The First Ward: Fingy Conners, The Sullivan Brothers & Mark Twain

This is the story of Buffalo’s First Ward, a no holds barred revelation of the families who lived the rough and tumble existence in the later 1800s. No matter where you come from, the stories are captivating and very insightful. You won’t be able to put it down. Highly recommended!

An interesting look at Buffalo in the 1800’s! The history of the Irish in the “First Ward” comes to life. If you have ever lived in Buffalo, you will recognize many of the places mentioned. I fully enjoyed it and am looking forward to reading Richard Sullivan’s second book.

The "First Ward" is a must read for any fan of Buffalo politics,Buffalo history (1850 - 1900),and for anyone who likes a great non-fiction tale of the many challenges facing the mostly Irish immigrants who settled in Buffalo's First Ward. It is the tale of the many hardships the people endured, where death from disease and accidents visited every home on an almost annual basis.There was no welfare, food stamps, or unemployment insurance,yet they managed to survive.It is the tale how,despite these common losses, these families survived to become successful politicians, policeman, and businessmen.Not all of these people attained their positions on the up and up. One of the most evil, mean spirited thugs you probably never heard of was William J."Fingy" Conners. Though small in stature, he held sway (at one time or another) with some of the most important and powerful people of the day. At one time he controlled the docks in every major Great Lakes Port. The story of Fingy alone is more than enough reason to read this book. To me the most interesting part is - it is all true. Written by Richard Sullivan, you can tell this man must have spent endless hours researching census records,newspaper clippings,and obituaries. Most Buffalonian's know that the people of the First Ward were mostly hard working Irish Catholics, who for the most part worked the docks and worked as scoopers unloading freighters from the midwest laden with grain, making Buffalo the largest (at the turn of the century) flour making center in the world. This book offers a detailed look at their live's - from the lamplighter to one of the most powerful & despised men of the day. A man who had the audacity to personally call out the bishop on his stance during a dockworkers strike.After reading this book, I look forward to the next First Ward - Volume 2, supposedly coming out in 2013.

A lot of research went into this book and it's very interesting. Buffalo NY (my former hometown) was once called The Queen City of the Great Lakes due to all the trade that took place. Goods would come through the Erie Canal to be shipped out to further ports on the Great Lakes. Grain would come in from the great plains and was stored in silos located along the city's waterfront to be shipped to ports along the Erie Canal. Huge steel mills were built there. Industry and commerce bustled. The story takes place as Irish immigrants migrated to the city. The characters are vivid and the history is most interesting. Growing up in Buffalo, I never knew that Abraham Lincoln visited the city on the way to DC for his first inauguration!! This is a history book, written like a novel! Very enjoyable!!

Great reading for anyone interested in Irish migration, Buffalo history, Urban Sociology, union organizing or who have connections to the Irish First Ward or South Buffalo. The author Richard Sullivan tracks his Irish roots from Ireland through NYC to Buffalo's Irish First Ward covering 1850 to 1899. Based on family stories, newspaper clippings, library materials and archives, Sullivan integrates his family's experiences living, surviving and advancing in an Irish neighborhood of high poverty, high crime, unhealthy and unsafe living conditions. The story covers family loyalties in an environment of political corruption, exploitation of Irish laborers (e.g., scoopers, dock workers) by the Irish Doc boss and bar owner. It documents the use of taverns to galvanize laborers for profit, exploitation and eventually union organizing. Sullivan's book provides an understanding of the need for and rise of unions during the early years of Irish migration and offers insight into how a community became economically and socially stratified.My brother and I loved the book. It is about the exact streets where our grandparents lived and Mom and her siblings grew up. One of the people featured in Sullivan's book was her uncle, Mike Regan, Chief of Police. Like many people born in the First Ward, my Mom loved the First Ward. She didn't know they were poor, had great friends, was allowed to roam the neighborhood and the lumber yards. She ends a short story about growing up in the First Ward with "Turn back, Turn Back. Time in your flight. Give me yesterday just for to-night."

This author does an amazing job of retelling the actual history of Buffalo and WNY Through the eyes of his ancestors. Truly one of those “Can’t put it down,” books. A definite “must read,” for any local history buffs.

Great read about my hometown! I couldn't put the book down. Who knew of Fingy Connors, one of the books characters? Can't wait to read the other books! Should be made into a movie!

Richard Sullivan's 'The First Ward,' is the first volume of a five volume project. The book weaves together the history of the Sullivan family, Buffalo and Irish America in the 19th century. Historical figures such as Lincoln, Grover Cleveland, Millard Fillmore, John L. Sullivan and Mark Twain mingle with local characters such as Jack White, Doc Greene, Fingy Conner and One-eyed Pete, the fiddle player. Richard Sullivan does a skillful job of mingling fact and fiction to present a world that was violent, cruel, sorrowful, joyful and wonderful.