City: Memphis
CONNOLLY, Michael W., journalist; born Quebec, Canada, March 2, 1853 Irish descent; son of John and Eleanor (Cahill) CONNOLLY; educated Jesuit College, Montreal, Canada; in early life he was a telegraph operator, and in 1883 when the great telegraph strike occurred he was chief night operator of the Western Union at Houston, Tex., and with his day chief quit the service of the company, they were the only two chief operators who quit; served on the editorial staffs of the Houston Post, Fort Worth Gazette, Dallas News, etc., at different times in the 80’s; coming to Memphis later he was on the editorial staff of the Memphis Avalanche, then with the Memphis Appeal, then Appeal Avalanche, after which he was for several years on the editorial staff of the Commercial Appeal; in 1906 he was on the editorial staff of the News Scimitar; he is a member of Elks and Red Men, and the Catholic church; Democrat; he has served as commissioner of labor of Tennessee, and state shop and factory inspector; he has been editor of “Elkdom,” a monthly fraternal magazine for several years, and is the author of many poems, essays, lectures, and literary contributions to various magazines; married Lula PARHAM, Nov. 19, 1879.
