| Patrick Cudmore
(1831-1916)
Minnesota
frontispiece
P. Cudmore, The Battle of Clontarf and Other Poems
(New York: For Sale by P.J. Kenedy, 1895)
"CUDMORE, PATRICK -- was born at Moorestown, parish of Kilfanane, Co. Limerick, in 1831. Went to U.S.A. in 1846, and served in the Civil War, and is now a lawyer of Faribault, Minnesota. He is the author of some prose writings and is included in Thomas Herringshaw's 'Local and National Poets of America,' (Chicago, 1890), H.H. Bevis's 'Golden Thoughts by American Writers,' Cincinnati, 1892, and other collections."
[David James O'Donoghue, The Poets of Ireland: A Biographical Dictionary 269 (London: Published by the author, 1892-93)] [See also: Thos. W. Herringshaw (ed.), Local and National Poets of America 1032 (Chicago: American Publishers' Association, 1890)]
One publication has Cumore residing at Le Seur, Minnesota.
"Autobiography" by P. Cudmore, dated April 11, 1894, from his book, Buchanan's Conspiracy, the Nicaragua Canal, and Reciprocity 3 (New York: P.J. Kenedy, 1892):
I was born in Moorestown, Parish of Kilfinane, County of Limerick, Ireland. . . . I came to New York April, 1846. I studied law in a law school, attended lectures on anatomy at Bellevue Hospital and a course of lectures at the Cooper Institute. I traveled in Mexico, Central and South America. I was in Havana, Cuba, when General Lopez and some Americans were shot, in 1850, for invading Cuba. The Southern Democrats wanted to annex Cuba and Mexico. They wanted to extend slavery all over the "Golden Circle." The "Golden Circle" had its centre at Havana, Cuba, its radius extending to Mason and Dixon's line. In New York I married Mary Anne Lynch. She died in Minnesota, in November, 1857. I have a son, Daniel John Cudmore, living at Rochester, Minn. In New York I wrote a part of a novel entitled "The Irish Landlord." It has not been published. I studied history, poetry, mathematics, navigation, astronomy, chemistry, philosophy, law, logic, politics and language. I came to Wisconsin in 1853, and settled in Cross Plains, Dane county, where I practiced law. I was elected justice of the peace in 1855. I got a fair amount of legal business. In the spring of 1856 I came to Minnesota, made a claiim of 160 acres of government land in the township of Merton, Steele county, Minnesota, and practiced law. In 1858 I was elected town clerk of Merton, and in 1858 ran for county attorney of Steele county, Minnesota. In May, 1859, I came to Faribault, Minn., and entered the law office of Hon. H.C. Lowell and his son, Charles L. Lowell. In 1860 I was commissioned a notary public for Rice county, and was a candidate for court commissioner. I published letters in the newspapers and made speeches in the counties of Rice, Steele, Wasec and LeSueur. In 1860-61 I delivered free lectures on Ireland, Mexico and South America. I served in the Union army during the Rebellion and in the Indian war. In the winter of 1865-66 I traveled in the Southern States, collecting materails for my "Constitutional History." In 1868 I was elected county attorney of LeSueur county, Minnesota. In 1871 I published "The Irish Republic," my "Constitutional History" in 1875 and the fourth edition of my "Poems and Songs" in 1885. In 1892 I published two editions of "Buchanan's Conspiracy, the Nicaragua Canal and Reciprocity." In 1890-93 I gave free lectures on the Nicaragua canal, Mexico, Central and South America. [online text]
[See also: Thomas William Herringshaw (ed.), Herringshaw's National Library of American Biography 167 (Chicago: American Publishers' Assoc., 1905)(vol. 2)][online text]
Poetry
P. Cudmore, Poems and Songs, Satires and Political Rings (New York: For Sale by P.J. Kenedy, 1885)
_________, The Battle of Clontarf and Other Poems (New York: For Sale by P.J. Kenedy, 1895)
Writings P. Cudmore, The Irish Republic: A Historical Memoir on Ireland and Her Oppressors (Saint Paul, Minnesota: Pioneer Print. Co., 1871) [online text]
