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- http://books.google.com/books?id=v6QUAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA22-IA4&lpg=PA22-IA4&dq=potwin+corrigan&source=bl&ots=AkIx6pRaOU&sig=eoEx-JoNgS37b6dCbqWcV1Z34Ns&hl=en&ei=oL_ASoLVNcil8Aavx-2zAQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2#v=onepage&q=potwin%20corrigan&f=false
CHARLES E. CORRIGAN? From pioneer achievements in the development of the electric automobile Charles E. Corrigan turned to other activities in electric manufacturing, and since 1907 he has been associated with Pittsburgh interests as vice-president of the National Metal Molding Company. His reputa
tion as an organizer and industrialist is national, and he has received international honors for his accomplishments in the electrical field. Now permanently identified with Pittsburgh interests, he has distinguished place in her annals.
Mr. Corrigan is a son of John and Charlotte (Heffernan) Corrigan, and grandson of James and Bridget (Hughes) Corrigan, his grandparents natives of Ireland, who came to the United States in 1834. John Corrigan, his father, was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, June 24, 1831, and came to the United States with his parents as a child of three years. He became a dealer in live stock in New York and Canada, was later an agriculturist, and as a Democrat, held public offices in Lewis county, N. Y. His wife, Charlotte (Heffernan) Corrigan, was a daughter of James and Helen Heffernan. of Martinsburgh, N. Y. Their children were: James, deceased; Charles E., of whom further; Gertrude and George, residents of Chicago, 111.; and Vincent, of Pittsburgh.
Charles E. Corrigan was born in Martinsburgh, Lewis county, N. Y., Aug. 29, 1863, and after attending the public schools became a student in Lowville Academy, whence he was graduated in 1883. His first business association was with seedsmen of Minneapolis, Minn., and after a short time in this connection he took up pioneer work in the production of electric automobiles. His work was noteworthy in a history-making degree, and constant success attended his efforts. His work began in Chicago, 111., about 1892, and he issued the first automobile catalogue distributed by an American manufacturer. He became president and general manager of the American Electric Vehicle Company, and at the World's Fair in Paris, France, in 1900, Mr. Corrigan received from the Republic of France a gold medal in recognition of his work. Just before 1900 he moved his plant from Chicago to Hoboken, N. J., and was there located during the remainder of his continuance in automobile manufacture. In this day when automobiles, gasoline and electric driven, congest metropolitan streets to a degree that raises serious question as to future traffic routes, and when every country road is dotted with hundreds of tourists, it is interesting to note that in 1896 Mr. Corrigan received from the West Chicago park commissioners a permit "to pass over the boulevard and through parks with his vehicle by electricity," and that in 1900 the Department of Parks of the City of New York granted him permission "to enter upon and pass over the drives of the Central Park with an electric pleasure carriage."
In 1901, Mr. Corrigan sold his automobile manufacturing holdings and engaged in the manufacture of electrical conduits, organizing the Osborn Flexible Conduit Company of New York. In 1907, Mr. Corrigan came to Pittsburgh and his organization merged with the National Metal Molding Company, the largest concern of its character in the world, of which he became vice-president. He has devoted himself almost exclusively to the demands of this important industrial interest, and the flourishing prosperity that it has experienced throughout all of its existence has been largely due to his rare executive ability and wise guidance. Mr. Corrigan is one of the foremost figures in the electrical manufacturing world today, and throughout the United States his reputation for progressiveness and original thought is widely known.
In political belief Mr. Corrigan is a Republican, and although public office is outside of his province, his influence and support are always upon the side of forward-looking, efficient government. He is a member of the Electrical Manufacturers' Club and the Associated Manufacturers of Electrical Supplies of New York, and the New York Electrical Society. Hisclubs are: The Duquesne, Pittsburgh Press, Pittsburgh Country, Americus Republican, the Old Colony, being a member of the National Advisory Board of the latter, and the Au Sable Trout and Game, of which last named organization he is president. He is also a member and vice-president of the Civic Club of Allegheny county, and a member of the Pittsburgh Athletic Association. In religious faith he is a Roman Catholic, being a member of the Sacred Heart Church. To Mr. Corrigan has fallen the lot of leadership in important enterprises, and the success of the projects with which he has been connected has lain in the willing cooperation he has been able to secure from his scientific and industrial colleagues. He is a highly regarded and generally well liked member of the Pittsburgh business fraternity. Mr. Corrigan married, in Chicago, 111., Feb. 6, 1895; Alice Melita Potwin, daughter of Henry and Annie (Smith) Potwin, of that city. Mrs. Corrigan is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, interested in philanthropic and charitable work in the city, and a member of several women's clubs, including the Tuesday Musical Club. Mr. and Mrs. Corrigan are the parents of: I. Ruth Frances, born July 6, 1896; educated in the Pittsburgh schools, Ursuline Academy of Pittsburgh, and Marymount Academy of Tarrytown, N. Y., being graduated from the last named school in the class of 1915; married Walter Gordon Frauenheim. 2. John Potwin, born Jan. it, 1898; pursued preparatory studies at Mount St. Mary's College, Emmitsburg, Md., and East Liberty Academy, Pittsburgh, and then matriculated at Cornell University. On April 7, 1917, the day following the entry of the United States into the World War, he enlisted as a seaman in the United States navy at Newport, R. I. Later he was commissioned ensign, and served on the U. S. S. "Saranac," attached to the mine laying division, "suicide fleet," in the North Sea. This division accomplished work that by many naval authorities was deemed impossible, and its value in almost stopping enemy operations equalled that of any other single achievement of the war. Ensign Corrigan won high commendation from his superior officers for his devotion to duty, and was discharged from the service in February, 1919. He immediately resumed his work at Cornell University and was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1920. He took a leading part in college activities, and prior to his enlistment, while in his junior year, was manager of the varsity baseball team, and upon his return from the service was elected manager of the "Masque." In 1920 he was nominated by the faculty of Cornell University to represent Pennsylvania in Rhodes Scholarship competition. He is still retained on the officers' reserve list
of the United States navy, and is now associated with the National Metal Molding Company. 3. Mary Alice, born Dec. 19, 1899, now (1920) attending the Brownson School of New York City. 4. Charles E., Jr., born Nov. 3, 1901, a graduate of Shadyside Academy, Pittsburgh, class of 1920, and now a student in Tulane University, New Orleans, La. 5. Francis Hughes, born Feb. 21, 1907.
See also:
http://www.archive.org/stream/biographicalhist00ffre/biographicalhist00ffre_djvu.txt
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The H600 Project Genealogy DB
1863 - 