> Drohen Martin Waterford Ireland Albany April 23, 1848 45 years [born about 1803] […] 20 http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nytigs/StJohnsCemetery_Albany/StJohnsCemetery-Albany-Dow-Dum.htm A Martin Drohan, presumably that very one, was one of over 360 Irish men who signed an 1847 dinner invitation to former NYS Governor William Henry Seward. For the text of the invitation, which is lengthy and I have not completely transcribed, follow the link. The list of names following the invitation, which I have not completely transcribed either, might be of some genealogical interest. > It will be seen, from the following Correspondence, which we take much pleasure in publishing, that the Irish citizens of Albany, irrespective of party, have tendered to GOV. SEWARD, as a testimony of their personal regard, the honor of a PUBLIC DINNER—an honor which, though declined, is appropriately and gratefully acknowledged and appreciated: > ALBANY, June 19, 1847. > Wm. H. Seward,— > Dear Sir,—Your welcome presence in the city affords the opportunity of accomplishing a desire long entertained by a large class of your fellow-citizens of foreign birth, to invite you to a public entertainment. It is needless here to enumerate the reasons which induce them to offer this feeble testimonial of their regard to one whose advocacy of their rights has elicited the grateful expressions of the liberal of all classes here and elsewhere. Yet it may not be deemed inappropriate, nor we trust offensive to your modesty, briefly to allude to one or two of the prominent circumstances which gives you such a lasting claim on the gratitude and esteem of those on whose behalf we have the honor to address you. > The descendants and friends of unhappy and down-trodden Ireland, on this side of the Atlantic, had scarcely organized to aid their suffering brethren at home in the recovery of their long-lost rights, ere you boldly and manfully came forward and gave the strength of your name and position, and the power and brilliancy of your eloquence, to the movement; and the efficient aid thus lent is doubly enhanced by the fact, that the great majority of those for whose country and in whose cause you had thus enlisted, have ever been opposed to the local political principles of yourself and party. It was in the dark hour, when the evil spirit of Nativism became riotous and rampant, and threatened to desolate the land; when the torch was applied to the sacred edifices of those whose extermination or banishment was sought, and the blood of those who opposed their designs murderously shed, that you showed yourself a true man in resisting the onward march and success of this once powerf! ul, but now happily defunct, party. […] > Be pleased therefore, dear sire, to accept the tender of a public dinner, to be given you by the adopted citizens of Albany at the time and place earliest suited to your convenience. Your acceptance of this invitation will much oblige them as well as the undersigned, who on their behalf, as well as individually, have the honor to subscribe themselves. Your Friends and Fellow-Citizens. > James Maher, Matthew McMahon, John Tracey, > Timothy O’Brien, William Hawe, Thomas Noonan, > Michael Cooney, Michael Moran, Mat’w Campion, > John Cooney, Patrick O’Connor, Thos. Campion, > Patrick Murphy, Patrick Powers, Red’d Campion, > Charles Quin, Wm. Carroll, Wm. Hacket, > James Heffernan John O’Brien, Mich’l Hacket, > Jas. Birmingham, John Hart, John Hacket, > William Walsh, Michael Clarke, John Gorman, […] "Public Dinner to Gov. Seward." Albany Evening Journal. June 29, 1847: 2 col 3. http://fultonhistory.com/Newspapers%20Disk3/Albany%20NY%20Evening%20Journal/Albany%20NY%20Evening%20Journal%201847.pdf/Albany%20NY%20Evening%20Journal%201847%20-%200571.pdf > THE LOST PEDLAR FOUND. Martin Drohan, of Albany, a pedlar, was in this city on the 7th last. In the evening he left the tavern of James Brady, on the corner of North Second and Federal streets, and suddenly disappeared. As he was supposed to have considerable money about him, the opinion prevailed that he had met with foul play and was murdered for his money. On Saturday the body was found in the River near the Nail Factory Dock. He had, probably under the bewilderment of liquor, strolled towards the bridge and missed his way, and fell into the river at the foot of Federal street, about 2 1/2 miles from where he was found — A memorandum book with his name in it found in his picket, with a scar on one tumb, enabled his friends to recognize the body. One $5 bill, and $8.47 in change was found in his pocket. Verdict, “Accidental Drowning.” [Post. Troy Daily Whig. April 25, 1848: 2 col 5. > John Drohan, who passed away at his home at West Neck on Tuesday, Aug. 7, at 2 A.M., was born in the city of Albany, June 4, 1841. He was the son of Martin Drohan, a builder of Albany, and lived in that city until he was about twelve years of age, when his father died and he came to New York city, where his brother was living, working in Washington Market. After going to school for a while, he later went to work in the market with his brother. In 1860 he started in business for himself in the market, and after a short time took his brother in partnership with him, the business being conducted under the style of J. & M. Drohan. The business was exceedingly prosperous and grew to large dimensions. During busy seasons