Patrick Roger Cleary

[2] After his parents' death when he was eight years old, the Tuthill family, his father's employer, took in Cleary and his younger sister and gave them an English education.

[2] The Tuthills eventually sent the children to their older siblings who had earlier moved to the United States because of the poor economy in Ireland.

[2] In 1883 Cleary settled in Ypsilanti planning on teaching students at what is now Eastern Michigan University, and he started his first class in rented space.

Helen Cleary also worked at the school and was an active member of the Ladies Literary Club and the local Congregational church.

[2] He visited Éamon de Valera, Prime Minister of Ireland and the Irish legislature and then travelled around England where he was introduced in the House of Commons.