J. K. Mullen
Born in 1847 in Ballinasloe, Galway County, Ireland, Mullen dropped out of school in the ninth grade to become an apprentice at Miller’s Flour Mill in Oriskany Falls, NY. While most boys his age were studying, Mullen became a primary wage earner for his family.
Mullen traveled the American West, following the footsteps of opportunity, working in Mills in Nebraska, Kansas, and eventually Colorado.
In the fall of 1871, Mullen gave up control of Banner Flour Mills in Kansas and left for Denver, where he believed initiative, hard work, and intelligence would pay off. He found work at Merchant’s Mills and worked his way up to become a manager, leaving the business in 1876. Five years later, he was president of Union Savings and Loan Association, the very organization with which he had invested his flour mill earnings.
But Mullen’s efforts didn’t fall solely on his career. He spent his day off teaching Sunday school classes at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, where he met his wife, Catherine. She was also an opportunity seeker with a significant amount of property. Together, the couple entered into a contract with veteran miller Theodore Seth, with whom they renovated the North Denver Star Mills. The couple founded J.K. Mullen and Company with the profits quickly earned there.
As his career flourished, so did Mullen’s commitment to the Catholic Church and his community. On October 23, 1921, Mullen oversaw the consecration of the Immaculate Conception Cathedral at Colfax & Logan, ending nearly two decades of problematic construction. The edifice was completed only due to the patronage of the Mullen family. For his service to the cathedral’s construction, the Vatican accepted him into the Order of St. Gregory, an estimable award honoring individuals for meritorious service to the Church.
Mullen traveled the American West, following the footsteps of opportunity, working in Mills in Nebraska, Kansas, and eventually Colorado.
In the fall of 1871, Mullen gave up control of Banner Flour Mills in Kansas and left for Denver, where he believed initiative, hard work, and intelligence would pay off. He found work at Merchant’s Mills and worked his way up to become a manager, leaving the business in 1876. Five years later, he was president of Union Savings and Loan Association, the very organization with which he had invested his flour mill earnings.
But Mullen’s efforts didn’t fall solely on his career. He spent his day off teaching Sunday school classes at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, where he met his wife, Catherine. She was also an opportunity seeker with a significant amount of property. Together, the couple entered into a contract with veteran miller Theodore Seth, with whom they renovated the North Denver Star Mills. The couple founded J.K. Mullen and Company with the profits quickly earned there.
As his career flourished, so did Mullen’s commitment to the Catholic Church and his community. On October 23, 1921, Mullen oversaw the consecration of the Immaculate Conception Cathedral at Colfax & Logan, ending nearly two decades of problematic construction. The edifice was completed only due to the patronage of the Mullen family. For his service to the cathedral’s construction, the Vatican accepted him into the Order of St. Gregory, an estimable award honoring individuals for meritorious service to the Church.