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Dictionary of Miramichi Biography

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MCCLOSKEY, WILLIAM RICHARD (1859-1913)

MCCLOSKEY, WILLIAM RICHARD, general dealer and lumberman; b. Boiestown, 24 May 1859, s/o Patrick McCloskey and Sarah McKenna; m. 1882, Catherine Jane Price, d/o Erasmus G. Price and Dorothy McCrae, of Ludlow; d. Boiestown, 19 Jun 1913.

William R. McCloskey's father was a native of Co. Tyrone, Ireland, who started in the retail sales business as a peddler. At first he travelled on foot carrying a pack on his back, and later by horse and wagon, all around the Miramichi district and as far north as Bathurst. A large red chest in which he kept his wares is in the possession of the Central New Brunswick Woodmen's Museum. He later had a modest store attached to the family home at Boiestown, which after his death in 1866 was conducted by his widow. About 1875 this was replaced by a larger structure which remained in use until 1907.

William R. McCloskey, who had business school training, was a clerk in his mother's store and then a partner in the business. He later operated the store on his own and also became involved in the lumber industry. In an early advertisement he was described as a dealer in dry-goods, groceries, tan bark, lumber, etc. Later he had an interest in pulpwood, railway ties, and long lumber. His reported earnings of $2,000 a year in 1901 were among the highest on the Southwest branch of the river, and indeed in the county.

In 1907 McCloskey opened a large general store of the type which the W. R. McCloskey Co. has conducted at Boiestown since that time. After his death this store was managed by his son Hedleigh F. McCloskey (1890-1970), a noted salmon angler who maintained a first-class fishing tackle department on the premises. Razed by fire in 1952, the store was replaced on the same site by a wood frame structure of similar design. Following Hedleigh F. McCloskey's death in 1970 the business passed to his son Darrell McCloskey.

William R. McCloskey was survived by eight sons in all, as well as by two daughters and his wife, Catherine J. Price, who lived until 1953.

Sources

[b] census [m] World 10 Jan 1883 [d] Advocate 26 Jun 1913 / Advocate 17 Jul 1907; Leader 2 Jan 1953; Miramichi Salmon Museum, Doaktown (display re. Hedleigh F. McCloskey); Spencer; Spencer research


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