Thomas James Hanlon has achieved a place as a prominent attorney in Southern Kansas, and is now senior member of the firm of Hanlon & Hanlon at Coffeyville, being associated in practice with his younger brother.
Kansas is his native state. He was born at Howard in Elk County July 27, 1882. His ancestry is Irish. His grandfather Thomas Hanlon was a stone mason by trade, emigrated from Ireland to the United States in 1847, lived for a time in Massachusetts, and afterwards near Peoria and Quincy, Illinois, in which state he died. He was a democrat in politics. His children now living are two in number: Jerry, a farmer and stockman at Woodhull, Illinois; and R. C., a banker and stockman at Galva, Illinois.
Thomas J. Hanlon, Sr., father of the Coffeyville lawyer, was born in Ireland in 1842 and was five years old when he was brought to America. He spent most of his early youth in Illinois, and was married at Quincy in that state. In 1880 he moved out to Elk County, Kansas, and was one of the early farmers in that section, and afterwards was in the drug business at Howard. For a time he was in business in Kansas City, and in 1892 he moved to Coffeyville and had an office as a dealer in real estate there until his death in September, 1896. He was a democrat and a member of the Catholic Church. The senior Mr. Hanlon married Maggie O’Brien, who was born in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1856, and is still living at Coffeyville. Of their children two died in infancy, and the only survivors are Thomas J. and his brother F. B. Hanlon, members of the firm of Hanlon & Hanlon, attorneys at Coffeyville.
Thomas James Hanlon was educated in the Kansas public schools, graduating from the Coffeyville High School in 1901, and then entering the law department of the Kansas State University. He also attended Notre Dame University in Indiana. Winning his LL. B. degree at Kansas University in 1904, he at once set up in practice at Coffeyville, and has found generous opportunities to win success as a member of the Montgomery County Bar. He has a large practice both in civil and criminal law. The offices of the firm are in the Conlon National Bank Building.
Besides his home at 401 East Ninth Street, Mr. Hanlon owns some other real estate in Coffeyville, and also a farm of over 100 acres near that city. During his practice he served for a time as deputy county attorney. He is an independent democrat and a member of the Catholic Church, belongs to the Chamber of Commerce, the County and State Bar associations, and is affiliated with Coffeyville Lodge No. 775, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Mr. Hanlon is also president of the Park and Amusement Company which conducts the natatorium, dancing and skating rink and other amusement facilities at Coffeyville.