_________, The Civil Government of the States, and the Constitutional History of the United States (New York: P. Cudmore, 1875)(New York: For Sale by P.J. Kenedy, 2nd ed., 1875) [online text]
_________, President Grant and Political Rings: A Satire (New York: For sale by P.J. Kennedy, 1878)(New York: For sale by P.J. Kennedy, 1880)
_________, The Le Sueur Kitany: For Doran-Le Sueur Ring, Minnesota: A Satire (New York: For Sale by P.J. Kennedy, 1885)
_________, Buchanan's Conspiracy, the Nicaragua Canal, and Reciprocity (New York: P.J. Kenedy, 1892)
_________, Cleveland's Maladministration: Free Trade, Protection and Reciprocity (New York: For Sale by P.J. KenNedy, 1896)
_________, Cudmore's Prophecy of the Twentieth Century (New York: For Sale by P.J. Kenedy, 1899)
_________, Autobiography ([Faribault, Minnesota?]: s.n., 1902)
[The Copy of the 'Autobiography' we examined was signed by P. Cudmore, with the notation, "Faribault, Minn. March. 1902"]
The Autobiography reads as follows:
I was born in Moorestown, parish of Kilfinane, County of Limerick, Ireland, in 1831. My father was Daniel Cudmore and my mother was Catherine Moynihan. My grandmother was a Quinlan and grandfather Thomas Cudmore. My great-grandfather was William Cudmore and his mother was a Travis. My great-grandather’s parents were Protestants and descended from gentry and nobility. The Cudmores are Norman-Irish. The name is written in the records of France and England de Askidemore, Esquidmore, Escuedmore, Scbidemore, Scudamore, and Cudmore. They are an eminent family in the west of England—in Middlesex, Hereford, and Yorkshire. They are related to the Stanhope family; the Earl of Chesterfield, etc. John Cudmore was raised to the peerage of Ireland as Baron Dromore, and Viscount Sligo, sat in King James’ parliament of 1680. The Cudmores of Morrestown, County of Limerick, Ireland, are a mixture of Cetl, Norman, and Spanish.
My grandfather, Thomas Cudmore, and his brother were Catholics. They were the only Cudmore family in the parish of Kilfinane. My grandfather and his brother, Daniel Cudmore, came from the neighborhood of the city of Limerick. Several of the Cudmore family lived in the counties of Limerick, Cork and Clare. My father’s brother, Patrick Cudmore, lived in Moorestown, County of Limerick. He had three sons, Thomas, Patrick, and Michael, who came to America. I had three brothers, Thomas, James, and Daniel, who are now dead. Daniel died in Kilfinane, County of Limerick, Ireland. My father’s cousins, of Moorestown, were James, Michael and Daniel. They had children who left Moorestown, County of Limerick, Ireland, and emigrated. My mother died when I was four years of age. My father died a few years afterwards. My father lived on a large farm in Moorestown. I attended the public schools of Kilfinane. After the death of my father I studied at the monastery school of Dungarvan, County of Waterford, Ireland, where I studied astronomy and navigation. I intended to be a sea captain and sail around the world. I got the reputation of a good mathematician, historian, grammarian, and geographer. After the death of my father, I quit all kinds of amusements and devoted my time exclusively to study. I frequently met boys after school to debate on the history of Greece, Rome, England, and Ireland. At other times my ambition was to be the best mathematician and astronomer in Ireland. In my boyhood days I loved to roam alone over mountains, glens, fields, and groves. My great delight was to sit on a rock on a high mountain and view the surrounding country; or from some high cliff overhanging the seashore, behold the sea and sailing vessels. I resolved on making a mark in the world and perpetuating my name. I prided myself on being faber aua fortuna and primus inter pares. I had high aspirations, towering ambition, love of honor, glory, and fame. I did not like the idea of dying “unknown, unhonored, and unsung”—to be forgotten like the worm of the earth! I dreaded oblivion! Something seemed to inspire me with the thoughts of future honor and fame.
