Michael T Tracy

Matthew J. McManus (1852-1948) and the Chicago Stock Yards Michael T Tracy

Matthew James McManus grew up on his father's farm in Schuyler Falls, Clinton County, New York. At an early age he helped his father with the daily chores on the farm and more importantly he learned about livestock and farming that would one day launch his career as a hog buyer in the Chicago Stock Yards. By the age of 16 he along with his family would leave the Plattsburgh area of New York and relocate to Center Township, Lake County, Indiana where he worked as a laborer on his father's farm there. While in Center Township he met another New York young woman by the name of Mary Jane Sweeney and they later married. While residing in Center Township, Indiana they had their first child, Anastasia. They later had 10 children who were all born in Chicago, Illinois. In 1880 the McManus family relocated to the Chicago area where Matthew began working as a Chicago City policeman. Two years later in 1882 he began working in the Union Stock Yards as a laborer until 1884 when he established himself as a hog buyer and speculator for many years. This then is the narrative of Matthew James McManus.