Husband Gregory Allen Wyman
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Father: Vernal Richard Wyman
Mother: Donna L. Sprague
Marriage:
Wife Geraldine McMahon
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Children
1 M Justin G. Wyman
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
2 F Jessica A. Wyman
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Husband James Lloyd Emmerson McMahon
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Father: Emanuel McMahon
Mother: Mary Ann Dingwell
Marriage:
Wife Catherine Ethel Sutherland
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Children
1 F C. Marie McMahon
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Joseph Nicholas Banks
Husband Lyndal S. McMahon
Born:
Baptized:
Died: August 15, 1938 - Lowell, Middlesex, Massachusetts, Etats-Unis
Buried:
Marriage: May 21, 1932 - Lowell, Middlesex, Massachusetts, Etats-Unis
Wife Marie Rose Ouellet
Born: February 15, 1910 - St-Pacôme, Kamouraska, Qc
Baptized:
Died: - Washington, Etats-Unis
Buried:
Father: Francois Ouellet
Mother: Marie Gagnon
Other Spouse: John Cunning - July 29, 1939 - Lowell, Middlesex, Massachusetts, Etats-Unis
Children
Husband Albert Thomson McMain
Born: September 13, 1911 - Mobile, Mobile County, Alabama, USA
Baptized: March 11, 1934 - Baptist Church, Ashville, Buncombe County, North Carolina, USA
Died: June 25, 1991 - Harrogate, England
Buried:
Father: Hypolite Oladowsky McMain
Mother: Lucy Edwaline Thomson
Marriage: - Albuguerque, New Mexico, USA
Other Spouse: Frances Bell Hollomon - February 7, 1932 - Spartanburg, South Carolina, USA
Wife Marge Solvang
Born: 1925 - Albuguerque, New Mexico, USA
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Children
General Notes: Husband - Albert Thomson McMain
was in Source: fam history and bible records
Was in 1920 US census Crystal Springs, Copiah County, MS in household of father, H. O. McMain
Master Mason.
was a businessman and manager lived in Wyandotte, MI for many years and after retiring, moved to Alb., NM
was in info-A.Farrington 1983
was very possibly a Mason in NC? and in NM?
General Notes: Wife - Marge Solvang
/McMain/
was in info-A.Farrington 1980; Source: fam hist and bible records
Husband Benjamin Frank Nicholls
Born: January 10, 1888 - Tuscaloosa, Bibbs County, Alabama, USA
Baptized:
Died: - Vicksburg, Mississippi, USA
Buried:
Marriage: August 22, 1915 - Mobile, Mobile County, Alabama, USA
Wife Doris Gage McMain
Born: November 27, 1895 - Depere, Wisconsin, USA
Baptized:
Died: January 14, 1974 - Vicksburg, Mississippi, USA
Buried:
Father: Hypolite Oladowsky McMain
Mother: Lucy Edwaline Thomson
Children
1 F Doris Nicholls
Born: April 17, 1917 - Corinth, Mississippi, USA
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Frank Schleicher
Marr: 1935 - Corinth, Mississippi, USA
2 M Benjamin Frank Nicholls
Born: March 17, 1918 - Corinth, Mississippi, USA
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Avalee
Marr: 1937 - Mississippi, USA
3 M Andrew Barry Crook Nicholls
Born: June 24, 1919 - Mesa, Mississippi, USA
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Sue
Marr: 1938 - Talladego, Alabama, USA
4 M John Collier Nicholls
Born: February 15, 1921 - Rolling Forks, Mississippi, USA
Baptized:
Died: - Vicksburg, Mississippi, USA
Buried:
Spouse: Juanita Risdon
Marr: 1941 - Rolling Forks, Mississippi, USA
5 M Hugh Mcmain Nicholls
Born: July 24, 1923 - Vicksburg, Mississippi, USA
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Mary
Marr: 1941 - Vicksburg, Mississippi, USA
6 M Richard Nicholls
Born: August 31, 1923 - Vicksburg, Mississippi, USA
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Pat
Marr: 1941 - Mississippi, USA
7 M James Albert Nicholls
Born: March 8, 1929 - Vicksburg, Mississippi, USA
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
General Notes: Husband - Benjamin Frank Nicholls
was in info-A.Farrington 1993; Source: fam hist and bible records
OCCU MS County Engineer
General Notes: Wife - Doris Gage McMain
/Nicholls/
was in info-A.Farrington 1993; Source: fam hist and bible records
General Notes: Child - Doris Nicholls
/Schleicher/
was in Source: family history and bible records
General Notes: Child - Benjamin Frank Nicholls
was in Source: family history and bible records
General Notes: Child - Andrew Barry Crook Nicholls
was in info-A.Farrington 1993; Source: fam hist and bible records
General Notes: Child - John Collier Nicholls
was in info-A.Farrington 1993; Source: fam hist and bible records
General Notes: Child - Hugh Mcmain Nicholls
was in info-A.Farrington 1993; Source: fam hist and bible records
General Notes: Child - Richard Nicholls
was in Source: family history and bible records
General Notes: Child - James Albert Nicholls
was in Source: family history and bible records
Husband Francis Joseph Williams
Born: April 8, 1881 - Perry County, Alabama, USA
Baptized:
Died: July 30, 1910 - Mobile, Mobile County, Alabama, USA
Buried:
Father: Williams
Mother: Unknown
Marriage: December 30, 1903 - Citronelle, Mobile County, Alabama, USA
Wife Helen Vose McMain
Born: March 9, 1887 - Selma, Dallas County, Alabama, USA
Baptized:
Died: December 22, 1937 - Miami, Dade County, Florida, USA
Buried:
Father: Hypolite Oladowsky McMain
Mother: Lucy Edwaline Thomson
Other Spouse: Edward Pitman Ned Corey - January 31, 1917 - Hollywood, Florida, USA
Children
1 F Helen Vose Williams
Born: October 19, 1904 - Mobile, Mobile County, Alabama, USA
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Elbert M. Parker
Marr: 1930 - Asheville, Bumcombe County, North Carolina, USA
Spouse: Eli Albert Pierce
Marr: April 8, 1926 - Asheville, Bumcombe County, North Carolina, USA
2 M Joseph Francis Williams
Born: October 31, 1906 - Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, USA
Baptized:
Died: - Miami, FL
Buried:
Spouse: Wilma Alein Boger
Marr: March 7, 1931 - Greenville, South Carolina, USA
3 F Julia Tarrant Williams
Born: October 10, 1908 - Mobile, Mobile County, Alabama, USA
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: W. R. Shorty Burnette
Marr: 1925 - North Carolina, USA
General Notes: Husband - Francis Joseph Williams
was in info-A.Farrington 1983
medical doctor
General Notes: Wife - Helen Vose McMain
/Corey/
/Williams/
was in info-A.Farrington 1983
General Notes: Child - Helen Vose Williams
/Parker/
/Pierce/
was in info-A.Farrington 1983
General Notes: Child - Joseph Francis Williams
info-A.Farrington 1983
General Notes: Child - Julia Tarrant Williams
/Burnette/
was in info-A.Farrington 1983
Husband Hypolite Oladowsky McMain
Born: August 19, 1862 - Columbus, Mississippi, USA
Baptized:
Died: February 9, 1934 - Asheville, Bumcombe County, North Carolina, USA
Buried:
Father: William Henry McMain
Mother: Pauline Weston Vose
Marriage: June 11, 1886 - Duluth, St Louis County, Minnesota, USA
Noted events in his life were:
1. Alt. Death - Asheville, Bumcombe County, North Carolina, USA
Wife Lucy Edwaline Thomson
Born: February 11, 1868 - Prescott, Wisconsin, USA
Baptized:
Died: November 6, 1954 - Liberty, Amite County, Mississippi, USA
Buried: November 10, 1954 - Asheville, Bumcombe County, North Carolina, USA
Father: John Augustine Thomson
Mother: Helen Rowena Abbot
Children
1 F Helen Vose McMain
Born: March 9, 1887 - Selma, Dallas County, Alabama, USA
Baptized:
Died: December 22, 1937 - Miami, Dade County, Florida, USA
Buried:
Spouse: Francis Joseph Williams
Marr: December 30, 1903 - Citronelle, Mobile County, Alabama, USA
Spouse: Edward Pitman Ned Corey
Marr: January 31, 1917 - Hollywood, Florida, USA
2 F Grace Stuart McMain
Born: December 12, 1889 - Duluth, St Louis County, Minnesota, USA
Baptized:
Died: November 28, 1970 - Land O' Lakes, Pasco County, Florida, USA
Buried: November 30, 1970 - Meadowlawn Cemetery, New Port Richey, Florida, USA
Spouse: Alvin Arthur Red Farrington
Marr: June 23, 1918 - Mobile, Mobile County, Alabama, USA
3 M William Augustus McMain
Born: November 26, 1891 - Moosehead, Minnesota, USA
Baptized:
Died: April 30, 1972 - Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah, USA
Buried:
Spouse: Lillian Belle Folk
Marr: January 22, 1915 - Montrose County, Colorado, USA
4 F Ruth Nester McMain
Born: December 12, 1893 - Sidnaw, Michigan, USA
Baptized:
Died: November 25, 1959 - Liberty, Mississippi, USA
Buried:
Spouse: Samson Mabry
Marr: September 1, 1914 - St Louis, St Louis County, Missouri, USA
5 F Doris Gage McMain
Born: November 27, 1895 - Depere, Wisconsin, USA
Baptized:
Died: January 14, 1974 - Vicksburg, Mississippi, USA
Buried:
Spouse: Benjamin Frank Nicholls
Marr: August 22, 1915 - Mobile, Mobile County, Alabama, USA
6 M Hugh Orville McMain
Born: February 7, 1898 - Marquette, Michigan, USA
Baptized:
Died: December 29, 1969 - Shreveport, Caddo Parish, Louisiana, USA
Buried:
Spouse: Leota Mary Hart
Marr: November 1933 - Shreveport, Caddo Parish, Louisiana, USA
Spouse: Bessie Olive Baker
Marr: September 9, 1921 - Marquette, Michigan, USA
7 F Lucy Dade McMain
Born: March 4, 1901 - Citronelle, Mobile County, Alabama, USA
Baptized:
Died: July 15, 1979 - Caldwell, Idaho, USA
Buried:
Spouse: Walter Mack Oates
Marr: June 24, 1925 - Asheville, Bumcombe County, North Carolina, USA
8 M James Weston McMain
Born: August 21, 1903 - Citronelle, Mobile County, Alabama, USA
Baptized:
Died: January 30, 1934 - Asheville, Bumcombe County, North Carolina, USA
Buried:
9 M Albert Thomson McMain
Born: September 13, 1911 - Mobile, Mobile County, Alabama, USA
Baptized: March 11, 1934 - Baptist Church, Ashville, Buncombe County, North Carolina, USA
Died: June 25, 1991 - Harrogate, England
Buried:
Spouse: Frances Bell Hollomon
Marr: February 7, 1932 - Spartanburg, South Carolina, USA
Spouse: Marge Solvang
Marr: Albuguerque, New Mexico, USA
General Notes: Husband - Hypolite Oladowsky McMain
was in info-A.Farrington 1983 based on fam hist and bible records
owned and operated Feed Store at Ashville, NC
at one time lived in Selma, AL was a Mason and belonged to Masonic lodges in MN, MI, AL and NC
was a banker in Duluth, MN and Mobile, AL
Was in 1920 US census Crystal Springs, Copiah County, MS as head of household with wife, Lucy, daughers, Grace Farrington, Lucy McMain; sons, James W. and Albert T.; and grandson, Arthur A. Farrington (11/12) born AL
General Notes: Wife - Lucy Edwaline Thomson
/McMain/
was in info-A.Farrington 1983 based on fam hist and bible records
was a member of Episcopal Church
Was in 1920 US census Crystal Springs, Copiah County, MS
General Notes: Child - Helen Vose McMain
/Corey/
/Williams/
was in info-A.Farrington 1983
General Notes: Child - Grace Stuart McMain
/Farrington/
Was in info-A. Farrington 1983 based on fam hist and bible records
Was in 1920 US census Crystal Springs, Copiah County, MS in household of father, H. O. McMain with son, Arthur A. Farrington (1 1/12) born AL
Was a member of Epis, and Methodist Churches.
Was married in Saint John's Epis Church, Mobile, Mobile County, AL
Was in AL MS LA MN FL VR
General Notes: Child - William Augustus McMain
was in info-A.Farrington 1993: Source: fam hist and bible records
General Notes: Child - Ruth Nester McMain
/Mabry/
was in Source: family history and bible records
was in info-WFT CD 22 Pedigree 3224
General Notes: Child - Doris Gage McMain
/Nicholls/
was in info-A.Farrington 1993; Source: fam hist and bible records
General Notes: Child - Hugh Orville McMain
was in Source: family history and bible records
svd US Navy WWI
info-A.Farrington 1993
General Notes: Child - Lucy Dade McMain
/Oates/
was in info-D.Oates 1995; Source: fam hist and bible records
Was in 1920 US census Crystal Springs, Copiah County, MS in household of father, H. O. McMain
BURI Caldwell, ID
SOUR family history and bible
General Notes: Child - James Weston McMain
was in Source: family history and bible records
Was in 1920 US census Crystal Springs, Copiah County, MS in household of father, H. O. McMain
info-A.Farrington 1993
General Notes: Child - Albert Thomson McMain
was in Source: fam history and bible records
Was in 1920 US census Crystal Springs, Copiah County, MS in household of father, H. O. McMain
Master Mason.
was a businessman and manager lived in Wyandotte, MI for many years and after retiring, moved to Alb., NM
was in info-A.Farrington 1983
was very possibly a Mason in NC? and in NM?
Husband Walter Mack Oates
Born: February 15, 1898 - Benton, Yazoo County, Mississippi, USA
Baptized:
Died: November 30, 1976 - Denver, Denver County, Colorado, USA
Buried:
Father: Thomas S. Oates
Mother: Frances Fannie Sarah Norrald
Marriage: June 24, 1925 - Asheville, Bumcombe County, North Carolina, USA
Wife Lucy Dade McMain
Born: March 4, 1901 - Citronelle, Mobile County, Alabama, USA
Baptized:
Died: July 15, 1979 - Caldwell, Idaho, USA
Buried:
Father: Hypolite Oladowsky McMain
Mother: Lucy Edwaline Thomson
Noted events in their marriage were:
1. Divorced
Children
1 M Walter Mcmain Oates
Born: April 23, 1927 - Ft Eustis, Virginia, USA
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Elizabeth Laura Martin
Marr: June 6, 1959 - Washington, District Of Columbia, USA
2 M James Henry Oates
Born: December 6, 1929 - Ft Eustis, Virginia, USA
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
General Notes: Husband - Walter Mack Oates
was in info-David Oates 1996; Source: fam hist and bible records
MILI Enl & LTC (Ret)
BURI Denver CO
MILI svd WW1 and WW2
Obit of Gussie Oaters Wilkes of Yazoo City, MS brother, William (Walter Mack) Oates of Arlkington, W. VA
General Notes: Wife - Lucy Dade McMain
/Oates/
was in info-D.Oates 1995; Source: fam hist and bible records
Was in 1920 US census Crystal Springs, Copiah County, MS in household of father, H. O. McMain
BURI Caldwell, ID
SOUR family history and bible
General Notes: Child - Walter Mcmain Oates
was in info-D.Oates 1995; Source: fam hist and bible records
General Notes: Child - James Henry Oates
was in info-D.Oates 1995; Source: fam hist and bible records
OCCU Chemical Engr-ret
Husband Lynn Young
Born: 1920 - Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah, USA
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Marriage: 1955 - UT
Wife Ruth Nestor McMain
Born: 1917 - Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah, USA
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Father: William Augustus McMain
Mother: Lillian Belle Folk
Other Spouse: Keyser - 1933 - UT
Children
General Notes: Husband - Lynn Young
info-A.Farrington 1993
General Notes: Wife - Ruth Nestor McMain
/Keyser Young/
/Young/
info-A.Farrington 1993
had 6-children
Husband William Henry McMain
Born: December 6, 1829 - Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, USA
Baptized:
Died: December 24, 1891 - Selma, Dallas County, Alabama, USA
Buried:
Father: William Weston McMain
Mother: Catharine Ann Stuart
Marriage: February 18, 1852 - Baton Rouge, East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, USA
Wife Pauline Weston Vose
Born: August 21, 1830 - Augusta, Maine, USA
Baptized:
Died: May 6, 1919 - Crystal Springs, Copiah County, Mississippi, USA
Buried:
Father: Robert Charles Vose
Mother: Caroline Gage
Children
1 M Robert William McMain
Born: May 15, 1855 - Baton Rouge, East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, USA
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
2 F Kate Stuart McMain
Born: September 21, 1860 - Baton Rouge, East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, USA
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
3 M Hypolite Oladowsky McMain
Born: August 19, 1862 - Columbus, Mississippi, USA
Baptized:
Died: February 9, 1934 - Asheville, Bumcombe County, North Carolina, USA
Buried:
Spouse: Lucy Edwaline Thomson
Marr: June 11, 1886 - Duluth, St Louis County, Minnesota, USA
4 M Lawrence Whitfield McMain
Born: August 18, 1869 - Baton Rouge, East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, USA
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
5 M Frank Vose McMain
Born: April 15, 1871 - Brierfield, Alabama, USA
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
6 M William Henry McMain
Born: April 15, 1871 - Mississippi, USA
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
General Notes: Husband - William Henry McMain
Was in military as Cpt inthe Confederate Army QM General during Civil War
MILI Svd chiefly in MS during the Civil War
OCCU Treas Bill Iron Wks
OCCU Asst PM Selma AL
Was in info-A.Farrington 1983 based on family history and bible records
Was in 1860 US census City of Baton Rouge, E. Baton Rouge Parish, L:A (29) Dept Super value 600 real estate value 400 pers prop born PA, living in the household of his father, William W. McMain
Was in 1870 US census Randolph Twp, Bibb County AL pg 238, June 1, 1870, dwelling 5, family 5, (39) born PA as head of household with wife, Pauline (35) keeping house born ME; sons, Robt (12) born LA, Larry (4) born LA, Henry (8) born MS; his father, Wm W. (70) born DE (mistake) and domestic servant, Ehh Killo (11) born AL, cannot read and write.
General Notes: Wife - Pauline Weston Vose
/McMain/
was in info-A,Farrington 1983; Source: family history and bible records
Was in 1860 US census City of Baton Rouge, E. Baton Rouge Parish, LA
Was in 1879 US census, Randolph Twp, Bibb County, AL
General Notes: Child - Robert William McMain
was in Source: family history and bible records
was in info-A.Farrington 1993
Was in 1860 US census City of Baton Rouge, E. Baton Rouge Parish, LA (2) born LA
Was in 1870 US census Randolph Twp, Bibb County, AL (12) born LA
General Notes: Child - Kate Stuart McMain
was in Source: family history and bible records
was in info-A.Farrington 1993
General Notes: Child - Hypolite Oladowsky McMain
was in info-A.Farrington 1983 based on fam hist and bible records
owned and operated Feed Store at Ashville, NC
at one time lived in Selma, AL was a Mason and belonged to Masonic lodges in MN, MI, AL and NC
was a banker in Duluth, MN and Mobile, AL
Was in 1920 US census Crystal Springs, Copiah County, MS as head of household with wife, Lucy, daughers, Grace Farrington, Lucy McMain; sons, James W. and Albert T.; and grandson, Arthur A. Farrington (11/12) born AL
General Notes: Child - Lawrence Whitfield McMain
was in Source: family history and bible records
was in info-A.Farrington 1993
Was in 1870 US census Randolph Twp, Bibb County, AL (4) born LA
General Notes: Child - Frank Vose McMain
was in Source: family history and bible records
info-A.Farrington 1993
Twin w/RN=411
General Notes: Child - William Henry McMain
was in Source: family history and bible records
info-A.Farrington 1993
Was in 1870 US census Randolph Twp, Bibb County, AL (8) born MS
Husband William Weston McMain
Born: 1794 - Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, USA
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Marriage: 1828 - Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, USA
Wife Catharine Ann Stuart
Born: 1810 - Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, USA
Baptized:
Died: June 12, 1854 - St Louis, St Louis County, Missouri, USA
Buried: - Bellefontaine Cem., St Louis, St Louis County, Missouri, USA
Father: James Jas. Stuart
Mother: Martha Mitchell
Children
1 M William Henry McMain
Born: December 6, 1829 - Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, USA
Baptized:
Died: December 24, 1891 - Selma, Dallas County, Alabama, USA
Buried:
Spouse: Pauline Weston Vose
Marr: February 18, 1852 - Baton Rouge, East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, USA
2 F Mattie Stuart McMain
Born: 1831 - Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, USA
Baptized:
Died: June 24, 1854 - St Louis, St Louis County, Missouri, USA
Buried: - Bellefontaine Cem., St Louis, St Louis County, Missouri, USA
General Notes: Husband - William Weston McMain
Was in info-A.Farrington 1983 based on family history and bible records
Was in info-Susan Campbell 18 Mar 2002 <SueCamp24@aol.com>
Was in James Stuart's will, stating Catharine Ann Stuart's husband as Wm. McMain
Was in 1860 US census City of Baton Rouge, E. Baton Rouge Parish, LA (66) Super of Asylum, value 500 pers prop born DE (mistake) with daughter, W. Stuart (22) born PA; son Wm H. (29) Dept super value 600 real estatevalue 400 pers prop born PA; daughter in law, Pauline (29) dept matron born ME; grandson, Robert W. (2) born LA and servant, George McMain (14) born LA
Was in 1870 US census Randolph Twp, Bibb County, AL page 238,June 1, 1870, dwelling 5, family 5, (70) bookkeeper born DE(mistake) Eligible to vote living with son, Wm McMain.