After leaving the monastery of Dungarvan, I studied mathematics at the best academy in Munster. At that time, certain mathematicians in Munster taught exclusively mathematics. They taught the higher mathematics as taught in Trinity College, Dublin, Oxford, Cambridge, and Edinburgh.
I heard O’Connell’s speeches. I was much impressed by his patriotism and eloquence. I took the pledge from Father Mathew in the city of Cork and I was about sailing for America in 1846. I landed in New York in April, 1846. I made a resolution to keep away from saloons and gambling places. I studied law and history. I studied law at a law school. I took a course of lectures on anatomy at Bellevue Hospital. I took a course of lectures at the Cooper Institute. I traveled in Cuba, Mexico, Central and South America. I was in Havana, Cuba, when General Lopez and others were shot in 1850 for invading Cuba. At that time the Southern Democrats wanted to annex Cuba and Mexico. They wanted to extend slavery over the “Golden Circle.” The “Golden Circle” had its center at Havana, Cuba. It’s radius extended to Mason and Dixon’s line.
While in New York I attended public meetings of all political parties, and heard the speeches of Webster, Clay, and other great statesmen.
I married Mary Anne Lynch in New York City. I wrote a part of a novel entitled “The Irish Landlord.” It was never finished. I burned it with other papers in 1894. I studied history, poetry, mathematics, chemistry, astronomy, law, politics, logic, philosophy,, civil government and language. My great ambition was to be an author. I wanted honor and fame. My wife was a few years my senior. She was sensible and economical. She could save the dollars and cents. I made her cashier and treasurer, which left my mind free from the cares of “pater familias,” and gave me ample time for study. Occasionally, I visited private families. The more I was opposed or derided by the jealous and envious, the more I persevered. I wanted to show friends and foes what I could accomplish. Opposition was my greatest stimulant to perseverance. When disappointed my rule has been to make the best of the present and leave the future take care of itself.
On the twelfth day of July, 1853, I left New York for Wisconsin. I bought eighty acres of government land for $100 in the township of Cross Plains, Dane county, Wisconsin, about fifteen miles west of Madison. I practiced law and made speeches at Cross Plains in 1854. In 1855 I was elected a justice of the peace. I was popular as a lawyer and public speaker. I got a fair amount of legal business. My ambition was to be a district judge. I wrote a part of a novel—“The Irish Landlord.” I studied law, history, and civil government. I was known as the New York Irish lawyer. In 1855 Irish lawyers were scarce in the West. In the fall of 1855 I sold my farm in Cross Plains. My German friends wanted me to buy six acres of land in the village of Cross Plains. They promised to elect me to the legislature. In the fall of 1855 I traveled in the northern counties of Wisconsin and Iowa. In the spring of 1856 I came to Minnesota and made a claim of 160 acres of government land in the township of Merton (then Orion), Steele county, Minnesota, about four miles from Owatonna, the county seat of Steele county. I practiced law and improved my farm. I intended when the farm was improved to sell it and put the money at interest and move into town and devote my time exclusively to the practice of law. In 1857 my wife died, which broke up my calculations. In 1858 I was elected town clerk of Merton. That fall I ran on the Democrat ticket for county attorney of Steele county. The whole Democratic ticket was defeated, and I with the ticket, as Steele county was the banner Republican county of Minnesota. In 1858 I sold my stock and farm implements at a great sacrifice in consequence of the “Democratic financial crisis."
In 1850 I moved to Faribault, Minn. And entered the law office of Hon. Judge H.C. Lowell and his son, Charles L. Lowell. In 1860 I was commissioned notary public for Rice county, Minnesota. That fall I ran on the Democratic ticket for court commissioner. That year the whole Democratic ticket in Rice county was defeated. I was again on the losing side of politics.
In 1859 and 1860, I made speeches in the counties of Rice, Le Bueur, Waseca, and Steele. I wrote several newspaper articles for the Pioneer and Democrat. Le Sueur Herald, Faribault Statesman, and St. Peter Little Giant. I met several Republicans in debate on the political issues. I was in the law office of Judge H. C. Lowell and his son, Charles L. Lowell, from May, 1859, until August, 1862, when I volunteered in Company H. Tenth Regiment, Minnesota Infantry Volunteers.
