Nevada Genealogy Trails Washoe County P. L. Flanigan Biography

P. L. FLANIGAN. When we think that P. L. Flanigan came to Reno a young man of nineteen years without any capital and began life here as a sheep herder, and that he is to-day the largest individual taxpayer of his county, it is a record that seems almost phenomenal, and yet his entire career has been one of business activity that will bear the closest investigation and scrutiny. He has based his business principles and actions upon strict adherence to the rules which govern industry, economy and unswerving integrity. His enterprise and progressive spirit have, made him a typical American citizen in every sense of the word, and he well deserves mention in this history. What he is to-day he has made himself, for he began in life with nothing but his willing hands and unfaltering energy to aid him. By constant exertion, associated with good judgment, he has raised himself to the prominent position he now holds, having the friendship of many and the respect of all who know him.

Mr. Flanigan was born in Tioga county, New York, February 10, 1858, and is of Irish lineage, his father, James Flanigan, having been born on the Emerald isle, whence he came to the United States when sixteen years of age. He settled in New York and for a number of years engaged in teaching school in New York city. He married Miss Hannah Linahan, a native of Ireland, and he departed this life in 1902. at the age of eighty years, while his wife survives him and is now living in Reno in the seventieth year of her age. He was a man of strong mentality and attained considerable prominence and success as an educator. To him and his wife were born seven children, four of whom are residing in Nevada, one daughter living with her mother in Reno. James also makes his home in this city, and Joseph D. Flanigan is engaged in the sheep business with his brother, P. L. Flanigan.

In his native town P. L. Flanigan was reared and educated, and at the age of nineteen years came to Nevada, at once making his way to Reno, where he took up his abode in 1877. Here he began life on his own account as a sheep herder, but saving his wages, he soon made arrangements to engage in business on his own account. Since that time he has continually increased his holdings in live-stock, and is the owner of sixty thousand head of sheep, five thousand head of cattle and sixty thousand acres of land, all in Washoe county, Nevada, and Modoc and Lassen counties, California. This is an indication of Mr. Flanigan's prosperity, hut it does not by any means represent the extent of his business interests. He is a man of resourceful ability, quick to note and improve an opportunity, and he has developed in Reno one of its most important enterprises. Here he has built the large brick warehouse and cold storage plant, the warehouse being one hundred by one hundred and sixty feet. When it was built in 1901 it was believed by many to be far too large and that it could never be used, but to-day every foot of space is occupied clear to the ceiling and more room is needed. The cold storage is used for the storage of fresh and salt meats and has proved a paying concern. Mr. Flanigan also handles large quantities of wool and many other commodities, and his business has reached a very extensive figure. He is also the principal stockholder in the Water, Light & Power Company of Reno, furnishing the city with water, power, electric light and gas. Of the company Mr. Flanigan is the president. He is also a stockholder, a director and one of the vice presidents of the Bank of Nevada, and is thus closely associated with some of the mammoth enterprises of the state, adding vastly to its wealth, as well as to his individual success.

In 1900 Mr. Flanigan was united in marriage to Miss Hannah Linahan, a native of California. She bore the same maiden name as did his mother, and yet they were not related. They have two children. Paul L. and Helen May, who add life and light to the household. Mr. Flanigan has erected one of the finest residences in Reno on South Virginia street, and his wife presides with gracious hospitality over this beautiful home, which is supplied with all the adornments that wealth can secure and refined taste suggest. Mr. Flanigan is an earnest Republican, but not an office-seeker. He belongs to the Catholic Benevolent Society, and he and his family adhere to the faith of his ancestors and are members of the Roman Catholic church.

Few indeed within the space of a quarter of a century have achieved so brilliant a success in the business world as Mr. Flanigan. Tireless energy, honorable effort and a genius for devising and executing the right thing at the right time, added to every-day common sense these are the chief characteristics of the man. They have made him a prominent factor in industrial and agricultural circles of the west, and he stands to-day as one of the leading business men of the state.