Francis Edmund "Frank" Donoghue (November 27, 1872 – January 8, 1952) was an American lawyer and Democratic politician from Chicago, Illinois. He served three terms in the Illinois House of Representatives, and later served 12 years as a Chicago municipal judge. He was also a co-owner of the Logan Squares Chicago City League baseball club. His brother, George Terry Donoghue, was the first general superintendent of the Chicago Park District; his granddaughter, Sheehan Donoghue, served in the Wisconsin State Assembly in the 1970s and 1980s.

Francis E. Donoghue
Member of the Illinois House of Representatives
from the 2nd district
In office
January 1907 – January 1909
Serving with Paul I. Zaabel, & Frank J. McNichols
Preceded byPaul I. Zaabel, Frank J. McNichols, & Frank D. Comerford
Succeeded byPaul I. Zaabel, Frank J. McNichols, & George L. McConnell
In office
January 1903 – January 1905
Serving with Charles W. Kopf & Benjamin F. Greenebaum
Preceded byFrank C. Farnum, & Augustus W. Nohe, & Francis J. Sullivan
Succeeded byPaul I. Zaabel, Frank J. McNichols, & Frank D. Comerford
Member of the Illinois House of Representatives
from the 15th district
In office
January 1901 – January 1903
Serving with Charles W. Kopf & William J. Moran
Preceded byPatrick J. Meaney, Edward H. Rorig, & John Dockery
Succeeded byJames P. Cavanagh, Peter Knolla, & Ladislas J. Fligel
Personal details
Born
Francis Edmund Donoghue

(1873-11-27)November 27, 1873
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
DiedJanuary 8, 1952(1952-01-08) (aged 78)
Augustana Hospital,
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Resting placeCalvary Catholic Cemetery, Evanston, Illinois
Spouse
Mae Anson
(died 1942)
Children
  • Leonard Anson Donoghue
  • (b. 1910; died 1992)
  • Francis Edmund Donoghue
  • (b. 1916; died 1997)
RelativesSheehan Donoghue (granddaughter)
ProfessionLawyer

Biography

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Francis Donoghue was born and raised in the Irish Catholic community in Chicago, Illinois. He graduated from St. Ignatius College Prep and went on to earn his law degree from Kent College in 1896.[1] In 1900, he was elected to his first term in the Illinois House of Representatives, serving in the 42nd Illinois General Assembly.[2] Following a 1901 redistricting, he was elected to his second term from another district in 1902, and was elected to a third term in 1906.[3][4]

After leaving the House of Representatives, Donoghue became a business partner to Nixey Callahan in the ownership of the Logan Squares baseball club in the Chicago City League. The partnership lasted about five years.[1] Donoghue subsequently worked as an attorney and dealt real estate. In 1931, he was appointed city fire attorney,[5] and shortly thereafter he was hired as an assistant state's attorney in the office of the Cook County State's Attorney, where he remained until his election as a Chicago municipal judge, in 1938.[6]

He served 12 years as municipal judge, retiring in 1950. He died two years later, on January 8, 1952, after a brief illness.[1]

Personal life and family

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Francis Donoghue was one of eight children born to Irish American immigrant Michael Francis Donoghue and his wife Elizabeth Anne (née Shields). Michael Donoghue was a successful pioneer businessman in Chicago.[7] Francis Donoghue's younger brother George Terry Donoghue, was the first general superintendent of the Chicago Park District, serving from its formation in 1934 until his retirement in 1960.[8]

Francis Donoghue married Mae Anson, a daughter of Leonard Niles Anson, a pioneer businessman in Merrill, Wisconsin. They had at least two children together, she died in 1942.[9] Their granddaughter, Sheehan Donoghue, went on to represent the Merrill area in the Wisconsin State Assembly for six terms in the 1970s and 1980s.

References

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  1. ^ a b c "F. E. Donoghue, Former Judge, Dies at Age 78". Chicago Tribune. January 9, 1952. p. 20. Retrieved November 19, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ Journal of the House of Representatives of the Forty-Second General Assembly of the State of Illinois (Report). State of Illinois. 1901. p. 6. Retrieved November 19, 2023 – via HathiTrust.
  3. ^ Journal of the House of Representatives of the Forty-Third General Assembly of the State of Illinois (Report). State of Illinois. 1903. p. 5. Retrieved November 19, 2023 – via HathiTrust.
  4. ^ Journal of the House of Representatives of the Forty-Fifth General Assembly of the State of Illinois (Report). State of Illinois. 1907. p. 4. Retrieved November 19, 2023 – via HathiTrust.
  5. ^ "Frank Donoghue Begins Job as City Fire Attorney". Chicago Tribune. May 27, 1931. p. 17. Retrieved November 19, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Election Victors Take Office in Floral Settings". Chicago Tribune. December 6, 1938. p. 10. Retrieved November 19, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Death Removes an Old Citizen". Chicago Tribune. December 23, 1896. p. 7. Retrieved November 19, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "G. T. Donoghue Services to be Held Today". Chicago Tribune. November 24, 1962. p. 15. Retrieved November 19, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Mrs. Mae Donoghue". Miami Herald. March 5, 1942. p. 17. Retrieved November 19, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
Illinois House of Representatives
Preceded by
Patrick J. Meaney, Edward H. Rorig, & John Dockery
Member of the Illinois House of Representatives from the 15th district
January 1901 – January 1903
Served alongside: Charles W. Kopf & William J. Moran
Succeeded by
James P. Cavanagh, Peter Knolla, & Ladislas J. Fligel
Preceded by
Frank C. Farnum, & Augustus W. Nohe, & Francis J. Sullivan
Member of the Illinois House of Representatives from the 15th district
January 1903 – January 1905
Served alongside: Charles W. Kopf & Benjamin F. Greenebaum
Succeeded by
Paul I. Zaabel, Frank J. McNichols, & Frank D. Comerford
Preceded by
Paul I. Zaabel, Frank J. McNichols, & Frank D. Comerford
Member of the Illinois House of Representatives from the 15th district
January 1903 – January 1905
Served alongside: Paul I. Zaabel, & Frank J. McNichols
Succeeded by
Paul I. Zaabel, Frank J. McNichols, & George L. McConnell