The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-12-02
Thomas F. GIroy, Ex-Mayor, Is Dead Former Tammany Power, Who Had Lived in Retirement
 Since 1894, Dies of
 ApOplexy

New York Dec 2-Thomas F. Gill roy, who was Mayor of this city in 1893 and 1894, died, last night at his home on Ocean avenue, Far Rocka- way. L. l. He was 71 years old. His since he gave up the Presidency or the Twelfth Ward Bank in this city ten years ago, and his death, caused by apoplexy, had been expected for a year or more. But he had been able to be about his Far Rockaway home until few days ago.
 MT. Gilroy, although he became lat CT the Chief Executive of this city and a power in Tammany, was the son of poor parents, who brought him from Ireland to this country when he was seven years old His father died few years later, and he had to give up his attempt to> get an education in the public schools and learn trade.
 My first job was in G. P. Putnam's publishing house." Mayor Gilroy said once while describing his early strug- gles '.They were getting out Wash ington Irving's Life of Washington to be sold on subscription. It was I read everything could lay my hands on. When I went errands used to slip a book under my coat and read on the way. would sit up to 12 Or o'clock reading till my mother chased me off to sleep. don't believe I was very good ser want though, for as soon as the sub- scription business was done the pub- fishers let me go.''
 His next position was an apprentice in the printing office of E. c. Jenkins.
 who afterward became Public School Commissioners.
 When he was A years old MT. Gil- made sixth clerk in the Croton AQue- duct Board at salary of s1,250 year, and married Miss Sheridan in old St%Patricks church. The cou- 'ple set up housekeeping at Broome and Mott streets. which was suppos- days. They had twelve children. Soon after his marriage MT. Gilroy be- came messenger for William M. Tweed, and later confidential clerk for Prince Har' Genet. Then he worked in the County Clerks office till 1874. when he was appointeN Clerk of the Tenth District Court, County Clerk under County Clerk F1ack in 1885. All this time he had been working energetically for Tam many. He was leader of the Twenty third Assembly District and Secre- tary of the General Committee. He was chosen by Tommany to manage the campaign of Mayor Grant, who preceded him in the Mayoral office.
 MT. Gilroy distinguished himself by reorganizing the County Clerks or, flee abolishing it's fee system ana making it a salaried office, and re- modelling the searcher's bureau. Then he was appointed receiver of Mitchell. aS ic dr1tv satisfactorily although his appoint ment at first was criticised as poli- tical one. He became Deputy Sheriff and Commissioner of Public Works under Mayor Grant, cutting. down the salary list of the latter office many thousands of dollars and instituting other reforms. He was elected Grand Sachem of Tammany Hall in 1891, and was elected as a Tammany Mayor of the city the following year.
 MT. Gilroy was one of the most striking Mayors this city has ever had, with iron-gray hair, 8 heavy mus. tacfe, a we'll knit, erect physique, and of horses and pushed through the plans for the Harlem Speedway, and did much to improve street and paw ing conditions. But the Lexow tnves- tigation of the Police Department oc- cured. in his administration, and the scandals or the f<eu LlSHl DisIIiCl broke and in 1895 he was replaced Dy the reform and fusion candidate, Will liam L.. Strong. He became one of the Greater New York Commissioners.
 Since leaving the Mayoralty, MT. Gilroy has lived in retirement. He was president of the Twelfth Ward hank for a short time, but gave up this position because of failing health. Ever since the days before he was Mayor he has maintained city house in West 121st Street and country home in Far Rockaway and he resided either at one or other or these piaces to the time of his death. He has been spoken of in recent years as a builder and real estate dealer, but this according to his relatives applied merely to some minor operations in Far Rockaway. He was memper of the Manhattan Club and the Riders and Drivers Club.