"The Kansas City Times" (Missouri) Tuesday, January 18, 1898 COLONEL JAMES LILLIS DEAD. Colonel James LILLIS, one of Kansas City's oldest and most respected citizens, died yesterday morning at 11:30 o'clock at his home, 1026 Forest avenue. He had been ill for the past three weeks with pneumonia. Though at first his case was not considered serious, he steadily grew worse until last Tuesday night his condition was so alarming that a consultation of physicians was held. No material change took place from that time until his death. Colonel LILLIS was born in County Clare, Ireland, in 1839. He came to this country when a boy, settling in Kansas City just before the war. From here he went to Lexington, Mo., living there about eighteen years. At that period, business opportunities were plentiful and Colonel LILLIS took advantage of them with the same vim and energy that so characterized his entire business career. To him Kansas City owes as much as to any other one man for its present greatness. He was a railway contractor and built more miles of railways than any other citizen of Missouri. Beginning with small contracts, he gradually branched out and contracted the building of railways by the hundreds of miles. He built the Lexington branch of the Missouri Pacific and several other branches of the same system. He worked on the Chicago and Alton, Burlington and, in connection with the late General Jo O. SHELBY, built the last section of the Memphis road. In 1880 Colonel LILLIS came to Kansas City, and five years later he took the contract to build the first cable street railway in Kansas City. After the completion of that road he built the Ninth street, Troost avenue and Grand avenue lines. Associated with him in these contracts were Bernard CORRIGAN and James McGONIGAL. He also constructed the L road. His street railway building was not confined to Kansas City. He went to Omaha when he had charge of the construction of several lines. Perhaps one of the best known pieces of work done by him was the construction of the Eighth street tunnel, through which now runs the Elevated electric line of the present Metropolitan system. ON THE POLICE BOARD IN 1887. Not only was Colonel LILLIS a thorough business man, but he was also a politician of considerable ability. In recognition of his integrity and sterling worth, Governor MARMADUKE appointed him a Kansas City police commissioner in 1887. At the time of his death he was a staunch friend of all the leading politicians and statesmen of Missouri. He was a large stockholder and director in the bank of H. S. Mills. Colonel LILLIS was a man who, in acts of charity, believed in not letting his left hand know what his right did. Hundreds of men who have worked for him during the past fifteen years have been helped more than once through his generosity. It is said that he kept trace of worthy men who had been in his employ, and if he found one in need he would quietly relieve him. Colonel LILLIS was the father of eleven children -- Thomas F., a Catholic priest, who has charge of St. Patrick's church at Eighth and Cherry streets; J. S. LILLIS, president of the Bank of H. S. Mills, corner Ninth and Walnut streets; James, John and Benjamin; Misses Kate, Mollie, Margaret, Fanny, Bessie and Florence are the daughters. The death of Colonel LILLIS, it is feared, will render the condition of Mrs. LILLIS, who has been ill for several months, more serious. The funeral will be held tomorrow morning from the residence. Services will be held at St. Patrick's church also. ====================================================== ----- Original Message ----- From: "John Preston" <j6c8p@yahoo.com> To: "John O'Brien" <JohnOBrien@kc.rr.com> Sent: Sunday, December 12, 2004 11:30 PM Subject: Re: > > If you can turn up an obit for James Lillis the > industrialist--died 1890's I think-- that would be > great