Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 823 - 824

DANIEL J. TANGNEY, a real-estate dealer and capitalist of Wichita, in the prosecution of his business has done much toward the building up of the city, to which he came in July, 1883. He first engaged in the grocery trade on Douglas avenue, but nine months later sold out and established his present business, in which he has been uniformly successful.

            Our subject was born in County Kerry, Ireland, and was brought by his parents, John and Eleanor (O'Connell) Tangney, to America when a small boy. They located in Canada, where the father carried on farming until his death, which occurred in 1855. The mother is living and a resident of the Dominion. In Ireland John Tangney lived as a tenant on the Anamore farm. The mother of our subject is a descendant of the world-renowned Daniel O'Connell, and of her marriage with John Tangney there were born eleven children, of whom six only are living. These are: Patrick, of Canada; Hannah, Mrs. Murphy, who lives in Canada; John, Michael, Jeremiah, Thomas and Daniel J.

            Our subject received a common-school education, which was begun in his native county in Ireland and completed in the Dominion of Canada. He continued at the homestead with his parents until reaching manhood, then started out for himself, operating first as "mine host" of a hotel at Fergus, Canada. He also became proprietor of a stage line in the county of Wellington, where he remained four years. In 1867 he made his way to Lawrence County, Mo., where he commenced operating as a contractor to furnish men and material in the building of the St. Louis & San Francisco Railroad. He gave employment to from seventy-five to 100 men, and fifty teams, and was thus occupied for a period of six years; at the same time he also was interested in farming. From Missouri he finally migrated into the State of Texas, and was engaged as a contractor there also in the building of railroads.

            After coming to Wichita Mr. Tangney continued his vocation as railroad contractor for a time, then turned his attention to real estate, buying, selling and building, in which he has been more than ordinarily successful. While a resident of Missouri he was united in marriage with Miss Mary A. Lennox, of Lebanon, Laclede County, the wedding taking place at the home of the bride, Feb. 3, 1871. Mrs. Tangney is the daughter of John and Susan (Dodson) Lennox, natives of Missouri, and the father is engaged in general merchandising. Mrs. T. was born Oct. 1, 1854, in Lebanon, Mo. Her paternal grandfather, John W. Lennox, was a native of England and closely allied to the nobility. The mother was the daughter of Dr. James Dodson, a noted physician, who spent his last years in Missouri. Her brother William is a physician and surgeon, and also a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in Missouri. Her uncle, Hon. Benjamin Dodson, was at one time a Representative in the Missouri Legislature. Her uncle James is also a physician and a capitalist of Nevada, Mo. The Dodsons were largely represented in the medical profession. Mrs. Tangney's mother was an own cousin to Jefferson Davis, of the Southern Confederacy. Her people were of English and American descent, wealthy and influential.

            Our subject and his estimable lady are held in high esteem by the people of their community, and the latter is a member in good standing of the Catholic Church. Mr. Tangney, politically, affiliates with the Democratic party. 

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