The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-04-29
WeII-KnOwn Business Man Dies
at the Holy Cross
Hospital.
RESIDENT OF SALT LAKE
MORE THAN FORTY YEARS
Death, Not Unexpected, Comes
After Months of Serious
Illness.

James McTernay, proprietor OF the
Onyx Bank saloon at 32 West Second
South, died at the Holy Cross hospital
at 9sSS o'clock Thursday evening. Death
came quickly. for Mr.. McTernay had
held his own In long struggle. He was
g. years of age. Mr. McTernay in jan
uary. 1909. became Ill OF pneumonia. lie
recovered from the attack. partially. at
least. but on the 18th Of last August
an abscess formed on the lungs, and an
operation became necessary. After he
left tho hospital he went TO California,
where, at Long Beach, he remained about
six wcelgs. He returned to Salt Lake
and resumed his work. On March / OF
this year another abscess formed on
tho lungs and a second operation was
necessary.
For a long time Mr.. McTernay's con-
dition was critical, at many times death
seemed imminent Hc fought hraVely.
however. and there were periods when
there was hope Of his ultimate recovery,
Apparently the battle was unequal and
he breathcd his last breath at the time
mentioned.
Biographical
James McTernay was one Of tho best
known men In Salt Lake and throughout
Utah. lie came to Salt Lake City In
1867 from Virginia City. Mont, and he
since. Soon after his arrival in Utah
ne went to Ophir where he engaged In
the liquor business, opening saloon
there. From Ophir he went to Alta In
Little Cottonwood and engaged in the
same business. After remaining there
two years he came TO Salt Lake City and
hero he resided until the end came.
on his return to Salt Lake he opened
a saloon in the old Salt Lake house stu
ated near the site of the present Trib-
une building. In his ventures in Ophlr.
Alta and salt Lake he was successful.
but the money that he made went back
into mines. prospects and mining stocks.
and In these he lost two or three for
tnues
Finally he decided to let mines and
mining stocks alone and stick TO the
business OF liquor dealer. hence In the
early ninetles he bought the Onyx Bank
saloon on Second South street from Har-
ry Edwards and from then until his death
he devoted his entire time and attention
10 the liquor business. Three years ago
his lease on the room occupied by his
saloon expired and he then purchased
the Oxford saloon which was established
by Enzeusperger Bros. in 1891 and re-
moved there, Here he remained in busi-
ness until his death
1t was always said OF Jimmy" Nc
Ternay that he was an ideal saloon man
He made the business a study and his
place was known all over the west as
try. II was always said OF him that
were all drinking places conducted as he
conducted his. the evils OF the liquor
traffic would be reduced to minimum.
Strong In Friendships.
Mr.. McTernay was strong In his friend =
ships. II he liked one he could always
be depended upon and IL he Was against
one he was out In the open and his posi-
tion was known. In politics he was a
Liberal when the old Liberal party eX-
listed. and when the American party was
formed he allied himself with that party.
He was born In Ireland and came to
America when n lad. He had no rela-
tivcs here. but some distant ones were
said to be living in ireland
Mr. McTernay was we'll fixed In so
far as this worlds goods were concerned
lie was reputed to be worth si00 900. When
he was stricken III the fall and his death
was expected, he made his Will disposing
OF all his property.