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O'BRIEN, FRANK PATRICK, a successful commission broker in grain, of Springfield, was born at Curran, Sangamon County, July 18, 1868, son of Dennis and Marcella O'Brien. The father was born at Skibbereen, County Cork, Ireland, about 1837, and the mother was born at Dungarvan, County Waterford, Ireland, about 1844. He was an employee of a railroad, when a young man, later engaged in the grocery trade, and died in 1906. He and his wife were parents of ten children, of whom Frank P. is the third.

Mr. O'Brien, the subject of this sketch, attended the Christian Brothers School, at Springfield, and received a business education. He was first employed as bookkeeper and later as telegraph operator by the Western Union Telegraph Company, working at the latter occupation from 1885 to 1900. For four years he was connected with the United Press, located at Chicago, and spent the years 1889-90 at St. Louis in the employ of the Associated Press. From 1890 until 1894 he was employed in Chicago by the Associated and United Press. In the latter year he located in Springfield, which has since been his residence. Mr. O'Brien is a good operator, and in the performance of his work for the press has been associated with many interesting events. He has been engaged in his present business several years and has met with gratifying success in this line. He is an intelligent and public spirited citizen, much interested in public affairs, and an advocate of progress. Mr. O'Brien is a member of the Catholic Church of St. Agnes, of Springfield, and in politics is a Cleveland Democrat. He is unmarried.