lawyer, publisher, author, politician, b. near Cedarburg. He graduated from the Univ. of Wisconsin (B.L., 1880) and set up a law practice in Milwaukee in 1881. In Milwaukee he soon became editor of the Catholic Citizen and was its publisher by 1891. He was an organizer of the Catholic Press Association and eventually acquired interests in Catholic papers in Washington, D.C., Memphis, and St. Paul. He served on the Milwaukee school board (1883-1890) and in this capacity helped establish one of the first industrial training programs in the state. While serving as state assemblyman (1891-1892), he was chairman of the legislative committee on education. Desmond was the author of numerous books dealing with history and law, including The Church and the Law (1898), and Curious Chapters of American History (1924). He lived in Milwaukee until his death. Who's Who in Amer., 16 (1930); J. G. Gregory, Hist. of Milwaukee (4 vols., Chicago, 1931); Proc. State Bar Assoc. Wis., 22 (1932); Milwaukee Journal, Feb. 16, 1932.Learn More
Dictionary of Wisconsin History
Explore more than 1,600 people, places and events in Wisconsin history.
[Source: Dictionary of Wisconsin biography]
