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Michael Treacy (1812-1899) of Tipperary and New York, Contractor

27 November 1899 The World (NY) 27 November 1899 The Chicago tribune Famous Old Builder, Michael Tracy, Dead Notable Career of Michael Tracy as a Contractor. When Michael Tracy died at his home, 239 West One Hundred and Twenty-ninth street on Saturday last, aged 87, there passed away the last of the great contractors whose energy created the City of New York out of the rocky wilderness of Manhattan Island. To him are due more than to any man the great public works which mark the town today. He built Eighth avenue from Fifty-ninth street to the Harlem River, he laid out First avenue, he built the great Forty-second street reservoir, now being torn down for the Tilden-Astor-Lenox Library; he did much of the work in laying out Central Park and Riverside drive, and the great wide cross streets—Seventy-second, Seventy ninth, Eighty-sixth, and Ninety-sixth—were his work. Michael Tracy was born in County Tipperary, Ireland, in 1812 He came to this country in 1828 and married early. He introduced giant powder for blasting and was the first to use the rock drill. Black Friday almost swept him away. He had hundreds of thousands of dollars Invested in enterprises. He turned all over to his creditors. But they yielded nothing like their real value. But the catastrophe did not crush Michael Tracy. He worked on and built up another fortune. With an ample fortune he retired to private life a score of years ago and spent most of his time upon his wife's at Yorktown, Westchester County. To-morrow the funeral will take place from St. Joseph's Church, Ninth avenue and One Hundred and Twenty-fifth street, at 10.30 A. M. Hundreds of old New Yorkers and scores of exempt firemen will be there. Mr. Tracy was a member of "Black Joker," No. 33. till the day the volunteer firemen were mustered out. November 27, 1899 The New York Times Michael Treacy, one of the oldest contractors on public work in this city, died Saturday at his residence 239 West One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Street. He was born in Ireland eighty-seven years ago, and came to this country when a lad of sixteen. He engaged in the contracting business, and continued in that line until he retired, in 1876. He was the first to use and introduce giant powder among the contractors. He was a member for many years of old Thirty-three Engine, better known as the Black Joke, and at the time of his death was a member of the Exempt Firemen's Association. A widow and five children survive him.

FAMILY HISTORY

BROTHER OF PATRICK TREACY (see http://www.traceyclann.com/files/Richard%20S%20Treacy.htm)

Michael Tracy married Ann E Masterson 1843 St Andrew Manhattan

Michael Treacy/Tracy & Ann Masterson

Richard Henry Treacy b. 1844 St Andrew Manhattan

Thomas Tracy b. 1851 St John the Evangelist New York County

Ann Eliza Treacy b. 1858 Holy Cross New York County

1850 Census - New York City, ward 19, New York

Michael Tracy M 35 Ireland, Contractor

Anna Tracy F 25 New York

Rich Tracy M 5 New York

George Tracy M 4 New York

Peter Tracy M 1 New York

Ellen Daily F 11 New York

1855 Census - 328 (frame house) E.D. 3, Ward 22, New York City, New York

Michel Tracy Head M 41, b. Ireland, grocer, 30 years resident

Ann Tracy Wife F 28, b. Ireland, 25 years resident

Richard H Tracy Child M 11 b. New York

George A Tracy Child M 8 b. New York

Peter J Tracy Child M 6 b. New York

Thomas F Tracy Child M 1 b. New York

Hannah Quinland Servant F 20 b. Ireland, domestic, 2 years resident

Thomas Wilson Servant M 45 b. Ireland, domestic, 12 years resident

Edward Bulfin Servant M 24, b. Ireland, clerk, 3 years resident

Oct-Dec 1857 City of New York

Seventh District...Canvassers...John M. Tracy...Inspectors...Michael Treacy...

Fiftyseventh street from First Avenue to East river; regulating, grading curb and gutter and flagging, Oct 30 1856 expired Jan 30 1857 work not commenced; Michael Treacy, contractor

[also Peter Masterson contractor]

4 to 29 March 1858 Proceedings of the Board of Councilmen of the City of New York

CASE SEVEN.

