- Alfred J. O'BRIEN, a well known patent attorney of Denver,
whose genial manner and sterling
- worth make for personal popularity, is numbered among the
early residents of the city and through many years has been an
Interested witness of the changes which have occurred and the
progress that has been wrought here through the efforts of time
and man. He was born in Janesville, Wisconsin, October 9, 1856,
and is a son of James and Eliza J. (HILL) O'BRIEN. The father
was born in Ireland, May 22, 1818, and came to America in early
life. He was reared and educated in the state of New York and
at an early age removed to Racine, Wisconsin, where on Thursday,
March 30, 1848, he married. He continued to follow farming near
Janesville to the time of his death, which occurred June 20,
1888. His wife was born in Farmington, Connecticut, on the 6th
of October, 1829, and in young womanhood removed to the middle
west, residing upon the old homestead near Janesville and later
at Racine, Wisconsin. In fact she there continued to the date
when she was called to the home beyond—the 3d of July, 1912.
She reared a family of nine children, six sons and three daughters,
namely: W. H., living at Bar Harbor, Michigan; Ora, a resident
of Janesville, Wisconsin; Cora M., also in Janesville; Alfred
J., of this review; Orion, who makes his home in Janesville,
Wisconsin; and four who have passed away. Alfred J. O'BRIEN attended
the public schools of Janesville in early life and afterward
became a student in Lawrence University at Appleton, Wisconsin,
thus acquiring a good literary education to serve as the basis
of professional learning. Determining upon the practice of law
as a life work, he entered the office of the firm of Winans &
McElroy, with whom he read for a time and during the same period
was engaged in other duties in order to provide for his own support.
At a later period he became a law student in the office of Cassiday
& Carpenter, well known and prominent attorneys, the senior
partner afterward becoming chief justice of the supreme court
of Wisconsin. Under their direction Mr. O'BRIEN continued to
read law until 1882, when he was admitted to the bar. Thinking
that the west would offer better opportunities for a young lawyer,
he decided to leave Wisconsin and made his way to Denver, where
he arrived in the early part of 1882. Here he successfully passed
the required bar examination and about 1884 he entered upon the
practice of his profession on his own account. While he continued
for some time in the general practice of law, he often had occasion
to take up patent law cases and thus came to realize the necessity
of special counsel for such litigation. He gradually studied
more and more largely into the subject of patent law and step
by step progressed in that branch of the profession until he
has become an undoubted authority on patent law and is now eonsulted
by clients from far and near. Through the intervening years he
has specialized in patent law and soliciting, and his pronounced
ability is recognized by contemporaries and colleagues in the
profession wherever he is known.
- On the 16th of November, 1886, Mr. O'BRIEN was united in
marriage to Miss Ida J. EBERT,
- a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frederick J. EBERT, well known
and socially prominent people of Denver. Mr. and Mrs. O'BRIEN
have become parents of three children. Alfred EBERT, born August
14, 1887, in Denver, attended the Denver highschool, the Finishing
School at Laurel, New Jersey, and Yale University and was subsequently
graduated from the law department of the University of Colorado.
Until a recent date lie was in practice with his father but is
now a first lieutenant in the national army, having received
his commission at Fort Sheridan training camp in November, 1918,
and he has since been stationed at Camp Pike, Arkansas, and Fort
Sill, Oklahoma. Leonore Ida, born in Denver, attended the high
school there and later the Wolcott School of Denver, and Miss
Bennett's School of New York. She is the wife of C. G. CAMPBELL
of the Knight-Campbell Music Company. Hazel May, born in Denver
attended high school and later the Wolcott School for Girls in
Denver. She is now the wife of W. O. CHANUTE, of the firm of
Bosworth, Chanute & Company, bond dealers of Denver.
- Mr. O'BRIEN gives his political allegiance to the democratic
party but has never been an aspirant
- for office. He has always preferred to concentrate his efforts
and attention upon his professional interests and he is a member
of the Denver Bar Association and the American Patent Law Association.
Marked ability, strong purpose and laudable ambition have brought
him prominently to the front in his chosen profession.
-
- [Taken from "History of Colorado, Vol. II" by
Wilbur Fiske Stone; (c)1918 S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago;
pp. 848 & 850]
|