Thomas Lawrence Reilly, former congressman and former mayor of Meriden, who for many years figured prominently in journalistic circles in Connecticut, was born in New Britain, September 20, 1858, a son of John and Catherine (Fagan) Reilly. The father was a native of County Cavan, Ireland, and the mother of County Longford. Both came to America in the early ‘50s and after a brief period spent in Brooklyn, New York, removed to New Britain. The father was an iron molder by trade. During the last ten years of his life he was a resident of Buffalo, New York, where he was keeper in the Erie County penitentiary. With his brother-in-law, the late James Reynolds of New Haven, he was prominently identified with many Irish national movements.

  Thomas L. Reilly received his early education in St. Mary’s parochial school and afterward attended the State Normal School at New Britain, Connecticut, where he was graduated on the 30th of June, 1876, being the only male member of this Centennial class, which numbered twenty-six. When his textbooks were put aside he began working for a contractor, S. P. Cooley, in the Russell & Erwin factory at New Britain, drilling spindles for door knobs. His initial activity that brought him eventually to the field of journalism was put forth during his school days, when he wrote local news for several state papers. Later he had charge, under Town Clerk John Walsh, of New Britain, of the task of getting up the first index of the records of that town. In the fall of 1876 he entered the employ of the Kiernan Printing Company of New Haven and in September, 1877, he and the family removed to Meriden and there he entered the law office of Attorney D. J. Donahoe, intending to engage in the practice of law as a life work. He remained with Judge Donahoe until the latter removed to Middletown and then entered the office of the late George A. Fay. His mother’s death, resulting from an accident, occasioned a change of his plans and he began to work as clerk and bookkeeper for the late John F. Butler. Subsequently he was employed in the packing department of the Meriden Britannia Company and from there began his active newspaper life as the regular Meriden representative of the New Haven Union. He afterward was employed successively by the Meriden Press, the Meriden Republican and the New Haven Register, being legislative reporter for the last named paper during the session of 1885. On the 17th of April of the latter year he became associated with Francis Atwater, F. E. Sands and the late Lew Allen in the publication of the Meriden Daily Journal, being secretary of the company and city editor. For a quarter of a century there was no change in the directors or officers of that corporation and Mr. Reilly remained with the Journal until elected to congress in 1910.

  On the 1st of January, 1884, in Blackstone, Massachusetts, Mr. Reilly was united in marriage to Miss Maria E. Rowen, a daughter of Michael Rowen. She died November 30, 1906, and in 1909, in Meriden, Connecticut, Mr. Reilly was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. S. Downes, a daughter of Charles Downes. Mr. Reilly has seven children, namely: Robert Rowen, Katherine Margaret, Mary Frances, Louis James, Arthur E. J., Rose Acquin and Agnes Monica. Katherine and Rose are Sisters of Mercy and are known in their order as Sisters Valeriana and Madelena, respectively. The only one married of the children is Arthur, American vice consul at Stockholm, Sweden. His wife was, before her marriage, Stephanie Kasprowicz, of Warsaw, Poland. Thomas Lawrence Reilly, 2d, is the result of that marriage.

  Mr. Reilly is a member of St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic church at Meriden. He is identified with several fraternal organizations, being a charter member of Silver City Council, No. 2, Knights of Columbus; the Meriden lodge of Elks; Pilgrims’ Harbor Council of the Royal Arcanum; the Woodmen of the World; and the Fraternal Order of Eagles. He was elected grand esteemed leading knight of the Order of Elks at the Grand Lodge, which met in Boston, July 11, 1917. He is also identified with the Ancient Order of Hibernians and he has membership in the John Dillon Club, the Amaranth Club of Meriden, the 1711 Club of Meriden and the Knights of St. Patrick of New Haven.

  In politics he is a democrat and his military record covers service with the Second Company of the Governor’s Foot Guard of New Haven. He has been active in public office as a selectman and member of the school board, was also a director of the public library and was mayor of his city from January, 1906, until April, 1912. He was elected to congress from the second congressional district in 1910 and reelected in 1912 from the new third district, his term expiring March 4, 1915. On the 5th of April of that year he was appointed income tax agent and was made estate tax agent on the 1st of July, 1917.

  Mr. Reilly has long been an active factor in molding public thought and action in his section of the state. It is a dull mind that does not respond to the touch of his thought, to the play of his fancy, to the force of his logic. His breadth of view has not only recognized possibilities for his own advancement but also for the city’s development, and his lofty patriotism has prompted him to utilize the latter as quickly and as effectively as the former.