Nevada Genealogy Trails Washoe County Patrick H. Mulcahy Biography

PATRICK HOWARD MULCAHY, 1846-1922

Member of the Nevada Historical Society.
After a long period of ill health, P. H. Mulcahy passed away at his residence in Sparks, Nevada, June 14, 1922. Patrick Howard Mulcahy was a pioneer of the West in all that term implies. He had a large influence in the upbuilding of Nevada during a residence of over fifty years.

Born in Australia, February 7, 1846, he came to San Francisco, California, when he was four years of age, attending the Old Mission school house on the site now occupied by the Palace Hotel. He belonged to the San Francisco Volunteer Firemen and was also a member of Ellsworth Rifles, during the stirring days of the Civil War.

Mr. Mulcahy came to Nevada more than fifty years ago, going directly to Carson City, where he established a soap manufacturing business. Later he conducted a similar business in Virginia City; afterwards he established the first soap manufactory at Reno, in the Tallman building, where the postoffice now stands, later moving it to the site of the Y. M. C. A. building.

In 1904 he again settled in Carson City, where he held a position in the U. S. Mint. He assumed the editorial direction of the Sparks Tribune in 1910, which connection he held up to the time of his death. Mr. Mulcahy was always prominent in political circles and took a keen part in every movement tending to advance the best interests of the State. At one time he served as Commissioner of Washoe County. He was especially active in fraternal orders, serving as Past Grand Chancellor and Past Grand Representative of the Knights of Pythias, also having the honor of being Senior Past Grand Master of Odd Fellows of Nevada.

For many years Mr. Mulcahy was a member of the Nevada State Board of Agriculture, and served as an official at the Midwinter Fair at San Francisco in 1893. Mr. Mulcahy was held in great esteem by a large circle of friends, who recognized his sound judgment, his sage advice, and his untarnished honor as a man. He is survived by a widow and three sons.

Source: Nevada Historical Society Papers
By Nevada Historical Society
Published by State Printing Office, 1922
Contributed by Kim Torp