In 1860 I challenged, by a notice in the papers, any Republican to meet me in joint discussion in the counties of Rice, Steele, Waseca, and Le Sueur on the issues between Douglas Democrats and the Republican party. No Republican accepted the challenge. In the winter of 1860-61 I wrote and delivered lectures on the history of Ireland and commenced writing a political history of parties. I agave free lectures on Ireland, Mexico, and Peru.
One Brown, editor of the Faribault Central Republican, assailed me in his paper. I wrote two articles or letters against him in the Faribault Statesman, and completely shut him up. In 1852 I had nearly completed my history of political parties. I got it noticed in the newspapers. In 1862, when the president called for 800,000 men, Governor Ramsey promised the Irish that if they would make up an Irish regiment he would give them all the company and regimental officers. Dennis McCarthy and his brother-in-law, Dennis Cavanaugh, and I joined together to get up an Irish company of colunteeers. They agreed to make the captain and Cavanaugh first lieutenant. I made several war speeches and spent time and money getting up the company. The secretary of war did not give us sufficient time to make up an Irish company or an Irish regiment. Our squad was ordered to Fort Snelling. We were mustered in August, 1862, to serve three years. As we had not men enough to make up a company, our squad consolidated with a St. Paul squad on conditiion that the St. Paul squad would have the captain and the Fairbault squad the first and second lieutenant, each squad to elect their own company officers. The St. Paul squad elected Captain Sullivan. In this new arrangement it was understood and agreed between Cavanaugh, McCarthy, and myself that I would be elected first lieutenant. Cavanaugh and McCarthy, being brothers-in-law, worked into each others hand, and defeated me for lieutenant. One Joseph Haggerty of Shieldsville, who was the leader of the Irish of Shieldsville and its vicinity, aided Cavanaugh and McCarthy to defeat me for lieutenant. Haggerty had for years pretended to be my friend, but he entertained for me a private grudge because I once pleaded a lawsuit against him.
My friends adivsed me to apply to Governor Ramsey for a regimental office, as the Irish had furnished one-third of the Tenth Regiment and about 700 men in the other Minnesota regiments. I got up a petition signed by the state officers,k including James H. Baker, who was then secretary of state, and by both houses of the legislature (the legislature was in session early that fall). I presented this petition to Governor Ramsey for the appointment of sergeant major at the Tenth Regiment. Governor Ramsey promised me that he would request Col. James H. Baker to promise him that he would give me the office of sergeant major of the Tenth Regiment. Colonel Baker did promise Gov. Ramsey that he would give me the office of sergeant major of the Tenth Regiment, Minnesota Infantry Volunteers. On the 3rd of November, 1862, our company left Fort Snelling for St. Peter, Minn. Baker was a “Know-Nothing,” who disliked Irish Catholics and Democrats. He violated his pledge to Governor Ramsey, and appointed another man sergeant major of the Tenth Regiment. I was disappointed. In the winter of 1862-63 our company was in winter quarters on the frontier at Vernon Center, Blue Earth county, Minnesota. I read Latin and military tactics. In the spring of 1863 our regiment went on the Sibley Indian expedition on the plains of Dakota, which was then a wilderness without white settlers. We had four battles with the Indians. We drove them across the Missouri river. On the expedition Major Cook told me that if I would give Colonel Baker a good puff in the newspapers he would make me a company sergeant. I refused to puff such a dishonorable man, who had broken his word with Governor Ramsey. I was too proud to stoop and cringe to such a man, and preferred to remain a private in the ranks.
After we got back from the Indian expedition, in 1863, we were sent to St. Louis, Mo. While in St. Louis, in the winter of 1863-64, I read Latin and took notes for my political history. In St. Louis, Captain Sullivan of my company wanted to detail me on duty at Gratiot Street Military Prision, for which duty I would get extra pay. I declined the appointment. I was also offered a commission of captain in a colored regiment, which I declined. Major Cook wrote me a letter informing me that I could get detailed in the provost marshal’s office in St. Louis at sixty dollars per month. I wrote him that I would not accept any office except that of second lieutenant, that office being the vacant in Company H, Tenth Regiment Minnesota Infantry Volunteeers, in consequence of the resignation of Lieutenant McCarthy. As I had spent time and money getting up Company H, Tenth Regiment Minnesota Infantry, I claimed that I was entitled to the office of captain or lieutenant in that company. I would not accept an office of a lower grade. I did not get the appointment of lieutenant. It was given to another. In the army human nature displayed itself among the officers and men. Many of them could easily change their principles for promotion!
