The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-08

This morning at o'clock Frank P. O'Brien, one of the few men who nursed Birmingham in her swaddling clothes, will take the oath and step into the office which is the highest in the gift of the people.
 Everyone knows that the cit.r goes into the hands of one who can be trusted, man with just enough Irish blood to speak his mind on whatever subject, and let consequences be- Few cities have ever elected to the executiveship man of 65 years, but before his term is out it is believed Captain O. Brien will have proven the ability, the alertness and the foresight which his years have added to the physical strength of a young man.
 Captain O'Brien was born in Dublin, Ireland, February 29, 1S44, being one of the few who suffer from a birthday only once every four years. His parents were Michael Andrew O'Brien and Mary AL len Cocoran O'Brien When four years of age his family removed to America, settling first in Homesdale, Pa, and then in Scranton, Pa. He was early appren- ticed to learn fresco and scenic painting and in 1859 accompanied Peter Schmidt to Alabama, where they had contracts to decorate the Montgomery theatre and several churches.
 He was 1T when the war broke out and immediately joined the Alabama troops, going to Pensacola. He assisted in the captures of Fort Barancas and the Warrenton navy yard. and in 1861 he became a member of the Montgom- cry "rrue Blues" a company of the famous Third Alabama regiment. Here he did his first newspaper work, corre- spending for the Richmond, Va, News while in service. He was a volunteer on the iron clad Albermarle in the en- gagement against the Whitehead, and vessels of the northern fleet. He served the south with honor and not until the close of the war did he return to Mont gomery and take up his trade. A specimen of his work is the design of the dome at the state capitol costing sSO00 one of the most beautiful In the state
 Captain O'Brien came to Birmingham on June 1, 1871, when the Elyton Land company put on the first sale of lots, which started the Magic City. The first
 
 year. The future Mayor opened store for the sale of building material in a little frame structure where the Webb Book Store now stands. In April of 1872 he removed to the corner opposite the Jefferson County Savings bank, and he also conducted a door and blind factory where the Alabama Great Southern freight depot now stands.
 In 1873, with Eugene McCaw and Frank A. Duval, he started the Daily Item," Brmingham's first paper, and conducted it through the cholera plague which dev- astated the little town. In 1887 Captain O Brien, w. c. Garrett, Frank V. Evans, and others organized the Daily Age" He did not, however. have any active part in the publishing of these papers, as he continued to enlarge a growing contracting business until 1887. In 1886 he assisted R. N Rhodes in starting "The Evening News" and fin 1887. with W. P. Pinkard and R. N. Rhodes, launched ''The Heraldsf' another morning paper. In De- cember of the next year "The Age' and "The Herald' were merged, becoming ''The Age1Herald" with Captain O'Brien as president and manager, and he con- ducted the paper until in 1894 he became sole owner and editor. In the panic of the winter of 1895 he was obliged to sell, the purchasers being J. H. Johnston John w. Tomlinson, Louis " Clark, Nat l.. Miller Charles Greer and Hugh Wilson. Before ending his newspaper career, however, Captain O'Brien entered active ly into politics He had always taken an interest in state politics, having been a member of every constitutional con- vention save one since the war, but in 1892 he was elected to the house of rep resentatives, serving two terms. In 1896 he engaged in warm contest for sheriff and defeated B. A. Thompson, Andrew Burgin, William Yam, James Estes, A. B. Jones, W. J. Prowell and T. s. Smith in one of the greatest fights ever pulled off In the county. The last year of his term he was returned to the house by the county convention, though not can didate.
 Though growing old in years his great vitality held him through another great race in 1904, when he lost to George Ward for Mayor by a narrow margin and last fall his highest ambition was accom- plished, being elected without opposition. Captain O'Brien has been successful in four professions, scenic painting and fresco decorating, contracting, politics and theatrical business. His building in- cludes the Birmingham rolling mill, the Alice furnace, the first county courthouse and others of like nature
 In 1882 he built the O'Brien Opera House and conducted 1t for number of years acting as vice president of the south- ern theatrical circuit.
 He married Danny Mcbride daughter of pr. Andrew Mcbride of Montgomery, on October II, 1865, and has been blessed with five children
 There are few people in the community who have taken such a consistent, active, untiring interest in public affairs of every nature and whose influence for good has been so widely felt.