Joseph Leo Quinn, Sr.
birth: 15 Nov 1878 at Newark, Essex Co., NJ to Hugh Quinn and Catherine McKee
death: 24 Aug 1943 at Long Hospital, Indianapolis, Marion Co., IN
burial: Cresthaven Cemetery, North Section, Bedford, Lawrence Co., IN
marriage: 24 Jun 1903 at Newark, Essex Co., NJ
Annie Moir McKechnie
birth: 17 Mar 1875 at Bannockburn, Stirlingshire, Scotland to George McKechnie and Mary Allan
death: 06 May 1937 at Bedford, Lawrence Co., IN
burial: Cresthaven Cemetery, North Section, Bedford, Lawrence Co., IN
Children of Joseph Leo Quinn, Sr.and Annie Moir McKechnie:
- Joseph Leo Quinn, Jr. b. 1904, d. 1976, m. 1935 to Mary Emma Spivey
- Kathryn Mary Quinn, b. 1906, d. 1986, m. 1947 to Frank Ballard Pope
- James Quinn, b. 1912, d. 1972, m. 1942 to Margurite Eileen Hortense Bunch
Joseph Leo Quinn, Sr. lived In:
- 1878-1914: Newark, New Jersey
- 1914-1943: Bedford, Lawrence County, Indiana
Other Information:
JOSEPH L. QUINN, superintendent and general manager of the McLaren Mill of the Ingalls group in the Independent Limestone Mills of the Bedford district, learned his trade as a stone worker in the East, and his experience has been with a number of notable stone working organizations over the country.
Mr. Quinn was born at Newark, New Jersey, November 15, 1878, and is a son of Hugh T. and Catherine (McKee) Quinn. His father came from Scotland to America in 1872. He had grown up in the famous district of Paisley, Scotland, where he learned the trade of calico printer. He followed his trade at Newark for many years and is buried in the Holy Sepulcher Cemetery in that city. His wife, Catherine McKee, was a daughter of James and Sallie (Toner) McKee, who came to America in 1880. James McKee was a shoemaker living at Brooklyn, New York, and both he and his wife are buried in the Calvary Cemetery in that city. The children of Hugh T. Quinn and wife were: Hugh and James, now deceased; Rose, of Newark; Sarah, William, John, Mary, all deceased; Joseph L.; Stephen, of Newark, who married Alice Brennan; and Catherine, deceased.
Joseph L. Quinn was a student in Saint Michael’s School at Newark form the age of seven to fourteen. His people were in very modest circumstances and for that reason and because of his self reliant spirit he was working to earn money as a small boy, carrying and selling papers when not in school. After leaving school he became an employee of the Street Railway Company, being what was known as tow boy, having charge of the extra horse used to pull the street car up a hill. Mr. Quinn by attending evening classes made up many of the deficiencies of his education resulting from his leaving school so early. He began his apprenticeship as a stone cutter with Barney Gerberich, being with him two years, then spent a year with J. J. Spurr & Sons, and when that plant went on a strike he finished his apprenticeship with the Passaic Quarry Company of Avondale [Nutley, Essex County], New Jersey. After two years there he was employed as a journeyman by William Gray & Sons of Philadelphia, returned to Newark and was with the George Brown & Company there from 1903 to 1913, and during the last eight years of this period was planer foreman.
Mr. Quinn came to Bedford, the capital of the Indiana limestone region, in January, 1914. His first work here was as planer foreman in Mill No. 3, and from there he was transferred to the McLaren Mill of the Ingalls group as superintendent and general manager.
Mr. Quinn married, June 24, 1903, Miss Anna Muir Mckechnie, daughter of George and Mary (Allen) Mckechie. Her parents are buried in the Arlington Cemetery in New Jersey. Mr. and Mrs. Quinn have had four children: Joseph L., Jr., who after graduating from Bedford High School spent two years in Purdue University and is now assistant engineer of the City of Bedford; Miss Kathryn, a graduate of high school, is an employee of the Indiana Limestone Company; Russell is deceased; and James is a student in the Bedford High School. Mr. Quinn is a member of the Independent Order of Forresters and the Catholic Benevolent Legion, and the St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church.
The above biography is from: Roll, Charles. Indiana: One Hundred and Fifty Years of Development. Vol. 5. Chicago: Lewis Publishing Co., 1931.
Submitted by:
Pamela Quinn Gibbard
Email: pqgibbard@gmail.com