James

From "The Johnson County Democrat", Thursday, February 15, 1940, Vol. XIX, No. 14, page 1, column 8

Death of Will Duffy
=================================================
Pioneer Civic Leader of Olathe for Half a Century Dies in St. Mary's
=================================================
Was 81 Years of Age
=================================================
Funeral Services For Former Olathe Mayor Was Held From St. Paul's Church Monday
==================

Thomas W. Duffy, better known throughout Olathe and Johnson County, as Will Duffy, died at St. Mary's hospital in Kansas City early Saturday morning, Feb. 10, 1940, at the age of 80 years and 5 months. Mr. Duffy had not been seriously ill long, but had been in failing health for several months.

Thomas W. Duffy was born September 2, 1859 at Junction City, Ohio, where he grew to manhood. At the age of 21, he came to Johnson County and followed the occupation of farming, first in the vicinity of Bonita, and later near Edgerton, Kans.

In the year 1880 he formed a partnership with the late Albert Ryan, and bought the furniture and undertaking establishment of Myron Holcomb, which this firm operated until the year 1894. At this time, Mr. Thomas J. Kean bought Mr. Ryan's interest in the business and the firm name changed to Duffy and Kean.

Mr. Kean passed away in march 1908, aad the firm name was changed to Duffy Furniture and Undertaking company, when Mr. Frank Peck of Kansas City bought Mr. Kean's interest in the firm. In 1909 the firm name changed to Duffy and Julien, when H. E. Julien acquired the Peck interest in the firm. In 1923 Mr. Duffy retired from the business and the firm name changed to the H. E. Julien company.

It was at this time, Mr. Duffy assumed the management of the National Hotel and managed the hotel until his death. The hotel was built by Mr. Duffy in 1905.

Will Duffy was active in the business life of the town and county for half a century. He was one of the forward looking group of business men who forty years ago, advocated improved streets, sewers, and county roads. He built good buildings for his home and business enterprises.

In the spring of 1915, Will Duffy was elected to the Office of Commissioner of Public Utilities of Olathe, and in 1919 he was elected mayor of the city and was reelected in the spring of 1922. Thus for nine years he gave his time and energy to the management of city affairs, and many of the town's best improvements are from his efforts and planning. He was a man of more or less quiet disposition and yet he assumed positions of responsibility with dignity and good judgement. He was an advocate of Olathe, first last and always, and was a booster for the town at all times. He wasn't the type of man to press himself into the public eye, but at the same time he had his own ideas of government and politics and exercised his rights always as a citizen of the city.

Mr. Duffy is survived by his sister, Miss Elizabeth Duffy of Olathe and one brother, J. A. Duffy of Los Angles. He also leaves several nieces and nephews in Toledo, O.

Funeral rites for Mr. Duffy were held from St. Paul's Catholic church in Olathe Monday morning, Feb. 12 at 9 o'clock. Interment was in Calvary cemetery. Rosary was recited at the Julien Chapel Sunday evening, Feb. 11, at 8 o'clock.


========================================================

Death of Mrs. Mary Duffy

Mary Ryan Duffy was born at Sumerset, Ohio, June 4, 1838, and departed this life at the home of her son, Mayor T. W. Duffy, 101 West Cedar, Olathe, Kansas, January 20, 1923, aged 85 years.

She was the last surviving member of a family of eleven children, one of whom was the late Lawrence Ryan, father of our townsmen, A. Ryan. Mary Ryan was united in marriage to James Duffy in the village church in her native town October 28, 1856. To this union were born nine children, four of whom preceded her to the grave.

Those surviving are T. W., of the home address, Mrs. Gerturde Moss, Toledo, Ohio; John, Follette, Texas; Arthur, Los Angles, Cal., and Elizabeth.

The funeral was held from St. Paul's Catholic church Monday morning at 10 o'clock where a Solemn Requiem Mass was celebrated for the repsoe of her soul. The officers of the Mass were Rev. Joseph Reich, celebrant, Rev. Francis Orr, V. G., Decaon, Rev. James Ording, Sub-Deacon. The sermon was preached by Rev. Francis Orr. Burial in Calvary cemetery.

Mrs. Duffy's life is a lesson in good deeds quitely done, sacred to the hearts of the children in the home and an example to the community in which she resided. Hers was a cheerful, unostentatious life of usefulness in health, and of patience and resignation in her declining years when infirmities became her lot.

On last Friday evening it became apparent the end was near and fortified by the Last Sacraments of the church, she calmly passed to her eternal reward with perfect resignation. May her soul rest in peace.

============================================================

Mary Duffy, Thomas W. Duffy, and Elizabeth Duffy are all buried in Calvary cemetery in Olathe. This is a Catholic cemetery and further information can be obtained by contacting these folks.

Catholic Cemeteries of Wyandotte and Johnson Counties, Inc.
1150 N. 38th Street
Kansas City, KS 66102

913-371-4040

If you need it, they should be able to give you Elizabeth's death date (approximately 1968).

It appears that neither Thomas nor Elizabeth ever married, as they are both buried with their mother only in Calvary cemetery.


Thomas died in St. Mary's hospital, located in Kansas City, Jockson County, MO. The hospital was closed in the mid 1980s. However, you can visit this web site, search on Thomas's name and apply for a death certificate.

http://www.sos.mo.gov/archives/resources/deathcertificates/#search

There likely are obituaries for both Mary and Thomas in "The Olathe Mirror" newspaper also. It is available for interlibrary loan from the Kansas State Historical Society if you wish to look for them.

As Thomas was Mayor of Olathe, there may be portrait type photographs in the newspapers in the August to October time frame of the years of election, 1919 and 1922


You might also want to contact the Olathe Library, as they may have some information on Thomas.

Dave Goldy
Overland Park, KS