Hon. Patrick O’Malley was born in Lyons, New York, February 25, 1858, and attended the public schools of Lyons and Geneva, New York, and the Geneva high school. He came with the family from Lyons to Geneva when he was a boy of nine and his first work was in the employ of Maxwell Brothers, nurserymen, weeding for the modest wages of fifty cents a day. He worked in various nurseries in Geneva until he was sixteen, when he became clerk in the grocery store of Flynn & Dorsey for a year. He then entered the employ of Mr. Higgins in the trucking business and, as the business increased, he was given more responsibility, in the course of time becoming foreman. When his employer died, Mr. O’Malley was admitted to partnership by the widow. Two years later the entire plant of the firm was destroyed by fire. Mr. O’Malley made a new start on his own account, beginning in a small way and adding gradually to his equipment as his business and capital increased. At the present time his equipment is designed to handle all kinds of trucking from light express work to the heaviest. He has sixteen horses employed and a considerable force of men. Most of his business is in Geneva. He has for many years had charge of the Standard Oil business and the Pillsbury flour business in Geneva; of the transportation for Granger & Company’s warehouses; of the delivery of all the goods shipped by boat or rail to the merchants of Geneva from the Crouse Grocery Company, from the grocery house of G. Thalheimer; from F. L. Walrath & Company; Hudson Brothers; Bentley & Settle; G. C. Buell & Company of Rochester, New York; and from Cahill Brothers, cracker manufacturers of Syracuse. The deliveries and freight of the Herendeen Manufacturing Company of Geneva are also handled by him. He keeps two teams constantly employed in delivering freight from the New York Central & Hudson River Railroad freight house and from the Lehigh Valley road. He has an unequalled reputation for promptness and reliability in his line of work. In addition to his own extensive business, he is a stockholder in the Fay & Bowen Engine Company; a director in the Geneva Cutlery Company; in the Geneva Glass Company; the Geneva Furniture Company; the Ontario Coal Company; the Empire Coke Company; and the Summitt Foundry. He is also a director of the Geneva Savings Bank. He has always been interested in politics and, possessing the public confidence to a remarkable degree, he is a leading influence in the Democratic party in Geneva. He was appointed alderman some years ago, was formerly tax collector of the city, and on November 5, 1909, he was elected mayor of the city for a term of two years. His administration has been eminently satisfactory and his personal popularity has increased. In June, 1910, he attended the conference of mayors of the state of New York, where he delivered an interesting address entitled, “The Prevention of Disease by the Elimination of Dust,” which was received with hearty commendation and embodied in the report. He also attended the conference of mayors at Poughkeepsie, New York, May 25-26-27, 1911, where he spoke, on the subject, “Paving and Care of Streets.” He was chairman of the 1910 conference. His administration as mayor speaks for itself, and no man in the city of Geneva is. held in higher esteem. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus;, of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and of the Eagles. Mayor O’Malley has been a faithful Catholic and is trustee of the St.. Frances de Sales church.
Mayor O’Malley is a typical self-made man, starting with nothing but a vigorous constitution and ambition, tireless energy and high purposes, native shrewdness and ability. He has shown the public spirit of a loyal citizen, working for the betterment of the city, and has interested himself in many projects that have tended to develop and improve the municipality, adding to its wealth and prestige and making for its present and future prosperity. His judgment in investing his savings has been exceptional, and he has been fortunate in real estate operations. He has the wit, humor, geniality and resourcefulness that are sometimes called characteristic of his race and ancestry, and he has the high ideals and sterling common-sense of the self-made American.
He married, in Geneva, August 15, 1874, Mary, born in Ireland, January 1, 1858, daughter of Owen White. Children: 1. John F., born September 9, 1885, bookkeeper of the Empire Coke Works and city clerk. 2. Mary E., June 29, 1887, assistant city clerk. 3. Ellen, November 25, 1888. 4. William P., June 12, 1890. 5. Kathaleen, February 8, 1892, student at Nazareth Academy, Rochester, New York. 6. Joseph M., November 9, 1893. 7. Alice, June 15, 1895. 8. Norine, May 8, 1897. 9. Charles, January 10, 1899. 10. Pauline, June 12, 1901. John, Mary, Ellen, Kathaleen, Joseph M., and Alice, have all graduated from St. Francis Parochial School with high honors.
Michael O’Malley, father of Mayor O’Malley, was a native of Ireland, and came to America in the year 1860. He was employed in railroading until 1856 when he died from injuries received in the railroad yards at Lyons, New York, where he was struck by a locomotive.