About 1858 he came to Pittston, and was engaged in coal mining up to the time of his death. He had a family of nine children, viz.: Patrick, a carpenter residing in Pittston; John, a carpenter, of Pittston; M. F.; James, a plumber, of Cleveland, Ohio; Mary, residing in Pittston; and Kate and Annie, both deceased.
Our subject passed his boyhood in Pittston, and had the advantage of a limited public school education. At the age of twelve he began working in the Old Tompkins Coal Breaker, being employed there for one year, and then became a driver boy in the mines, which occupation he followed until the age of seventeen, when he began working as a laborer in the mines, continuing at that occupation until 1883.
He then entered the merchant tailoring establishment of U. GREEN, at Pittston, and there began to learn the trade of cutter. For one year he was with Mr. Green, and then entered the employ of Mr. STEVENS, of Wilkes-Barre, with whom he remained until 1885, when he returned to Pittston and opened a merchant tailoring establishment for his own account, in a room of the James H. Craig building on South Main Street. He continued in this room for about eighteen months, and then removed to his present quarters at No. 35, South Main street.
Although Mr. Gilroy has been in business here but a short time, he has built up a very large trade, and the superior work which he sends out is constantly increasing his business. He is located in comfortable quarters in the central portion of the city, and has shelves amply stocked with an elegant line of suitings of every variety. He employs the best workmen that money can secure, and uses every endeavor to please his customers. The fact that his trade is so large that it necessitates the employing of twenty workmen, shows that he is meeting with a large patronage is v very successful.
Mr. Gilroy was untied in marriage February 2, 1887, with Kate E. CUMMINGS, a daughter of Patrick Cummings, a retired gentleman of Pittston. This union has been blessed with three children, viz.: Joseph, Mary and Robert. Mr. Gilroy and family are members of St. John's Catholic Church. He is a member of the Father Mathew Temperance and Benevolent Society of Pittston; politically he is identified with the Democratic party. Mr. Gilroy has been eminently successful in his business venture in Pittston, and owes his success to his straight-forward and honest business methods, and he has secured an enviable position among the substantial citizens of his native city.
History of Luzerne County, Pa. by H. C. Bradsby - published 1893
In the death of Mr. Gilroy Pittston loses one of its best known men, as he was a life long resident of this city and for a number of years conducted a successful tailoring business in this city. He was 44 years old and was a son of the late Martin Gilroy of this city. He received his education in the public schools and took up the tailoring trade as a profession. Mr. Gilroy was not in the best of health lately although his family was not aware of this fact. He was a prominent member of the Knights of Columbus of this city and took an active part in its affairs; also of St. John’s congregation and was president of Branch 48 , C. M. B. A., of this city.
The surviving members of his family are his widow and the following sons and daughters: Joseph who was associated with his father in business, Mary, Robert, a clerk for Farrer & Peck; Frank and Kathleen. The following brothers and sisters also survive: Patrick, John, Mrs. Margaret Reddington, Michael, James and Mrs. Thomas Cummings, the last named of Chicago.
Wilkes-Barre Record - October 15, 1908