The banker referred to in the above headline is Patrick Halloran (1844-1917), my maternal great-great grandfather. One hundred years ago today he was gunned down in a bank holdup in Edison, Washington, and died later that day in Burlington, WA.  I remember my mother Josephine Daniels Frierson (1922-2003) telling me this story when I was very young but the incident was always a little hazy in my mind until I recently found the article in the Seattle Star that describes it in some detail.  The newspaper incorrectly refers to Patrick Halloran as “Matt Halloran” – I guess he was referred to as “Pat” – and says that he was shot in the back as he ran into the street to “sound the alarm”.     Click on the image to the left to enlarge it to be readable.

Patrick Halloran and his wife Bridgett McGinty (1840-1930) had a daughter Mary Ann Halloran (1872-1926) who married David Michael Donnelly in 1894 in New Whatcom, Washington (for a photo of Bridgett and Mary Ann, see the previous post where Josephine is photographed with her grandmother and great-grandmother.). David and Mary Ann’s  only daughter was my grandmother Mary Esther Donnelly (1897-1931) who married Roland Michael Daniels (1895-1967) in 1921.  To learn more about Pat Halloran, I’m copying his obituary from the Mount Vernon (Skagit County) newspaper on November 2, 1917.  I found this obit and his photograph courtesy of a distant cousin Kathleen Halloran on Ancestry.com.

Front page of the Mount Vernon, Skagit County, Washington Newspaper Friday, Nov. 2, 1917

“People from all over Northwest pay last tribute to sturdy pioneer who met his death fighting for law and order — Edison scene of sorrow Sunday.

Several thousand people from all over the northwest, including many of the most prominent citizens of this section of the state, gathered at Edison Sunday to pay their last tribute of love and respect to the memory of Patrick Halloran, pioneer and citizen. On all sides in the old Samish trail point were heard expressions of regret that so valuable a man was compelled to sacrifice his life in his endeavor to uphold the law. All day visitors streamed in and out of the Farmers and Merchants Bank, whence were rehearsed over and over again the tragic scene that took place the Thursday of last week. It was a sorrowful throng; and on every lip was words of condemnation for the perpetrators of the crime and of highest praise for the man who fearlessly did what he considered his bound duty as a citizen.

Before the hour set for the obsequies the remains rested in the living room of the Halloran home, where hundreds of friends and old timers went to view them.  By 2:30 the little town was crowded with people and automobiles and many points were rendered almost impassable. There were people from far and near; and numbers of old timers, some of whom seldom leave home, made the journey to Edison for this occasion. Among the throng were noted Hugh Eldridge, P McCoy, Congressman Lin H Hadley, AM Hadley, Perry Polson, Herb Conner, WW Conner, JJ Donovan, NL Griffith, EC Million, EG English, Thomas Sharpe, Charles Moore, JM McCulloch, WN Gilmore, WJ Simons, HT Dodson, JN Bussing, JW Romaine, CW Wilcox, ET Nobles, RI Morse, JS Jamison, Mr and Mrs John Murray. The Masons of Mount Vernon, Burlington, La Conner and Sedro-Woolley were there in force and a large delegation of the Bellingham lodge as well as prominent Masons from many other points.

Words of Tribute. At half past two the body was taken under Masonic escort from the house to the Odd Fellows hall. Here the Masonic funeral rites were said under the leadership of Worshipful Master NB Hannay, of Mount Vernon, the LaConner lodge assisting. “Abide With Me” and “Nearer, My God, to Thee” were sung by a quartet composed of WS Packard, CH Drier, John Begg, and GH Clark. Mr Hannay spoke in unstinted terms of the high character and worth of the deceased. He said in part:

“It is most proper that public acknowledgement be made here of the kindness, the generosity and the patriotism of our dead brother, of the usefulness of his life and the courage with which he met his death. He was born in poverty. To find the opportunity which his native country of New Brunswick denied him he crossed the continent and became one of the hardy pioneers who found this country around us a savage wilderness and made it a garden. At a time of life when most men have submitted to the harsh fate which denied them early opportunity for education, disregarding the jibes of men young enough to be his sons, who sat with him in the boardroom, he resolutely set himself the task of gaining the schooling which he lacked. So earestly did he apply himself that scorn was turned to deep respect.

So, in all activities which make use the life of a useful and respected citizen, Patrick Halloran opened for himself the door of opportunity which fate had closed to him. No other man served his county and country so faithfully and unselfishly. For himself he wanted neither honor nor profit. Yet many honors came to him unasked. For his friends he worked unceasingly. Enemies he made. What man of strong character and convictions does not? But a thousand praised and loved him where one detracted and disliked him. And no man who knew him failed to respect him for his manly and unselfish virtues. The same fortitude which carried him through life enabled him to meet this death like a soldier and a hero, resisting criminal violence. Well may we be proud to have known him.”

After the ceremonies at the hall the funeral cortege formed and moved to the cemetery a mile distant. Amid solemn words and chants the remains were laid in their last resting place. The pallbearers were: Active – Emerson Mamemr, James Dunlap, William Calkins, AE Holland, Thomas Esary, Charles Nelson: honorary – Sophus Joergenson, Thomas Hastie, JS Church, Charles S Allen, Frank Brown, and TJ Rawlins. The latter are all from the La Conner lodge, of which Mr Halloran was a charter member.

Deceased leaves a widow, two sons, James and George Halloran, and a daughter, Mrs. David J Donnelly. Two sisters and a brother survive; they are Mrs Mary Maloney, of Seattle, who was in attendance at the funeral; Mrs Ellen Collins, of Alpena, Michigan, and John Halloran, of Boyne City, Michigan.

Biographical.

Patrick Halloran was born in New Brunswick in 1844. When a young man he went to Michigan and in 1876 he came west and settled at Edison the following year. He took up a farm, which is still owned by the estate, and farmed for many years. In the fall of 1885 he was elected county commissioner; and was re-elected two years later. In 1904 he was elected county treasurer, which office he resigned before the expiration of his term to go into the banking business. He organized at this time the Farmers & Merchants Bank of Edison. Some years later he disposed of his banking interests, but continued his real estate, loan and insurance business, which he had been conducting for many years prior. Mr Halloran was twice elected chairman of the Republican county central committee and represented this state at the last Republican National Convention at Chicago.

Mr Halloran was married in 1868 at Alpena, Michigan to Miss Bridget McGinty. Three children were born to Mr and Mrs Halloran, all of whom are living. “