Sullivan, Denis Andrew

The following data is extracted from Biography and Genealogy of Western Massachusetts, 1639-1925.

DENIS ANDREW SULLIVAN-The name Denis Andrew Sullivan has become familiarized throughout the western part of the State to the proprietors of business generally, to the heads of various institutions, and to home-makers for the large and substantial share that Mr. Sullivan has had in modern construction in both city and country since 1898, when he founded his present contracting firm at Northampton. Mr. Sullivan, who was born' and bred here, has a thorough understanding of the residential and business requirements in the builder's calling, and his workmanship invariably has upon it the stamp of reliability and completeness his work everywhere in the townships of this section being recognized both for durableness and for general attractiveness. A leader in Northampton's business and civic interests, Mr. Sullivan is an influence for progress both in city and couriy. He is the son of Cornelius Su!1ivan, who was born about 1842 in County Kerry, Ireland, and died in 1887, in Northampton, aged forty-five years ; he had a brother Matthew and a sister Helen, both of whom, now deceased, came to the United States. Cornelius Sullivan, coming to America at an early date, located at Northampton, where he engaged in basket making, and died a comparatively young man. He married, in this country, Mary Dunn, who was born in County Kerry, Ireland, and who in 1925 is still living, the daughter of James and Johanna Dunn; their children: Denis Andrew, of whom further; Anna, who married John McGee; James J., Mary, who married Edward Hawley, of Hartford, Connecticut.

Denis Andrew Sullivan was born July 8, 1873, in Northampton, where he attended school until he was fourteen years of age, when he began working in the silk mills, so continuing until he was eighteen years old. He then learned the carpenter's trade with Joseph Hibbard, and in 1898 he established his own contracting and building business, in which he has been very actively engaged to the present time. At the outset he formed a partnership with James Twohig, and for two years did business under the firm name Twohig and Sullivan, after which, for another two years he was in business alone. In 1920 he received his son, Neil J. Sullivan, into partnership, and since then the firm name has been D. A. Sullivan & Son. Mr. Sullivan is the builder of many structures for all purposes in Northampton, and other cities and towns, and in the rural districts of Western Massachusetts, among the leading buildings being: Northampton High School Building, St. Joachim's Church at Chicopee, the Roberts Block, Water Department building, Kresge Block, Contagious Hospital and Todd's Store at Northampton ; he made extensive alterations in the First National Bank Building and the Cooperative Bank Building; he built the Williams Street School, the Telephone Exchange, the Filene store and the C. E. Childs Garden House. Mr. Sullivan also constructed the Ray Stannard Baker residence in Amherst, Professor Marshall's residence in Amherst, Judge Edward L. Shaw's residence in Northampton, Miss Georgia Phinney's residence, Dr. Dumphy's residence, as well as many other of the best residences in the city. He also built the fire station and the residence of Brown and Stevens, as well as the Rock Hill culvert and the North Street road. Mr. Sullivan served as a member of the Northampton Board of Assessors two years. His fraternal affiliations are with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and Company I, Veterans' Association, and a member of the board of. directors of the Father Mathew Temperance Society.

Denis Andrew Sullivan Married, April 21, 1897, Catherine Meehan, of Florence, daughter of James and Bridget (Scully) Meehan, and they are the parents of: i. Neil Joseph, born May 11, 1898, and is a member of the firm of D. A. Sullivan & Son, contractors and builders. Mr. Sullivan served in the Marine Corps of the

United States Navy in the World War as a machine gunner; and was stationed in France until the close of the war. His fraternal affiliations are with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; the Knights of Columbus; the American Legion, and the Oxford Club. He married, October 16, 1922, Viola May Sheridan, of Florence, daughter of Thomas and Johanna (McGee) Sheridan; they are the parents of a daughter, Eileen. z James Bernard, born June 4 1901. Graduated from Northampton High School in 1918, and from the Wharton School of Finance at the University of Pennsylvania with the class of 1922. He is now in business at Auburn, Michigan. He was a member of the Students' Training Corps during the World War. 3. Katherine Elizabeth, born December 10, 1903. She graduated from Northampton High School in 1921, and from "Our Lady of the Elms," in Chicopee, in 1923. She is a teacher in the public schools in Northampton. 4. Dorothy Anne, born July 25, 1904. She graduated from the Northampton High School in 192x, and from "Our Lady of the Elms" in 1924 She, too, is a teacher in the Northampton public schools. 5. Donald Denis Sullivan was born March 23, 1909, and is a student at Northampton High School.

Source: Biography and Genealogy of Western Massachusetts, 1639-1925

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