The life and times of Thomas E. Grady
(EDITOR’S NOTE: This piece is part of a series. The rest of the story will be published in an upcoming issue of The Luminary.)
One of Montgomery’s early citizens was Thomas E. Grady, Esq., whose strong work ethic allowed him to become one of the most prominent people in the borough. His journey to become a citizen of Montgomery was a long one that began overseas.
Thomas Edward Grady’s grandparents, Patrick and Mary (Caffery) Grady, were Irish and fled the country during the Irish Potato Famine, according to his great-granddaughter, Doris (Claudfelter) Yeager. The Grady family settled in Stockport, England, and were factory workers. She continued, “Despite their Western Ireland Gaelic language barrier, the family found employment as reelers and spinners in the cotton spinning factories in Stockport and Manchester during the second Industrial Revolution.” Yeager also shared that Patrick and Mary Grady went on to have a son, who was also named Patrick.
The younger Patrick married Catherine (Cain) Grady, and their son Thomas Edward Grady was born in 1862. According to Yeager, Patrick left England in 1864 with some cousins and went to Massachusetts. He worked to save up money to pay for the passage of his wife and son, but life was not easy. Although Patrick was born in England, he faced discrimination due to his Irish heritage. Yeager shared that some businesses had signs that read, “Help Wanted – No Irish Need Apply.” With limited job options, Patrick chose to become a peddler in the Cambridge and Boston areas, and sold pots, pans, as well as garments on the streets. After four years, he had finally saved enough to send for his wife and son, and they arrived in 1868.
The Grady family came to Pennsylvania. “The History of Lycoming
County, Pennsylvania” by John F. Meginess, records that Patrick and Catherine went on to have more children: Michael, Mary A., John, and Kate. Thomas attended school in Clinton Township and then went on to Muncy Normal School. After he finished school, he got the opportunity to go to Montoursville and learn how to operate a telegraph. In 1885, he took a job in Montgomery with the Philadelphia and Erie Railroad.
The Philadelphia and Erie Railroad station sat on the corner of Montgomery Street and South Main Street, across from the current site of the post office. Eventually it became the Pennsylvania Railroad Station.
Yeager said Thomas, “was a reserved, studious man with a keen sense of quiet humor that was pleasantly witty with eloquence.” She also said that he was employed by the railroad as a telegraph operator and a bookkeeper.
Meginness’ book reported that by the time that Montgomery Borough was officially founded in 1887, Grady was elected to be one of the borough councilmen in the first Montgomery election which was held in April of 1887.
On May 18, 1889, the Montgomery Mirror newspaper was established. Little more than a year later, Thomas Grady, along with H.P. Smith, purchased the newspaper on June 30, 1890. “When first started the Mirror was a small sheet, but it steadily grew until it became a handsome folio of seven columns to the page. It is, ‘independent in everything; neutral in nothing.'” Meginness wrote.
The sale of the newspaper was reported in the Pennsylvania Grit on July 6, 1890. “The Montgomery Mirror has changed hands, and is now owned by H.P. Smith and Thomas E. Grady. We hope it will flourish under the new management.”