Was in info-Allan Campbell 31 Mar 2002 <SoupUno@aol.com>
General Notes: Wife - Catharine Ann Stuart
/McMain/
Was in info-A.Farrington 1983 based on family history and bible records
Was a descendant of Stuarts, heir to England & Scottish crowns
Was in info-Susan Campbell 21 May 2002 <SueCamp24@aol.com>
Was in St Louis City Death Records, 1850-1908, Died of Cholera
General Notes: Child - William Henry McMain
Was in military as Cpt inthe Confederate Army QM General during Civil War
MILI Svd chiefly in MS during the Civil War
OCCU Treas Bill Iron Wks
OCCU Asst PM Selma AL
Was in info-A.Farrington 1983 based on family history and bible records
Was in 1860 US census City of Baton Rouge, E. Baton Rouge Parish, L:A (29) Dept Super value 600 real estate value 400 pers prop born PA, living in the household of his father, William W. McMain
Was in 1870 US census Randolph Twp, Bibb County AL pg 238, June 1, 1870, dwelling 5, family 5, (39) born PA as head of household with wife, Pauline (35) keeping house born ME; sons, Robt (12) born LA, Larry (4) born LA, Henry (8) born MS; his father, Wm W. (70) born DE (mistake) and domestic servant, Ehh Killo (11) born AL, cannot read and write.
General Notes: Child - Mattie Stuart McMain
Was in info-A.Farrington 1983 based on family history and bible records
Was in info-Susan Campbell 31 May 2002 <SueCamp24@aol.com>
There is some question on birth and death dates
Was in St Louis City Death Records, 1860-1908, Died of Cholera
Husband Samuel Charles McMains
Born: November 8, 1958 - Del Rio, Edwards, Texas, USA
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Father: Samuel Lawrence McMains
Mother: Norma Jean Williams
Marriage: August 4, 1979 - Kingsland, Llano, Texas, USA
Wife Lisa Darlene Vasser
Born: May 13, 1962 - San Antonio, Bexar, Texas, USA
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Children
1 M Christopher Charles McMains
Born: October 24, 1981 - Austin, Travis, Texas, USA
Baptized:
Died: October 24, 1981 - Austin, Travis, Texas, USA
Buried:
2 F Jodi Lynn McMains
Born: May 26, 1983 - Austin, Travis, Texas, USA
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
3 F Samantha Kaye McMains
Born: November 6, 1985 - Burnet, Burnet, Texas, USA
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
General Notes: Child - Christopher Charles McMains
Husband Samuel Lawrence McMains
Born: September 17, 1918 - Benson, Arizona, USA
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Marriage: October 25, 1947 - Uvalde, Uvalde, Texas, USA
Wife Norma Jean Williams
Born: January 28, 1928 - San Angelo, Tom Green, Texas, USA
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Father: Cecil Charles Williams
Mother: Catherine Beatrice Griffin
Other Spouse: Warren G. Harding Phillips - 1944
Children
1 F Catherine Elizabeth McMains
Born: September 19, 1949 - Uvalde, Uvalde, Texas, USA
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Douglas Ray Keeney
Marr: August 21, 1971 - Marble Falls, Burnet, Texas, USA
2 F Sandra Lee McMains
Born: February 20, 1951 - Uvalde, Uvalde, Texas, USA
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Damon Ray Thurman
Marr: June 13, 1970 - Marble Falls, Burnet, Texas, USA
3 M Samuel Charles McMains
Born: November 8, 1958 - Del Rio, Edwards, Texas, USA
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Lisa Darlene Vasser
Marr: August 4, 1979 - Kingsland, Llano, Texas, USA
General Notes: Husband - Samuel Lawrence McMains
1) Military U.S.Army (M.P.; WWII Vet)
Husband Damon Ray Thurman
Born: February 25, 1951 - Burnet, Texas, USA
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Marriage: June 13, 1970 - Marble Falls, Burnet, Texas, USA
Wife Sandra Lee McMains
Born: February 20, 1951 - Uvalde, Uvalde, Texas, USA
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Father: Samuel Lawrence McMains
Mother: Norma Jean Williams
Children
1 M Nathan Ray Thurman
Born: February 28, 1976 - Austin, Travis, Texas, USA
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
2 M Jason Lee Thurman
Born: August 27, 1979 - Austin, Travis, Texas, USA
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Husband Charles McManus
Born: 1795 - MS
Baptized:
Died: 1855
Buried:
Marriage: March 16, 1816 - Amite County, Mississippi, USA
Wife Elizabeth Betsy Wilkinson
Born: May 11, 1798 - Richmond County, Georgia, USA
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Father: Micajah Wilkinson
Mother: Mary Kennedy
Children
1 M William Iverson McManus
Born: 1818 - Amite County, Mississippi, USA
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
2 F Sarah Adeline McManus
Born: 1820 - Amite County, Mississippi, USA
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
3 M Melvin Lafayette McManus
Born: 1821 - Amite County, Mississippi, USA
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
4 F Arminda Elizabeth McManus
Born: 1825 - Amite County, Mississippi, USA
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
5 F Letha Ann Chlorinda McManus
Born: 1827 - Amite County, Mississippi, USA
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
6 M Samuel Harrison McManus
Born: 1830 - Amite County, Mississippi, USA
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
General Notes: Husband - Charles McManus
info-B.George Turnipseed 199
General Notes: Wife - Elizabeth Betsy Wilkinson
/McManus/
info-B.George Turnipseed 1996
General Notes: Child - William Iverson McManus
info-B.George Turnipseed 199
General Notes: Child - Sarah Adeline McManus
info-B.George Turnipseed 199
General Notes: Child - Melvin Lafayette McManus
info-B.George Turnipseed 199
General Notes: Child - Arminda Elizabeth McManus
info-B.George Turnipseed 199
General Notes: Child - Letha Ann Chlorinda McManus
info-B.George Turnipseed 199
General Notes: Child - Samuel Harrison McManus
Husband Jim McManus
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Marriage:
Wife Ella Dora Opperman
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Father: Robert Opperman
Mother: Gazela Hankowitz
Other Spouse: Robert Henderson
Children
Husband Peterson
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Marriage:
Wife McMenamin
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Father: Francis Aloysious McMenamin
Mother: Elaine Wentworth
Children
General Notes: Husband - Peterson
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General Notes: Wife - McMenamin
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Husband Schoop
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Marriage:
Wife McMenamin
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Father: Francis Aloysious McMenamin
Mother: Elaine Wentworth
Children
General Notes: Husband - Schoop
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General Notes: Wife - McMenamin
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Husband McMenamin
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Father: Francis Aloysious McMenamin
Mother: Elaine Wentworth
Marriage:
Wife Moraski
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Children
General Notes: Husband - McMenamin
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General Notes: Wife - Moraski
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Husband Richmond
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Marriage:
Wife McMenamin
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Father: Robert John McMenamin
Mother: Margaret Mac Namee
Children
1 M Richmond
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
2 M Richmond
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
General Notes: Husband - Richmond
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General Notes: Wife - McMenamin
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General Notes: Child - Richmond
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General Notes: Child - Richmond
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Husband McMenamin
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Father: Michael McMenamin
Mother: McMenamin
Marriage:
Wife McMenamin
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Children
General Notes: Husband - McMenamin
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General Notes: Wife - McMenamin
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Husband James McMenamin
Born: 1911
Baptized:
Died: 1972
Buried:
Father: Michael Joseph McMenamin
Mother: McMenamin
Marriage:
Wife McMenamin
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Children
1 U McMenamin
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
2 U McMenamin
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
3 U McMenamin
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
4 U McMenamin
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
General Notes: Child - McMenamin
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General Notes: Child - McMenamin
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General Notes: Child - McMenamin
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General Notes: Child - McMenamin
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Husband John McMenamin
Born: 1921
Baptized:
Died: 1979
Buried:
Father: Michael Joseph McMenamin
Mother: McMenamin
Marriage:
Wife McMenamin
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Children
Husband Nichol
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Marriage:
Wife McMenamin
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Father: McMenamin
Mother: Simonson
Children
1 F Nichol
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
General Notes: Husband - Nichol
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General Notes: Wife - McMenamin
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General Notes: Child - Nichol
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Husband Joseph McMenamin
Born: 1910
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Father: Michael Joseph McMenamin
Mother: McMenamin
Marriage:
Wife McMenamin
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Children
Husband Edward Bud McMenamin
AKA: Bud
Born: 1914
Baptized:
Died: 1964
Buried:
Father: Michael Joseph McMenamin
Mother: McMenamin
Marriage:
Wife McMenamin
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Children
1 U McMenamin
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
2 U McMenamin
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
3 U McMenamin
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
General Notes: Child - McMenamin
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General Notes: Child - McMenamin
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General Notes: Child - McMenamin
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Husband Richard McMenamin
Born: 1917
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Father: Michael Joseph McMenamin
Mother: McMenamin
Marriage:
Wife McMenamin
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Children
1 M McMenamin
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
2 M McMenamin
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
3 M McMenamin
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
4 F McMenamin
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
5 F McMenamin
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
General Notes: Child - McMenamin
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General Notes: Child - McMenamin
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General Notes: Child - McMenamin
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General Notes: Child - McMenamin
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General Notes: Child - McMenamin
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Husband Hugh McMenamin
Born: 1911
Baptized:
Died: 1993
Buried:
Father: James Henry McMenamin
Mother: Mary Frances Mae Cunningham
Marriage:
Wife McMenamin
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Children
Husband McMenamin
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Father: Francis Aloysious McMenamin
Mother: Justine Hortense Pessemier
Marriage:
Wife Ofarrel
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Children
1 M McMenamin
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Schulte
2 F McMenamin
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
3 M McMenamin
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
General Notes: Husband - McMenamin
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General Notes: Wife - Ofarrel
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General Notes: Child - McMenamin
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General Notes: Child - McMenamin
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General Notes: Child - McMenamin
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Husband Stogdill
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Marriage:
Wife McMenamin
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Father: Michael J. McMenamin
Mother: Ruby Wonser
Children
1 M Stogdill
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
2 M Stogdill
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
General Notes: Husband - Stogdill
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General Notes: Wife - McMenamin
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General Notes: Child - Stogdill
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General Notes: Child - Stogdill
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Husband Strandberg
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Marriage:
Wife McMenamin
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Father: John E. McMenamin
Mother: Marie C. Pastick
Other Spouse: Hoffman
Children
General Notes: Husband - Strandberg
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General Notes: Wife - McMenamin
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Husband McMenamin
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Father: John P. McMenamin
Mother: Rosemary Herrmann
Marriage:
Wife McMenamin
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Children
General Notes: Husband - McMenamin
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General Notes: Wife - McMenamin
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Husband Michael Joseph McMenamin
Born: July 1881 - Afton Township, Dekalb County, IL
Baptized:
Died: 1957
Buried:
Father: Patrick Joseph McMenamin
Mother: Mary Anne McMenamin
Marriage:
Wife McMenamin
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Children
1 M Joseph McMenamin
Born: 1910
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: McMenamin
2 M James McMenamin
Born: 1911
Baptized:
Died: 1972
Buried:
Spouse: McMenamin
3 F Mary Bland McMenamin
Born: 1912
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
4 M Edward Bud McMenamin
AKA: Bud
Born: 1914
Baptized:
Died: 1964
Buried:
Spouse: McMenamin
5 M Richard McMenamin
Born: 1917
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: McMenamin
6 M John McMenamin
Born: 1921
Baptized:
Died: 1979
Buried:
Spouse: McMenamin
Husband McMenamin
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Father: John P. McMenamin
Mother: Rosemary Herrmann
Marriage:
Wife McMenamin
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Children
General Notes: Husband - McMenamin
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General Notes: Wife - McMenamin
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Husband McMenamin
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Father: John E. McMenamin
Mother: Gladys Gertrude Youngs
Marriage:
Wife Simonson
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Children
1 M McMenamin
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
2 F McMenamin
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Nichol
General Notes: Husband - McMenamin
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General Notes: Wife - Simonson
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General Notes: Child - McMenamin
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General Notes: Child - McMenamin
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Husband McMenamin
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Father: John E. McMenamin
Mother: Marie C. Pastick
Marriage:
Wife Penz
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Children
1 F McMenamin
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
2 F McMenamin
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
3 F McMenamin
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
General Notes: Husband - McMenamin
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General Notes: Wife - Penz
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General Notes: Child - McMenamin
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General Notes: Child - McMenamin
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General Notes: Child - McMenamin
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Husband Plane
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Marriage:
Wife McMenamin
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Father: John E. McMenamin
Mother: Marie C. Pastick
Children
General Notes: Husband - Plane
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General Notes: Wife - McMenamin
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Husband Walker
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Marriage:
Wife McMenamin
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Father: Robert John McMenamin
Mother: Margaret Mac Namee
Children
1 F Walker
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Bausch
2 M Walker
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
3 F Walker
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
4 F Walker
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
5 M Walker
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
6 M Walker
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
General Notes: Husband - Walker
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General Notes: Wife - McMenamin
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General Notes: Child - Walker
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General Notes: Child - Walker
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General Notes: Child - Walker
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General Notes: Child - Walker
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General Notes: Child - Walker
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General Notes: Child - Walker
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Husband McMenamin
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Father: Robert John McMenamin
Mother: Margaret Mac Namee
Marriage:
Wife Walshe
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Children
General Notes: Husband - McMenamin
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General Notes: Wife - Walshe
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Husband McMenamin
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Father: Joseph Patrick McMenamin
Mother: Mary M. Minnegan
Marriage:
Wife Victor
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Children
General Notes: Husband - McMenamin
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General Notes: Wife - Victor
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Husband McMenamin
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Father: McMenamin
Mother: Ofarrel
Marriage:
Wife Schulte
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Children
1 F McMenamin
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
General Notes: Husband - McMenamin
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General Notes: Wife - Schulte
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General Notes: Child - McMenamin
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Husband Pastuovic
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Marriage:
Wife McMenamin
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Father: Robert John McMenamin
Mother: Margaret Mac Namee
Children
1 F Pastuovic
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
2 F Pastuovic
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
3 F Pastuovic
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
4 M Pastuovic
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
General Notes: Husband - Pastuovic
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General Notes: Wife - McMenamin
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General Notes: Child - Pastuovic
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General Notes: Child - Pastuovic
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General Notes: Child - Pastuovic
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General Notes: Child - Pastuovic
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Husband Michael McMenamin
Born: 1909
Baptized:
Died: 1975
Buried:
Father: Henry McMenamin
Mother: Margaret McMenamin
Marriage:
Wife McMenamin
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Children
1 F McMenamin
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
2 M McMenamin
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: McMenamin
General Notes: Husband - Michael McMenamin
"Mick" had daughter, Mary, who lived near James MacMenamin in Auckland (1984), and a son, John, who was a newspaper reporter in Tokoroa - 23 Papas Street. John married April 1983.
General Notes: Child - McMenamin
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General Notes: Child - McMenamin
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Husband Milne
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Marriage:
Wife McMenamin
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Father: Joseph Patrick McMenamin
Mother: Mary M. Minnegan
Other Spouse: McDonald
Children
1 F Milne
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
General Notes: Husband - Milne
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General Notes: Wife - McMenamin
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General Notes: Child - Milne
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Husband William Monteith
Born: 1811
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Marriage:
Wife Ann McMenamin
Born: 1811
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Father: Michael McMenamin
Mother: Mary Quinn
Children
Husband James McMenamin
Born: March 17, 1828 - Termonamongan Parish, County Tyrone, Ireland
Baptized:
Died: 1890 - Killeter Parish, Edenreagh, County Tyrone, Ireland
Buried: - Magerakeel Cemetery, County Tyrone, Ireland
Father: Michael McMenamin
Mother: Mary Quinn
Marriage: 1843 - County Tyrone, Ireland
Wife Anna McMenamin
AKA: Nancy
Born: 1815 - Termonamongan Parish, County Tyrone, Ireland
Baptized:
Died: December 12, 1885 - Killeter Parish, Edenreagh, County Tyrone, Ireland
Buried: - Magerakeel Cemetery, County Tyrone, Ireland
Father: Bernard McMenamin
Mother: Mary McHugh
Children
1 F Kate McMenamin
Born: 1844 - County Tyrone, Ireland
Baptized:
Died: 1920
Buried: - Ahgyran, County Tyrone, Ireland
2 M Michael McMenamin
Born: 1846 - County Tyrone, Ireland
Baptized:
Died: 1907 - Clifton Park, NY
Buried: 1907 - Waterford, NY
Spouse: Catherine Gallagher
Marr: County Tyrone, Ireland
3 M Owen McMenamin
Born: 1848 - County Tyrone, Ireland
Baptized:
Died: 1892 - Chicago, IL
Buried: - St. Mary Cemetery, Dekalb, IL
Spouse: Mary Jane Crowe
Marr: Ireland
4 M James McMenamin
Born: 1850 - County Tyrone, Ireland
Baptized:
Died: 1918 - County Fermagh, Ireland
Buried:
5 M Edward McMenamin
AKA: Ned
Born: 1852 - County Tyrone, Ireland
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
6 M Patrick Joseph McMenamin
Born: May 24, 1854 - Termonamongan Parish, County Tyrone, Ireland
Baptized:
Died: 1938 - Afton Township, Dekalb County, IL
Buried: - St. James Calvary Cemetery, Lee, IL
Spouse: Mary Anne McMenamin
Marr: June 8, 1876 - St. John's Church, East Greenbush, Rensselaer County, NY
7 M Hugh McMenamin
Born: August 25, 1856 - County Tyrone, Ireland
Baptized:
Died: 1936 - Sycamore, IL
Buried: - Mount Carmel Cemetery, Sycamore, Dekalb County, IL
Spouse: Mary McGuire
Marr: January 27, 1885 - St. Mary Church, Dekalb, IL
8 M Henry McMenamin
Born: 1858 - County Tyrone, Ireland
Baptized:
Died: 1921 - Edenreagh, Ireland
Cause of Death: Pneumonia
Buried:
Spouse: Margaret McMenamin
Marr: 1904
9 M John McMenamin
Born: 1860 - County Tyrone, Ireland
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
General Notes: Husband - James McMenamin
Born about 1815. Died at age 62? His brother Ned emigrated to New York, a farmer.
James and Anne, by Joseph Patrick McMenamin
"It is with James and Anne (and their children) we start to find records of the McMenamins of County Tyrone. Before their time, family records were not kept; it was illegal to keep official entries of births, baptisms, marriages and deaths in Ireland's Catholic churches. James was the son of Michael and Mary. We believe Mary's maiden name was (probably) Quinn. We know from Jamie's Letter to Joe that Michael and Mary had at least two children, James and Ann. However, we do not know if they had others. We do find in the document "Earliest McMenamin Tree", a diagram that shows (possibly) four other siblings Edward (Ned), Henry, Mary and Joe. It would have been very uncharacteristic (at this time) for a good Irish Catholic family like the McMenamin's to have only two children, but it is possible (with the higher rates of infant mortality) that only two children may have survived. They had married four years before the famine. James and Anne were poor farm tenants on 17 acres, but James and Anne were lucky to live in an area that raised oats and barley as well as potatoes, one of Tyrone's better agricultural regions. According to Griffith's Land Evaluation survey of 1858 , they leased seventeen acres from an Anne Tennent. James and Anne were of the "lower class" an would have been classified as tenant farmers, a step above "cottier". A cottier was a sub-tenant; working a plot of land only big enough to raise potatoes. In the high ground of Magerkeel Cemetery the bones of James and Anne McMenamin have dissolved into the Irish earth whose nutrients maintained their sturdy bodies. Their graves lack a lasting marker. They, too, had parents and grandparents who are part of our legendary family history. Beyond their time we find fragments and anecdotes that tease the curious."
General Notes: Wife - Anna McMenamin
Was called Nancy.
General Notes: Child - Kate McMenamin
Never married. Never emigrated.
Only daughter of James and Anne. All four of Kate's emigrant brothers had daughters named after Kate.
Kate is buried at Aghyran Cemetery.
General Notes: Child - Michael McMenamin
Emigrated in 1866 to US before his brothers Owen, Patrick, Hugh.
Lived with an Uncle Ned for about 8 yrs., working on nearby farms (NY State). Returned to visit parents in Ireland, 1875, helped build them a home.
Returning to America, New York State, (he had married) purchased a 30-acre farm at Clifton Park and later 155 acre farm in same township; where he lived until his death.
His brother James, "The Australian"*, visited him in 1888.
*This is the brother of whom Jamie McMenamin spoke so fondly of (of New Zealand) in his letters to Joseph P. McMenamin.
His brother Patrick and wife visited him about 1902. (Patrick was the Father of 12, including John Henry of DeKalb, IL)
Michael was buried in Waterford, NY, opposite TROY(?).
It was a common practice for the given name of one's first born son to be that of his paternal grandfather. All four emigrant brothers' first born sons were named James.
General Notes: Child - Owen McMenamin
Was married and had one child while emigrating, about 1866-67.
Moved from New York State to Chicago ten (twenty?) years after arriving in America.
Died in Chicago of typhoid, when his 13th child was nine days old.
General Notes: Child - James McMenamin
Never married. After years in America and Australia returned to buy a farm in County Fermmagh, Ireland.
James (Jim) was born in 1850 and was the 4th oldest child (3rd oldest son) of James and Anne McMenamin. James never married and did not communicate much. It was said that James was a small man (the smallest of James and Ann's sons) very independent, and a great traveler. He was affectionately called the "Australian". James lived for some time in America but according to his nephew (Jamie) returned to Ireland in the 1870's after loosing all his money in a bank swindle. Later, around 1882, James would return to America and worked in Pittsburgh for five years. However the urge within James to wander would soon overtake him and he decided to go to Australia. Before leaving, James would visit his brothers Patrick and Hugh who had settled in DeKalb County, Illinois. We believe that this visit was in June or July of 1887. James then traveled to New York to visit his brothers Michael and Owen before departing for Australia. James would return to Ireland for the final time and purchase his own farm in County Fernanagh. However, soon after returning, Jim became ill and his younger brother Henry (and is family) would move from Edenreagh to take care his ailing brother. James died in 1918 at the age of 68 of rheumatic fever and had suffered with a hernia. He would often say that he regretted leaving Australia.
General Notes: Child - Edward McMenamin
Never Married. Never Emigrated. Had a "club" foot and "became a teacher".
