4. | DUFFY, James (1.Mary1) was born on 12 Jun 1889 in Lockport, Niagara County, NY; died on 30 Apr 1960 in Buffalo, Erie County, NY. Notes:
Lockport NY Union Sun Journal - 4/30/1960
The "Duke of Lockport" is
dead.
James P. (Jimmy) Duffy, 71,
former Lockport welterweight
boxer who put the community on
die map with his boxing prowess
in the early 1900s. died this morning
(April 30. 1960) in Veterans'
Administration Hospital, Buffalo.
He had been a patient there for
nine years.
Born in Lockport on Gooding
St., June 12, 1889, Jimmy was
the son of Mrs. Mary Duffy
Lacey. He was reared by his
maternal grandparents, the late
Mr. and Mrs. John Duffy of Gooding
St.
Mr. Duffy attended St. Patrick's
parochial school. Before he
started boxing at 17 be worked
for his mother driving horse
teams. She had transportation
contracts with the former Lockport
Fibre Co.
Jimmy fought his first fight
in the old Crowe Building on Lock
St., two blocks from his home.
He served as a substitute and
his decisive victory encouraged
him to follow professional box
ing as a career.
FOUGHT WORLD'S GREAT
From 1910 to 1918, Jimmy
Duffy fought all the top-notchers
of the world - Jack Britton,
Packy McFarland, Knockout
Brennan and others.
A dark shadow fell over his
career in 1915 when he was badly
injured in an auto accident
and it was thought he would lose
his leg. Although he surmounted
this obstacle and was in the ring
another three years, he waa never
able to capture the top rung
of the ladder.
During World War I he served
in the Army and fought on occasions
for the Crippled Soldiers
in New York City.
In 1922. Jimmy waa appointed
ed a Sheriff's deputy by the late
Sheriff Alanson C. Bigelow. He
served as night deputy for 37
years on consecutive three-year
appointments with the exception
of 1942 when he was employed
for a year by the new York State
Electric and Gas Corp.
On Nov. 15, 1949, he slipped
and suffered a hip injury which
forced his retirement. He had
since been an invalid. In 1949 the
DeSales Booster Club held a
sports night in his honor.
He was married in 1908 to the
former Alice Barrett The couple
celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary
in 1958. Mrs. Duffy is
a former supervisor and alderman
of the First Ward.
Jimmy was a former member
of the Ancient Order of Hibernians,
Knights of Columbus, Elks
Club and the old North End
Athletic Club.
Besides his wife, he leaves a
brother, Elmer Duffy of Chicago,
a retired Chicago policeman,
and one sister, Mrs, Paul Weigund
of Lockport.
The body will be brought to
Lockport for funeral and burial.
James married BARRETT, Alice about 3 Dec 1908 in Lockport, Niagara County, NY. Alice (daughter of BARRETT, Edward and Sarah) was born on 24 Sep 1894 in Lockport, Niagara County, NY; died on 22 Oct 1961 in Lockport, Niagara County, NY. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
|