Patrick Francis O’Meara started out in life at a salary of but four dollars per week. Today he is president of the New Haven Trades Council and business representative of the Plumbers and Steamfitters Union. He was born in New Haven, June 9, 1876. His grandparents were Mr. and Mrs. Patrick O’Meara and his father was the late Dennis Cleary O’Meara, who was a native of County Tipperary, Ireland, and came to America in 1866, making his way direct to New Haven, where in the early days he was engaged in teaming. For thirty years, however, he was with the Miner, Read & Tullock Company, wholesale grocers, as a most trusted employe and faithful representative. He died in 1904, in New Haven, at the age of fifty-six years. His political endorsement had been given to the democratic party from the time that age conferred upon him the right of franchise. His religious faith was that of the Roman Catholic church. He belonged to the Sacred Heart parish and was a member of the Sacred Heart Holy Name Society. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Susan Donahue, was born in County Cavan, Ireland, and came to the United States in 1868 in company with her parents. By her marriage she became the mother of five children, of whom four are living: Sarah E.; Patrick Francis; Dennis J., who is foreman with the New Haven Gas Light Company; and Anna M. One son, John O’Meara, has passed away.

  Patrick F. O’Meara was educated in the public schools of New Haven to the age of fourteen years, when his textbooks were put aside and he started out to earn his own living, being first employed by the National Folding Box Company at a salary of but four dollars per week. He remained there for two years and was then apprenticed to Daniel F. Kelly, a pioneer plumber of New Haven, under whose direction he learned the plumbing trade, serving a three years’ apprenticeship. He followed that trade as a journeyman until the fall of 1908, when he became business representative of the organization, which office he has since continuously and successfully filled, ever looking after the interests of the men of the organization and doing much to promote and further their welfare. He is also a member of the municipal advisory board and is serving on the board of education of the Trade School. For three years he was a member of the charter revision committee. He is in close touch with public thought and action and has done not a little to further public service and welfare.

  On the 8th of October, 1902, in New Haven, Mr. O’Meara was united in marriage to Miss Catherine Gormley, a native of New Haven and a daughter of John and Bridget Gormley, representatives of old families of this city. They had two children: Mary Frances, born April 14, 1913; and one who died in infancy.

  In his political views Mr. O’Meara has always been a stalwart democrat and has been very active in both political and civic affairs, doing everything in his power to promote the success of his party and also to further the public welfare. He belongs to the Democratic Club and also to the Knights of Columbus Club and he is the president of the St. Francis Holy Name Society. He takes an active and helpful part in religious work, being a devoted member of the Roman Catholic church. He also has an interesting military chapter in his life record. For five years, from 1896 until 1901, he was a member of Company D of the Second Regiment of the Connecticut National Guard and was second duty sergeant, being honorably discharged on the expiration of his term of service.