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| Henry Sylvester Healey |
Henry Sylvester Healey was born 18 December 1835 in Hinchinbrook, Quebec, Canada. His parents were Sylvester Forbes Healey and his wife, Rosa Hall.
Henry moved to Cass Co., Indiana with his parents and siblings about 1852. However, he is not listed with the family on the 1860 census. By 1870, he is found in Atlanta, Georgia, working as a clerk. By 1872, he had moved to San Francisco, California, where he lived for the rest of his life.
He never married and had no known children.
In May 1878, he joined the San Francisco police force. The 1880 census shows him as a roomer with the family of James H. Smith in San Francisco. He was working as a clerk.
The city directory for 1884-85 shows Henry living at 1322 Golden Gate Ave., San Francisco and lists his occupation as policeman.
On 10 July 1894, the following article appeared in the San Francisco Morning Call:
"The New Clerk: Sergeant Healey Succeeds W.E. Hall - John W. Moffatt, An Old Member of the Department to Take Healey's Place. Sergeant Henry S. Healey was appointed by the Board of Police Commissioners at a meeting last night to fill the vacancy as clerk to board and Chief of Police, caused by the decapitation of William E. Hall. Sergeant Healey has been performing the duties of Clerk to the Chief of Police since Hall's dismissal, and it was looked upon as a foregone conclusion that he would secure the position permanently. He is thoroughly competent in every respect to fill such a responsible position satisfactorily not only from his past training and experience but from his natural ability. He joined the force on May 22, 1878. In December 1879, he was detailed to the District Attorney's office and remained there until January, 1888, when he was appointed sergeant and transferred to the chief's office, where he has remained ever since. He was in receipt of hearty congratulations last night. His successor in the chief's office is John W. Moffatt, one of the most courteous and able men that has ever seen service in the department."
The 1897 city directory shows Henry living at 1512 15th St., San Francisco and employed as clerk to the chief of police.
Henry died 23 January 1898 of pneumonia. He was buried at Cypress Lawn Cemetery, Colma, California. He shares a tombstone with several Smiths: James Henry Smith 1823-1898; Carolina Virginia Smith 1835-1899; Henry Sylvester Healey 1836-1898; Cora Ovilla Smith 1864-1895; Sylena A. Duncan Died Oct 31, 1922. I suspect this is the James H. Smith that he boarded with in 1880.
The following notice appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle on 24 January 1898:
"Deaths: HEALEY - In this city, January 23, Captain Henry S. Healey, clerk to Chief of Police, a native of Canada, aged 62 years, 1 month and 5 days. Friends are respectfully invited to attend the funeral Wednesday, January 26, at 1:30 o'clock from his late residence, 1612 Fifteenth Street, near Mission. Interment, Cypress Lawn Cemetery, by electric car from Eighteenth & Guerrero streets."
An obituary appeared 24 Jan 1898 in the The Examiner, San Francisco, California. The obituary read:
"CAPTAIN HEALEY IS NO MORE. The Death of the Veteran Police Official Ends a Long and Honorable Career of Public Service. Captain Henry S. Healey, clerk to the Chief of Police, died of pneumonia at 7:15 o'clock last evening, at his residence on Fifteenth Street. In the death of Captain Healey the Police Department has lost an invaluable man and a faithful servant. The position of clerk is one of the most important in the service, and a man has to be peculiarly constituted to properly fill it. Captain Healey was in every way qualified, having had valuable experience in the Quartermaster's Department of the army. He was born in Canada, but went to New York at an early age, and afterwards drifted to Indiana. When the civil war broke out he was twenty-five years of age. He enlisted in a volunteer regiment and went to the front. He fought valiantly for the flag of his adoption and rose to the rank of captain. He was mustered out in 1865 and shortly afterward became clerk to Lieutenant-Colonel A.R. Eddy, the Quartermaster General. When Colonel Eddy was ordered to San Francisco, Captain Healey came with him as his confidential and trusted clerk. This was in 1872 and one of the first men Healy met was Police Captain John Spillane, then a clerk in the Quartermasters Department. A friendship sprang up between the men which lasted through the rest of their lives, and Captain Spillane speaks in the highest terms of the honesty and ability of his friend. Colonel Eddy, in 1876, was compelled by ill-health to obtain a leave of absence. He went East and afterwards to Europe. Before the year was out he died in Malta. With the Colonel's retirement from the Coast, Captain Healey's connection with the army ceased. It was then that his clerical ability was put to the test. The position of Deputy Quartermaster is one of the most difficult to fill in the army. He is the disbursing agent of the department to which he is attached, and Colonel Eddy had to pay the troops in California, Arizona, and New Mexico. The practical work was done by Healey and thousands upon thousands of dollars passed through his hands.... Captain Healey was appointed to the police force in 1878, and two years later was made a detective and detailed to the District Attorney's office.... In 1883 he was made a clerk in the police office, with the rank of sergeant. In April, 1894, he was promoted to the position of clerk to the Chief of Police and Secretary of the Police Commission."
An obituary appeared 24 Jan 1898 in the The San Francisco Call. The obituary read:
"Captain Henry S. Healey Dead. The Clerk of the Chief of Police Passes Away After a Long and Painful Illness. Captain Henry S. Healey, clerk to the Chief of Police, died last night after a short illness. Several weeks ago Healey was stricken with pneumonia, and despite the efforts of Drs. Shumate and Keeney he gradually grew worse. Shortly after 7 o'clock last night, he breathed his last, surrounded by several of his intimate friends. Healey was born on December 18, 1835, in Elgin, Huntingdon County, Quebec, Canada. He was appointed a member of the police department on May 22, 1878. On account of his ability and strict attention to his duties he was promoted to the rank of sergeant on January 1, 1888. Since July 1, 1894, when he was made a captain, he has been acting as the Chief's clerk. Healey was one of the most popular men in the department. Always courteous and kind, he endeared himself to everybody with whom he came in contact. Captain Spillane was perhaps his warmest friend. When young men they served in the army, Healey occupying a responsible position."
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