On the 22nd of April, 1864, our regiment arrived at Columbus, Ky. We got to Memphis, Tenn., June 20, 1864. There I packed my books, manuscripts, and notes and sent them to Faribault by express. At Memphis we joined the Sixteenth Army corps under the command of Gen. A.J. Smith. We marched from Memphis to Tupelo in July, 1864. We fought the battles of Tupelo on July 13, 14 and 15, 1864. I got my spine injured at the battle of Tupelo. I was sick on that expedition with diarrhea. When we got back to Memphis I was sent to the regimental convalescent hospital for treatment for the spine and diarrhea. The regiment went on an expedition through Arkansas and Missouri. When convalescent I was put on picket duty. In camp I studied English history and “Plutarch’s Lives.” October, 1864, I wrote a brief sketch of my life. I felt proud and happy for having so far spent my life without a stain on my character, with the consolation that not one of my name or nation need blush for my conduct. I was at the battle of Nashville, Dec. 16 and 17, 1864. After the battle of Nashville we marched in pursuit of Hood’s army to Eastport, Miss., and from there, by steamboat, to New Orleans, and from New Orleans to Mobile, Ala. I was sent, in March, 1865, from Mobile to a hospital at New Orleans, from there, by sea, to hospital at Willet’s Point, New York, and from New York to Fort Snelling, Minn. In May, 1865, where I was mustered out May 14, 1865. This ended my military career.
After getting home from the War of the Rebellion in 1805, my ambition was to be an author. I studied the civil wars of the Jews, Greeks, Romans, English, Scotch, French, Germans, and other nations. I spent the winter of 1805-06 traveling in the Southern States, collecting material for my constitutional history. In 1868, I was elected county attorney of Le Suer county, Minnesota. In 1800and 1870, I wrote the “Irish Republic,” which I published by subscription in 1871. In 1873 and 1874 I revised and enlarged my political history and called it the “Civil Government of the States and the Constitutional History of the United States.” In 1875 I published it in New York. It passed through two editions. I published a book of poems and songs in New York. It passed through two editions. The fourth edition was published in 1895. In 1890 the American Publishers Association of Chicago published in the “Local and National Poets of America” my portrait, and a few selections from my poems and a short biography. In 1892 the same publishers published my poem on Mexico in the “Poems in Autograph.” In 1892 they published some of my poems in “Poetical Quotations.” In 1892 H.H. Bevis of Cincinnati, is a work entitled “Golden Thoughts of American Writers,” published a few of my select poems. In 1892, Daniel O’Donoughue of London, England, published in the “Poets of Ireland” my biography. This is a good indorsement in America and Europe. In 1893 I donated to the Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C., a manuscript on the history of Ireland, of which I am the author, and some valuable books. In 1893 I donated to the public library of Faribault, Minn., a scrap-book containing letters from public libraries and prominent public men, together with somem books. In the winter of 1893-04 I overhauled my manuscripts and revised my book entitled “The Penal Laws of Ireland.” All of my unpublished poems I collected in one package or portfolio. In 1894 all unpublished manuscripts on the political history of the United States I burned except on Cleveland’s administration. The manuscript on Cleveland’s administration I have condensed and written to date. The amount of manuscript which I burned would make a large book. In 1802 I published a book entitled “Buchanan’s Conspiracy, Nicaragua Canal, and Reciprocity,” which has passed through three editions. I am preparing the fourth edition for 1896, which will contain Cleveland’s administration. I am dividing my time reading law, history, and Spanish. I began the study of Spanish in 1893.