Edward (also known as Ned) was James and Ann's 5th child and their 4th son. Ned was born with crippled feet and was incapable of performing manual labor. So he was sent to school where he became a brilliant scholar and was the only child of James and Anne that was literate.Ned studied two trades, one a surveyor and the other a valuator of land. Ned would find plenty of employment in surveying and valuing; he always worked for the tenant farmers on the Irish Land Commission but would never work for a landlord as he hated them like vermin. It is believed that he lived out his life with his sister Kate who also never married and help take care of James and Anne in the latter days. Edward never married or emigrated but according to his nephew Jamie "He was a great reader, and as to the history of Ireland, since the dawn of time he could repeat it like he was saying his prayers". After Henry died at the age of 63, Ned, then 68, was left in charge of Henry's children. It was at this time that Ned, being the family historian, would impart the McMenamin history to Henry's children. Many years later, one of them, Jamie, would pass on much of this information in "A Letter to Joe McMenamin" (Letter To Joe From Jamie).
General Notes: Child - Patrick Joseph McMenamin
Patrick was born on May 25, 1854. Left Ireland at nineteen, with a friend, Jim Crowe, in 1873. His betrothed was a colleen of the same surname, Mary Anne McMenamin, from the nearby town of Killeter. Three years after his leaving Ireland, she joined him in New York. They were married on June 8, 1876 at St. John's Church, Greenbush, New York. They were then young immigrants; he was just twenty two and she, twenty-one. He had emigrated, in 1873, to work on a farm several years beforehand and was illiterate but showed signs of being talented with good judgment. She was literate and though she bore the same surname before marriage it was always claimed that they "were not related". Their marriage must have been agreed upon before she emigrated.
Patrick was probably met by his brothers Owen and Michael who had immigrated several years before him and were living in East Greenbush. They probably took him up the Hudson River to the city of Albany, which was not far from East Greenbush. After their second baby, John Henry, was born, Patrick would move his family to DeKalb County, Illinois, where he would purchase his own 360 acre farm and rear another 10 children. Patrick and Mary would eventually have 12 children (8 boys and 4 Girls), three of the children would die before reaching the age of four. In addition, Mary lost 3 male infants at birth.
Later, he would sponsor the immigration of his younger bother Hugh, who would also settle in DeKalb County.
1906 was the year Patrick and Mary retired from farming and moved into their newly built house on South First Street (South of Perry Road) in Afton Township, DeKalb County, Illinois.
Patrick died at the age of 84 in 1938. Mary died of Diabetes in 1913.
THE LIFE OF THE ANCESTOR, PATRICK JOSEPH McMENAMIN
by Joseph Patrick McMenamin
April 1995
An old family Bible has in writing the birth dates of my McMenamin grandparents. His is given as "May 25, 1854"; hers as "January 1, 1855". Their marriage date and location are there, too: "June 8, 1876" at "St. John's Church, Greenbush, New York". They were then young immigrants; he was just twenty two and she, twenty-one. He had emigrated to work on a farm several years beforehand; he was illiterate but showed signs of being talented with good judgment. She was literate and though she bore the same surname before marriage it was always claimed that they "were not related". Their marriage must have been agreed upon before she emigrated; her baptismal name was Mary; his, Patrick.
We of this generation tend to impose our own stereotyped images of the new world into which my paternal grandparents entered. Understandably so. Yet the truth reveals something different than the picture so long held in my own mind. When Patrick McMenamin's vessel of immigrants sailed into New York harbor, there was yet no statue of Liberty to greet him. If he had been entering Paris instead there would have been no Eiffel Tower. He was probably met by his brother Owen or Michael from East Greenbush who took him up the Hudson River to the city of Albany, which was not far from East Greenbush.
There is a family story about his immigrating that could have been true. It was related to me in a letter from his nephew, Jamie, a 70-year old retired drover in New Zealand. Jamie wrote that the immigration vessel's departure date made the lad's leaving on schedule impossible because he had yet a few weeks left to complete a verbal contract as a laborer with his employer, a local landlord, who refused to release him from the contract. So my grandfather's family and friends subsidized the passage fee which he expected wages would have financed.
It is sad to report that none of us (his children or grandchildren) can tell much of the circumstances he endured on his immigration voyage. I do recall that he came with a companion, Jim Crowe, who was a brother-in-law of his own older brother Owen, (Owen and his small family had already settled near relatives in East Greenbush, Rensselaer County, of the State of New York.) Patrick also had another older brother, Michael, who had settled himself in this area; so he was not coming into a world of strangers. I have yet to find documentary evidence as to his year of entry, but it must have been about 1874 since we know he was married in 1876 to a girl who had known him in Ireland and who followed him to America.
A tintype photograph taken at the time of their wedding has been preserved through copies. Young Patrick was then twenty-two years old. His hair, we know, was Irish red and his hands look to be strong and large, of importance for a young farm laborer. Young Patrick, we were told, rose early in the dawn after his day of marriage to milk many cows.
By late 1879, his thoughts were given seriously to becoming a naturalized citizen. His second son (my father) had been born in July. In October, Patrick appeared in the Albany Justices' Court declaring his intention to become a U.S. citizen and to "renounce forever all allegiance . . . particularly to the Queen of Great Britain." This, of course, he found easy to do but his naturalization was not finalized until he had moved his small family to Illinois.
I can imagine my young grandfather's interest upon seeing his first live snake when he worked as a newly arrived immigrant in the farmland of Rensselaer County, New York. The only snake familiar to him was the serpent he had seen in the stained glass window of his parish church back in Ireland. In fact, young Patrick would also see his first toad and skunk in America, as these did not exist in Ireland due to the island's long geologic isolation.
It happens, however, that Ireland does have one wild flower not found on the Island of Britain, or the whole European continent. I would like to think it greeted him with its blue violet blossoms when he was (years later) inspecting the wet areas of the large farm he had purchased in Illinois.
This wild flower and I have been special friends ever since I was introduced to it by a botany professor. I still recall how we botany students on that field trip enjoyed trying to pronounce this grass like plant's Latin name sisyrinchium angustifolium. Its common name was so much easier - "blue-eyed grass". Each blossom (produced in early summer) is only about a half inch in diameter and consists of similar petals. Although the plant resembles a grass plant it actually belongs in the iris plant family. Years later I was to learn that the only other place in the world this little plant grew besides North America was in my grandfather's native part of Ireland.
Clustered colonies of blue-eyed grass are said to be conspicuous when blooming in wet places near the shorelines of rivers and lakes of Northwestern Ireland. Which leads me to thinking that my grandfather in his boyhood years must have seen large colonies of blue-eyed grass along the shorelines of the River Derg, so near his native home.
And I like to imagine that he discovered this familiar sight many years later when he first traversed the wet areas of his newly purchased prairie farm in Illinois. I can see his own blue eyes light up with recognition on that early summer day. I like to think he carried home a cluster of the blue-eyed grass blossoms to surprise MY grandmother. "Here Mary, see what I found!" She, too, had grown up in the same area of Ireland.
Now, I wish it were possible to have blue-eyed grass growing on their Illinois graves.
My grandfather died in 1938. We have no colored photographs to show his twinkling blue eyes, but I was pleased to learn some forty years after his death his eyes were still recalled. His only surviving niece (then almost ninety) surprised me with this comment: "Two things I'll never forget about Uncle Pat were his sense of humor and twinkling blue eyes!"
Those of us who visited him during his final illness cannot forget how he could still muster up that smile and ask that there be "plenty of food on hand for his wake".
What was the year Patrick moved his little family to Illinois and who prompted it? These are family facts that have been lost. We do know that he had become a naturalized citizen of the U.S. in October, 1892, for we have a copy of the document issued at DeKalb County's open court and witnessed by Mike Minnegan and Peter Redmond. The witness to Patrick's signature, confirming his mark "X", was W.W. Whitmore. The document cites that Patrick had resided at least one year in the State of Illinois and he had "behaved himself as a man of good moral character .
It becomes evident, then, that thirteen years had elapsed between the time he had applied for citizenship in New York State and the time he actually obtained it. By this time (October, 1892) he had become the father of nine children, two of whom had died. His wife, Mary, had no reason to bother with citizenship even though she was literate. Why? The answer undoubtedly is that she was a woman and women could not vote then.
Even so, she was to die before she would have been able to vote in his newly adopted country. She died in 1913; it was 1920 before the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution gave female citizens of the U.S. their right to vote. Patrick, then a widower was probably unaware (or if so, disinterested) of the event's historical significance.
So much has been lost as to how that young family (Patrick, Mary and their small sons Jim and John) traveled to Illinois. Hand-me-down tales suggest that the journey was accomplished by one or two stops where Patrick obtained money to progress further by working temporarily as a section hand on the railroad. The time must have been in the early 1880's. They were certainly aware that their social status set them apart from mainstream America because of their poverty, religion and culture. But they had pluck and vision of a better life in Illinois, so they forged ahead hoping for promise of opportunity in the rich agricultural region of DeKalb County.
If there was a purpose in their decision to consider the town of DeKalb as the end of the trek, I cannot say. But there is the story told by Patrick, himself, of his riding a horse about 10 miles to seek employment as a renter of Gormley farm property in Pierce Township southeast of DeKalb. He succeeded. This Gormley farm was to become his growing family's first Illinois home for several years. It was here the event took place which Patrick, himself, told me about many years later. I will tell it in his own words as I wrote them down during a visit with him in 1937.
"I was swilling(1) pigs one morning after a rain when we lived on the Gormley place. A fellow came walking down the road with his grip(2). I was very dirty. He came up to me and said, 'Good morning, Sir! Nice bunch of pigs!' He was as brown as a mulatto. I sized him up and said, 'I think I have seen you before' and shook hands with him. He was my older brother, Jim. I took him in to see my wife and other children . . . , whereupon I interrupted him and asked for the names of his children:
Jim - about age 10 years,
John - about age 8 years,
Mike - about age 5 years,
Edward - about age 3 years,
Mame - about age 6 months"
Using these children's birth dates I conclude that Patrick and Mary had not yet lost Edward, who was to die soon. Mame was born in 1886, so the year of this visit must have been about 1887.
My grandfather went on telling how Jim stayed with them about three weeks, during which time they visited their younger brother, Hugh, who had come to the DeKalb area and had married an Irish immigrant girl in 1884.
Another thing my grandfather could recall about the day of his brother Jim's coming to the Gormley farm was that he had had his sons Jim and John out in the corn field helping him plant white navy beans in each corn hill where gophers had eaten out the seed corn. He even recalled that the planted beans had produced a yield of eight to ten bushels that fall, so the visit must have occurred in late June.
Memories of this visit also gave more information about his remarkable brother, Jim, who was "a great traveler", "never married", "the smallest in statute" of his siblings, "didn't communicate much", and "was very independent".
How long did Patrick's growing family live on the Gormley farm? We have clues that give us an estimate. My father, John, told of attending the nearby rural school with my wife's mother, Sarah Powers, who was four years older. He was also said to have attended catechism lessons with a neighbor, Michael Malone, riding to DeKalb in a horse-drawn wagon.
On a cold day in March, 1896, Patrick McMenamin moved his family for the third and last time as a renter. His children now numbered five sons and three daughters. His wife was pregnant and the girl she would deliver in November would die shortly thereafter. They had already buried two boys(3).
Their three eldest sons, James 18, John 15, and Michael 14, were able to help Patrick with the heavier farm work. Frank, who was 8, had learned to milk and was soon able to drive a gentle team pulling the milk-laden wagon to the milk depot three miles away. Later in his memoirs son Frank wrote, "I do not yet understand how it was possible to play two ball games on Sunday and work as hard as we did during the week."
It was that hard work which Patrick expected of his sons that enabled him to purchase the 120 acres adjoining his rented 240 acre farm and within another few years even buy the 240 acres as well. So, prior to the turn of the century, Patrick McMenamin, the former Irish immigrant, owned more land than any landlord in his boyhood County Tyrone of Northern Ireland.
But in September, 1910, Patrick must have realized that his success had not been without cost. Three of his sons had left for the Northwest (Washington and Oregon). They saw better opportunities for education and a healthier life. The "West" was said to be freer of hay fever than Illinois. Their want of an education must have been something Patrick wondered about. Each of these sons had the advantage of some elementary school learning. Unlike him, they could read and write. He, their successful father, could do neither.
That he was changeable in his thinking, I digress here to point out, before he died he presented me with a $20 bill to express his appreciation of my graduating with high honors from the University of Illinois. He was 83 years old then; I am 82 now.
Today, I am more aware of the different changes this man experienced in his lifetime. Transportation, as his family grew, was chiefly by horseback or horse-drawn vehicles. In 1895 (the year prior to moving his family to the farm he would soon own) there occurred the first gasoline-powered automobile race in America from snowy Chicago to Evanston when on Thanksgiving Day the Duryea brothers won, making the round trip in ten hours. Their car looked very carriage-like and had, instead of a steering wheel, a "tiller"(4). If anyone told Patrick of this historic event, I can understand his lack of interest.
My "Uncle Jim" was the first to leave the farm for a better life. Contacts with his Chicago cousins (Owen's family) must have been influential. In the City of Chicago Directory of 1898 his name James McMenamin is listed at the same business address as his cousin, Eugene M. McMenamin. In October, 1902, for the first of his three marriages, my "Uncle Jim" (Patrick's eldest son) married a girl he met at Valparaiso College where he was a graduate of law. The marriage was brief. In 1903 he had left his bride and opened a law office in Tacoma, Washington. On the 31st of March, 1903, he had by a legal decree(5) separated himself from his bride on said grounds "that they have been constantly quarreling and they are so entirely different in temperament" and "that there is no issue of said marriage."
So, Patrick's eldest established himself as an attorney and something of a magnet who would draw his siblings, Michael, Frank and Anne, to the Washington-Oregon area.
That my father, John, was also tempted to follow suit is expressed in his own words in a letter written in 1909 from Tacoma to my mother (whom he had yet to marry), saying: "Everybody is trying to influence me to come out and start in business here, so don't be surprised if Mrs. John McMenamin would be out here some time in the near future."
But John was evidently not to leave Illinois or the farm his parents now owned. A month later he was writing about his farm home to my mother, saying that she was "the magnet that is ever drawing me nearer to you." And another month later he wrote: "Sold our hogs today; it is great to be a farmer at the price they are paying for pork . . . I heard they are going to close the creamery depot the first of the year (January 1, 1910) so I told Pa yesterday I didn't care to take chances on keeping so many cows and that it would be best to sell some. He seemed to agree with me and if he does we will sell some 30 to 40 head. That will leave 20 or 25 for me to keep."
In late January of the New Year, 1910, John was writing about his parents' plan to build their retirement home, which was to be built nearby on the first 120 acres purchased. "One of the architects from DeKalb just ate dinner with us; he is looking after the contract for building the house."
Patrick did have the new house built. He and his ailing wife moved into it in 1911 before John Henry was married in August. If Patrick surmised he was facing retirement years with less stress and challenges than his earlier family years had been he was in for a succession of surprises.
He and his wife had moved into their newly built home less than two years when she died of diabetes; and the three sons who had remained with him were giving him growing concern. Eugene, the youngest, was but 12. Charles, who had been a problem adolescent and chose not to attend the local high school, was 21 and incommunicado when his mother died. John, recently married, who had chosen to remain home and work the large 360-acre farm, was by August, 1914, in a sanatorium at Hinsdale, Illinois.
Did Patrick ever wonder at the successful lives of his three elder sons who had left him early in the family years? Their growing careers were an obvious contrast to the sad outcomes developing for those sons who remained with him.
Considering what he himself had accomplished without any education, maybe he felt he should have enabled those who "went West" to attend the local high school. But there was John who never went beyond seventh grade. And Charlie, who chose not to go beyond eighth grade. And there was his youngest, Gene, ever a problem, whom he had sent to Notre Dame Academy, who entered the local high school in 1918 and chose not to graduate.
True, his three daughters had done better with educational opportunities. Mame, his eldest girl, had entered high school at 17. (Her mother and he were not convinced their daughters needed an education.) So "Mame" did not graduate until 1907; but by 1910 she was earning a salary teaching in a nearby rural school. By 1912 his daughter, "Nan", had graduated from a nursing school and two years later "Kate", who had attended a parochial academy, would graduate at 18 from the local public high school; she, too, would be teaching in nearby rural schools.
Before their mother died it seems that Patrick must have realized that his three daughters should have more education than their mother had (who, I was told, usually read the daily newspaper to him). By 1910 Mame was teaching in a nearby rural school. Nan was learning how to become an accredited nurse, and young Kate had been sent to a parochial academy in Iowa. Patrick and Mary had adjusted their thinking to the changing times but not without some opposition at first. (Their eldest girl, "Mame", did not enter the DeKalb Township High School until she was 17 and graduated therefrom in June 1907, when she was 21.) Obviously they were pleased that she was soon a wage earner as a teacher.
Illiteracy certainly does not prevent an intelligent person from indulging in meditational hindsight when one reaches the lonely years of old age. I recall my grandfather's frequent rests and pipes of Prince Albert tobacco as he lay on his couch. It was in a nearby chair that I sat and wrote down some (but not enough) information about his early life. It seems now that he looked pleased that anyone would be interested to ask him to reflect.
It must have been during his later years, during lonely rest periods, that he concluded he should leave a second Will. Kate, his youngest daughter, and her husband had come to live with him and farm the 160 acres which was his retirement home. He decided they had merited the property for keeping him comfortable in his old age. He was completing his 84th year in 1938. He signed a second Will to this effect, leaving the rest of his estate equally distributed to his surviving children.
And so, about a week after his 84th birthday, Patrick McMenamin, retired farmer, "for over 50 years a resident of Afton Township", DeKalb County, Illinois, died. One could not have wished him a more beautiful death. I was there, home for a few days prior to the University of Illinois commencement ceremony at which I was to receive a diploma for the degree of Bachelor of Education. I chose to remain at home and attend the funeral instead of attending the ceremony.
Over a half century later my perspective reflections focus on the positive aspects of Patrick's death scene. He died knowing that his three adult daughters were attending him, as well as "round the clock" nurse, Mary McCormick. He died hearing about twelve of us kneeling about saying our beads - the Sorrowful Mysteries, of course. He died in the same bed he had knelt beside, with bowed head in his hands, when I slept with him, an overnight visitor of six. Above his death bed still hung the framed picture of the Assumption of the Virgin.
And so ended the life of one Patrick McMenamin. Only one of his offspring would know a longer life span; that was Kate, who lived to be 94. Three of his children had died in childhood; four in their sixties; three in their seventies; and one (the eldest) reached eighty.
My grandfather died without the fears of coldness of a nursing home or the problems that come with senility. He lived out his life showing us that "Living is a thing you do now or never." I think he realized the choice was up to each of us.
1. "Swilling" was feeding a liquid consisting of milk, water, and maybe some ground grain that had fermented.
2. "Grip" meant a suitcase.
3. And in August, 1890, brother Owen's coffin was sent to DeKalb by train. Patrick was asked to bury him in St. Mary's Cemetery.
4. The handle or bar for turning a boat's rudder.
5. Decree No.23485, Tacoma, County of Pierce, Washington.
General Notes: Child - Hugh McMenamin
Emigrated to the U.S. (year?). Married an "emigrating irish Girl, Mary McGuire", in St. Mary Church, DeKalb, IL, 1885. Purchased a farm in DeKalb County, IL.
Hugh McMenamin & Mary McGuire
by Mary McMenamin Hirsch
Hugh McMenamin born August 25, 1856, County Tyrone, Ireland married Mary McGuire. Both were from the area of Castlederg. Edenreagh, spelled Ethenree on the marriage license probably due to their brogue, was a large land holding near the townland of Castlederg. The landlord leased parcels of its acreage to many tenants. It’s present (1990's) owners now call it Correy. Hugh's 1881 emigration was sponsored by his older brother Patrick, who had emigrated some ten years earlier and was working on farms around the Albany area of New York. Hugh may have traveled with Patrick and his young family to DeKalb County Illinois as they both came the same year. What made them pick that particular area is not known. The 1880 census does list a “Rosana McManaman”, age 74,widowed, living in Sycamore. Was she the wife of some distant Tyrone Mac? (She also was on the 1870 census roll.) Regardless, a trip from Albany to DeKalb, almost 900 miles, would either have been by train or wagon. Train travel in 1880 would have been powered by a steam engine whose top speed might have been 30 miles per hour, with stops for coal, water, loading and unloading passengers and goods along the way such a trip (did they travel round-the-clock?) could have taken three days. A trip by horse and wagon covering 30 miles a day would take over four weeks. Patrick’s family of a wife and 2 very small children would have had household essentials (kitchen utensils and bedding) that could have been packed into 3 or 4 large crates or barrels.
Mary McGuire’s 1940 death notice mentions her 1881 emigration. But a faded page from an old notebook (prayer book?) had an entry “Mary McGuire... Edenreagh County Tyrone Ireland... November 24th, 1884” this may have been an earlier reference to her exact departure from the old sod. Which port she sailed from is not known but at that time a voyage from Liverpool could take 35 days to reach New York. Passengers were advised to bring a few loafs of hard baked bread and roasted or boiled fresh meat. Steerage facilities on those ships provided a sleeping berth that was basically a shelf six feet long by 18 inches wide with 22 inches between berths.
Hugh and Mary married at St Mary's in DeKalb, January 29, 1885. Their first farm, as tenants was in Cortland, called the "Bates" place. Their last farm outside of Sycamore was bought in 1902. It was a 140 acre dairy farm with some acreage cultivated for produce and cattle feed. For a time three properties were under tillage. Seven children were born, four boys, three girls. There was another child born after the first five. Hugh Jr., long thought to be number six had a doctor at his delivery so a birth record was filed. It noted that his birth was number seven for this mother. There was never any mention of this in the family Bible. Perhaps number six's birth could have benefited from a doctor's hand and that is why Hugh and Mary took on the expense for baby Hugh. None of the girls married. It was not because they were unattractive; rather mother Mary was a somewhat of a tyrant, expecting them to fulfill care taking roles.
