Mathias J Reilly

REILLY

Posted By: County Coordinator (email)
Date: 4/21/2010 at 14:19:01

One of the important business enterprises of Boone is that which is incorporated and conducted under the name of the Leader Grocery & Market Company, in which Mathias J Reilly is the senior partner. His name has long been a familiar one in the trade circles of the city and stands as a synonym for progressive methods, his establishment largely setting the standard for activity in other business houses of Boone.
Mr Reilly was born in Utica, New York April 5, 1859, and is a son of Lawrence and Bridget Reilly, both of whom were natives of Ireland. It was in the year 1848 that the father bade adieu to friends and native land and sailed for the new world. He established his home in Utica, New York, where he was well known as a railroad man for a number of years. In 1869 he arrived in Iowa and for a year thereafter engaged in railroading. Subsequently he turned his attention to farming, which he followed for several years, being thus engaged to the time of his death, which occurred in 1887. His wife survived him for many years and passed away on March 19, 1905.
Mathias J Rielly was reared on the old home farm and at the age of twenty-one was still upon his father's place in Harrison township. Upon the solicitation of Mr Schroeder, however he left the farm and entered the Schroeder meat market at Boone. This was about 1880. He remained in that employ for three years and in 1883 embarked in business on his own account as proprietor of a meat market, in which he had L D Sparks as a partner, their intersts being coducted under the firm name of Sparks & Reilly. At length Mr Reilly sold out to Mr Sparks and entered the T P Rogers grocery, with which he continued for about a yrear. He next sold out and later entered into partnership with A S Tarrow. In 1891 however, he purchased the business of his partner and for about twenty-one years was alone, but in January 1912, he incorporated the buiness under the name of the Leader Grocery & Meat Company. In this undertaking he is associated with Severt Teasdahl, Charles Rafferty, Cleo Elliott, Ed Ray and his daughter Marie. The business is now an extensive one and is gorwing year by year. A large and well selected line of staple and fancy groceries is carried, and equal excellence is maintained in the market. This insures a liberal patronage, and the success of the house is very gratifying.
In January 1884, Mr Reilly was united in marriage to Miss Mary Hamilton, a native of Clinton county, Iowa, and unto them have been born five children: Grace, Leo, who died ni childhood, Marie, Lenoard, and John. The religious faith of the family is that of the Catholic church, to which Mr Reilly loyally adheres. He belongs to the Knights of Columbus and also holds membership with the Yeoman, the Workmen and the Woodmen. His political support is given the republican party and for four years he served as a member of the city council. Diligence and determination have been among his salient characteristics and have been manifest with equal result in behalf of the genreal welfare and in advancing his individual success.

1914 Boone County History Book