Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1901-06-29
The COlemans Were Famous
Steamboatmen in Early
Days.
Dennis Long, John ID. Taggart,
James Todd and William
Collins.
ALL PROMINENT IN PUBLIC LIFE

Irish-Americans have reason to be
proud of the part which men of their
stock have taken in making Louisville
the flourishing and influential city it is
today. In every branch Of industry and
commerce, as we'll as in the learned pro-
fessions, Irishmen and men Of Irish de-
seen have stood from the eatly days of
the city's history and stand today among
the number of our most esteemed and
useful citizens.
We can not undertake to eAnmerate all
of them, but it will be pleasure to read
the merits of some who have passed to
their reward and of some who are still
doing the work of useful citizens among
us as samples Of the sort Of people Irish
Americans have shown themselves to be.
In the palmy days of travel and traffic
on our Western rivers no owners or cap
tains of steamboats, were better known
than Capt. Thomas c. and Capt. John
Coleman. They were born in Cork
county, Ireland, where their father, who
died when they we're quite young, was a
prosperous merchant. Thomas c. Cole
man came TO this country when quite
young man, arriving in Louisville in 1884
He had been interested in line of steam
boats before leaving Ireland and at once
engaged in steamboating here. Three
years afterward he was joined by his
youngest brother, John. who became in
terested with him in the steamboat bust
ness. The "Saladin" and louisville, :"
belonging to them, we're among the fast
est and best boats on the Western rivers
In 1853 they went into the iron business
and soon thereafter establiab the Louis
vile rolling mill, which they operated
with great success. Mr.. T. c. Coleman
died in 1861 and Capt. John Coleman in
1876. They were both handsome, courtly
gentlemen, and Capt John Coleman was
especially noted as a witty conversation
alist and excellent story teller. The de-
scendants of these pioneer business men
have continued to hold the best social
and business standing.
In this connection, though out of our
order of arrangement, 1t is convenient to
speak of the record Capt. Thomas G.
Coleman, still in the enjoyment of a
green old age and living on his handsome
place some miles out on the Louisville &
Nashville main line, from which he Wis
its the city nearly every day, though for
some years retired from business. He
was the oldest SON of the first T. c. Cole
man and succeeded his father in the
rolling mill. He became famous among
steamboat captains as the only man who
ever stole President. When Gen. Tay-
lor was preparing to SO to Washington to
be inaugurated and New Orleans COM
miitee had prepared to escort him from
his home in Louisiana to Vicksburg,
Capt Coleman with the "SaIadin'' leav.
ing New Orleans the evening before the
committees boat, which was to start the
next morning, whistled vigorously in the
bend below Gen. Taylor's plantation and
found Gen. Taylor at the landing
equipped for his journey, and the General,
learning the other boat would not be up
till late in the afternoon, boarded the
"Saladin" for Vicksburg, and the cha.
grin of the committee was great when
they came up and found him gone. II is
proper TO say that Capt Coleman had
urged the committee to leave on his boat.
Among the builders of great indus
tries that have helped to make Louisville
what it is no man is entitled to higher
position than the late Dennis Long,
whose career should be an example and
stimulus to all young men. Born in
Londonderry in 1916, he was brought to
this country by his parents at the age OF
four. First settling in Erie, his parents
soon moved to Pittsburg, where Dennis
learned the holders trade and became
noted for his skill. In 1888 Louisville
foundry firm had occasion to make a
special casting and sent to Pittsburg for
an expert molder. Dennis Long was
sent and performed his work so success
fully that the Louisville firm retained
him in their employ. He soon set up a
foundry and machine shop of his own,
and Louisville gained reputation as a
boat building point by the excellence Of
the machinery he made. He early began
the casting of gas and water pipe and his
pipe foundry became the greatest in the
Ohio valley, sending its products all
through the South and West. He faciIi-
tated the building of water works in
many cities by taking stock in part pay
ment for pipe. He was a prudent and
cautious financier, but courageous in
backing meritorious undertakings. The
Southern railroad and the Jacksonville
bridge are monuments of his bushes:
enterprise and courage. 1t was his bold
| backing aud good management that car