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.
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