Regulating Fourth avenue, between Seventy-first and Seventy-ninth streets. For this work fourteen estimates were received. The work was awarded and confirmed December 29, 1856, to Michael Treacy, the lowest bidder, and whose estimate amounted to $16,860. Nevertheless, the contract was made on the 10th of January, 1857, with John McGrane, whose estimate amounted to $23,025; work to be completed in nine months. Terence Farley and Charles W. Baker became his sureties.

CASE EIGHT.

Regulating, grading, flagging, and setting the curb and gutter in Sixth avenue, between Fifty-fourth and Fiftyninth streets. For this work eleven estimates were received, and the work awarded and confirmed December 29, 1856, to Michael Treacy, the lowest bidder, and whose estimate amounted to $13,039, but the contract was made April 6, 1857, with Terence Farley, the fifth bidder from the lowest, and whose estimate amounted to $16,562. Time allowed for doing the work, four months; sureties, Michael Treacy and Patrick Treacy. Work not yet completed.

CASE NINE.

Regulating, flagging and setting curb and gutter in Fifty-sixth street, between Broadway and Sixth avenue, For this work eleven estimates were received, work awarded and confirmed, December 29, 1856, to Terence Farley, the lowest bidder, whose estimate was $12,798 20, nevertheless contract was made April 6, 1857, with Michael Treacy, who was the tenth or next to the highest bidder, and whose estimate amounted to $16,126; time allowed for completion of the work, six months; sureties, Terence Farley and Patrick Treacy, work not yet completed.

1859-1860

Dec 14

Michael Tracey, assignee T. Farley, on account contract regulating, &c.,Fifth avenue, Forty-ninth to Fifty-first streets $1,091.97

Dec 31

Mechanics and Traders' Bank, assignee M. Treacey, on account contract regulating, &c., First avenue (section I.), Forty-second to Fifty-second streets $2,570.40

Mechanics’ and Traders' Bank, assignee M. Treacey, in full contract, regulating, &c., Fifty-seventh street, First avenue to East river $2,932.13

Dec 31

Mechanics’ and Traders' Bank, assignee M. Treacey, on account contract regulating, &c., First avenue (section I.), Forty-second to Fifty-second streets $2,570.40

Mechanics’ and Traders' Bank, assignee M. Treacey, in full contract, regulating, &c., Fifty-seventh street, First avenue to East river £2,832.13

Mar 12

Mechanics’ & Traders’ Bank, assignee, on account of contract of M. Treacy, regulating, &c., First avenue, Fifty-first to Eighty-sixth street $8,196.29

Mar 12

Michael Tracy, one hundred and thirty-two loads of gravel $19.80

June 6

Mechanics & Traders’ Bank, assignees, 70 per cent. on certificate May 17, '60, on account contract M. Treacey, regulating, &c., First avenue, (sec. 1), Fifty-first to Eighty-sixth street $3,838.45

Mechanics’ & Traders' Bank, assignees, on account contract M. Treacey, regulating, &c., Fifty-seventh street, First avenue to East river $1,718.09

June 6,

Mechanics & Traders’ Pank, assignees, 70 per cent. on certificate May 17, '60, on account contract M. Treacey, regulating, &c., First avenue, (sec. 1), Fifty-first to Eighty-sixth street $3,938.45

Mechanics’ & Traders' Bank, assignees, on account contract M. Treacey, regulating, &c., Fifty-seventh street, First avenue to East river $1,718.09

June 19,

Michael Treacey, on account contract, regulating, &c., First avenue (sec. 2), Forty-second street to Fifty-first st. $2,374.34

July 26,

Michael Tracey, executor of Peter Masterson, balance due on contract of P. Masterson, for regulating, &c., Fifty-ninth street, Bloomingdale road to Tenth avenue $4.934.46

Sep 24

Mechanics’ and Traders' Bank, assignee of M. Tracy, on account of contract, regulating, &c., First avenue, Forty-second to Fifty-first street $5,388.30