In 1894 I donated several books to the librayr of Faribault, and some valuable books to the Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C., in 1894-95. July, 1895, I published a new book ofo poems entitled the “Battle of Clontarf and Other Poems.” I amnow the author of five books. I am preparing a book on Ireland, including the civil government of Ireland. I have a son, Daniel John Cudmore, living at Rochester, Minn., who has a family of one son and two daughters, William, Nellie, and Mary. I donated copies of “The Irish Republic,” “Constitutional History,” “Poems,” “Buchanan’s Conspiracy,” and “The Battle of Clontari” to the principal libraries of the world.
I abandoned the democratic party, and joined the Republican party in consequences of the Democrats becoming the allies of England and the promoted of English interest; for their siding England to maintain her commercial supremacy over the United States and the world, making the United States a commercial and financial dependence of England; for the Democratic weak and vicious foreign policy; their opposition to the building of the Nicaragua canal, the annexation of Hawaii, Cuba, San Domingo, and Mexico; their opposition to building a large navy and fortifying the coast; their discouragement of our merchant marine; permitting England to dominear over the republic of Nicaragua, and permitting England to engroach in Alaska; Democratic repudiation of our reciprocity treaties with Latin America and the West Indies in aid of English interests; Cleveland’s financial policy, which, in time of peace, bonded the country to London bankers and increased the public debt; for Democratic free trade and anti-protection of home industry for the benefit of English manufacturers—substituting direct taxation for taxation of English imports; for Cleveland’s sympathy with monarchy and English aristocracy and the money powers of England.
For several years I have been circulating and sending petitions to congress foro granting pensions to the Union soldiers and sailors of the late rebellion; petitions for the annexation of Cuba and Hawaii; the construction of the Nicaragua canal; for the coast defenses and increase of the navy; the encouragement of our merchant marine; reciprocity with Mexico, Central and South America, and an international railway connecting North Central and South America. For several years I have written in the newspapers letters on various subjects, which would make a large book.
Jan. 13, 1896 P. CUDMORE, E.H.
The following is from Herringshaw’s Encyclopedia of American Biography of the Nineteenth Century:
Cudmore, P., soldier, lawyer, historian, poet, was born June, 1831, in Ireland. After leaving the monastery of Dungarvan, he studied mathematics at the best academy in Munster. He emigrated to America in 1846; studied law; took a course of lectures on anatomy at Bellevue hospital; and a course of lectures at the Cooper Institute. He then traveled in Cuba, Mexico, Central and South America. In 1853 he moved to Dane county, Wisconsin, and in 1855 was elected a justice of the peace, and became a popular lawyer and public speaker. In 1856 he moved to Minnesota, and the following year settled in Faribault. In 1800 he commenced delivering lectures on Ireland, Mexico, and Peru; and in 1802 mustered in as a soldier and served three years, first in Company H. Tenth Minnesota Infantry Volunteers, which he was instrumental in raising; and subsequently joined the Sixteenth Army Corps. He is the author of Cudmore’s Constitutional History: Cudmore’s Irish Republic; Cudmore’s Poems and Songs; Cudmore’s Battle of Contarf and Other Poems; Buchanan’s Conspiracy: The Nicaragual Canal and Reciprocity; Cudmore’s Cleveland’s Mal-Administration.”
In 1899 I published a work entitled “Cudmore’s Prophecy of the Twentieth Century;” and, in the same year, “Cudmore’s Prophecy of the Twentieth Century, Part II.”
I am revising a work entitled “Cudmore’s Penal Laws of Ireland,” which I intend to publish soon. In 1896 I published a work entitled “Cleveland’s Maladministration, Free Trade, Protection and Reciprocity.” I donated several copies of this work to several libraries in America and Europe. I have donated copies of my “Cudmore’s Prophecy of the Twentieth Century” to libraries in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand and Tasmania. I have published letters in newspapers which would make a large book. In 1897 I published in the Pilot, Faribault, Minnesota, four letters on “Faribault, Minnesota, Catholic Mission.”, and Sept. 15, 1897, I published in the Republican, Faribault, Minnesota, a sketch of the territorial bar of Rice county, Steele county and Waseca county, Minnesota.
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