O'Brien was one of the first people to reside in the newly-founded City of Birmingham in June 1871 and soon made himself known as a leading citizen and builder, at one point employing nearly 350 men. His company was engaged to construct the Birmingham Rolling Mill as well as numerous coking ovens for the Pratt Coal and Coke Company and Alice Furnace.
O'Brien planned and developed Sublett Hall, the city's first playhouse and meeting hall in 1872. He painted the scenery himself and acted as promoter for the next two years. He also opened a planing mill which produced much of the wood sash and door trim used in the early buildings of the city. He expanded the business with the operation of Alabama's first steam-powered brick-making machine. As a member of the second Board of Aldermen, he stayed in the city and was involved with helping the victims of the 1873 cholera epidemic and nearly died from the disease himself.
Before the end of his two-year term, O'Brien resigned from the Board of Aldermen to attend to his growing private business interests. In 1875 he served on the committee that helped establish the Experimental Coke and Iron Company that demonstrated the viability of Birmingham's mineral resources for ironmaking. O'Brien was contracted to construct the coke ovens at the rebuilt Oxmoor Furnace, which went into blast the following February. In 1879 he was among the charter directors of the Birmingham Gas Company.
O'Brien was Jefferson County Sheriff from 1896 to 1900. He ran unsuccessfully for mayor against incumbent George Ward in the 1907 mayoral election. He was elected in the 1909 Birmingham mayoral election and served most of one term as mayor, before his death in 1910. He supported the Greater Birmingham proposal to bring outlying suburbs into the city, but did not live to see it pass in the legislature. He is buried at Oak Hill Cemetery.
O'Brien planned and developed Sublett Hall, the city's first playhouse and meeting hall in 1872. He painted the scenery himself and acted as promoter for the next two years. He also opened a planing mill which produced much of the wood sash and door trim used in the early buildings of the city. He expanded the business with the operation of Alabama's first steam-powered brick-making machine. As a member of the second Board of Aldermen, he stayed in the city and was involved with helping the victims of the 1873 cholera epidemic and nearly died from the disease himself.
Before the end of his two-year term, O'Brien resigned from the Board of Aldermen to attend to his growing private business interests. In 1875 he served on the committee that helped establish the Experimental Coke and Iron Company that demonstrated the viability of Birmingham's mineral resources for ironmaking. O'Brien was contracted to construct the coke ovens at the rebuilt Oxmoor Furnace, which went into blast the following February. In 1879 he was among the charter directors of the Birmingham Gas Company.
O'Brien was Jefferson County Sheriff from 1896 to 1900. He ran unsuccessfully for mayor against incumbent George Ward in the 1907 mayoral election. He was elected in the 1909 Birmingham mayoral election and served most of one term as mayor, before his death in 1910. He supported the Greater Birmingham proposal to bring outlying suburbs into the city, but did not live to see it pass in the legislature. He is buried at Oak Hill Cemetery.
O'Brien was one of the first people to reside in the newly-founded City of Birmingham in June 1871 and soon made himself known as a leading citizen and builder, at one point employing nearly 350 men. His company was engaged to construct the Birmingham Rolling Mill as well as numerous coking ovens for the Pratt Coal and Coke Company and Alice Furnace.
O'Brien planned and developed Sublett Hall, the city's first playhouse and meeting hall in 1872. He painted the scenery himself and acted as promoter for the next two years. He also opened a planing mill which produced much of the wood sash and door trim used in the early buildings of the city. He expanded the business with the operation of Alabama's first steam-powered brick-making machine. As a member of the second Board of Aldermen, he stayed in the city and was involved with helping the victims of the 1873 cholera epidemic and nearly died from the disease himself.
Before the end of his two-year term, O'Brien resigned from the Board of Aldermen to attend to his growing private business interests. In 1875 he served on the committee that helped establish the Experimental Coke and Iron Company that demonstrated the viability of Birmingham's mineral resources for ironmaking. O'Brien was contracted to construct the coke ovens at the rebuilt Oxmoor Furnace, which went into blast the following February. In 1879 he was among the charter directors of the Birmingham Gas Company.
O'Brien was Jefferson County Sheriff from 1896 to 1900. He ran unsuccessfully for mayor against incumbent George Ward in the 1907 mayoral election. He was elected in the 1909 Birmingham mayoral election and served most of one term as mayor, before his death in 1910. He supported the Greater Birmingham proposal to bring outlying suburbs into the city, but did not live to see it pass in the legislature. He is buried at Oak Hill Cemetery.
O'Brien planned and developed Sublett Hall, the city's first playhouse and meeting hall in 1872. He painted the scenery himself and acted as promoter for the next two years. He also opened a planing mill which produced much of the wood sash and door trim used in the early buildings of the city. He expanded the business with the operation of Alabama's first steam-powered brick-making machine. As a member of the second Board of Aldermen, he stayed in the city and was involved with helping the victims of the 1873 cholera epidemic and nearly died from the disease himself.
Before the end of his two-year term, O'Brien resigned from the Board of Aldermen to attend to his growing private business interests. In 1875 he served on the committee that helped establish the Experimental Coke and Iron Company that demonstrated the viability of Birmingham's mineral resources for ironmaking. O'Brien was contracted to construct the coke ovens at the rebuilt Oxmoor Furnace, which went into blast the following February. In 1879 he was among the charter directors of the Birmingham Gas Company.
O'Brien was Jefferson County Sheriff from 1896 to 1900. He ran unsuccessfully for mayor against incumbent George Ward in the 1907 mayoral election. He was elected in the 1909 Birmingham mayoral election and served most of one term as mayor, before his death in 1910. He supported the Greater Birmingham proposal to bring outlying suburbs into the city, but did not live to see it pass in the legislature. He is buried at Oak Hill Cemetery.
Family Members
Siblings