This prescript life possibly contributed to the tragic suicide of the youngest, Kate. At the age of 25 Kate jumped from the Brush Point Bridge into the Kishwaukee River. Some speak of a quashed desire to marry, others mentioned her disappointment with being denied use of the spending money she had earned by selling eggs, that she was directed to buy long underwear instead of a frivolous desire. Newspaper accounts mention her having been depressed for some time due to a slow recovery from a bout with the influenza of 1918. Whatever it was she didn't return from milking the evening of October 31, 1919. It would take a day and a half before her body was found. There could be no doubt that she had taken her own life. Her death was never entered into the family Bible. "Drowning at own hand while insane" reads the death certificate. Most members of the immediate family would never speak of Kate again. Her photographs were destroyed too. Her sister Margaret eventually made a living as a seamtress. Ellen, a slender brunette was quite the scholar making her class salutatory and essay. She taught school till in her 30s then worked at a number of office jobs. They were referred to as "the Girls" by their Sycamore relations or “Mag-n-El”, the epithet on their common tombstone. They were known to turn down any advances by young men. Farm boys, they felt, weren't good enough for them.
World War I would provide an escape from the drudgery of farm life for son John, who in his mid-twenties enlisted in the Army. Even at that age John was being treated as a child by modern standards, being given money for occasional weekend social activities and clothing by his mother. There is a very old song from that era that has a line saying “How you gonna keep ‘em down on the farm after they’ve seen Paree” but Paris and the aspect of his own money were enticing lures for him. Surely John had some misgivings about the romance of Europe while serving with the Coast Artillery Battalion 172 Battery B in France where his unit was involved with the movement and operation of huge cannons behind the lines. He would never return to the farm. He worked in a small Joliet steel concern for a while and then for a DeKalb tire maker. He met Gladys Young, daughter of the town sheriff. Their marriage was attended only by her sister and his brother Hugh. John would be the first McMenamin to marry a non-Catholic. The absence
of both their extended families at the ceremony indicates it made a difference. Again this may be another anecdote showing the influence that the tyrant Mary McGuire held over her family. It was said that Mary often inquired as to a person’s religion before admitting them to her home. John and Gladys moved to Chicago and lived on its west side less than two miles from his bother James. Both James and John became cab drivers; driving hacks during the very exciting Chicago roaring twenties gangster period.
Second to the youngest son, Hugh, bought and worked the Sycamore farm of his father. He must have been both a hard worker and a capable businessman because he didn’t lose the property during the depression. His son, Hugh, was the first descendent of the Hugh and Mary to receive a higher education, becoming a doctor. The Sycamore farm is now totally out of McMenamin ownership; part of it is now a housing subdivision. A grammar school sits on what was the most northwest corner of the property, land donated to the local school board by Hugh, Jr.
Michael, the youngest, was perhaps the wildest. In the battle of the pool hall versus the school book, the cue stick won. That may be where his lifelong taste for gambling was born. It took many years to “settle down”. Barely in his 20s, he lived for a short time with his older brother James in Chicago. How long this young bachelor fared in the city is unknown but he did return to Sycamore. Two early pictures of Mike reveal the dapper dresser he would become; till late in life he would favor three-piece suits and hats. Mike didn’t marry until the age of 33 in 1936. He owned the White Village Restaurant for a few years but eventually became a car salesman, first Chevrolets then Pontiacs. Finally, something that made Mike stand out from his DeKalb relatives, he was a Democrat!
Hugh, Sr., could neither read nor write nor did his Irish born siblings so little if any communication went on between him and the family that stayed in Ireland and the brother who lived in New York state. It might be that an 1888 visit by a bachelor brother James to all his now American brothers before returning to Ireland was the last close contact that generation had with Ireland. A 1935 newspaper account of Mary and Hugh’s 50th wedding anniversary noted that congratulatory cards were received from relatives in Albany and Schenectady NY. So some contact was kept with the Michael branch of the family probably through the children. A contract legalizing the sale of the property from Hugh, Sr., to Hugh Jr only bore his "X" mark. The spelling of his name on the 1885 marriage license appears as McNamanan, the church has McManaman, one wonders how his offspring came to the present day spelling. It is said that Hugh, Sr., had the ability to give a piece of land's acreage and crop yield merely by looking at it. Unfortunately first hand accounts, for good or for bad, that might make Hugh an ancestor that one would tell their children about don’t exist. One wonders what he and Mary might have done for enjoyment. He seems to have landed in DeKalb County and worked for years, never traveling more than twenty miles in the span of the 55 years he lived there. At the time he started farming he would have turned the earth by using a team of horses and a plow.
One supposes when he wasn’t trailing a plow he was probably sharpening the plow blade or chopping wood for the stove or milking the cows or mending the fences or farm buildings. A farmer’s day certainly matched his wife’s in what would be a series of endless and repetitive chores. Perhaps Hugh and the family did engage in what were common recreations at the time; a summer fair that might have featured horse races, maybe a basket supper at a rural school house or an occasional livestock auction. A barn raising would be a social event. Did they shop from the early Sears and Roebuck catalog? Was that the source on the wonderful stereoscopic viewer that entertained their grandchildren and great nephews? Would Hugh ever have loafed around a general store’s pot bellied stove swapping stories of the day with other farmers or did he simply doze off in his own rocker on rainy or snowy afternoons and stay the stoic he remains to this day?
His oldest grandchild, my father, never related any stories but surely knew Hugh to some degree. As a teenager Jim spent several months in the summers of the 1920’s working on the Sycamore farm. Another grandchild, Mary McMenamin Kane, recalls him allowing her not to eat her potatoes if she didn't want to - so he was an indulgent grandpa. A swing accident that gave young Mary a very nasty rope burn put an end to the Chicago grandchildren’s Sycamore summer vacations. Hugh wore a mustache and had sandy colored hair.
Grandson Dr. Hugh remembers seeing Grandma Mary reading the local newspaper, so she acquired the skill along the way. Dr. Hugh also remembers going to their golden wedding celebration in 1935. Hugh, Sr., died the next year. Mary passed away four years later, in the early morning hours of the day her first granddaughter Mary was getting married. They are buried in Mt Carmel Cemetery along with their three daughters.
General Notes: Child - Henry McMenamin
Married at the age of 50.
Henry was the Father of Jamie, the "old drover" in New Zealand.
General Notes: Child - John McMenamin
Husband Patrick Ward
Born: March 9, 1888
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Marriage:
Wife Anna Cecelia McMenamin
AKA: Nan
Born: May 17, 1888 - Afton Township, Dekalb County, IL
Baptized:
Died: November 20, 1965
Cause of Death: Adult Onset Diabetes
Buried: November 23, 1965
Father: Patrick Joseph McMenamin
Mother: Mary Anne McMenamin
Children
1 M James Ward
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Theresa Mearkle
2 F Patricia Ward
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
3 M Bud Ward
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
General Notes: Wife - Anna Cecelia McMenamin
Diabetic like her brothers JOHN H. and Eugene.
Husband James Robert Montgomery
Born: December 13, 1911 - Sandwich, IL
Baptized:
Died: March 12, 1978 - Dekalb, IL
Buried: March 15, 1978 - St. Mary Cemetery, Dekalb, IL
Father: Ward Pease Montgomery
Mother: May Belle Fitzgerald
Marriage: September 4, 1943 - St Mary Church Rectory, 321 Pine Street, Dekalb, IL
Wife Barbara Jean McMenamin
Born: October 20, 1918 - Afton Township, Dekalb County, IL
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Father: John Henry McMenamin
Mother: Martha Madeline McCormick
Children
1 M Montgomery
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Boolman
2 M Montgomery
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Whitson
Spouse: Mathisen
3 M Montgomery
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Pielstick
Spouse: Johnson
General Notes: Husband - James Robert Montgomery
Born December 13, 1911, at the family home, on the Lett Family Homestead, south of Sandwich, Illinois.
Family:
Father, Ward Pease Montgomery.
Mother, May Belle Fitzgerald Montgomery.
Sister, Marilla May, age 3.
His next sister, Mary Louise, would arrive two years later, 1913.
1911-1915 - Raised on the Lett Homestead farm, south of Sandwich, IL.
1915-1917 - Family left the Lett Homestead Farm, moving to a farm on Base Line Road, west of Montgomery, IL. He attended school with his older sister Marilla, the "Keck" School, as it was called, on (Orchard Road) the road south of Base Line Road, west of Montgomery, IL, next to the "Keck" Cemetery (now named the Joseph G. Keck Memorial Cemetery - 1843). He would come home from school and teach his younger sister, Mary Louise, to read. Younger sister Mary Louise also briefly attended this school.
1917-1918 - The family moved to another farm on Randall Road, just north of Galena Street in Aurora, where today there are only pine trees amid "newer subdivisions" to suggest the location. His father's WWI Draft Card of September 12, 1918, attests to the address. Attended the nearby rural "Randall School", the "Little Red Schoolhouse" on Galena Street just west of Randall Road, with his big sister, Marilla. (See the caption written on the back of a photo taken of their Randall School Class field trip, taken at the Island Shelter House in front of Mill Race Inn, on the Fox River at Geneva, IL.) His younger sister Mary Lou remembers the family's pet hens, their Collie, "Flossie", and Shetland pony, "Bud". Bob used to ride "Bud" bareback. One time his dad hitched Bud to a little cart and drove Bob and his sister, Mary Lou, to the little red schoolhouse. The last year they lived there (1921-1922), his Dad would drive his sister, Marilla, to her Freshman year at West Aurora High School. Marilla would graduate in 1925.
1922 - Moved with his family from the Randall Road farm to live on Blackhawk Street near Greenman School, west side of Aurora, IL. His father, Ward, started to sell real estate while taking commercial art correspondence classes and doing some surveying.
1923, July 2 - While the family lived on Blackhawk Street in Aurora, his father, Ward Pease Montgomery, died of a ruptured duodenum in Aurora, Illinois, after only a week in hospital. Ward had apparently begun ulcer problems while living on the farm(s).
1923 - 1924 - Lived with his Mother and sister Mary Louise and his Uncle Harold (Harold was only about 13 years older than Bob) at the farm of maternal grandparents, James and Ida (Compton) Fitzgerald, north of Wheaton, Illinois. Went to grammar school there. Sister Marilla stayed in Aurora, attended West Aurora high school through graduation.
1924 - Moved from Grandparent Fitzgerald's farm north of Wheaton back to Aurora. Reunited as a family unit, with Mother and 2 sisters, after sister Marilla's West Aurora High School Graduation in 1925. He attended Young School on Fifth Street, at the same time as his younger sister, Mary Louise.
1924 - 1925 - First job: paper route route for Aurora Beacon News.
1925 - 1929 - Attended East Aurora High School, Aurora, IL. Interested in music, art, illustration, as was his father. In an autobiography at age 14, he expressed a desire to one day become a commercial artist, as his father desired at the end of his life. He played drums in the school orchestra, but apparently the school band only his freshman year. His artwork is displayed on the pages of his high school yearbook. In the yearbook, next to his senior class photo is written, "Bob spends so much time helping others that he never has time to do any work". His high school achievements are listed: Student Council Rep. 1-4; French Club 3, 4, Treas. 3; Boys' Glee Club 3,4, Vice-Pres. 3, Sec. 4; Orchestra 2, 3, 4; Band 1; Auroran Staff 3,4 (school newspaper?); Patron Staff; Class Motto Committee. He designed scenery for three various stage productions during his senior year.
1926 - 1928 - Purchased first second-hand snare drum with $5.00 from paper route. Became a Boy Scout (picture taken n uniform at 303 ???? Street house address.)
1928 - 1929 - Worked after school and Saturdays at Fisher's Bakery in Aurora for 25 cents per hour during last year of High School.
1929, June - Graduated East Aurora High School, East Aurora, IL.
1929 - Began playing dance jobs using his expanded drum set, added to during high school with money from the Bakery job.
1929, October - Stock Market Crash.
1931 - August - Living with family in an up/down duplex on Evans Avenue. Contracted polio of the lower extremeties following a long hot day, having had a headache all day and playing a band job. Doctored daily by a Doctor Lindbergh, Osteopath, and his family with the aid of fluids, fruit and many massages. Recovered from polio enough to be able to walk independently and play drums - but never to run again. Took drum lessons in Chicago for a brief time after the polio - paid for by his Mother.
1932, October 22 - Bob's Band, "The Fidgety Five", a novelty band, won first place in the district finals of the WLS Radio / Paramount Radio contest at the Paramount Theater in Aurora, IL, winning $75 and an opportunity to perform before a live audience on the air on November 20, 1932, at the WLS Radio Studios in Chicago, IL. Playing in the band were: Don Wiley, bass; Russ Lindgren, guitar; Jack Pfeffers, trumpet; Clyde Rogers, sax, Bob Montgomery, drums. (Although press releases and news clippings about the performance of "The Fidgety Five" reported that the group had performed at WLS on November 20, 1932, upon being asked by son William as to whether there may have been any recordings of the performance, Bob replied that the performance really never took place. One of the group's members (second from right in photo?) who did the arrangements for the band did not "come through", as Bob put it. When it came to the time of the performance that member developed stage fright, or something similar defining that member's unwillingness to perform.) The news clippings attest only to what coulda, woulda, shoulda happened on November 20, 1932. NOTE: One of the WLS judges eventually purchased radio station WLBK, in DeKalb, IL.
1932, November - Grandpa Fitzgerald died, Grandma Ida Compton Fitzgerald came to live with the family.
1932 - 1933 - "Bob Montgomery and His Band" - played at small clubs in and around the Fox River Valley, ala Geneva and Aurora, IL. Places like the Prima Gardens, the Fox Valley Gardens and a nice club on the east side of Geneva.
1933 - With the expanded family, including Grandma Fitzgerald, moved to 440 Weston Avenue in Aurora, a four-bedroom house near Copley Hospital.
Before this move (1924-1933), the family had lived in houses / apartments / duplexes on:
Grant Place, "near the coffee house"
South Avenue, two times; once in 1924 after living on the farm with his Grandfather and Grandmother Fitzgerald and Uncle Harold, and once by themselves, May, Marilla, Bob and Mary Lou in 1929 or 1930
Evans Avenue (when he contracted polio)
Root Street and Benton Street near the high school - all on the east side of Aurora
1933 - Played drums in a small band (his band?) at a club north of Aurora - The Paramount, in Geneva. At home in Aurora, took on a roommate, a fellow band member, named Harold O'Brien.
1934 - 11 June - Harold "Obie" O'Brien marries his sister, Mary Lou, in Denver, CO.
1934 - 35 - Traveled with Artie Collins' Band to, among other places; Detroit, Chicago, Nashville, Cleveland, Akron, Syracuse, Buffalo, Columbus, Youngstown, Louisville. In a letter to his Mother in late summer, 1935, he writes from The Garfield Hotel in Cleveland of having nothing to do while waiting to leave for "a one-nighter in Bascom, OH, then to Youngstown for 2 weeks at $20 a week - a "living wage", and then to the "Roosevelt in Pittsburgh, the Van Cleve in Dayton, the Gibson in Cincinnati or the Carter in Cleveland." The bookings didn't sound reliable to him - confusion was blamed on the bookings office, as per Collins. His money was shrinking, too.
1935 - November - Had left playing with Artie Collins' Band to play with Harold Menning's Orchestra and was living in Appleton, Wisconsin. Bob talked to Menning about hiring Obie and in mid-January 1936, Obie and Bob's sister, Mary Lou, "joined" the band. Appleton was headquarters for the band and they played in surrounding towns, traveling in a bus. Returned home in time for his sister Marilla's wedding at Thanksgiving-time and gave away the bride.
1935 - 1936 - Played drums in the Harold Menning Orchestra. Traveled by bus to surrounding towns. Maybe got in the band by knowing someone in the band, as it was when he got his brother-in-law, Obie into the band. Owned a 78 rpm disc, dated as recorded in 1928 and recorded in Port Washington / Grafton, WI, of the Harold Menning Band's performance of "My Suppressed Desire".
1936 - January-July - Brother-in-law Obie also played with the Menning Band and then moved back to Illinois. Lived with Bob Tuckis and another man in Appleton and slept on an open sleeping porch. Obie and Lou came up to town. They lived with their son "Jackie" in an apartment in a private residence in Appleton. He returned to Aurora after the band had apparently broken up.
1939 - 1941 - Working at a men's clothing store in Aurora. Met the famous actor, Buster Crabbe, of "Flash Gordon" movies fame, sold him some shoes, while working in Aurora.
August 28, 1940 - Recorded on a Silvertone Label disc; "Exactly Like You" and "Medley: Whispering / On The Alamo / More Than You Know," with vocals by Bob in the Medley. Band recorded with: unknown.
1941 - 1942 - Invited to DeKalb by a man named Dee Palmer, who needed a good drummer for big band and "combo" gigs. Bob was recommended to Dee by Bob's brother-in-law, Obie. Bob's response to Dee was that he didn't have a set of drums anymore. Dee replied that would not be a problem because he had a music store. It's quite possible Dee helped Bob get a job at Montgomery Wards. (As of 2009, Dee Palmer, at the age of 95, continues to conduct the DeKalb Municipal Band at weekly concerts in Hopkins Park in DeKalb. The DeKalb Municipal Band is the oldest continuous Municipal Band in Illinois, over 150 years, and, quite possibly, in the United States.)
1941 - De Kalb, IL - Would eat his evening meal at "Punk's Cabin", a tavern and eating establishment in downtown De Kalb. An evening meal at "The Cabin" cost $ .75 in 1941. Bob's Uncle Clifford Fitzgerald, as a young man, had delivered beer in barrels that he rolled off trucks to a tavern in the same location.
1941 - Went to work at Montgomery Wards department store in DeKalb. On the recommendation of his new friend, Vic McMenamin, whom he met in "Punk's Log Cabin", he rented a room in the home of John and Martha McMenamin on Augusta Avenue in DeKalb, where he met Vic's sisters, Barbara and Claire McMenamin.
1942 - De Kalb, IL - Began working at Bowman's Shoe Store, 237 East Lincoln Highway, later as Store Manager. He remained Store Manager until 1966.
September 4, 1943 - Married Barbara Jean McMenamin, Vic's sister, while earning $ 35.00 a week at Bowman's. They rented a downstairs apartment on West Locust Street in De Kalb. Rent was $32 a month.
1943, November - Moved to 112 East Oak Street with a baby on the way. Rented the two-bedroom house from Mr. and Mrs. Wilson.
1944, June 5 - First child born - Jean Marie - at St. Mary Hospital, De Kalb, IL.
1946, June 13 - First son born - Richard James - at St. Mary Hospital.
1948, October 6 - Second son born - William John - at St. Mary Hospital.
1950, March - James Robert's Grandmother, Ida Compton Fitzgerald, died in Aurora from pneumonia, a week after falling and breaking her hip.
1953, February 23 - Third son born - John Robert - at St. Mary Hospital.
1953, Summer - Purchased and moved into 3-bedroom, 1 bathroom house at 640 North 5th Street, De Kalb, IL.
1955 - Father-In-Law, John McMenamin, dies.
1958, June - daughter Jean Marie graduates from St. Mary Parochial School.
1958, Summer - Remodeled house on North 5th Street, adding a large living room on the south of the existing dining room. The previous living room became a 4th bedroom.
1960, June - son Richard James graduates from St. Mary Parochial School.
1962, June - daughter Jean Marie graduates from De Kalb High School, attends Northern Illinois University in the Fall.
1962, June - son William John graduates from St. Mary Parochial School.
1964, February 8 - daughter Jean Marie marries Joe Thomas Bjorn.
1964, June - Richard James graduates from De Kalb High School. Shortly thereafter begins attending Elgin Community College, Elgin, IL.
1965, Summer - Bathroom / Kitchen addition to rear of house at 640 N. 5th Street.
1966, February - Travels with Dee Palmer and friends to New Orleans for a few days to enjoy the jazz!
1966 - Leaves Bowman Shoe Store employment after 23 years.
1966 - Begins working for Charles Ackerman Stores, a chain of women's clothing stores, as bookkeeper.
1966, May 26 - First grandchild born - Jeffrey Thomas Bjorn - to Jean Marie.
1966, June 8 - William John graduates from De Kalb High School. Attends Northern Illinois University in the Fall.
1967, June - Richard James graduated from Elgin Community College and began a 34-year employment with Commonwealth Edison, starting out as a meter-reader. Richard enrolled at NIU in the fall.
1967, Fall - Son Richard James enrolls at Northern Illinois University, graduating in December, 1983, with a Bachelor of Science Degree in General Studies.
1968, September 4 - Celebrates 25th Wedding Anniversary.
1968, September 7 - Richard James marries Jeanne Lorraine Allen.
1968, January 23 - Second grandchild born - Eric Clifford Montgomery - to Richard.
1968, May - Son Richard James drafted into US Army, sent to Viet Nam.
1968, June 12 - Mother May Belle Fitzgerald Montgomery dies in De Kalb, IL.
1969, April 26 - Son William John marries Pamela Whitson.
1969, November 3 - Son William John drafted into US Army, sent to Korea.
1970, June 18 - First Granddaughter born - Stephanie Lynn Montgomery - to William.
1970, November - Son Richard James returns from US Army, Viet Nam.
1971, June - Son John Robert graduates from De Kalb High School. Attends Kishwaukee College in the Fall.
1971, June - Son William John returns from US Army, Korea.
1973, January 31 - Grandson born - Scott William - to William.
1973, January - Son William graduates from Kishwaukee College with an Associates Degree.
1973 - James Robert Montgomery retires from Chas. Ackerman Stores after 5 years employment, age 62.
1973, June - Son John graduates from Kishwaukee College - transfers to University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana.
1973, September 4 - Celebrated 30th Wedding Anniversary.
1973, September - Granddaughter Jennifer Pielstick born to son John.
1974, April 23 - Grandson born - Spencer Fitzgerald Montgomery - to Richard.
1975, June - Son John graduates from University of Illinois with BA.
1976, June - Son John graduates from University of Illinois with MA.
1976, August 26 - Son John marries Kristi Pielstick.
1977, Spring - contracts Prostate Cancer.
1977, Summer - Travels with his wife Barbara to England and the Island of Majorca, Spain, to visit Barbara's sister, Mary Claire.
1977, Summer - Radiation treatments for the cancer and a somewhat primitive, uninformed treatment of castration do not alleviate the "disease.
