Michael F. O'Connell (1877, Tipperary, Ireland - was a politician and first elected at the age of 61 to the

Wisconsin State Assembly The Wisconsin State Assembly is the lower house of the Wisconsin Legislature. Together with the smaller Wisconsin Senate, the two constitute the legislative branch of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The Assembly is controlled by the Republican ...

. He was repeatedly re-elected until 1958, when he was defeated in the Democratic primary race. He had immigrated from Ireland and settled in

Milwaukee, Wisconsin Milwaukee is the List of cities in Wisconsin, most populous city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Located on the western shore of Lake Michigan, it is the List of United States cities by population, 31st-most populous city in the United States ...

Biography

O'Connell was born on January 27, 1877, in Tipperary, Ireland. He later immigrated to the United States, settling in

, and working as a

railroad conductor A conductor (North American English) or guard (Commonwealth English) is a train crew member responsible for operational and safety duties that do not involve actual operation of the train/locomotive. The role is common worldwide under various j ...

Career

O'Connell had joined the Democratic Party and became increasingly active after World War II. He was elected to the state Assembly in 1948. He was repeatedly re-elected. But in 1958, O'Connell was defeated in the Democratic primary for his seat by

Patrick H. Kelly Patrick Henry Kelly (June 13, 1890 – July 30, 1965) was an American educator and politician, who served two 2-year terms as a Democratic Party (United States), Democratic member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Backgro ...

. He ran unsuccessfully as an

Independent Independent or Independents may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Artist groups * Independents (artist group), a group of modernist painters based in Pennsylvania, United States * Independentes (English: Independents), a Portuguese artist ...

in the general election.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:OConnell, Michael F. 19th-century Irish people 20th-century Irish people People from Tipperary (town) Irish emigrants to the United States Politicians from Milwaukee Democratic Party members of the Wisconsin State Assembly Wisconsin independents 1877 births Year of death missing Conductor (rail) 20th-century members of the Wisconsin Legislature