The Farmington times. [volume] (Farmington, Mo.) 1874-1902, 1901-08-08

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Hopkins hospital. where he had hren
since July n, under treatment by spe.
ciallsts. His son, John O'Day, Jr., who
had been notified of his fathers crit
icaI condition by telegraph, reached
Baltimore Monday, and was with his
father when he died. lie left for 81.
Louis Tuesday night, bringing his fa-
theirs body with him.
sketch Of JohH O'Day's Career.
John O'Day WAY one Of the best
known Missourians. and his rcputa-
tion was national. Ileing a dramatic
figure. hc was never lost To ihe public.
He was an aggressive lawyer aud pO-
liticul fighter. and wac once recog-
nized as u power In the railroad
schemes OF southern Missouri. His
wealth Is estimated in millions. Al
ways mnstcT Of his business and polit-
ical interests, he was successful
politicians having carried Green coun-
ty for the democracy IN the last com.
paiRn. lie also figured Ia two divorce
suits which ended disastrously for
him,
lie vas born In Limerick. ireland,
30 years ago. His parents were poor.
They moved 10 America when he was
an infant, and lived In New York un.
iii their sou was ie years old, when
they moved to Juneau. Wis. About
this time his father died. The boy,
ambitious aud widr-awake, worked on
farm and supported his mother.
During his spare time he studied law.
In lS62 he was graduated from law
school in Albany. NY. having made
his way through on his savings as n
farm hand In lsGi he went TO
Springfield, Mo, poor young man.
Hut he had the will and the energy.
aud he made acQuaiutauces rnpldly.
lie was bright and strong, and In a
short time had made q favorable i'm
precision. Judge lanes liukcr was one
~ the foremost iurists OF the state.
ODay made a friend of him. This
friendship led him into prominence
as railroad man In fact, later hc
became known a. the Railroad King
OF Missouri.
lie Was made attorney for the roads
which are now the Missouri Pacific
aud the 81 Louis a san Francisco
railroads Judge Baker was at the
head Of these roads, and he selected
ODay TOR the position brcausc OF his
ability
O'Day was shrcwd, and Il was not
long hcforc he supplan,cd his old
friend ~ the head OF the railroads.
lie was popular with every railroad
Cmployc from The heads of divisions
down 10 the section hands, and they
would do anything for him. However,
he always had 90 he on the lookout,
aud wBs forced to put mp most ar
gressi,e fight TO hold his position. Af.
ter years ~ this warfare came his re.
tircmCnt in 1850
In ISig O'Day became interested In
politics, and fur many years. 10 is
fald. he held dominant place. crack
ing the whip over the Missouri legis,
laturr like master Phelps and Car
oil owe their introduction To the Sc
rrct NJ success In politics to him. For
.c'crnl wears he held places ON the
democratic state committee, and IN
l-s2 he was credited with having
helped the democracy to one OF the
most sweeping victories that party
ever attained. Three times he was
elected dclcgatc-nt-largc to national
conventions. He was known us Rail
road John" In political circles. lie had
been elected 10 the legislature. which
made his name prominent as can
didatc for governor IN 1850, but he
preferred the rule he had over the
legislature. His ambition was for his
brother. 4. c. O'Day. His enemies OBJ
jected aud forced n fight. O'Day took
his entire force Of clerks TO Spring.
field from 81. Louis. transacted all
his business there, aud made Spring
field the center Of the political fight.
lie carried the day and elected his
brother.
ODny was married three times. He
was divorced from his first TWO wives.
His present wife, who was Miss Sue
Baldwin. was his stenographer when
he married her in ST. Louis Inst June.
lie married Miss Sarah Jane Camp
bell, OF Milwaukee, In iss5. They
were divorced two years later. and by
agreement $4,000 alimony went TO
MrT. oDay. 4 few years later he
married Mrs. Mary Vail. of Spring
field. Two years ago the second Mrs.
O'Dny applied for n divorce. She Sc
cured S2jo,O00 alimony. While in st.
Louis, at the Lindcll hotel, in July,
1900, the second Mrs. oDsy tried to
kill herself, firing bullet into her
breast.
Mr.. O'Day'S prefix Of Colonel was
not his by right Of military achieve
meni. He won Il by his commanding
presence. the military spirit which he
cNcrted in his civil and political
fights. the title being bestowed upon
him as a compliment when elected
chairman Of the Democratic state CEN
trai committee in 1876. Ills only mill
fary scrricr was that of private In
the Foriy'sevcpth New York infantry
during the ciyil war.