The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-03-13
CUDAHYS LINEAGE.

OODAH1 y LlNEAGE.
Jack CUDAHY came of adventurous
J stock It has been said. rather per-
tinently, that the Cudahy family is one
OF spectacular stunts" these diverting
performances being distributed among
the various branches of the original
family tree and handed down from
father to son.
These little stunts OF the Cudahys
always have been interesting, and have
many times Whetted the curiosity and
the sensation-loving propensities OF a
gossip-greedy public 1t matters not
whether Cudahy figured in a financial
coup, a social ''headlner.'' a KIDNAPPING
mystery, or just a plain case Of throw
ing away a few surplus dollars, the
country has been interested and has
formed the habit OF waiting expectantly
for the next number on the Cudahy
vaudeville program
Jack Cudahy belongs TO the younger
generation Of Cudahys- That is. be
wasn't in existence when the first
Cudahy Of them all came over from
Kilkenny. Ireland, away back IN 1919
The elder Cudahy brought with him
three sons. Mike, John, and Pat. Mrs.
lea, brought another son, Edward. into
the world
Having shaken the sod OF Ireland from
his feet, the elder Cudahy ceased to
worry about landowners and home rule.
He turned his attention more specifically
10 the American dollar, then rather
scarce commodity In the Cudahy house
hold. Locating in Milwaukee, he viewed
aN,s
the packing house offered an oppor-
tunity for gathering in the shekels.
Gets Start
In Packing House.
At that time Philip Armour had a
small packing house in Milwaukee It
was one of the pioneer Armour enter
prises. the beginning OF a chain tat
has now extended throughout the entire
country. Cudahy. the original, from
County Kilkenny, Ireland, applied for
and received a job.
There was no thought In the mind OF
employer or employe, in those days,
that in the years to come the names Of
Armour and Cudahy would represent
the larger percentage OF the meat in
dustry Of the United States.
As the Cudahy boys became old
enough they. too. obtained positions IN
the Armour Packing House. They we're
OF energetic turn. and finally attracted
the attention OF old Philip Armour,
who professed that he had taken
rather a liking to them and their
methods and was not averse 10 forming
a co-partnership with the Cudahy
family
A.oo--5;rgt- the r-C-,rd a ny
Packing Company wss organized. and
Uncle Phil" Armour. who, by the
way. was CT no relationship 20 the
Cadanys at all. started TO teach the
Cudahy boys, as ne patronizinEIy called
them. the inside Of the business. The
BOYS. however, had already learned the
practical side of packing, and one day
Uncle Phn'' awoke to the rather
startling fact that the Cudahys knew
a. much about his business as did he
himself. and. in addition, Rad picked
I'D some very valuable infor1na ton on
the side.
Uncle PHIL decided that. under the
circumstances, ii would 10 inure to his
benefit to dissolve the co-partnership.
Uncle Phlls'' boys. therefore, left the
Armour concern and struck out for
themselves.
Equipped with three good Irish names.
and the requisite amount of inherent
pluck, Ed, Pat and Mike kept right on
in the packing business. They pros
pered. as seems to be a habit with all
packers, and within a few years they
owned plants in Omaha. Milwaukee,
Chicago. Los Angeles, Kansas City and
Sioux City. They kept out OF the trust.
although they were in on a gentleman S
agreement" which was sufficient 70
maintain prices and reap benefits. but
at the same time enabled them to steer
clear of entangling alliances.
John Cudahy's
Financial Career.
John Cudahy. however, went into the
grain instead Of the meat business, and
the second big financial stunt as
pulled of in 1893. when John attempted
TO corner the wheat market. Uncle
PHIL Armour. it is said. threw more
corn and wheat at John Cudahy than
he was able 20 take care Of. and the
result was that Cudahy went TO the
wall with liabilities of about 100000.
Uncle Phil" had shown his boys that
he knew a thing or two about grain as
well as the meat. John Cudahy set
tied with his creditors for fifty cents
IL