The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1912-06-06
Alderman of the First Ward
and Dean of the City
Council.
HAD LONG CAREER AS OFFICIAL
Served City as Town Marshal, Was a
Member of Life Saving Grew and
Had Served as Alderman of the First
Ward More Than Seventeen Years.

James II. O'Brien, alderman of the
first ward and dean of the common
council, lost his long struggle against
disease and he died at his home on Elk
change street at half past nine clock
Wednesday evening. Death came as
result of dropsy from which he had
been sufferer for nearly six months.
Alderman O'Brien was taken i'll with
rheumatism during the Christmas holt
days and this later developed into
Bright's disease and dropsy. He had
made memorable fight against death
and up to short time before his
death his friends had hoped against
hope that the fight would be win
ming one. On Wednesday morning he
had relapse and Wednesday after
noon he sank into a stupor from which
he never awakened. The end came
peacefully.
Alderman O'Brien had made his last
public appearance as an official with
the opening of the work of The new
council and it was at the greatest ex-
ertion Of his waning strength that he
was enabled to attend this meeting.
Since that time he had been confined
to his home but much of the time he
had not been confined to his bed.
The passing of Alderman O'Brien
marks the death of man who had
been very active in the affairs Of the
city and man who had been very
active in progressive work. Few men
in Kenosha were more popular among
their friends than the senior alderman
from the first ward and the home on
Exchange street was thronged with
callers when the news of his death was
made public on Thursday. His ac-
quaintance was cosmopolitan and peo-
pie from all ranks Of life in the city
came to express sorrow at his death.
James Henry O'Brien was born in
Kenosha and he had spent all of his
life in the city. He was son of the
late Michael O'Brien and was born
Jan. Z, 1851. He was educated in the
old st. Marks school and later at the
city schools Early in life he learned
the trade Of moulder, later he be-
came an engineer on the Northwestern
road but in his later years he had
been a contracting teamster.
His official career covered long
period of service for he city. In the
old regime before the coming of the
uniformed police officer Alderman
10 'Brien served the city in the capa-
city of town marshal. He gave sew
eral years of his life to the Kenosha
life saving crew and he had served as
ia member of the common council for
more than seventeen years. No man
council
A shrewd politician and man in
tensely loyal to his friends he had
great following in the first ward and
the people of the ward feel in the
death of Alderman O'Brien loss a.
kin to the death of member Of their
own families. His work on the coun-
Gil has been characterized by leader
ship along the line Of public improve
ments and for many years he served
as chairman of the committee on
streets and alleys. He had much to
do with the Improvements made in the
city in the last two decades. He in
terested himself in improvement of the
water front and was active in all lines
Of city work. There was never any de-
sire on his part to get away from re-
sponsibility in his work as an official
AS politician he has always been
a leader and only once in his official
career did he meet defeat. He al
ways fought fair, but the campaigns
he waged were vigorous ores and few
men in the city ever had a larger
political following.
Alderman 0 'Brien had been twice
married and ne is survived by his wi
dow, three sons and two daughters,
George, Edward, Willard, Gladys ana
Lucille, all of Kenosha. He is also
survived by his aged mother, Mrs.
Catherine O'Brien One of the most
striking traits of the character of Az
derman o 'Brien was the lender soil
citude which he had shown for his
aged mother and for years he had
made it the rule to visit her daily.
He is survived by three sisters, Mrs.
John O'Donnell, and Miss Cecilia
O 'Brien of Kenosha, and Mrs. James
B. Devlin Of Denver, Colo. One broth
er, Thomas o 'Brien, also survives.
The contractors started the work of
putting the asphalt on South street
YrTr