John Comiskey (politician)

Life

John Comiskey was born in Crosserlough, County Cavan, Ireland in 1826 and in 1848 he came to New Haven, Connecticut, United States. There he interested himself in the lumber business. In 1853 he came to Chicago, Illinois and had charge of the incoming freight on the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad until 1863 when he engaged his services to Shufeldt & Croskey the prominent distillers. He then became connected with the Fort Wayne, Indiana cattle yards as superintendent of shipments. His first political experience it may be said was in the Internal Revenue Service under Gen Wallace acting under the administration of Andrew Johnson. On the election of Ulysess Grant, Comiskey being a Democrat was removed. In 1870 he was employed as a book keeper by Henry Greenebaum the successful banker of that period. In 1875, he was appointed Clerk of the Board of Cook County Commissioners. In 1878 on the expiration of his term of office he entered the book trade. He then entered the service of the city and was a book keeper in the city treasurer's ofiice. Comiskey served eleven years in the Chicago City Council. He was first elected in the spring of 1859 to represent the tenth ward. At that time there were only ten wards in the city. A subdivision of the wards complicated aldermanic politics forthwith. In 1861 he was elected to represent the seventh ward, also in 1863 and 64 in 66 to represent the eighth ward, and in 68 to represent the ninth ward. In the last year of his term in the Council he was elected as President the first time the office was created. For a quarter of a century Comiskey figured prominently before the public. His voice was always been heard on the side of reform. His independence of character was well known. Among the most notable of his recent achievements was his introduction of the John F. Finerty to the people of the second district which, although overwhelmingly Democratic, elected Finerty to congress independently.