1977, September 23 - Granddaughter born - Jennifer Pielstick - to John Robert.
1977, November 22 - Granddaughter born - Carolyn Martha - to William John.
1977, December 11- Grandson born - Joe Ryan Cornish Bjorn - to Jean Marie and Joe Bjorn.
1977-1978 - A 4-month, at-home, increasingly bedridden decline, with loving care provided by in-home nursing, his children rotating to assist their mother on weekends, and the faithful devotion of his wife Barbara.
1978, March 12 - James Robert Montgomery dies of Prostate Cancer
1978, March 15 - Buried in St. Mary Cemetery, De Kalb, IL.
Following his death, another 2 children, Martha and Robert, were born to Son John Robert, and later 2 step-grandchildren to Son Richard, 8 grandchildren to William John, and 1 grandson to John, as of this writing, all occasions causing regrets that Bob was not present to help celebrate.
And the beat goes on . . .
General Notes: Wife - Barbara Jean McMenamin
Born on the McMenamin Farm, 6 miles south of DeKalb, IL, 5 miles north of Waterman, IL, on October 20, 1918.
Baptism Sponsors were Mary Ann McCormick b 1864 and Henry McCormick b 1874.
Three brothers awaited her arrival, Joseph (1913?), Robert (1914) and Victor (1916?). A sister, M. Claire, would arrive when Barbara was 4-1/2 years old, in 1923.
As a young girl:
My family lived in a large country home.
I went to school for the first five years at the country school, a one-room building. We usually walked to school - truly 1-3/4 miles from home.
As a student I loved school - learning to read, trying to be a good student - as my three brothersd ahead of me were! One was aware of that in a one room schoolhouse - all grades!
At home I was expected to "help in the kitchen. In my high school years, my job each Saturday was to clean the downstairs."
My father taught me to value "family relationships; a good sense of humor, our blessings from being good farmers!" My mother taught me to value "our Catholic faith, to love reading, love good music."
My parents were "very strict about our behavior - anywhere, and our love for one another." What I loved most about my father was "his ability to face up to hardships and misfortunes; to be a good provider for his big family." What I loved most about my mother was "her ability to find time to spend with her children - her unending patience! Her ever present love for all of us." My teenage years were "during the great depression! We were so poor - but we didn't know it - all your friends were the same! Living on a farm - we had plenty of food! With a small dairy we had milk, butter, cottage cheese, chickens, eggs - the best beef, veal, pork - and always a large vegetable garden each summer!" Favorites:
Actors/Actresses: Clark Gable, William Powell, Irene Dunne, Myrna Loy;
Book: Anne of Green Gables;
Radio show: Lux Theater;
Season: Summer;
Vacation spot: Visits with cousins in Chicago;
Holiday: Christmas;
Flower: rose;
Color: blue;
Sport: baseball "(I had three brothers)";
Food: "my mother's home-made bread or her ginger cookies";
Favorite subject in school: English and biology;
Friend: "from 6th grade - Barbara Ferguson, quite opposite of me; we usually tied for scored in tests. She was a fine cellist - could persist with the hours of practice. I would find that difficult - you know I'm not a perfectionist!!"
1924-1929 - For five years, attended rural, one-room school at the corner of Waterman Road and Perry Road, along with her brothers and eventually her little sister. (This school no longer stands.) Walked 1-3/4 miles to school. She "loved school - learning to read, trying to be a good student - as my three brothers, ahead of me, were! One was aware of that in a one room school - all grades!" First started dating at age 17.
1927 - Lived in Chicago, IL, for approximately four months with two of her aunts, Evelyn McCormick (a school teacher who actually had a car), and Elizabeth McCormick (a bookkeeper for a large department store), and Barb's great-aunt who was called "Auntie" Maggie. Barb moved in with her aunts after Christmas when she was eight, at their suggestion, so that she would be able to receive her First Communion at their parish, Queen of Angels. A gift from her aunts for her First Communion was an upright, cedar wardrobe closet. According to Mom, this living arrangement was proposed by the aunts, because Barb's dad was having financial troubles like so many other farmers prior to the "official" start of the Great Depression, and he was going into a personal depression because he knew he was going to lose the farm. (A Chicago attorney bought the farm as an investment, and allowed the family to continue to live there.) The aunts' Chicago apartment was on Sunnyside, across the street from Wells Park, and just down the street from the Biograph Theatre, which would become infamous several years later as the place where the bank robber John Dillinger met his end. Barb's first cousin, Jim O'Connor (his dad worked for the streetcar company in Chicago) taught her how to hop on and ride the streetcars for a nickel or a dime.
1930-1931 - Attended Waterman Grade School, 7th & 8th Grade. Had Mr. Wm. Migel for her teacher in 8th Grade.
1932-1936 - Attended Waterman High School, graduating in 1936.
1936-1938 - Attended Northern Illinois State Teachers College (NISTC) which later became Northern Illinois University (NIU), graduating with her Teaching Degree / Certificate in 1938. (A few photos from this time also exist.)
1938, October - Started teaching at the age of 20 in Oct. 1938, and taught there (one room school house) for three years. She worked as a bookkeeper at Montgomery Ward's store during the summers and for "a full year in 1941". In August 1942 she "accepted a teaching job (2nd-3rd grades) at Blaine School in Batavia for $1000 for nine months!" (That's for the entire school year, not per month!)
1938-1941 - Taught in the one-room Afton Township rural school, south of DeKalb, corner of Perry Road and Waterman Road.
1938-1941 - Worked as a bookkeeper at Montgomery Ward's store during the summers and for "a full year in 1941".
1939 - Attended the World's Fair in New York (Somewhere there are a few photos.)
1941 - Her mother, father, sister Claire, and brother Victor gave up the McMenamin family farm and moved into DeKalb, IL, to a house at 313 Augusta Avenue, near the college, NISTC.
Early 1941 - Nearly married a suitor but cancelled the wedding the evening before it was scheduled. This was brought about as her Aunt Elizabeth and Aunt Evelyn could not make it to DeKalb from Chicago on the wedding day before the time she and her prospective groom were to leave for their honeymoon at 4 p.m. During an argument over the situation involving her aunts the night before the wedding, she informed the fiance they would need to wait to leave until the Aunts could arrive in DeKalb and see them off along with the rest of the families. The response from the fiance told her "they were going to wait for no one". She very quickly told him the wedding was off as she could not fathom a lifetime with the overbearing, inflexible man. That night she was being hidden from view on the floorboards of the a brother's car as the now ex-suitor was out looking for her along with his brothers in their car while brandishing a gun. As she and her family knew the ex-suitor would not leave her alone, the next day she left by train to visit Uncles and Cousins in Portland, OR, accompanied by her father, John Henry McMenamin, for a couple weeks, tickets quickly purchased by her oldest brother, Joe, driven to the train by her brother, Bob, who told her she would probably be married to someone else in a couple years (a true prophesy).
1941 - Again due to her father's failing health (he needed treatments for depression at Mercy Center in Aurora, IL) her mother needed Barbara's help at home. Lived with her parents, and siblings Victor and Claire on Augusta Ave. Victor enlisted in the US Army Air Corps shortly after the country entered WWII. Claire joined the WACs but did not see active duty. Her parents would take in renters, students and other individuals from the town.
1941 - Her brother, Victor, brought home an acquaintance and interested renter, a James Robert Montgomery, who was renting a room in the boarding house across the street from St. Mary Church, which later became the Church's convent for Nuns teaching in the St. Mary Grade School, at which all four of Bob and Barb's children would later attend, each child for eight years between 1950 and 1967. James Robert Montgomery moved to DeKalb from Aurora, IL, in 1941 with hopes of continuing his retail merchandiser interests, and at the same time continue his music interests as a drummer, encouraged to move to DeKalb by his friend Dee Palmer who knew Bob's brother-in-law, Harold "Obie" O'Brien. "Obie" had recommended Bob to Dee as a very good "big band" drummer. Bob played drums with Dee Palmer in "combos" from about 1941 until 1970. Bob was allowed to rent a room from the McMenamins on Augusta Avenue.
1941-1943 - Barbara, after first being hired as an Assistant Cashier, worked in the bookkeeping department at the Montgomery Ward retail store in downtown DeKalb, IL, walking to work down Augusta Avenue and North First Street to the store located at Lincoln Highway and First Street, about five blocks. In September, 1941, a Bob Montgomery started working in the shoe department at the Montgomery Ward store.
1941-1943 - During this time a wonderful friendship and subsequent special courtship began between Barbara McMenamin and J. Robert Montgomery. When it became apparent that Bob was taking a special interest in Barb, her oldest brother, Joe, suggested to Bob that it would be the proper thing for Bob to "find other lodging". Bob then rented an apartment from a Mr. & Mrs. Wilson at the SE corner of North First and Oak Streets, in DeKalb.
1942 - August - She "accepted a teaching job (2nd-3rd grades) at Blaine School in Batavia for $1000 for nine months!" (That's for the entire school year, not per month!) She later found out the school building in which she had taught was previously the sanitorium in which the wife of Abraham Lincoln, Mary Todd Lincoln, had temporarily resided in the mid-1800's. A co-worker of Barbara's at this school was Mary Nolan, who would later be a neighbor on North Fifth Street in DeKalb, IL.
1942 - Summer - Bob and Barb visit Springfield, IL, and Barb's brother and sister-in-law, Joe and Mary McMenamin, living and teaching in Springfield, while also visiting the Lincoln Monument and its Custodian, H.W. Fay, a personal friend of Bob's Grandfather J. Ivor Montgomery.
Fall 1942-Spring 1943 - She rented a room and lived in Batavia, IL, while she taught at Blaine Street Elementary School in Batavia.
1943, Feb 14 - First date with Bob Montgomery, a "formal" dance at Williston Hall at NIU in DeKalb, IL. Other dates were "to a "movie" - after all it was war time - rationed gas, low wages - so we often took a picnic to a local park."
1943, April - After almost two years of "courtship", became engaged to J. Robert Montgomery, who said, "When I get my next raise I think we can afford to get married." When she told her parents of the engagement they said, "We already knew."
Summer 1943 - Bob and Barb fretted over money issues, not seeing any possible way to be able to get married. While visiting Bob's cousin, "Dot" Montgomery Froom and her husband "Bud", in Rockford, they were talked into getting married after being helped to put it all on paper and adding it all up.
1943, September 4 - J. Robert Montgomery and Barbara Jean McMenamin are married at St. Mary Catholic Church in DeKalb, IL. They honeymooned two nights in a one-room log cabin at White Pines Forest State Park, west of Oregon, IL, 45 miles west of DeKalb. The car trip to White Pines was done with the aid of gasoline rationing stamps gathered from friends (during WWII), in a fog, at one point missing a turn and backtracking 20 miles to their destination. While driving down the last hill approaching the entrance to the park, the brakes went out on the car, so quickly thinking, Bob coasted partway up the next hill, and then put the car in reverse and coasted into the entrance to the park. The next morning, Barb was able to get a ride to the Catholic Church in Oregon, while Bob was able to find a service station that fixed the brakes - for $10. She was only able to work "at Montgomery Ward's in the credit office until Dec. 31 of 1943" because "I was pregnant and really blossoming. One couldn't work while pregnant at that time in history."
1943 - Bob and Barb rented a downstairs apartment at 401 West Locust Street in DeKalb, IL, for six months. Bob would later marvel (to son Bill) that it was during this short period of time he began to appreciate strawberry jelly on his toast for the first time in his life, only to realize sooner than later that children cause the need for economizing in a marriage, hence the loss of the jelly on his toast for the next 20 years. After six months they moved to an apartment at 118-1/2 Oak Street. "As a cook I was OK - had an occasional charred pan. I was lucky - Bob loved to eat and had few if any dislikes."
1943-1944 - Barbara became pregnant during or shortly after their honeymoon. While Barbara was pregnant, and until after their first child was born, they lived in an upstairs apartment (rented from a widowed Mrs. Bowen) across the alley to the east (running from Oak Street to Locust Street) from the house at 112 Oak Street that they would eventually rent from Mr. and Mrs. Wilson that Bob had rented from earlier.
1944, June 5 - A first child was born to Bob and Barb, a daughter, Jean Marie Montgomery, while living at 118-1/2 Oak Street in an apartment.
1944, June 6 - D-Day in Europe.
1946??? - Barbara's parents are helped by her brother, Bob, to purchase a house at 216 W. Locust Street in DeKalb, only two blocks from Barb and Bob. This enables John and Martha to continue to take in boarders, usually college students at that time.
1946, June 13 - A second child was born, a son named Richard James Montgomery.
1948, October 20 - A third child and second son, William John Montgomery, was born almost a month past Barbara's original due date.
1949 - Barb's brother Bob and his wife Margaret and their three children (Madeline, Bobby and Margaret Ann) move to New Zealand, due to Bob's job with International Harvester.
1952-53??? - Barb's parents are again helped by their son, Bob, to convert their two-story house into a two-flat. Due to John's deteriorating health, he could no longer climb stairs, and began to use a wheelchair most of the time. Martha did take in an occasional student boarder, who lived in a made-over room in the cement-block basement. One of the last boarders was from Korea, and his last name was Kim. One of her boarders would eventually become the Mayor of DeKalb, Mr. Frank Von Buer.
1953, February 23 - A fourth child and third son was born, named John Robert Montgomery. They lived in the two-bedroom house at 112 Oak Street until 3-1/2 months after the birth of their fourth child, John Robert Montgomery b 23 Feb 1953.
1953, June - With financial help from Bob's mother, May, Bob and Barb were able to put a down payment on the first and only home they ever owned, at 640 N. Fifth Street in DeKalb. On moving day, Barbara was in St. Mary Hospital with hives caused by a shot of penicillin. Bob's sister, Mary Lou Montgomery O'Brien drove from Wheaton to DeKalb and stayed overnight, supervising the moving and placement of furniture, clothing, kitchen equipment, etc. That afternoon, the children who were able climbed a ladder to pick tart cherries from two cherry trees in the backyard, which Lou promptly turned into fresh cherry sauce for dessert. Barb got home either the next day or the one after that.
1955, July - Barbara's father, John Henry McMenamin, dies of complications caused by diabetes.
1958, June - daughter Jean Marie graduates from St. Mary Parochial School
1958, Summer - Remodeled the house on North 5th Street, adding a large living room on the south of the existing dining room. The previous living room became a 4th bedroom. Two boys shared one bedroom upstairs for the next 8 years or so, until Richard moved out to go to Junior College and live in Elgin, IL, in about 1965.
1960, June - son Richard James graduates from St. Mary Parochial School
1962, June - daughter Jean Marie graduates from De Kalb High School, attends Northern Illinois University in the Fall
1962, June - son William John graduates from St. Mary Parochial School
1964, February 8 - daughter Jean Marie marries Joe Thomas Bjorn
1964, June - Richard James graduates from De Kalb High School. Shortly thereafter begins attending Elgin Community College, and lived in Elgin, IL
1965, Summer - Bathroom / Kitchen addition to rear of house at 640 N. 5th Street
1966, May 26 - First grandchild born, Jeffrey Thomas Bjorn, to Jean Marie and Joe Bjorn
1966, June 8 - William John graduates from De Kalb High School. Attends Northern Illinois University in the Fall
1967, June - Richard James graduated from Elgin Community College and began a 34-year employment with Commonwealth Edison, starting out as a meter-reader.
1967, Fall - Son Richard James enrolls at Northern Illinois University, graduating in December, 1983, with a Bachelor of Science Degree in General Studies
1968, May - Son Richard James drafted into US Army, sent to Viet Nam for 11 months
1968, June 11 - Mother-in-law May Belle Montgomery dies at Pine Acres Center, DeKalb, IL
1968, September 4 - Celebrates 25th Wedding Anniversary
1968, September 7 - Richard James marries Jeanne Lorraine Allen (D)
1968, January 23 - Second grandchild born, Eric Clifford Montgomery, to Richard
1969, April 26 - Son William John marries Pamela Whitson (D)
1969, July - Man steps on the moon
1969, November 3 - Son William John drafted into US Army, sent to Korea
1970, June 18 - First Granddaughter born - Stephanie Lynn Montgomery - to William
1970, November - Son Richard James returns from US Army, Viet Nam
1971, June - Son John Robert graduates from De Kalb High School. Attends Kishwaukee College in the Fall
1971, June - Son William John returns from US Army, Korea
1971 - Fall - Son John Robert starts college at Kishwaukee College, Malta, IL
1973, January 31 - Grandson born - Scott William - to William
1973, January - Son William graduates from Kishwaukee College with an Associates Degree
1973 - Husband Bob retires from Chas. Ackerman Stores after 5 years employment, age 62
1973, June - Son John graduates from Kishwaukee College - transfers to University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana
1973, September 4 - Celebrated 30th Wedding Anniversary
1973, September - Granddaughter Jennifer Pielstick born to son John
1974, April 23 - Grandson born - Spencer Fitzgerald Montgomery - to Richard
1975, June - Son John graduates from University of Illinois with BA
1976, May 13 - Her Mother, Martha McMenamin, dies at Pine Acres Center in DeKalb, IL
1976, June - Son John graduates from University of Illinois with MA
1976, June 19 - Her Aunt Julia Griffin dies at Pine Acres, the last of her Mother’s sisters
1976, August 26 - Son John marries Kristi Pielstick at Elwood House, DeKalb, IL
1977, Summer - Travels with husband Bob to England and the Island of Majorca, Spain, to visit Barbara's sister, Mary Claire
1977, September 23 - Granddaughter born - Jennifer Pielstick - to John Robert
1977, November 22 - Granddaughter born - Carolyn Martha - to William John
1977, December 11- Grandson born - Joe Ryan Cornish Bjorn - to Jean Marie and Joe Bjorn
1978, March 12 - Husband James Robert Montgomery dies of Prostate Cancer
1978, March 15 - Buries Husband Bob at St. Mary Cemetery, De Kalb, IL
1978, October 20 - Celebrates 60th Birthday
1982, February - Retires from the First National Bank, DeKalb, IL, after 23 years at the bank
1982, September 23 - Granddaughter Martha Pielstick born to son John
1984, October - Sells the house at 640 North 5th Street in DeKalb, IL, and moves to apartment at 318 North First Street, 3rd floor, (The Finn Apartments), the same apartment buildings her Mother Martha and her Aunt Julia had lived until 1975
1987, July 17 - Grandson Robert Pielstick born to son John
1988, Summer - Toured the McMenamin Farm on South First Street (for the last time) with her children, her brother, Bob, and some of her grandchildren, nieces and nephews
1988, October 20 - Celebrates 70th Birthday
1989, June - Grandson Jeffrey Todd Bjorn marries Erin Fitzpatrick
1992, February 14 - Granddaughter Stephanie Lynn Montgomery marries Michael O’Connell (D)
1992, August 12 - First Great-Grandchild Alexander William O’Connell born to Granddaughter Stephanie Lynn
1993, June 3 - Grandson Scott William Montgomery marries Genene Allen (D)
1993, April 14 - Sister Martha Claire McMenamin dies at Majorca, Spain, age 69
1994, July 23 - Great-Grandson Tyler John Montgomery born to Grandson Scott William, on same date as her Father, John Henry McMenamin was born
1996, October 14 - Brother Victor Arthur McMenamin dies, age 81
1997, January 11 - Great-Grandson Quenten Michael O’Connell born to Granddaughter Stephanie Lynn
1997, February 10 - Great-Granddaughter Katherine Jean Montgomery born to Granddaughter Carolyn Martha
1998, October 11 - Granddaughter Carolyn Martha Montgomery marries Duane Paquin
1998, October 20 - Celebrates 80th Birthday
1999, 22 May - Son Richard marries (2nd) Andrea Boolman
2001, XXXX XX - Great-Grandson Alexander born to Granddaughter-in-law Jennifer Boolman XXXXX
2002, July 2 - Brother Joseph Patrick McMenamin dies, age 89
2003, May 2 - Great-Granddaughter Andrea Lynn Paquin born to Granddaughter Carolyn Martha
2004, August 20 - Grandson Scott William Montgomery marries Lindsay Beth Grossman
2004, September 29 - Son John marries (2nd) Lia Johnson
2004, December 20 - Great-Granddaughter Regen Ariel Montgomery born to Grandson Scott William
2005, May 8 - Great-Grandson Evan Robert Kemp born to Granddaughter Stephanie Lynn
2005, XXXX XX - Great-Granddaughter XXXXXX born to Granddaughter-in-law Jennifer XXXX
2005, Winter - Moves from apartment on North First Street in DeKalb to senior living facility at Barb City Manor, DeKalb, IL
2006, June 2 - Great-Grandson Ewan Moss born to Granddaughter Jennifer Pielstick and Fraser Moss
2006, June 17 - Grandson J. Ryan Cornish Bjorn marries Sarah Riley
2006, June 24 - Son, William marries (2nd) Mollie Kay Mathisen Keller
2007, August 23 - Great-Granddaughter Brooke Avery Montgomery born to Grandson Scott William
2008, October (11) 20 - Celebrates 90th Birthday with Open House in DeKalb, IL
2008, December 2 - Fractures pelvis during a fall, spends the next 8 weeks in hospital and rehabilitation facility, Bethany Rehabilitation Facility in DeKalb
2008, December 8 - Brother Robert John McMenamin dies, age 94
2008, January 10 - Moved out of Barb City Manor awaiting her rehabilitation at Bethany Rehab
2009, February 7 - Moves to assisted living facility, Heritage Woods, in DeKalb, IL
General Notes: Child - Montgomery
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General Notes: Child - Montgomery
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Husband Francis Aloysious McMenamin
Born: September 1889 - Afton Township, Dekalb County, IL
Baptized:
Died: February 7, 1952 - Portland, OR
Cause of Death: Heart Attack
Buried:
Father: Patrick Joseph McMenamin
Mother: Mary Anne McMenamin
Marriage: July 28, 1914
Wife Justine Hortense Pessemier
Born: February 25, 1898 - Tacoma, WA
Baptized:
Died: July 4, 1965 - Portland, OR
Buried:
Children
1 F Justine Hortense McMenamin
Born: July 14, 1915
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Allan Howard Comte
Marr: April 16, 1938
2 F Virginia Marie McMenamin
Born: October 17, 1916
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: William N. Fenerin
Marr: January 20, 1945
3 F Margaret Helen McMenamin
Born: February 19, 1918 - Portland, OR
Baptized:
Died: January 23, 2007 - Santa Barbara, CA
Buried:
Spouse: William Kiely
Marr: September 25, 1944
4 F Dorothea Jean McMenamin
Born: August 5, 1919
Baptized:
Died: August 27, 1978
Buried:
Spouse: David J. McMahon
Marr: September 12, 1942
5 M Francis Aloysious McMenamin
Born: February 12, 1921
Baptized:
Died: March 8, 1962
Buried:
Spouse: Elaine Wentworth
Marr: June 1, 1946
6 F Eleanmae McMenamin
Born: January 17, 1925
Baptized:
Died: May 1989
Buried:
Spouse: Donald Deeks
Marr: June 17, 1948
7 M Robert William McMenamin
Born: May 20, 1926
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Wentworth
8 F Ruth Janet McMenamin
Born: December 31, 1927
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Robert Swanberg
Marr: July 18, 1947
9 M Thomas Eugene McMenamin
Born: May 20, 1929
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Lapp
10 F McMenamin
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Thomas Gilpin
11 M McMenamin
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Ofarrel
General Notes: Husband - Francis Aloysious McMenamin
Introduction
These memoirs were found among my Uncle Frank’s papers after his sudden death in 1952 at age 62. He was the eight of twelve children born to Patrick and Mary McMenamin, my paternal grandparents. A copy of these recollections was sent to me by his attorney son, Robert, in 1975, for which I am grateful.
