The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1909-03-18
Well Known Physician of City
Died at His Home on Friday
After Years of illness
LONG PROMINENT IN kENOSHA
Was Twice Member Of the Wisconsin
State Board of Control and Long
Active in Local and State
Political Circles

LII. JOHH II. CledIy, one u Inc oluGSt
and best known of the practicing physi-
clans of the city, died at his home
on Park avenue Friday at the age
of 81 years. DR.. Cleary had been con-
fined to his home with cancer of the
face for the past year and he had been
suffering from the cancer for more than
twenty years. For the past four
months his condition had been regarded
as critical and death came as a sweet
release from long period of suffering.
The funeral was held from ST..
James church on Monday morning and
the remains were laid at rest in the
family plat at st. James cemetery,
The death of Dr. Cleary marks the
passing of a man who had been most
active in the professional and political
life of Wisconsin during the past quart
may institutions in Kenosha made him
widely known among the people of the
city.
John Lawrence Cleary was son Of
the late Thomas Cleary, one of the
pioneer settlers of Waukesha. county
He was born in the village Of Moy
glass, Ireland, Oct. II, 1916. When he
was three years of age he was brought
to this country by his parents and the
family settled on farm in Walworth
county near the village of East Troy
where DIR. Cleary grew to manhood. He
was educated in the country schools
and later at the Whitewater Normal.
When he was sixteen years of age he
enlisted in the Union army as a mem
Der Of the 33rd Wisconsin volunteer
infantry and he served for three years
during the Civil War. He was mem
her of the Fred S. Lowell Post of the
Grand Army and has always been ac-
tive in his interest in the welfare of
the old soldier. After the war was
over DR.. Cleary entered the Pulte Medi-
cal College at Cincinnati, Ohio, from
which he was graduated with high
honors as a. member of the class of
1877 He was married in 1873 to Miss
Agnes Mulholland of Meme, Wis DR..
Cleary came to Kenosha in 1889 and
since that time he had been engaged in
the practice Of medicine.
He has been active in the advance
ment of his profession and was one of
the charter members of the Kenosha
! County Medical Society. He was one
! of the charter members Of the Kenosha
Chapter of the knights of Columbus
and served the chapter in the capacity
of Advocate until failing health forced
him to give up the office. DR.. Cleary
took a. great interest in civic reform
and was one Of the founders and the
first president of the Kenosha Civic
Federation.
In politics DR.. Cleary was a Demo
crat and he had been most active in
the support of these principles, both
in local and state circles. During the
two Peck administrations DR.. Cleary
was twice named as member of the
Wisconsin State Board of Control. He
was widely known among the Demo
Gratis of Wisconsin and was held high
in the councils of the party
DR.. Cleary was man Of character
a man of genial disposition, who made
friends and held them and a man OF
deep religious feeling. For years he
was one Of the leading members of St
James church.
He is survived by his widow and
seven children, DR.. John Ell. Cleary oil
Kenosha, Mrs Agnes G. Bristow of Ok
lahoma James M. Cleary Of Chicago
Mary E. Cleary, George r., Joseph and
Guy Cleary, all Of Kenosha.
The Cleary family has been famous
in political and religious circles in Wis
consin. The surviving brothers of DR.
Cleary are The Rev j. M. Cleary
formerly pastor of st. James church
but now of Minneapolis; Prof Francis
Cleary Of Minneapolis, Thomas Cleary
Of Platteville, W. H. Cleary of Galena
1 ILL.,, and Joseph Clearly Of Langdon, N
Id.