Biographical Sketches of Monroe County Residents

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John DESMOND

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John DESMOND, practicing at the bar of Rochester, his prominence indicated by the fact that he is vice president of the New York State Bar Association, was born in the town of Parma, this state, April 15, 1854, his parents being Bartholomew and Nancy (FOLEY) DESMOND, both of whom were natives of Ireland. The father settled in Monroe county, New York, in 1849. He was a farmer by occupation and for many years carried on that pursuit, his death occurring in 1892. His wife survived him for about ten years, passing away in 1902. They had a family of eight children, five of whom are living.

John DESMOND was reared upon the old homestead place and attended the country schools, wherein he mastered the elementary branches of English learning. He afterward entered the Brockport Academy and taught for several years in the country and village schools, but he regarded this merely as an initial step to other professional labor and in 1876, at the age of twenty-two years, he took up the study of law, being admitted to the bar on the 4th of April, 1879. He immediately began practice in the city of Rochester, where he has built up a large clientele. As the years have passed he has been associated with several partners, but is now alone. The zeal with which he has devoted his energies to his profession, the careful regard evinced for the interests of his clients and an assiduous and unrelaxing attention to all the details of his cases have brought him a large business and made him very successful in its conduct. His arguments have elicited warm commendation, not only from his associates at the bar, but also from the bench. He is a very able writer; his briefs always show wide research, careful thought and the best and strongest reasons which can be urged for his contention, presented in cogent and logical form and illustrated by a style unusually lucid and clear. His standing among his professional brethren is indicated by the fact that they have honored him with election to the office of president of the Rochester Bar Association, in which position he served from December, 1904, until December, 1905, while at the present writing he is vice president of the New York State Bar Association. He was one of the committee and also a member of the sub committee of the state bar association that investigated the charges made against Judge Warren B. HOOKER, one of the most famous investigations that has occurred here for many years.

On the 18th of August, 1880, Mr. DESMOND was married to Miss Flora BUTTS, of Greece, Monroe county, and they have one daughter, Laura M. DESMOND. The family are connected with the Unitarian church and Mr. DESMOND is a gentleman of broad humanitarian principles as is proven by his active co-operation in many movements to alleviate or ameliorate the hard conditions of life for others. He was manager of the State Industrial School for five years, from 1891 until 1896, and is a member of the Genesee Valley Club. In citizenship he is public-spirited and while holding high ideals he has always recognized the practical utility of the opportunities at hand. His time and energies have naturally been given most largely to his profession and he has met with splendid success therein. Well versed in the learning of his profession and with a deep knowledge of human conduct, with great sagacity and marked tact, he stands as a peer of many of the ablest members of the New York bar and is an honor to the profession which has honored him.

Maurice Joseph DORAN

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Maurice Joseph DORAN, born in Rochester, January 21, 1862, is a son of Edward and Margaret DORAN and the eldest of a family of seven children. His father was born in Dublin, Ireland. The tide of emigration was then moving to the new world and the elder Mr. DORAN came to our shores with his mother when only six years of age, becoming one of the early settlers of Rochester. In the schools of this city he acquired his education and here he learned the molder's trade with John M. FRENCH on the site of the present city barns. He was a stalwart democrat and widely known for his active work in the political interests of his party.

The subject of this sketch received his early education in the public schools, supplementing it later by his studies at the Immaculate Conception parochial school. At the age of seventeen years he learned the shoe business with various houses but this had little attraction for him and he determined to exert himself in a different direction. He accordingly became a wholesale liquor dealer and has shown remarkable business ability, transacting a large and lucrative business and maintaining a high class of trade.

In 1889 Mr. Doran was united in marriage to Anna L. CORCORAN, and to them were born four sons and one daughter, namely: Edward, who died in infancy; Maurice, now thirteen years old; Henry, aged ten years; Anna, eight; and Theobold, seven. Mr. DORAN is a member of the Immaculate Conception church. He is identified with the Elks lodge and is independent in his political relations. Personally he is sociable, ever willing to accord to anyone his courtesy and his time.