Francis Aloysius McMenamin was born on September 27, 1889, married on July 28, 1914 and died February 2, 1952. He was the tallest and strongest of Patrick’s sons and probably the most sensitive. I could believe he was my grandfather’s favorite son. His leaving the family circle at twenty-one must have been particularly hard on his father.
When I visited my Oregon cousins in August, 1935, Uncle Frank and Aunt Justine were expecting their eleventh child. It was during this visit that this remarkable uncle confided his disappointment in hearing so little from his boyhood family after leaving Illinois. Now, having lived over seventy years myself I offer an explanation as to how this may have happened.
when he left home, his fifty-one year old mother, who had borne twelve children, was already unwell. She was diabetic and would die within three years, just before insulin injections were underway. At home yet were Frank’s three sisters, unmarried, able to care for her (Nan, already a nurse) and able to reply to Frank’s letters and cards; but they were young and insensitive to his distant need. And, his father who had ample time now, being newly retired, could neither read nor write.
I am glad to edit these memoirs since I was born in the farm house Frank knew as home for sixteen years. I milked cows in the same barn, worked in the same hay loft. I, too, plowed corn with a team of horses, learned to operate a cream separator, and took the milk to the depot. My brothers and I recall when Monkey, Uncle Frank’s horse died.
A few years back, I located some old faded post cards Frank sent home telling about his football team at St. Martin’s. I marvel at the graceful script his fingers penned; those fingers that had husked corn and milked cows not long before.
Few fathers are heroes to their families. Proverbs says: "Children’s children are the glory of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers." At fifty-one Frank McMenamin still recalled that glory. He went back once to see his aging father who never "made it west to know the children of his special son.
Joseph Patrick McMenamin
Dec. 18, 1983
MEMOIRS OF MY EARLIER YEARS
Francis A. McMenamin, 1889-1952
Having reached the age of fifty-one, I sometimes think of things I have observed and happenings that transpired when I was a young boy. I have had experiences that might be interesting to those of younger years. With this in mind I write a few memoirs that may serve a useful purpose.
My main incentive is due to the many happy memories I have of talks with my father in my youth. He did not have the advantage of education, and could not read or write. However, he had a very logical mind and a fine memory. And many of his maxims of business, I found later, some authors would take several pages to tell what he had the faculty of saying in one sentence. Consequently, associations with him and the advice that he gave me from time to time caused these principles to remain with me for many years. It is possible that the following ramblings may contain information of benefit and cause the reader to think. I believe strongly with Elbert Hubbert that "you may not agree with what I have to say, but if I cause you to think, I have at least done you a service".
My earliest recollection reaches back to the year 1896, on cold days, about the first of March. Father moved from a rented farm to a larger one several miles away. This farm consisted of 240 acres, and was in DeKalb Country, Illinois, about seven miles south of the town of DeKalb. DeKalb was 58 miles west of Chicago, on the Chicago-Northwestern Railway.
There were eight children in our family. James was 18, John 15, Michael 14, Mary (Mame) 10, myself 8, Anne 7, Charles 4, and Katherine 2. Edward who died at three would have been 13 and Patrick who died at three weeks would have been 9. When we moved to this big farm mother was "expecting" again and would have Josephine in November; Josephine died about a week after birth. Five years later she gave birth to her twelfth and last child, Eugene. (Mother died of diabetes in 1913 at age 68, after I had gone west.)
When our family made this move in 1896, only three of my brothers - James, Michael and John were old enough to help father with the heavier farm work. But I would be soon for I had learned to milk at five, drove a gentle team to the milk deport three miles away at seven; and began doing the work of a man at twelve.
At four years of age I started to school, and went nine months of the year until I was eight. Then I stayed out in the spring and fall; and went in the winter time from eight until I was twelve. This was all the education I received until I was 21 years of age. (After I went West, I worked my way through high school, college and university.) My early recollections of the farm were quite pleasant. We always had plenty to eat and warm clothing. However, it was amusement that seemed to be lacking. The only amusement which ?I had was hunting rabbits in the wintertime and occasional duck in the spring. Baseball was quite a sport in the summer, but this could only be taken care of on Sunday; with the hard week’s work I do not understand how it was possible to play two ball games on Sunday and work as hard as we did during the week.
A few years Father moved his family to this 240 acres he purchased 120 acres adjoining for, as I recall, $57 an acre. By farming the 360 acres and breaking up some the virgin soil and putting the same into corn, it is my recollection that two years crops made sufficient money to pay for the 120 acres. Later he purchased the 240 acres at $100 per acre, which left him one of the finest farms in the vicinity. This was in one of the leading agricultural districts of the United States and I believe that DeKalb County was the first the United States to have a full time agricultural agent.
The years continued to roll along and as I went through boyhood and early manhood, considerable hard work was always ahead of me as I was big and husky and seemed to take the lead with much of the work. Father was a very hard worker and for years beyond when it was necessary for him to do so. He seemed to be of a nature that he would rather be doing something than to sit and rest. He had a beautiful philosophy of life and if he had heavy worries he did not inflict them on others and seemed to keep them to himself. Each day at noon after he had his lunch he would lie down and sleep for a half hour or so and then get up and approach the afternoon work with all the vigor he had in the morning. He enjoyed hard labor and did not take too easily to mechanical improvements. However, he did not stand in our way and as we urged him to buy machinery, he gradually fell into line.
One of the things that stands out in my memory was the ownership of a small horse whose name was "Monkey". This horse was bought when he was two years old at a farm sale for $10. He was stunted and had a heavy coat of hair as he had been out in the winter without proper shelter. When he was taken home he looked very poor but as I had been doing such good work, father gave him to me. In fact, I was taking a man’s place from about the time I was 12 years old, having learned to milk cows when I was 5 and drove a team to the milk factory when I was 6 and 7. I decided that milk would be good for him as we had a cream separator and plenty of warm skim milk. I gave him about a three gallon bucketful each morning and evening. This seemed to work like magic and by spring I had the colt looking much better. He then went out on grass pasture and it was only a short time before he was developing into a very handsome horse. He never weighed over 825 pounds. I took him in hand and broke him gently. He was rather stubborn and always high spirited. However, I worked with him carefully and taught him to single step and also to pace. I finally hitched him to a little rubber tired run-about; he had a nice harness to fit and a fancy fly net; this was quite a thing in those days.
When I drove down the street in town, trotting him down one side of the street and then bring him up pacing on the other side, people would stop and look to see whether or not he was a trick horse. He was wonderful under the saddle, and many a fine hour I spent with him as he was my means of transportation as well as my means of relaxation. He was my pal for some ten years and lived a couple of years after I left the farm. I believe he became quite old and died of old age.1
In addition to the farming of 360 acres, we always had a herd of large polled shorthorns, a milking strain. Father sold 15 to 20 of these cows each year which made it necessary to "break in" a number of heifers into being milked after having their first calf. I seemed to have a good knack in doing this; at least I was given the assignment. I believe that if I now have patience, milking those heifers in the spring and summer in a hot cow barn where the windows were very small, may be the reason. The cows stood side by side in stanchions. If a cat came into the barn and disturbed one cow, she would kick and commotion would spread through the barn. After awhile, however, by continual care and no abuse, the heifers would get acquainted with you. They would learn that you were their friend and it would not be long until they would be just as gentle to handle as the other cows were.
In those days, no one ever thought of ventilating a barn (which was free and should have been utilized). Also, there was too little consideration given to the welfare of the person doing the hard work. For instance, each harvest time it was my duty to go up into the big barn to move the hay away from the center of the loft as it came up in big fork loads from the driveway just outside the barn. At the top of the barn was a very small door, probably about 4 by 6 feet; now, there should have been four or five such door or at least one or two big ones which would have let more air circulate into the barn. But, as I say, no consideration was given to this. I worked for hours, the sweat running off of me in streams, with no ventilation at all. On a hot summer day the temperature was 95 or 100 degrees F. We accepted all this thinking it was necessary. Time gradually improved conditions, however, and some three or four years before I left home, along about 1906, hay loaders came into general use. The hay loader would be attached behind a large wagon and would rake the hay up from the field, push it up onto the wagon. The team would be walking along and the field would be rough in places. For a person to hold his balance as he was building up a large load of hay and field some 30 or 35 loads a day was an ordeal.. I can assure you that when night came we had to have a real ardent love affair or some other impelling motive to go out and not roll into bed as soon as we had supper. It was very hard work and as I look back now, we needed a union and an eight hour day.
After an ordinary hard day’s work was done, the cows milked, and the cream separated, we sometimes went off to a dance. But, first you took a lantern and hung it on the porch and got out a straight razor, hoping it was reasonably sharp. If not, it was up to you to strap it until it was. Then you shaved and got "dolled up" for the dance that might be ten miles away. Sometimes it was twenty. Often we would come home in the morning just as the gray dawn was streaking and if you got to bed and had one hour of good sleep you would feel very fortunate. You had to get up irregardless and start the day’s routine again. If there is anything in the world that is tantalizing it is cultivating corn when you have had very little sleep the night before.
I ran a cultivator for some time which cultivated two rows at once, and was drawn by three horses. This made it necessary for you to keep your horses walking three abreast and proceeding in a straight line. The work was comparatively easy, but if you had one slow horse or a fast one, it would make the machine pull sideways and you would have to use your feet and hands in order to keep the cultivating machine straight over the rows. This, at times, was certainly a job, particularly in fly time, as flies would light on the horse and cause them to become nervous and make it hard to do a good job and not plow out the small tender stalks of corn.
We had no regular allowance for spending money on the farm and the question of getting some money for a little spending, as little as it was, was a problem. I did not smoke until after I was 30 years of age and consequently my expense was not very much. One suit of clothes would last a couple of years, until we out-grew it. And if we went to a party, 25 cents would be a big expense. The girls would generally bring cakes and sandwiches, and the boys would probably pay 25 cents apiece to pay for the music. I believe that with this set-up we had more enjoyment than youngsters have now when they feel they have to spend at least $5 1 for an ordinary night’s outing.
To make extra money, for several years I trapped in the winter time. I was successful in catching mink , skunk and other fur bearing animals that would bring a fairly good price. One morning on my way to school with another boy I found a large skunk in one of the traps. Being eager not to let the skunk get away, we killed it and skinned it. When we arrived at school the teacher promptly sent us home as the room was well heated and "sensitive to odors".
After I was 14 years old, I spent a bit of my time breaking horses for harness work, no matter how wild or large they happened to be. I cannot help feeling lucky when I look back at some of the chances I took. We always had to be master of the horse in getting the first harness on him and getting him hitched to a wagon. We would probably have some outlaws that were shipped in from Montana or Wyoming. It was quite an undertaking. However, it was all part of a day’s work and I was paid good money for good results by neighbors who hear of my skill. Thus, I generally had some money in my pocket.
When I was 14 years old, unlike the average farm boy, I took some money and went to dancing school in the winter, one or two night a week. This I did for two or three winters and kept up on the latest dances. After- wards, I knew the square-dances and others so well that I was taken out a number of times to travel with an orchestra in order to be a dance manager and to do the calling for them. For this work I would generally get $5 a night and free expenses, so it paid me well to keep up on my dancing.
I was also considered a champion corn husker. I began husking when I was 14 years old. When I was 15, I husked and shovel into a crib 115 bushels in one day. For this I received 3 cents a bushel. Anyone who has not seen 55 or 60 bushels of corn piled up on a wagon does not know just how many ears you have to throw in order to produce that much corn. When we were through with the corn harvest at home, I was generally sure of a few weeks of outside work. This money would go a long way toward paying my expenses during the winter. For instance, in March 1910 (before I came West, to go to school in September 1910) I had a contract to husk corn in March for $1.75 an acre. I had to use hip boots, the snow and mud was so deep, and had two teams of horses on my wagon to pull it through the mud. I made $93.30 in 19 days and a quarter, but I lost 12 pounds in doing the work; finally I suffered an attack of rheumatism and had to quit the work. However, I did get my check of $93.30 and it was the biggest money that I had ever seen. The rest of the summer of 1910 I worked for $35 per month with my room and board and kept my horse. By September 1910 when I came West, I had saved several hundred dollars which lasted well through the first school year.
In September 1910 I phoned my eldest brother James in Tacoma, Washington where he was practicing law. He did not know the exact date of my arrival and he was somewhat perturbed that I should come to Tacoma and not have him meet me at the train. I got off the train, asked where his office building was and walked to his office. He did not like this as he said I walked through the toughest part of town. I always "felt the lion" however and the new surroundings just meant another day to me.
When I came to Tacoma, I weighed only 153 pounds.1 I had suffered severe attacks of asthma for a couple of years in Illinois and during the summer months. working in the hay fields brought severe attacks. Many nights I would have to sit up in a chair as I would be unable to sleep. I started to take on weight and in about two months I had gained 30 pounds; I also seemed to enjoy life much more.
My brother James advised me to go to the state university at Seattle so I went there to enroll as a special student. I must have been a problem because when they asked me where I had taken my high school work I told them that I had never been to high school. Naturally I was turned down and when I returned to Tacoma my brother James could not understand it and sent me back the next day. I figured that he knew better than I, so I went back and repeated the same procedures. This time I was advised to try St. Martin’s College at Lacey, Washington where I enrolled and started in taking high school courses. Some of the boys in my class were probably 13 and 14 years of age and some of them were in knee trousers yet.2 It would have been rather humiliating to some persons but one teacher soon took a liking to me, admiring my determination to get an education.
It was very difficult going for the first three or four months but gradually my mind began to work and my studies became much easier. I finished the high school course during the next two years and got in considerable college work. The professors were exceedingly kind to me and some of them would give me private instruction. Gradually, I understood what "X" stood for in Algebra and what Geometry was all about. In my first Geometry test I received a grade of 40. This made me determined to master the subject as it was the only one that was getting me down. So I began to study Geometry real hard and at the end of the year I won the premium for my class of 1913.
I carried a double load for each of the three years that I was at St. Martins, and received wonderful training. I also played football during the three years and made the first football team two weeks after I entered college. We only had 15 or 16 men on our squad but we were big huskies; we got our share of winnings against the teams we played. Football in those days was somewhat rougher than it is today; we had to be able to "take it" in order to stay on the team.
St. Martin’s College was a boarding school chiefly, and I have fond memories of the days spent there. We had plenty to eat although we could figure a day ahead just what the menu for the next day would be. One thing I remember was the hotcakes in the morning with black syrup. They were not very tasty, but if you ate three or four, you were able to play football.
During the three years that I was at St. Martins I would go out to eastern Oregon or eastern Washington in the summertime and work on combine harvesters so I was able to save a good bit of money each year. I spent two years doing this at Uniontown, Washington and recall one Fourth of July when my college chum, Clinton Fleet- wood, was with me. He was a hundred yard man at college and one of the best. We had only the old clothes we wore in the harvest field and during the Fourth of July celebration appeared in the races wearing our work overalls. A number of sprinters were there from the state university at Moscow dressed in shorts and spiked shoes. They warmed up and seemed to be put out that a man in overalls would have the nerve to enter a race with them. The gun shot off, and my college chum came in considerably ahead of their best sprinter. They walked around him in circles and looked at him in amazement when he took first money. We entered some of the competitive sports and were both ahead $25 in prize money for having spent the day at the celebration. We also got acquainted with some farm girls and as a result had interesting amusement for the rest of the summer on Saturday and Sunday nights.
General Notes: Child - McMenamin
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General Notes: Child - McMenamin
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Husband Francis Aloysious McMenamin
Born: February 12, 1921
Baptized:
Died: March 8, 1962
Buried:
Father: Francis Aloysious McMenamin
Mother: Justine Hortense Pessemier
Marriage: June 1, 1946
Wife Elaine Wentworth
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Children
1 F McMenamin
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Peterson
2 F McMenamin
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Manchester
3 F McMenamin
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Schoop
4 M McMenamin
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Carter
5 M McMenamin
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Moraski
6 M McMenamin
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Majeski
7 M McMenamin
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
8 F McMenamin
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Hanks
General Notes: Child - McMenamin
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General Notes: Child - McMenamin
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General Notes: Child - McMenamin
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General Notes: Child - McMenamin
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General Notes: Child - McMenamin
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General Notes: Child - McMenamin
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General Notes: Child - McMenamin
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Husband Henry McMenamin
Born: 1858 - County Tyrone, Ireland
Baptized:
Died: 1921 - Edenreagh, Ireland
Cause of Death: Pneumonia
Buried:
Father: James McMenamin
Mother: Anna McMenamin
Marriage: 1904
Wife Margaret McMenamin
Born:
Baptized:
Died: 1913
Buried:
Children
1 M John McMenamin
Born: 1907
Baptized:
Died: 1982
Buried:
2 M James McMenamin
Born: 1908
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Margaret McGoldrick
Marr: February 22, 1933
3 M Michael McMenamin
Born: 1909
Baptized:
Died: 1975
Buried:
Spouse: McMenamin
4 F Annie McMenamin
Born: 1910
Baptized:
Died: 1928
Buried:
5 F Lena McMenamin
Born: 1912
Baptized:
Died: 1976
Cause of Death: Angina
Buried:
General Notes: Husband - Henry McMenamin
Married at the age of 50.
Henry was the Father of Jamie, the "old drover" in New Zealand.
General Notes: Child - John McMenamin
Raised by "his mother's family" after her death; the younger ones went with their father and Uncle Jim, the Australian to Edinreagh with Uncle Ned and Aunt Kate.
General Notes: Child - James McMenamin
Emigrated to New Zealand in 1927; back to Ireland, 1932, and married Margaret McGoldrick in 1933; no children.
They left the outbacks in 1953, came to Auckland; he worked for the Auckland Gas Co., 16 years.
Margaret "Maggie" died in 1981 after surviving a stroke for 4-1/2 years previous; she worked in a hotel for 8 years.
(Copied from a booklet published by Joseph P. McMenamin)
THE TRUE SAGA OF JAMIE MC MENAMIN, OR, OLD DROVERS NEVER DIE
LETTER FROM JAMES McMENAMIN
OF AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND TO
JOSEPH McMENAMIN, OAK PARK, ILLINOIS IN JUNE 1982
Dear Joe:
At last I have got round to writing a line in reply to your welcome and interesting letter. It was rather a surprise to me. I know I have many relatives in the U.S.A. but do not know them or their addresses. The only ones I ever corresponded with were my uncles Patrick and Hugh. That was in the early 1930s when I was in New Zealand the first time. I learned from my uncle Edward (or Ned) that I had four uncles in the U.S.A., Mick, Owen, Patrick and Hugh. There was another whose name was James. He returned to Ireland from America in the 1860's after losing all his money in a bank swindle - something like 700 pounds sterling. A nice sum in those days. He returned home and later sailed for Australia where men were reported to be finding gold like a man digging potatoes at Ballarat.
Alas, it was wishful thinking. Uncle James worked hard for many years on cattle and sheep runs, where the owners counted their holdings by the square mile. Like most of the family, he could neither write nor read; getting on in years he returned to Ireland with 800 gold sovereigns in his belt and bought into a sizeable farm in Co. Fermanagh where he started farming on his own. But it didn't last long. After so long in the Australian sunshine, the damp, wet climate of Ireland was too much and he came down with rheumatic fever and ever after suffered much with rheumatism.
As a result of Uncle James illness my father, whose name was Henry, had to leave Edenreagh, the ancestral home of the Mac Menamins, and go to Fermanagh taking with him my mother and us 4 children. For a while things went all right. Then my mother took ill and died leaving us with Uncle James and my father. I was 5 then — Mick 4, Annie 3, and Lena 1. My uncle said he would have no woman in the house and he would look after us himself, and so he did. He had learned all about washing, cooking, etc. while in Australia. He was a wonder, but in 1918 he died, aged 68, with a hernia. They did not know what to do with a hernia in those days. He often told us that he regretted leaving Australia.
A year later my father sold the farm in Fermanagh and we came back to Edenreagh, where still lived my Uncle Ned and my Aunt Kate who soon passed away, aged 80. Next to go was my dad, aged 63, with pneumonia. He had been tough as whalebone as a young man - short but solidly built. Uncle Ned was left in charge of us; it is of him I would like to say a few words as it was he who taught me all I know about the history of the Mac Menamins. Ned was born with crippled feet and was of no use at manual work. So he was sent to school where he became a brilliant scholar. Having gone as far as the teacher, who was a well learned man, could take him, he then studied two trades, one a surveyor and the other a valuator of land. Luck was with him for it was the time that Gladstone had decided to buy out the great landed gentry, the Irish landlords who had been the curse of Ireland for centuries. My uncle found plenty of employment in surveying and valueing; he always worked for the tenant farmers on the Irish Land Commission but would never work for a landlord as he hated them like vermin. He was a great reader, and as to the history of Ireland, since the dawn of time he could repeat it like he was saying his prayers.
