My Genealogy Hound

Prendergast, McShane & Co. The topmost round in the ladder of success in any undertaking can only be obtained by individuals of decided character and a masterful knowledge of the business to be undertaken, coupled with steady and persistent energy. All these characteristics can be found in the persons of William Prendergast and P. E. McShane of the Arcade Dry Goods House of Prendergast, McShane & Co., Fort Smith, Ark. This firm occupy a building over 100 feet deep, and proportionately spacious, on Garrison Avenue, in the central mart of the city. They keep an army of hands busy waiting on the crowd of customers that constantly throng their store. This is one of the new and prosperous firms of Fort Smith that have helped to lift it out of the old ruts and make it a prosperous and pleasant city. This firm opened business on March 1, 1887, and after having doubled the original capacity of their building they find it still inadequate to accommodate the trade, and meditate enlarging it. Their first year’s business amounted to over $75,000, and the second year will increase that amount by 50 per cent. They carry an average stock of about $40,000. P. E. McShane was born in County Donegal, Ireland, December 25, 1859, and was educated in the national schools of his native country. His natural inclination for mercantile pursuits manifested itself early in life, as he spent four years with his uncle, Con. McShane, merchandising in Carricktown, Ireland, before coming to America. Thus his natural proclivities for his favorite pursuit were early trained by actual application. He bid farewell to home and friends September 15, 1880, and on the 17th of the same month sailed from Londonderry for America, landing in the great metropolis of the United States ten days later. He came direct to Prescott, Nevada Co., Ark., where he met a relative with whom he went to Pittsburg, Camp County, of the “Lone Star State,” where he engaged in merchandising for three years. He then sold out his stock of goods at that place and went to Texarkana, where he sold goods for the firm of O’Reilly & O’Dywere for a short period. In March of 1887, he came to Fort Smith, and became a member of the present firm, where marked success has attended his efforts. Mr. McShane is the son of Patrick and Anna (Byrne) McShane, and the McShanes have been farmers in County Donegal, Ireland, for generations back. Patrick and Anna McShane are the parents of ten children, seven sons and three daughters, and are now living in their native country. Four of their sons have come to America, and James and John are merchandising in Texarkana. P. E. McShane is a Democrat is his political views, belongs to the Catholic Church, and is a member of the Catholic Knights of America. William Prendergast, of the above mentioned firm, was born in County Killkenney, Ireland, and is the son of Michael and Kate (Henlohan) Prendergast. The father was a farmer, and followed that occupation through life. The Prendergast family came originally from France, and settled in Ireland at the time of the invasion of the English to that country. Michael and Kate Prendergast became the parents of five children, all now living, and William Prendergast being the youngest. He is the only one of the family who has immigrated to America, and being naturally endowed with a shrewd business talent and a high conception of personal liberty, he resolved to break the ties that bound him to home, and risk his chances in the Republic of the United States of America. He reached this country in 1880, settling in the city of Chicago, where he served as a clerk in one of the principal dry goods houses in that city for two years. Leaving that position he went to St. Louis, from there to Texas, and finally to Fort Smith, where in March, 1887, he entered and became a member of the above mentioned firm. He is a member of the Catholic Knights of America, and is a first-class business man.