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From: Archives <>
Subject: Tn-Montgomery Co. Bios (Mehigan)
Date: 30 Oct 2005 04:00:18 -0000


Montgomery County TN Archives Biographies.....Mehigan, Cornelius 1845 -
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joy Fisher October 30, 2005, 4:00 am

Author: Will T. Hale

CORNELIUS MEHIGAN. Among the citizens of Montgomery county who are entitled
to the often abused but always honorable title of "self-made man," by reason of
the manner in which they have risen from poor and obscure boyhood to positions
of responsibility and prominence among their fellow men, Cornelius Mehigan, of
Clarksville, holds a prominent place. Losing his father when he was but an
infant, it was necessary that he begin his battle with the world at a time when
the majority of men are securing the benefits of educational advantages or being
trained to fill the positions which they are destined to fill in life. That he
has succeeded in such an eminent degree is due to his perseverance,
determination and well-directed efforts, and his entire career has been one
worthy of the sturdy race from which he sprung. Mr. Mehigan was born May 27,
1842, in County Kerry, Ireland, and is a son of Timothy and Julia (Shea)
Mehigan. Timothy Mehigan was engaged in farming all of his life in Ireland, and
there died in middle life, in 1846. His widow subsequently came to the United
States with her five children, but soon returned to Ireland, and in about three
years later again came to America, here spending the remainder of her life.

Cornelius Mehigan was an infant when his father died, and was about six years
old when brought to Massachusetts. When he was twelve years of age he was taken
to Toledo, Ohio, where he received a meager education, and as a lad left Ohio
for Missouri, where he worked as water boy for a construction gang on a
railroad. Mr. Mehigan came to Montgomery county, Tennessee, about 1858 and was
engaged in work in a livery stable for a short time when he began the tin
business. In 1861, he enlisted in Company A, Fourteenth Regiment, Tennessee
Volunteer Infantry, subsequently participating in all the engagements of General
Lee's army until Gettysburg. At the battle of Sharpsburg he was wounded in the
mouth, and at Gettysburg was so severely wounded that he was placed on the
retired list. On completing his military career, Mr. Mehigan went to New
Providence, where he engaged in the tin business. In 1888 he opened a hardware
store in Clarksville, and in this he has continued successfully to the present
time, so conducting his operations as1 to gain material success and the esteem
of his fellow citizens. He is the owner of a small, well-cultivated farm, where
he makes his home, and he has wisely invested his earnings in other enterprises.

In 1870 Mr. Mehigan was married to Miss Irene Ogbom, daughter of John Ogbom,
a well-known agriculturist of Montgomery county, and eight children, four of
which are deceased, have been born to this union: Julia E., who lives with her
parents; Virginia, who is the wife of Prof. Kennedy, of the University of North
Carolina; and Cornelius, Jr., and William, both at home. Mr. Mehigan is a member
of the Catholic church, while his wife is connected with the Methodist Episcopal
denomination. He is a Democrat in political matters, but takes only a good
citizen's interest in affairs of a public nature. His career has been a long and
useful one and demonstrates that to the man of ambition, determination and will
power, nothing is impossible and that industry and integrity form the medium
through which success may be gained.


Additional Comments:
From:

A history of Tennessee and Tennesseans : the leaders and representative men in
commerce, industry and modern activities
by Will T. Hale
Chicago: Lewis Pub. Co., 1913


File at: http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/tn/montgomery/bios/mehigan266nbs.txt

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