The Mac Menamins originally came from a place called Slavin Glen, a beautiful glen a few miles from Drumquin, a small country town in County Tyrone, about 10 miles from Armegh which was the largest town in Tyrone. They had lived there since time immemorial. One of them went to Edenreagh with the Earl, Lord, or Marquis “of so and so" who had bought the town land of Edenreagh from the previous land lord. The first thing the new owner did was to turn out all the tenants of the land. He put them on the road side with the help of Military Land Police who were always at his disposal. He left them to perish. But some relief society with dollars it had got from America chartered a coffin ship as they were then called, and took them to Queensland in Australia where they settled, took up land as it was free for the taking, and did well. Today their descendants are well to do, still with a love of Ireland and deep hatred of everything English. The landlord stocked Edenreagh with cattle and employed my ancestor as a herd or stock man as we would call them here. He seems to have gotten on fairly well with this landlord for after a few years he talked him into renting or leasing 100 acres of land to him.
So the Mac Menamins were established in Edenreagh; things flowed quietly until my great great grandfather* came on the scene. As a young man he went to America where he managed to get himself a bit of education - something then impossible in Ireland for a Catholic to get. After some years he returned and took over the farm. He built the first two storied house ever seen in that district, settled down and married - had one boy and one girl. The boy's name was Michael.
Edenreagh was sold again, this time to Lord Tennant; a good and kind man, but an absentee who only came to Ireland for the shooting season. He liked my great great granddad, and always stayed with him while in Ireland, but he made one fatal mistake as far as we were concerned. He appointed a man named John or Jack Johnstone as his agent and he was a devil. He had a good farm himself or an other estate. But he had two on-coming Sons and was looking for farms for them; he was a bitter Orange man and hated Catholics like poison. He disliked my ancestor because he knew he was Fenian, and a Molly Maguire, another society that put terror into landlords and agents. A family named Connally had managed to rent a farm on the estate at a rent they could not pay. So Johnstone jumped them and threw them out on the road side. One farm for one of his sons! Now for the next.
Then my great great granddad walked straight into the net. He saw the Connallys starving on the roadside on a bleak, cold March evening so he said to them, “Come with me, I will give you food and shelter.” The news soon reached Johnstone for there is always in Ireland the informer. On hearing this he dryly remarked, Mac Menamin will soon be looking for shelter himself.” True to his word, some days later he approached the house accompanied by six members of the Royal Irish Constabulary with carbines on their shoulders and revolvers in their belts. Johnstone nailed a notice on the door giving the occupier 7 days to be clear of the property. He had another farm for his son!
My ancestor fled to a bleak mountainside where he built a temporary shelter for himself and his family; it was made of sod and thatched with rushes. Then he called on the Fenians and the Molly Maquires to help him. They frightened Johnstone, but not enough. He would only return 16 acres of the 100 he had confiscated. Eventually seeing he could do no better, my ancestor accepted it and passed peacefully away leaving his son James and daughter Ann on 16 acres.
James married and raised 8 sons and one daughter. Ann married a man called William Monteith who was non-Catholic but he became one, or at least pretended to do so. They had three daughters, the last two twins. On getting married Ann demanded half the land and my grandfather gave it to her, leaving himself 8 acres, too small to live on and too big to live off, as I found when I tried it in later years. Ann died shortly after the birth of the twins and William Monteith, not knowing what to do, was delighted when Mrs. Johnstone, daughter-in-law to the man who robbed us of the land, offered to take the three and bring them up as Protestants. Monteith had no objections. Mrs. Johnstone's husband died without making a will. His brother came and claimed half of everything which amounted to 800 pounds. Mrs. Johnstone, not having any money, had to raise a mortgage on the farm.
When she died she left everything to the Monteith girls along with the mortgage. It looked for a long time as if the land would return to us again, as the Monteith girls were much older than us and we were their nearest relations. But it was not to be; that mortgage spoiled everything. If I could have paid it off in 1932 when I returned from New Zealand I would have got the property, but I had no hope of raising 800 pounds in the middle of a world wide depression -- especially in Ireland. However, a neighbor of theirs who was well off with a farm of 400 acres lent them the money they wanted on conditions their property went to him when they passed away. They did not even return the 8 acres their father had taken from my grandfather. They sold it to another farmer.
So ends the Story of the Mac Menamins in Edenreagh. There are none of them there now. Now, Joe, I have written a lot so will have to come to close; Before doing so, I will ask you a question: which of ny uncles are you descended from? It is not clear in your letter. You referred to a man or girl named Grace. I remember Uncle Ned getting letters from a girl of that name. She sent him an American paper, the Chicago Tribune, for many years. Margaret Bleakly, your contact in Ireland and our distant relative, would know her maiden name. My brother, John, in Fermanagh has been ill for a long time with a heart complaint called angina. It killed Nick and Lena, my brother and sister, and now I suffer with it myself. I am ill now and since my Maggie died last September life is very lonely. I have relatives here, but they live long distances away, except for Mary, one of Mick's girls, who lives in Auckland. But at the other end of it she comes to see me quite often. Her brother John in Tokoroa is the last chance for the name of McMenamin surviving here. Well, Joe, this is all now except to ask you to write to me again. I will be very glad to hear more from you.
Yours sincerely,
J. MacMenamin
*Editors Note - This will be checked since it may be a great grandfather.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF JAMES McMENAMIN OF AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND
SENT TO JOSEPH P. McMENAMIN IN 1983
On March 25th, 1927, I boarded a Ship called the Mataroa. (Shining Cloud in the Maori language) at Southampton in the South of England. The anchor was weighed and we sailed down the English Channel in a stiff breeze, each of us with a rather sad look, and why not? Weren’t we bidding goodbye to all we had known in life so far! Our country, our friends, our relations, and all the happy scenes we had witnessed in our childhood. I can tell you there was little gayêty for a while.
Other things began to attract our attention - passing ships and the lowering weather. I remember meeting the great ship Majestic (then the largest passenger ship in the world) on her return voyage to England. We looked like a banana boat compared to her. Soon the weather looked ugly and big waves began to rise making the “Mataroa” roll with unpleasant results. Passengers began to feel squeamish and expressed wishes that they had never come. They little knew what was ahead of them in the next three days:
Five o’clock sounded and most of us went off for our first dinner at sea. Some did not stay for the three courses but took off to their cabins below. I felt quite good then and ate a hearty dinner, later deciding to get out on deck and have a look around. But a deck officer approached me and told me it would be better to get to my cabin and stay there as there was a storm on the way and he expected a nasty night. I took his advice. The cabin and beds looked nice and neat. I got a top one which proved lucky later on. My luggage consisted of one suitcase which was easily looked after.
Getting into bed I was soon asleep; I hadn't had any sleep for several nights, what with the farewells and a "convoy" in Ireland the night before I left. There was not much chance of any sleep. The trip across the Irish Seas was not one of repose, for the excitement kept one going. Awakening during the night, I was much alarmed at the rolling of the ship. She would roll over on one side, linger a minute or so, then right herself only to do the same thing again. Another thing that alarmed me even more was the swishing of water into the cabin as the ship rolled. I managed to switch on a light and what a sight. Suitcases and clothes were floating around in a foot of water; everyone was awake and everyone sick and vomiting. It made me sick, too, and for the next three days and nights our cabin was a terrible sight. When day came stewards came in and fastened belts across our beds to prevent us being thrown out. They also brought crates of sodawater in small bottles which they urged us to drink as they said it would ease the sickness.
Three days and nights we wallowed in the Bay of Biscay, making little headway. On the morning of the 4th day the ship was steady again. We jumped out of our bunks and rushed up on deck to find a nice calm blue sea and warm sunshine. The big storm was over, in a day or so we would be passing the Canary Islands. Hope soon returned as we sailed on, the weather getting warmer all the time; the sea was like a mill pond. When we reached the tropics we took our blankets and slept on deck at night as it was much cooler. One woke up in the morning feeling so good.
Then we talked alot about Oa Tea Roa. (The land of the long white cloud, in Maori.) We had heard everything good about it. The paradise of the Pacific. “The land of milk and honey." It had plenty of milk and honey all right, but we would learn it stopped there.
Further on the way we stopped at Panama, which was interesting. It was owned and run by the U.S.A. then. We also stopped at Pitcairn Island, some thousand miles north of New Zealand. The natives came out in boats and sold us fruit and curios.
We reached the promised land on May 1st, 1927, and berthed at Princess Warf, Auckland. We admired the beautiful harbour, but that was the last of our admiration. After many hours of red tape, we were allowed to go ashore. There was no welcome of any kind and one could smell an air of hostility among the few people on the wharf, especially the labourers themselves, The government officials were not prepared to offer any help whatsoever. After all the propananda they had put across in England and Ireland inviting immigrants, they now told us that New Zealand was in a depression and that we would have to fend for ourselves. This was anything but encouraging after coming so far. However, a little ray of sunshine broke through; a ships officer came forward to tell us that all who had not already arranged accommodation for that night were welcome to stay on board and have breakfast. With that the shipping company's responsibility ended.
After breakfast I came out onto Quay Street. I thought it better to have a look at my purse; it contained nine shillings and six pence (less than three dollars at the rate of that time) not very much for one who didn't know a soul in the southern hemisphere. I got into conversation with a man who had come up from the country to meet a relative of the Ship and he said that he knew an old farmer named Williams who wanted someone to help him on the farm; he lived alone and milked the cows twice a day and he was stone deaf. He would pay 1:5 shillings per week as wages. I thought it over and decided to have a look at it.
After a lot of trouble, I found my way out in the country long after dark. There was no life or light in the house, but I Spotted a small light some distance away. I went to see what it was and discovered it was the cow shed. The old fellow was milking by the light of a hurricane lamp. The communication between us was very poor as he could not hear. He took me back to the house where he lit a kerosene lamp and then returned to the cow shed to finish the milking. I had a look around inside the house. It was absolutely filthy and stank to high heaven. I sat down on a chair and cried my heart out. What had I done, I asked myself, to get into such a fix? The old coot returned later and started to prepare a meal. I had often seen the pigs fed in Ireland but their meal was much better and cleaner than that one. Our means of talking was two pieces of paper and pencils and it was question and answer all the way.
I suffered with Williams for four months until I had put a bit of money together and in the meantime had got to know another man who had a farm a few miles further along the track. His name was Ted Farr, Australian born and very proud of it. He was a big tall lanky fellow and always wore the slouch hat of the Australians like my Uncle Jamie did in County Fermanagh. He had been in World War I and had built a neat little house of three rooms and had a neat, clean cow shed. Unlike old Williams, he was an excellent housekeeper and cook and milked some 30 cows. He seemed so well off, owned several hundred acres, most of it still in native bush. He asked me if I would like to come and work for him. I said I would be delighted to do so, as I had taken a liking to him. We got on very well. He was my first friend in New Zealand and one of the best. We kept in touch for several years after I left for the South Island.
A race of people I would like to mention here are the native Maori, a brown-skinned people that are Polynesian. They are very like the Irish in many of their manners and customs; if you call at their homes, however humble some of them might be, you are welcomed with real hospitality. Only the best is good enough while you stay.
One night while Ted was talking he made a suggestion which was to change things for me; he suggested I go to the South Island where I would feel more at home there because the people were more friendly. Ted knew that I understood and loved horses and that I was a Champion stacker of hay, wheat, oats, and barley and he explained that those crops, unlike the Auckland area, were quite common there. Although he was sorry to lose me, he said that he would not stand in the way of a young fellow bettering himself, so I went to the South. My first job was a big one, 3,000 acres of wheat to stook (shock) and then stack. Wages were 2 shillings per hour (about 50 cents) and work as long as you were able to do. The work was hard and the climate hot when harvest started in January.
After harvest was over I went potato gathering at one shilling per bag. After that I went on to a big farm as a ‘teamster”, that is, a driver of a team of six big Clydsdale horses hitched to a three furrow plough. I liked this work. It was easy as there was a seat on the plough. The horses knew what to do themselves.
But the human heart or mind is never content and always yearns for something else. I used to see big droves of wild cattle being driven along the roads on stock routes by men and dogs. These men were known as “drovers” and their dogs “Cattle dogs”. At last the desire to become a drover overcame me, so I went and bought myself a well-trained stock horse at a fancy price and two good cattle dogs, one a “heeler” the other a “leader” or dog that guides the mob of cattle in the right direction. I joined up with a gang of drovers but first had to learn how to use the stock whip. And let me tell you, that takes some learning. I gave myself many nasty cuts in the process. The whip is Australian in origin, and is made of pleated kangaroo hide cut into thin strips or strings, then pleated. The handle, 18 inches long, has a light steel bar up its center and the back is ‘roo’ hide that tapers down towards the end of the lash to almost a string, like a leather shoelace. The Australian whip is 18 ft. in length and the New Zealand one 12 ft. In the hand of one who knows to use it, it cracks like a rifle firing and it sure can move cattle.
We headed way up North from Christchurch into the foothills of the Kaikouras, one of the loveliest range of mountains in this world, and moved into wild, broken country, where without the dogs, it would have been hopeless. We would send them to the bush in the morning and not see them till late evening, when one could see the cattle emerging from the gullies and hear the dogs barking. Oh, for one of those days again.
That chapter of our lives was soon to fade as the great depression of the 1930’s was on us and everything seemed to fold up overnight. There was still plenty of work, but no money. The working man could not afford to work for nothing or he would starve. In 1932 I tried hard to find work but all in vain. New Zealand was a different country then that it is now; it had no industries; it was simply a farming country. At last I was fed up and decided to go home. I walked into Thomas Cooks office in Christchurch and found a fellow asleep behind a desk. “Wake up,” I roared. “You’ve got a customer. ’‘What is it?”, he said. "A passage on the first ship out of here,” I replied. That was easily settled as the “Rangitiki’ was sailing in a few days from Wellington. All was needed was 2:10. Later when I boarded ship I was sorry that circumstances had compelled me to leave. As I lay in my bunk at night, I would sometimes remember the poem of a "bush” poet that ran as follows.
It was "A Drover's Horse" and as I thought of it my hand began to close on a fancied rein.
“For I felt the swing and the easy stride
of the grand old horse that I used to ride
In drought or plenty, in good or ill
the old grey horse was my comrade still.
The old grey horse with his honest ways
was a mate to me in the droving days."
We had a pleasant trip home. Quite a number of Irish people were returning as well as myself. We landed at Tilbury and got a train to London. We tasted plenty of good Guinness stout which we hadn’t seen for a long time as New Zealand is a beer drinking country. It was a bit heavy and not being used to it, we became sleepy. Then we had a meal, toddled off to Euston Station to catch the express for Liverpool which we reached at 10 o’clock that night. There the “Ulster Queen” would take us across the Irish Sea to our homeland. We got aboard had some more Guinness and decided to have some sleep as it had been a long day.
We woke up to a beautiful clear morning and came on deck. What a sight met our eyes, one I will never forget. Away to the southwest of us against the skyline were the beautiful Mourne Mountains which looked lovely in the early morning sun. We parted in Belfast after a round of Old Bushmills Irish whiskey, never to meet again.
I made my way to Edenreagh to receive the usual Irish welcome. Times were not as bad as I expected in rural homes - no one was hungry. There was plenty of potatoes, Irish and American bacon. Porridge and plenty of soda bread were cooked in a camp oven over a peat or turf fire. People had little money though; prices of things they had to sell were low but anything one had to buy was cheap. One thing that came to my attention as soon as I arrived was the cheerfulness of the people themselves. I had been sickened before I left New Zealand at the moaning and whining about the bad times. I never heard a murmur in Ireland. Could it be that the Irish people, having been innured to hardships for centuries accepted it as part of llfe.
That was the year 1932. Great events were on the way both for Ireland and me, although we did not realize it at the time. First, I met a lovely girl named Margaret McGoldrick whose people like our own had lived in the Castlederg district for generations. We were married on February 22, 1933, and settled down to live on our little farm at Edenreagh.
On the political scene events began moving in 1932. Mr. De Valera was elected Prime Minister by a large majority of what was then called the Irish Free State. His first move was to inform the British government that a sum of money known as Land Annuities (amounting to 10 million pounds yearly) would no longer be paid to them as they had no rightful claim to it. They were surprised. “What sort of man is this,” they asked. Mr. De Valera told them he was willing to put this matter before any international court in the world and he would abide by that Court’s decision. They said “No, this is a domestic dispute and must be settled within the Empire.” DeValera replied that Ireland considered it a dispute between two independent nations. The British retaliated by imposing a tariff of $6 a head on Irish cattle.
At this time most of Ireland’s cattle surplus was exported to England and Scotland. This new head duty meant the death knell to the Irish cattle farmer. But if his cattle could be gotten into the six northern countries illegally, the tariff could be ignored.
THE SMUGGLERS
So now the three most thrilling years of my life began, and the three hardest. No one, only those who went through it, will ever know the hardships we went through with cold, wet, hunger, and above all fatigue and want of sleep. Still, it had a fascination for us that is hard to understand now. I well remember my first assignment.
It was a lovely evening in September, 1933. I was busy cutting a little field of oats on my small farm in a primitive way with a scythe just as my grandfather had done 100 years ago. A man, whom I knew slightly, approached me and said. “Put that scythe away; I have better work for you.” His name was Con Connally, a big cattle dealer who bought large mobs of cattle in Ireland and took them to England and Scotland, where he sold them at a good profit. He owned a good farm outside Castlederg. He told me he had 60 head over the border at Stranorlar in Donegal, and if I would drive them to his farm at night he would pay me one pound per head. I thought it over and agreed to do the job. He said he did not think there was much danger as the customs had not got the hang of things yet. But if there was trouble, I was to forget the cattle and make my own escape. This was the rule smuggling men laid down afterwards. I told my Maggie what I decided to do. She did not object but was a bit anxious about my safety. Next evening as day was fading, with my faithful dog I set out for Stranorlar some eight or ten miles away. Being a fast walker, it did not take me very long to get there.
I was welcomed by the family where the cattle were held and was soon having a hearty meal. There is no other place in this world for hospitality like Donegal as I was to learn in the following years. We sat afterwards and talked. I told them of the droving days in New Zealand and how it was done there. At midnight I had my mob at the line that divided Ireland. I said a little prayer to the Mother of God for her protection and over we went along the main road to Castlederg, to Connally’s farm, putting the cattle in a field, or paddock as we would call it in New Zealand. I then headed for home, happy and contented. There I found that my Maggie was still afoot. She had stayed up waiting my return. I gave her a lecture not to do that again. Connolly came around and handed me sixty pounds, which when I considered it later was the most unlucky money I ever got. It was tempting, I know, for it caused me to overlook the real big money. I, myself, could have kept away from the border, employed an agent to buy for me and get other smugglers to bring them across to the north. Then I could arrange with the well-to-do Protestant farmers to sell them for me at a pound a head. But I was too young and foolish then to see all that. Daring the customs officer and police to catch me and the moving of mobs of cattle had something appealing in it. Though it differed every way, even to the cattle themselves, from the New Zealand scene, the allure never changed. The cattle in Ireland were docile while their cousins in New Zealand were partly wild and dangerous, would turn on man and horse when roused and severely injure or in some cases kill both.
In Ireland the summer months were the most pleasant for us but they had one drawback. The short nights didn’t give one so much chance if one had to go a long way. Once you crossed the border, the further you got away from it, the safer you were. Two brothers who were twins, John and Joe Donaghy, joined with me. They were both shrewd cattle dealers, and quite a lot of the stock we put over belonged to them. At the start it was one pound per head, but competition grew fast and the price dropped to ten shillings. However, a few men in the business preferred the old drovers who had learned the ropes, and could be trusted; so they continued to pay them the higher price. (God knows we earned it.)
To go on roads and lanes was suicide as these were patrolled day and night by police and customs men in cars and vans. The rugged mountain country, lonely glens and marshy bogs were our routes. It became worse when we got into the farm lands with hedges, ditches, barbedwire fences and stone walls. Noise and lights had to be out. If a beast got injured or bogged in swamp land, it had to be left behind. Time could not be lost.
Many were the stirring episodes that took place involving hair breadth escapes. If I could write a book on it, it could be a best seller. We would cross the border as darkness fell and head for Carrigaholten Mountain which was on the northern side; it was a grim place on a winter night, covered with rocks and heather, leaving nothing to guide you. Lakes, and what was far more danqerous, blind lakes or swamps, were death traps to man or beast. Carrigaholten is not very far from Edenreagh. Most of the cattle for the Castlederg and Drumquin districts came over to Carrigaholten. The Drumquin trip was a tough one for no sooner had you cleared Carrigaholten and gotten across the main road from Enniskillen to Derry (which took some doing) then you ran straight into the Carriaga Stohen Range for the rest of the journey. A dog could be used only if it didn’t bark. How I longed sometimes for a queensland heeler. The cattle were often very tired and sore footed. When we took them over at Lettercran or the Tyrone-Donegal-Fermanagh border, it was a rugged ten Irish miles. The winter nights were cruel, but we were young then and didn’t notice the cold so much; the wet was the worst. Lack of sleep and weariness was another problem. Many times on the bleak slopes of Carrigaholten we lay down in the shelter of a rock and slept for a few hours, while the cattle stood patiently by, glad of a rest also. When we awakened one could hear our teeth chattering.
A cat and mouse game was played between us and the customs guys. When we were putting over a big mob of valuable stock, we would pick out two or three of the least valued and send them ahead with someone who could run. If any customs were in ambush, they would jump out, seize the few cattle and take them off to their station. They seldom worried about the drovers. We would follow an hour later when the way was clear. This method worked for about a year, but our opponents were slowly learning, They would lie "doggo” when the few cattle came along, knowing there were many better to follow. As we learned tricks, so did they.
