Jan. 29, 1887 Condolence Letter from A. P. McGuirk of Davenport, IA
February 21, 2018Ambrose P. McGuirk, of Davenport, Iowa and Secretary of the Democratic State Central Committe of Iowa, wrote this condolence letter to John F. Armstrong on 29 January 1887. McGuirk was the law partner of M. V. Gannon, who served as the Iowa representative to the Irish National League of America in the 1880s. Gannon was a founding member of the Irish National League of America and was appointed to the INLA’s Council of Seven, along with JF, in 1883. The Parnell Commission Report identified Gannon as a member of the Clan na Gael.
In the letter below, McGuirk addressed JF as “My Dear Friend” and closed the letter as “Yours Fraternally, A. P. McGuirk”. It appears that McGuirk knew JF through a fraternal Irish organization, most likely the Clan na Gael.
For more information on McGuirk, see the References and attached notes below.
Marie Van Sant Hudson contributed research for this post.
References
“A. P. M’Guirk Ends Life At Mt. Pleasant – Body of Former Davenport Attorney Sent Here For Burial.” The Daily Times (Davenport, IA), 13 November 1920, online archives, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com : accessed 24 February 2018), citing original p. 14. McGuirk was, for many years, the law partner of M. V. Gannon.
Parnell Commission, A Verbatim Copy of the Parnell Commission Report With Complete Index and Notes (London: Irish Loyal and Patriotic Union, 1890), 136, 140; digital images, Archive.org (https://archive.org/stream/verbatimcopyofpa : accessed 6 March 2018). A. P. McGuirk was the law partner of M. V. Gannon, a well-known Irish nationalist. Gannon was identified as a Clan na Gael member by the Parnell Commission.
Thomas Power O’Connor, M. P., and McWade, Robert, Esq., Gladstone-Parnell And the Great Irish Struggle: A Graphic Story of Injustice And Oppression Inflicted Upon Irish Tenantry, And A History Of The Gigantic Movement Throughout Ireland, America, and Great Britain For “Home Rule”, Also A Complete History Of The Great Times Conspiracy, With Biographies Of The Great Leaders Gladstone, Parnell, Davitt, Egan And Very Many Others (Philadelphia, Pa.: Hubbard Bros., 1890), 553; digital images, Archive.org (https://archive.org/details/gladstoneparnell1890ocon : accessed 6 March 2018). McGuirk’s law partner was Iowa’s representative to the Irish National League of America.