Co. which continued until William’s death in 1922. The business was located at 405 N. Market St.
When the 1880 census was taken the family were all living in Marion at their parent’s home. The children were listed as William, Edgar and Mary L. The older sister Ida Missouri had married earlier in the year to J.M. Aikman, who would later become partner to her brother William in business. Bartley, the father would pass away in September of this year and be buried in Barham Cemetery.
In the years 1887 and 1888, Edgar T. served as city of Marion Alderman under Mayor Brice Holland. Edgar seems to have often been called Ed or Ed T. as well. On February 20, the following year of 1889, Edgar married Stella Davis. She was the daughter of Daniel A. & Mary Davis. Daniel Davis operated a bakery and confectionary in Marion on the public square.
It is certain that Edgar operated a business of some kind on the public square but so far I have been unable to locate what type of business it was. In February of 1899, a large fire broke out in the 900 block of the public square that pretty much wiped out all of the businesses in that block. (The same block that would perish again in March of 1963.) Listed among the destroyed businesses were that of Ed Gallagher and a business next to it, the Daniel Davis bakery.
The 1900 Federal census, listed the Ed Gallagher family living at 307 W. College St. The family owned their own home and Ed is shown as a merchant. Ed and Stella have two sons in the home, Earl age 7 and Loren age 5.
It appears clear that after the 1899 fire that destroyed his business, Edgar went into business with his father-in-law, Daniel A. Davis. The 1907 Marion city directory reflects that fact by listing the Gallagher & Davis Bakery at 904 Public Square. Through the years 1907-1913, Edgar served as a Director on the board of the Citizens Trust & Banking Company located at 805 Public Square.
The 1910 federal census, continues to show the family in their home at 307 W. College St. and listed Edgar as operator of a bakery & confection store. The oldest son Earl now aged 17 was working with his father at the store and the youngest son Loren, aged 15, was attending school. They had a domestic live-in servant in the home named Nettie Jackson.
An article in the July 1914 Marion Evening Post newspaper stated that “E.T. & his son Loren had left Marion for a new home in Hereford, Texas where he had purchased a fine farm. Mrs. Gallagher and son Earl are in Arizona and will join them as their health improves.”
The 1920 federal census captures the family in Hereford, Texas as Edgar 55, Stella 48 and son Earl D. 27. Edgar is shown as owner & manufacturer of Gents Furnishings.
Edgar’s 30 year old son, Earl D. died of tuberculosis in Phoenix, Arizona on August 22, 1923 at his father’s home. Earl was shown as being a merchant and his brother, Loren, was noted as living in Indiana at the time. It is likely that the family had moved temporarily to Phoenix again as a health measure. It was during this period of time that his wife Stella, also passed away, though I could never find any death info on her.
The 1930 federal census reflects widowed Edgar living in Hereford, Texas alone at age 66.
On January 5, 1939, Edgar’s remaining son, Loren E. Gallagher passed away at a V.A. hospital in San Antonio, Texas at age 43 of tuberculosis. The birth date on his death certificate show his birth as April 4, 1895.
It would appear that after his last son’s death, Edgar returned to Marion, Illinois where he died of a heart attack on July 2, 1939. He was buried in Old Rose Hill cemetery.
(Sources: Marion Evening Post, Marion City Cemetery records, Johnston City Progress, Federal Census records, Marion Street Directories, Ancestry.com, WCHS Resources. Compiled by Sam Lattuca 8/12/2023)