Thomas J. McCarthy
Thomas J. McCarthy stands outside the Kempter Book Store on Main Street.
A man who dedicated himself to recording the history of Galena through poetry, Thomas McCarthy was born on Jackson Street on May 12, 1887 to Edward and Annie (McDermott) who were both children of Irish immigrants. He and his five brothers and sisters were raised on stories of Galena’s pioneering days of lead mines, riverboats, and Civil War generals.
He attended public school in Galena until graduating in 1903 when he found work as a traveling salesman. For most of his life sales remained his day job. His address was listed as Jackson Street in Galena until, according to the 1920 census he spent some time in the Valdez District of Alaska near the port town Cordova.
In Alaska he worked as a storekeeper at the Kennecott Copper Corporation in the company town of McCarthy. Whether or not his family had any sort of relationship to the founding of the town or he simply liked the idea of having an adventure in a place bearing his own name, we’ll likely never know. McCarthy was one of two wild west-esque mining towns which had been established for the company – the other being Kennicott (a misspelling of the company name that ended up being officially registered). Both of which are still standing today as a National Historic Landmark District. The mines were abandoned in 1938 after the copper had been mined out. The ghost towns are a popular tourist destination.
When Thomas embarked on his adventure around the age of thirty, out of the two company towns, McCarthy was known for embracing vices such as booze, brothels, and gambling – none of which were legal at the time. Miners went to McCarthy to indulge. The railroad even had a special whistle to alert the residents in the event a U.S. Marshall was on board, so they could pack it all up and look busy.
Whatever the reason for his Alaskan sojourn, Thomas returned to Jackson Street by the time the 1930 census had been taken. With his parents gone, he returned to his childhood home to live with two of his sisters, Rose and Vera. Both of whom worked as teachers at the public school. Vera had also gone to Alaska for a time and taught in Cordova. Rose was well known in Galena for “parish dramatics” and her membership in the Sunshine Comedy Club.
Thomas found work as a clerk for John McHugh’s cigar shop on South Main Street. McHugh’s Galena factory made “El Sanita” and “Smoke-Rite” cigars which were marketed as “sanitary.” It was during this time that Thomas may have developed an interest in the growing movement to capitalize on Galena’s history and develop opportunities for tourists.
Vera married Leo Kelly in 1931 and relocated to his farm in West Point, Illinois. In 1932 Rose married John Brodecht and began her married life in Elizabeth. At their weddings Thomas stepped up to give both of his sisters “away” at the altar. He followed behind Vera and worked on his brother-in-law's farm as listed in the 1940 census for a time. Farm life didn’t stick through and Galena called him home once again.
Living in an apartment on Bench Street, he went back to work as a store clerk, this time at the Kempter Book Store. Ernest Kempter was a well-liked man in town. In addition to his store at which he “continually sought the advancement of all civic projects and the publication of historical lore to interest the tourist,” for over forty years, he also produced and performed in all manner of theatrics including writing and directing a play for U.S. Grant’s 1945 birthday celebration. The production included entertainments such as tap dancing musical numbers. It was “greatly appreciated” by the audience at Turner Hall as I’m sure you can imagine.
In his free time, Thomas enjoyed researching Galena history and penning poetry he hoped would be both entertaining and informative. His first book, Rhythm of the River or Songs of Old Galena was published in 1942. H.B. Miner, the eighty-seven year old son of S.K. Miner, U.S. Customs Collector, wrote, “The tales and scenes portrayed in this little booklet by McCarthy, were easily recognized by me as a true picture of early Galena River Days. Many of the tales I personally recall.”
Poems from Rhythm of the River were hence adopted by Illinois and Wisconsin public schools and gained statewide recognition from the Illinois State Historical Society and the Newberry Library in Chicago. Despite the accolades, Thomas seems to have been modest about his work. The introduction was written as follows:
This little book is not a jewel
From able scholar’s pen;
It wouldn’t pass inspection
In the ranks of lettered men.
The verses of the pages
Are no gems of poetry, -
Just lines set up in rhythm
Of the tales once told to me.
So, in memory of these pioneers
Of Galena’s early times,
I offer you this humble pad
Of ancient river rhymes.
Gaining local fame, the Galena Advertiser began announcing new poems the week before they were published and taking special orders for extra copies of each “masterpiece.” Groups commissioned him for speeches on Galena’s history and U.S. Grant. Working with the Galena Historical Society and others he led tour groups from Freeport and Chicago.
Miss Joan Peacock began working at the Kempter Book Store after school and on the weekends. She and Thomas struck up a professional relationship beyond their time in the store when she hand-illustrated Thomas’s second book, Lore of Old Galena (1954) and several of his poems which appeared in the newspapers. Thomas himself made certain to present the Galena Advertiser with her photograph and ensure she received all due credit for her talent and so “others may recognize this young woman when they meet her on the street.”
He took an interest in the derelict Old Market House and penned a poem “All Around the Market House,” which was used in a campaign to gather funds and restore the building. He stood on the platform next to Governor Stratton on September 24, 1955 when it was rededicated after the successful campaign and restoration.
His obituary cites that because of the “excitement attendant upon the rededication of the Market House,” ulcers he’d long been struggling with were aggravated. He worked at the Larey Store (Irene and Harold Larey purchased the books store after Kempter died in 1948), the week directly afterward, then checked himself into the hospital in Dubuque over the weekend where he passed away due to a blood clot in his lung on October 5.
Thomas sought to bring Galena’s proud history and legacy to the forefront through his poetry, tours, and talks, a pursuit his obituary referred to as his “greatest delight.” Stop into the library and ask for a copy of Lore of Old Galena to experience it for yourself.
To view archival articles, poetry, plays, and more related to
Thomas J. McCarthy, click here.
Written by: Larissa Distler, Adult Services Librarian, Galena Public Library
With special thanks to: Steve Repp, Dale Glick, and Mike Fertig - all historical librarians of the Galena Public Library