John Mulvey's July 22, 1868 birth was recorded in West Brookfield Vital Records as John Joseph Mulverhill, son of Peter and Hannah, both born in Ireland. His father, Peter, was a Currier by trade, and a Winter Street property owner, by 1865.
John married Julia McCarthy in North Brookfield on September 13, 1893 and they raised their family of eight children in the family home on Winter St. John learned the shoe making trade as a young man and later he became a travelling salesman for E. E. Angell Company of Boston. (1900 census lists occupation as provision dealer, 1910 census says travelling salesman - Bank Stamps) He also worked for the Olmstead Corset company for a time, resigning from his position there in order to return to sales.
Active in the community, Mr. Mulvey was a member of the Quaboag Tribe of Red Men, and the Ancient Order of Hibernians. He served the town of West Brookfield as chief of the fire department from 1913 until his death. He was also just a few months into a three year term as selectman, having been elected in the spring of 1915. John became ill on Christmas day of 1915 and died of pneumonia on January 7, 1916 at the age of 47. His obituary appeared in the Springfield Daily Republican on Saturday, January 8, 1916 on page 15.
