Title: History of Steuben County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers
Identifier: CUbiodiversity1484882 (find matches)
Year: 1879 (1870s)
Authors: Clayton, W. W. (W. Woodford)
Subjects: Steuben, Friedrich Wilhelm Ludolf Gerhard Augustin, Baron von, 1730-1794
Publisher: Philadelphia, Lewis, Peck & co.
Contributing Library: Cornell University Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Mann Library, Cornell

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MICHAEL CEOTTY. Michael Crotty was born in Gourhas, County Clare, Ireland, in 1829. His father, Michael, senior, was a well-to-do farmer of the same place, and was there born and died, being about sixty years of age. Of his three sons and three daughters, only the subject of this narra- tive came to America. In the year 1848 he emigrated to this country, stop- ping first at Elmira for a while. He then moved to Canisteo, and from there to Alfred, finding employment with Professor Kenyon, of Alfred University, where he acquired a good common-school education. In 1853 he settled in Hornellsville, and after a few years in the em- ploy of Mr. Osborne, he became the confidential clerk of Maurice Fitzgerald, by whom he was intrusted im- plicitly with the financial part of his business. In 1863 he purchased the location on Broad Street which he oc- cupied as a place of business until his death. It was in this place that he first went into business for himself, and where by judicious management he accumulated a comfortable fortune, the larger portion of which was made by operations in real-estate. Mr. Crotty was connected with the best interests of the village during his residence here, and showed that characteristic industry and integrity worthy the emu- lation of others, and by his own exertion, from strug- gling with poverty, became one of the best financiers of Hornellsville. He is thus spoken of by the papers of the village at the time of his death, which occurred Sept. 9, 1877: " When a man of wealth or influence passes away it is very easy to say good words for him in public, but all who were acquainted with Mr. Crotty well know that we speak only the truth when we say the highest praise that can be given to any one—that he was an honest man. And more than that, while he probably had more inti- mate dealings with more poor people than any other man in town, no one can truthfully say that he ever in any way took advantage of that fact to advance his own interest by distressing them in any manner. Nay, more than that. When he knew a man to be worthy, but unfortunate, he did not even enforce his own just dues, but tided him over his difficulties by not merely passive, but active sympathy and aid. He was a man whose word was believed to have been as good as his bond. His people trusted him implicitly. The last act of his life was to make a will, bequeathing everything he owned to his wife, unreservedly and without restrictions of any kind, remarking that, as they had begun life together poor, and had toiled together in early days to gain their possessions, everything should go to her at his death.'^ He was married July 3, 1856, to Margaret O'Brien, a native of Ireland, and who came to America at the* age of seventeen, settling first at Hornellsville. Their chil- dren living are Maggie and Nellie.

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