1860 Census - 534, 2nd District 19th Ward New York City, New York

Michael Tracy M 50 Ireland, Contractor

An Tracy F 39 Ireland

Richard Tracy M 15 New York

George Tracy M 14 New York

Peter Tracy M 12 New York

Thomas Tracy M 7 New York

Mary Tracy F 5 New York

An E Tracy F 2 New York

Catherine Carrol F 26 Ireland

Bridget Kerny F 24 Ireland

Department of Public Works NYC to April 10, 1873

16 Dec 1872

119. Eighty six street, Eight avenue to River Drive, Richard H. Treacy, contractor ($11,181.80)

28 Feb 1873

157. Eighty-second strret Drive to New Avenue, Geo A Treacy, contractor ($5,744.36)

10 Mar 1873

168. Seventy second street. Eight Avenue to Hudson River, Geo A Treacy, contractor ($11.599.64)

One Hundred and Twenty fifth street from Harlem river to Manhattan street and Manhattan street from One Hundred and Trenty fifth street to North River, Joseph Tracy, Contractor ($19,917.42)

Report of the Chief Engineer...Edw H Tracy, Chief Engineer

[also John S. Masterson, contractor]

1880 Census - Yorktown, Westchester, New York

Michael Tracy Other M 62 b. 1818 Ireland

Anna E Tracy Other F 56 b. 1824 New York, United States, parents b. Ireland

Emma Tracy Other F 20 New York, United States

Anna Tracy Other F 18 New York, United States

Agnes Tracy Other F 16 New York, United States

Ann Standferd Other F 17 Ireland

Ann Clark Other F 26 Ireland

William Fitsimmons Other M 40 New York, United States

1884-1885 New York City Directory

Treacy Richard H. builder, 132 NasSan, h 239 W. 129th

Treacy George A builder, 252 W 124th

Treacy Michaiel, builder, h 239 W 129th

Treacy & Van Loon, builders, 132 Nassan

Treacy Peter J. builder, h 323 W 59th .

1894 Members Of The Democratic Republican Committee Of The City Of New York. Tammany Hall.

Richard H. Treacy 239 W. 129th st (Twenty-First District)

Michael Treacy died 25 Nov 1899 239 West 129th St. Manhattan New York New York, Age 87, Married, Contractor (Retired), b. 1812 Ireland (s. of Dennis Treacy, parents born Ireland), buried 28 Nov 1899 Calvary New York City New York

1900 Census - 239 West 129th Street, Borough of Manhattan, Election District 31 New York City

Annie Tracy Head F 68 b. May 1832 New York, parents b. Ireland, widow

Richard Tracy Son M 46 b. Oct 1854 New York, father b. Ireland, Eran

Emma M Tracy Daughter F 36 b. Sep 1864 New York

Annie E Tracy Daughter F 33 b. Nov 1867 New York

Agnes J Tracy Daughter F 27 b. Jul 1873 New York

William Kearnan Adopted son M 21 b. Nov 1879 New York, parent b. NY, Clerk

Richard H. Treacy died 9 Aug 1909, 1709 Ocean Avenue Ward-31 Brooklyn Kings New York, Age 58, Single, Clerk, b. 1851 New York City (s. of Michael Treacy b. Ireland & Ann E. Masterson b. New York City), Buried 11 Aug 1909 Calvary Brooklyn New York

George A. Treacy died 22 Oct 1914 Brooklyn Kings New York, Age 60, Married, b. 8 Aug 1854 U.S., (s. of Michael Treacy b. Ire. & Ann Masterson b. U.S.), buried 26 Oct 1914 Calvary

Anne Treacy died 9 Feb 1906 Brooklyn Kings New York, Age 69, Widowed, b. 1837 New York City (d. of Michael Treacy b. Ireland & Anne Masterson b. New York) buried 12 Feb 1906 Calvary Cemetery

Agnes G Treacy died 21 Jul 1945 Brooklyn Kings New York, b. 1880 (d. of Micheal Treacy & Ann Masterson) buried 24 Jul 1945

Mary Emma Treacy died 19 Oct 1932, 1654 Troy Ave Brooklyn Kings New York, Age 60, Single, Housework, b. 1872 U.S. (d. of Michael Treacy b. Ireland & Anna Masterson b. U.S.), buried 22 Oct 1932 Calvary Cem.

Last update: 01 June 2023