it would run high up in the thousands some days. They had made during the war, on more than one morning, $4,000 clear money before breakfast-time. John was very ambitious and sometimes went three or four days with hardly a wink of sleep. His business wa! s largely a night business and his restless energy kept him on the go continually. The firm shipped goods all over the country. Although he had an iron constitution, it broke down under this treatment and in 1870 he retired from business and came out to Northport, where he lived for three years. he then went down to the city, where he engaged in business again and started the present business in the market. he afterwards removed to Washington street, where he took Mr. A. K. Powell, of Farmingdale, in with him, the business being conducted at first under the name of Drohan & Co., and afterwards Drohan & Powell. Five years ago they separated and Mr. Drohan took his two sons, Henry and John, Jr., in with him, the name under which it is conducted to-day. Mr. Drohan moved to Huntington eighteen years ago, coming from Herkimer street, Brooklyn. He has had none children, seven of whom, John, Jr., Henry, Lizzie, (Mrs. F.) Stratton), Lydia, Chauncey, Morris and Louie, are now! living. > Deceased was a successful man in his business, having at one time amassed quite a fortune. He had business connections all over the country with hotel people and retail dealers, the name of Drohan & Co., being known from Maine to Texas. Their specialty was poultry and game and there were no better judges of this class of merchandise anywhere. He was the pioneer in the refrigerator business, he being the leading spirit in the establishment of the large Barclay St. Freezing Co. They built a great structure fourteen stories high for the purposes of this business. > He retired from active participation in the business a year or more ago on account of failing health. He has travelled on health and business nearly all over this country, made a large number of pleasant acquaintanceships. There was hardly a butcher or poultry dealer in New York city who did not know the firm. > He was very kind to the poor and gave away thousands of dollars directly in charity. At his stand in the market every Saturday night could be seen a string of twenty-five or thirty poor people each waiting for a chicken or turkey, and they never went away empty-handed. Sometimes he would have a little fun with them and drive them off with a broomstick, but they never left until they received their allowance. He gave away hundreds of dollars to poor people of this town. His hospitality was great. he would frequently get up a great game supper and invite a large number of people from the village down to his house and everyone went away filled. He had almost unlimited trust in others and hundreds borrowed money of him which was never returned and large accounts against poor debtors were never pressed. When his books were settled up for the beginning of the new firm five years ago, over $30,000 in accounts were found on them which were marked off as given up. Every Ch! ristmas he gave from $25 to $50 worth of poultry to the Newsboys’ Lodging House in New York. He was always liberal with the Sisters of Charity. He was always ready to befriend any unfortunate ones. One instance we relate: One time he heard the story of a poor Baltimore dealer named Lydecker, who had been “done up” by a confidence man on his arrival in New York, and had lost over $700 which he had brought on with him to buy goods. Mr. Drohan went to the confidence dealer and asked him to refund the amount, which he promptly did on Mr. Drohan’s demand. Lydecker never forgot the favor. > He was a member of the old New York Volunteer Fire Department and later of the Huntington Fire Department. He was a warm friend of education and always spoke a good word for the Huntington Union School, where a number of his sons and daughters graduated. He was quite a reader and took a delight in historical works. He was well read up in Shakespeare and frequently quoted him at length. He was for many years a Free Mason and belonged to Jephtha Lodge of this village at the time of his death. > His funeral services were held at his residence on Thursday afternoon, there being a very large gathering of our townspeople present on the occasion. The chief officers of the Fire Department and the officers of the various companies were present; also the members of Jephtha Lodge, F. & A. M. There were also present a number of prominent representatives of the meat and [?] trade of New York city. [Funeral?] services were conducted by Rev. Mr. Turner, of St. John’s, and [funeral?] rites were performed at [?] in the Huntington Rural [bottom of first column of article cropped] > townspeople, poor and rich. We extend to the members of the bereaved family our sympathy in this their hour of great trial. “John Drohan.” Long-Islander [Huntington, NY]. August 11, 1894: 3 cols 5-6. John Drohan (1841-1894) Huntington Rural Cemetery, Suffolk County, NY http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=51770930 Named for him, John Drohan Stratton, b. 1894 in Huntington: http://longislandsurnames.com/getperson.php?personID=I4114&tree=Gildersleeve There’s a lot of Drohans in Huntington. At least one was very long-lived, John Henry Drohan (1896-1996) http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=65661590 Chris