Finally the Northern Ireland Parliament grew very wrathful at the number of cattle smuggled in so they decided to do something. They blamed the well-to-do Protestant farmers in the North for aiding the smugglers which was true. Weren’t we Irish paying these Loyalists, one pound per head for selling them for us. And wasn’t Sir Basil Brooke, the Prime Minister, the biggest smuggler of all? The British customs got busy and took a census of every animal on every farm within ten miles of the border. They came around often to check and see if anyone had anything not already listed. They had to show evidence how they came to have it. Otherwise, it was seized and the owner fined three times the value or six months hard labor. This happened near the end of 1935 and it almost crippled our industry. A few tried to carry on but the game was nearly over.
One thing we smuggling fellows felt proud of was that the customs hadn’t beaten us. We could put thousands of cattle across if we could only get people to handle them on the other side. A few made fortunes, the shrewd ones, by exploiting others. Others made plenty and spent it as they made it, enjoying themselves. I would say now they were the winners. Still others lost all they had. It was a gamble with a lot of hard work and hardships in it, such as not having your clothes off for a week or seeing a bed in that time. The want of sleep was the worst of all.
The only regret I have, if you could call it that, is that I started at the wrong end of the business financially. I had a lot of fun and excitement. I have no regrets now. My two mates made a lot of money, but in a way, what good was it? John is in his grave many years, and Joe is in a mental hospital. I am still alive and well (thank God).
In 1935, I picked up a newspaper and read big headings that said Labour wins election in New Zealand. I rushed inside and said to my Maggie, “Start packing!” She said, “What for?" I said, “We are on our way to New Zealand.” Maggie was pleased and said, “I won't have to worry about you at night anymore.” So we booked a passage on the Orient liner "Arsova” and sailed via Suez. Called at Gibralter, Marseilles, Toulon, Naples, Port Said, Eden, Colombo, Fremantle, Melbourne and Sydney; crossed the Tasman Sea to New Zealand.
I worked first for a while on farms but seeing no future there, I gained a job with the Lands and Survey Department, the largest farmer in this world as I was to learn. This was 1936. Three years later I saw their stock census published in a paper. It was as follows: sheep—sixteen million, cattle—four million, horses-five hundred thousand. I worked with them 27 years and all that time never was out of sight of cattle, sheep, and horses. It seemed to me that I was doomed to be with them. Sometimes as I slept out at mustering, with the Southern Cross looking down on me, my thoughts would wander back to my smuggling days. I still remember a line or two I composed about them:
"I am wondering today if the old spirit lives
For the men who lived it I vow
A long lease of ease would willingly give
To be back on the border now!"
Jamie McMenamin
9 Islington St.
Hem Bay
Auckland 2 N. 2
General Notes: Child - Michael McMenamin
"Mick" had daughter, Mary, who lived near James MacMenamin in Auckland (1984), and a son, John, who was a newspaper reporter in Tokoroa - 23 Papas Street. John married April 1983.
Husband John McMenamin
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
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Father: Bernard McMenamin
Mother: Mary McHugh
Marriage:
Wife
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Children
1 M John P. McMenamin
Born: 1880 - Afton Township, Dekalb County, IL
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Sarah Sadie Coyne
Marr: 1921
Husband John E. McMenamin
Born: December 21, 1891 - Sycamore, IL
Baptized:
Died: October 3, 1948 - River Grove, IL
Buried:
Father: Hugh McMenamin
Mother: Mary McGuire
Marriage: May 4, 1922 - St. Mary Church, Dekalb, IL
Wife Gladys Gertrude Youngs
Born: September 20, 1895 - Dekalb, IL
Baptized:
Died: March 22, 1956 - River Grove, IL
Buried:
Children
1 M John E. McMenamin
Born: 1923
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Marie C. Pastick
2 M Paul J. McMenamin
Born: 1925
Baptized:
Died: 1993
Buried:
Spouse: Doris J. Wilhelms
3 M McMenamin
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Simonson
General Notes: Husband - John E. McMenamin
John E. McMenamin, Sr., was born on December 21, 1891, in DeKalb County, Illinois, to Hugh and Mary (McQuire) McMenamin, the son of an immigrant farmer from County Tyrone, Ireland.
Gladys Gertrude Youngs was born September 20, 1895 to Horace T. and Alberta M (Pratt) Youngs also of DeKalb. Horace was the Chief of Police of DeKalb.
John was a veteran of WWI and was stationed in Europe (France) 1917-18. A Private First Class in Battery B, 172nd Coastal Artillery, US Army, he never saw action. Coastal Artillery were 10" guns mounted on flat-bed rail cars for infantry support. He took his basic training at Fort Grant, near Galena, IL.
From 1919-1920, John, Sr., worked in a wire plant in Joliet, IL, owned by US Steel.
Prior to their marriage "Grandma Mac", as she was known to the grandkids, worked as a dental assistant in DeKalb. They were married on May 04, 1922 at St. Mary Parish, DeKalb , IL. John was then working in a tire plant in DeKalb. She was a Methodist, but became a devout Roman Catholic upon marriage.
In 1923, they moved to Chicago, where he drove a cab leased from an individual under the Checker Taxi Association banner. They Lived at 1823 Latrobe, then 620 N. Avers, and moved to the Laramie house in early to mid 1930's. They rented that house until 1944, then bought it for $4,500.
John died October 03, 1948, and Gladys died March 22, 1956. Both are buried in St. Joseph's cemetery, River Grove, Illinois.
General Notes: Child - McMenamin
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Husband John E. McMenamin
Born: 1923
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Father: John E. McMenamin
Mother: Gladys Gertrude Youngs
Marriage:
Wife Marie C. Pastick
Born: 1924
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Children
1 F McMenamin
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Plane
2 M McMenamin
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: King
3 M McMenamin
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Penz
4 F McMenamin
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Hoffman
Spouse: Strandberg
General Notes: Child - McMenamin
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General Notes: Child - McMenamin
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General Notes: Child - McMenamin
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General Notes: Child - McMenamin
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Husband Joseph Patrick McMenamin
Born: December 31, 1912 - Afton Township, Dekalb County, IL
Baptized:
Died: July 2, 2002 - Evanston, IL
Buried: - St. Mary Cemetery, Dekalb, IL
Father: John Henry McMenamin
Mother: Martha Madeline McCormick
Marriage: 1941 - Dekalb, IL
Wife Mary M. Minnegan
Born: May 9, 1915 - Afton Township, Dekalb County, IL
Baptized:
Died: September 21, 2008 - Skokie, IL
Buried: - St. Mary Cemetery, Dekalb, IL
Children
1 F McMenamin
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Engler
2 M Kevin McMenamin
Born: 1944
Baptized:
Died: 1945
Buried: - Patrick Mcmenamin Plot, St. Mary Cemetery, Dekalb, IL
3 F McMenamin
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: McDonald
Spouse: Milne
4 M McMenamin
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Victor
General Notes: Husband - Joseph Patrick McMenamin
OVERVIEW
Tyrone is the largest of nine counties in Northern Ireland, which like Canada is part of the British Commonwealth. The rest of Ireland, the Republic of Ireland,(1) consists of twenty-six counties. Ireland’s division into counties(2) began in 1210 A.D. under the rule of England’s King John. Tyrone was one of nine counties comprising the historic Ulster province. Tyrone is an inland county with no access to the sea. Omagh, its county seat, stands at the confluence of three rivers, rich in salmon, trout, and mussel pearls. Laugh Neagh on its eastern border is the largest lake in the British Isle.
In 1936, I asked my McMenamin grandfather about his roots. The name of his native county I wrote down as "Teerone". Most teenagers today could probably do better at spelling it. I was twenty three then. Many of my Irish acquaintances have shown little interest in their roots. their parents were generally the children of immigrant parents, children who, as adults, developed little interest in the "old country". It is among the grandchildren of immigrants a feeling for family began to surface, a generation later.
One 19th-century American has written "The sacred tie of family, reaching backward and forward, binds the generations of men together and draws out plaintive musings of our being on the solemn alteration from cradle to grave."(3) Another once wrote: "It is surely no credit to any man to be regardless of the past from which the present has sprung, and without which the present cannot be interpreted."(4)
Joseph P. McMenamin
June 28, 1985
1. In 1922, it was the Irish Free State, of status similar to Canada. In 1936, this was abolished and a new state, Eire, declared independent of England. In 1949, with other changes, Eire became a Republic.
2. Some were named after Chief towns like Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Longford.
3. Edward Everett
4. Amos C. Carpenter
THE COUNTY TYRONE
Its area is about that of the State of Rhode Island. Its climate is variable with an average rainfall of 55" in the northern part and 42" in the southern part. Its topography is also variable with hills, dales and flat plains. Its name actually means land of Owen.
When my grandparents were toddlers in Tyrone (1858) there were 66 McMenamin househoolders listed for the county; and almost twice as many in Donegal. But comparatively few elsewhere. No wonder McMenamins marrieed McMenamins in those days.
McMENAMIN ROOTS IN TYRONE
McMenamins originated in northern Ireland. Some have their roots in Donegal or Derry; mine were in the County Tyrone. My father’s parents were born there in the 1850’s. Government records of that decade list some sixty McMenamin households in Tyrone, one hundred in Donegal, and only fifteen in Derry. The occupants obviously had survived the conquest of Ulster two hundred years earlier.
Ulster was Ireland’s northernmost kingdom. (The others were Leinster, Meath, Munster and Connaught.) Until 1650 A.D., Ulster was the most completely Irish part of Ireland. For centuries it had been ruled by O’Neill chiefs. It was an O’Neill chieftain who drove Viking invaders out of Ulster even though they had conquered and were ruling most of the island. Among the supporters of the great O’Neill (and O’Donnell) clans of Ulster were our McMenamin ancestors. In the bardic Annals of Loch Ce, 1303 A.D., one may find the documented deaths of an Ulster chieftain’s two nephews. Both were McMenamins. The roots of our Gaelic surname are deep; the history, dark and sad; it is covered in a future chapter.
Ireland’s history covers centuries of conquest. After Viking rule was crushed, English invasion began. By 1600 most of the island was under English control and by 1603, all of it.
Then it was that Hugh O’Neill, Earl of Tyrone, surrendered Ulster and all of Ireland’s people submitted to British rule and law. The conquered were ordered to renounce their loyalty to the Roman Catholic Church as England had previously done.(1) However, loyal followers of O’Neill, including the McMenamin families, refused and so lost their lands and civil rights. Their descendants endured two centuries of poverty and despair.
I was fifty-two before visiting Tyrone and this visit was all too brief. We drove across the county west to east in two days. Once I had read of it being a gloomy place but I found it with a dramatic beauty all its own. The visit was in mid-August and the weather ideal for enjoying landscapes. There were brief stops at several cemeteries and churches, with an increasing sense of inadequate preparation. The year was 1965. If only I knew then what I know now.
Now, twenty years later, I have read the 1802 Statistical Survey of the County Tyrone with observations on the Means of Improvement. It was authored by a contemporary of my great, great grandparents -- a John McEvoy of Rash, near Omagh. (Omagh is scarcely fifteen miles from my paternal grandparents’ native townlands so I wonder if they ever visited it before emigrating in their late teens.)
How much of Ireland outside of Tyrone did this author, McEvoy, actually know? One wonders. He prefaced his observations with a remark about his county’s "opulence and variety". Later he mentioned sites of old Druid altar and Danish forts which the "common people" held in great reverence; also, "other monuments", stone crosses with "hieroglyphic figures and holy wells’ held in great veneration by the lower classes, especially the Roman Catholics who visited them on pilgrimages.
My great grandparents, James and Anne McMenamin, were buried in Magherakeel cemetery which has a holy well from which St. Patrick is said to have drunk. They were of the "lower class". They had married four years before the famine. They never saw any of the fifty some grandchildren, one of whom was my father. Their graves lack a lasting marker and McEvoy helps us understand why. James and Anne were poor farm tenants on 17 acres, such a small parcel of land. Back in 1802, McEvoy wrote this about Tyrone’s tenants: "Tenants in general are so wretchedly poor that a great length of time elapses before any permanent advantage can derive to them from the improvement of their farms, which do not yield probably one-fourth of what have been possible if money had been provided for ditching, draining and liming -- i.e. better management. the landlords would greatly benefit from this and it would increase the value of their property. The repair of houses and offices(2) generally fall upon the tenant, hence buildings are usually in need of repair or if repaired, are poorly done."
According to McEvoy these peasants rarely had meat to eat. The very poorest subsisted on potatoes, a dependable food source even from poor soils. It was forty years after McEvoy’s report that the reliable potato failed the already hungry Irishmen. The critical year of the Famine was 1847, a year of too many cool, wet and cloudy days favoring the growth of a ravenous mold parasite on potato plants. Even tubers left over in storage were attacked and destroyed. By winter many of the rural poor were starving. Quakers opened soup kitchens offering daily rations but thousands began to die.
But James and Anne were lucky to live in an area that raised oats and barley as well as potatoes, one of Tyrone’s better agricultural regions. According to Griffith’s Land Evaluation survey of 1858 , they leased seventeen acres from an Anne Tennent. I would hope that they had a cow and a horse and surely some poultry. Whatever they had, they survived the Famine years with their two babies and went on to have seven more children.
It was only two years after the Famine that Queen Victoria made a brief "look-in" visit to Ireland. This was the year when London’s Quarterly Review contained a lengthily article "Tours in Ireland" featuring some ugly comments about Victoria’s Irish subjects saying, for example, that the Irish peasants for three centuries had been known for their "natural indolence and sloth, reluctance to labour and lazy contentment". One writer admitted there had been a "mischievous system of land-letting" and that many landlords were "impatient, improvident and unjust" but went on to say that this "would have been insignificant" had the Irish peasants been "active and Industrious".(3)
Such remarks were typical in this rambling series of commentaries about the current "tours" in Ireland. The different observers seemed oblivious of the history that shaped the peasant’s plight, a history that could help explain the loss of incentives and motivation, those urges that generate industrious activity.
James and Anne McMenamin must have been exceptional peasants; they must have been hard workers. They were among the one hundred tenants under thirty-eight landlords of parceled Tyrone farms according to Griffiths’s 1858 Land Evaluation records.(4) They would have been classified as tenant farmers, a step above "cottier". A cottier was a sub-tenant; working a plot of land only big enough to raise potatoes. Legally they had less rights than tenants. Their housing consisted of one-room windowless cabins, having earthen floors and usually a loft. The tenant-farmer hardly fared better in dwellings. Their’s may have had a window or two, a chimney, stone walls and but still earthen floors. One can with little difficulty, realize some of the discomforts and hardships of a crowded, growing family -- especially in the cold damp weeks of winters. Four of their eight sons managed to escape this plight by emigrating.
One of them was Patrick, my grandfather. Fifty years after the publication of Griffith’s famous volumes Patrick owned and worked without tenants a 160-acre farm in America, an Illinois farm larger than all but one of those leased by the thirty-eight landlords in his father’s Tyrone!
My grandfather was the sixth child of James and Anne McMenamin. He was born on May 25, 1854. His older sister and brothers were 10-year-old Kate (already familiar with the chores of motherhood), 8-year-old Michael, 6-year-old Owen, 4-year-old James and 2-year-old Ned. (Ned’s slightly deformed feet were already a concern to his parents.) Anne must have been a sturdy woman. She had three more children after my grandfather; all nine saw adulthood and lived to a "ripe old age" -- except Owen who died of typhoid fever at forty-four.
Rearing nine children (eight of them boys) during those post-Famine years was exceptional. Epidemics of cholera, typhus and dysentery took many of the survivors. Not since Europe’s Black Plague had a people been so decimated; and this included one McMenamin family living not too far from James and Anne. Testimony of this, I found during a brief stop in St. Patrick’s Cemetery at Castlederg in August, 1965. There one can see a McMenamin family gravestone bearing the names and burial dates of five sisters.
They died as follows: Mary at 22, in 1865, Catherine at 31, in 1865, Margaret at 28, in 1868, Ellen at 25, in 1870, and Honora at 31, in 1889. James and Anne must have attended their burials and wondered at their own family’s record. We too must wonder. Without child clinics, immunization, vitamins and pediatricians, they raised nine children to maturity. Their losses resulted from emigration.
Michael1, their eldest, left at twenty in 1866. An uncle, Ned McMenamin, already settled near Albany, New York, helped Michael find work as a farm hand. At twenty-nine, Michael returned to Ireland, built a cottage for his aging parents and then brought a bride back to America. James first purchased a 30-acre farm and then a 155-acre farm in Clifton Park, New York. Meanwhile some of his brothers had begun to leave2.
Patrick, my grandfather, left Ireland at nineteen, with a friend, Jim Crowe. The year was 1873. Patrick’s betrothed was a colleen of the same surname, Mary Anne McMenamin, from the nearby town of Killeter. Three years after his leaving she joined him and they were married on June 8, 1876, in Greenbush, New York.(5) After their second baby, my father, came, Patrick moved his family to Illinois, where he eventually purchased a 360-acre farm and reared ten children (I am the first born of that second son, John.). According to several of those ten children, Patrick and Mary Anne always claimed not to be close blood relatives. There are so many McMenamin families in the Ireland of their time this is possible. Mary McMenamin, my great grandmother, mother of Kate and the eight boys was a McMenamin prior to marriage also. Patrick’s brother Henry (the New Zealander) also married a girl whose maiden name was McMenamin.
Owen went with his wife, Mary Jane Crowe (sister of Patrick’s emigrating companion) and first born, James. Qwen lived in Rensselaer, New York for ten years before moving his family to Chicago. There he died of typhoid within days of his thirteenth child’s birth1. "Tyrone" actually means "land of Owen".
James left also, but not for good. James was the family’s "restless wanderer" . After working in Pittsburgh five years he visited his brothers in New York (1888) and Illinois and finally left for Australia. He died after settling down back home in Ireland, a confirmed bachelor, affectionately called the "Australian".
Hugh was the last of James and Anne’s sons to leave for America. I am not sure of the year he left Ireland. He was married in St. Mary’s Church in DeKalb, Illinois in 1885. Hugh also married an emigrating Irish girl, Mary Maguire. They reared seven children and also purchased a farm in DeKalb County. My grandfather Patrick sponsored Hugh’s emigration. They were always very close. There are a number of early group photos of their families together on various occasions.
Henry2 and John (the youngest sons of James and Anne) never chose to travel. They remained close by their aging parents along with lame Ned3, spinster Kate4 and James5, "The Australian". It seems incredible this remarkable couple should die without seeing any of their forty grandchildren1. Their last days ended in the cottage Michael provided, cared for by Kate2 and her bachelor brothers.(6)
In the high ground of Magherakeel Cemetery the bones of James and Anne McMenamin have dissolved into the Irish earth whose nutrients maintained their sturdy bodies. They, too, had parents and grandparents who are part of our legendary family history. Beyond their time we find fragments and anecdotes that tease the curious. Before their time family records were not kept; it was illegal to keep official entries of births, baptisms, marriages and deaths in Ireland’s Catholic churches. Given the year of their first born’s birth as 1844 and that they would have been in their early twenties, that is that James and Mary would likely have been born around 1820, they could have lived till 1890 (their seventies). There is no exact dates of their deaths.
For two centuries England’s Penal Laws prohibited Ireland’s Roman Catholics from keeping such vital statistics. These laws were enforced rigorously, particularly during the 18th century. In 1829 (about the time James and Anne were infants) Catholic Emancipation was bestowed upon Ireland. Like Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation the implementation was slow. It was 1863 before baptismal and marriage records began to appear in Termonamongan, the parish of James and Anne. (By then, my grandfather, Patrick, was nine years old.)
Termonamongan’s boundary lines have changed during this century. Geographically it consists mostly of that western-most protuberance noticeable on ant map of the County Tyrone. Termonamongan is one of Tyrone’s oldest parishes, it’s history goes back to St. Patrick. Its Gaelic name consists of termon, an ancient term for any land set aside for church maintenance; and of mongan, the Mongan family(7) who had been its hereditary wardens for centuries. Such wardenship carried with it protection, right of sanctuary, and immunity from lay exactions. So, the name Termonamongan is a historical relic.
Termonamongan was truly a McMenamin parish in the nineteenth century. In Griffith’s Land Valuation, the County Tyrone lists forty-eight McMenamins as "occupiers" of land in this parish alone. Not one of these owned the parcels of land they occupied. Like James and Anne these McMenamins were peasants, either tenant farmers or mere cottiers. Most of them were illiterate, holding on to the Roman Catholic faith their English rulers wanted them to abandon. They descended from generations of despair.
If there was an epitaph placed on the grave of my great grandparents in Magherakeel Cemetery it might well read :
"And there are some of whom there is no memorial;
who are perished as if they had never been,
and born as if they had never been born,
and their children with them.
But these were men of mercy,
whose Godly deeds have not failed.
Good things continue with their seed."
Ecclus: 44, 9-11
1. Two centuries later, 82 percent of the Irish people belonged to the Roman Catholic Church even though the government had prersecuted them in favor of the established Church of Ireland. See p. 165, The Church of Ireland, D.H. Akenson, Yale University Press, 1971.
2. Office was the Victorian term used then for any small outdoor toilet closet; these were considered an asset to one's property.
3. "Tours of Ireland", The Quarterly Review, 85: 503-504, 1849.
4. In 1858, James and Anne lived at Edenreagh on 17 acres leased from Anne Tennent.
5. According to their children, they always claimed not to be close blood relatives. There were so many McMenamin families in the Ireland of their time, this is possible.
6. Henry finally married at fifty.
7. In Magherakeel Cemetery, no tombstone is more impressive than that of Father Cornelius O'Mongan, ordained by Oliver Plunkett in 1674 and died in 1724. Somewhere nearby lie James and Anne McMenamin.
General Notes: Child - McMenamin
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General Notes: Child - McMenamin
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General Notes: Child - McMenamin
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Husband Patrick Joseph McMenamin
Born: May 24, 1854 - Termonamongan Parish, County Tyrone, Ireland
Baptized:
Died: 1938 - Afton Township, Dekalb County, IL
Buried: - St. James Calvary Cemetery, Lee, IL
Father: James McMenamin
Mother: Anna McMenamin
Marriage: June 8, 1876 - St. John's Church, East Greenbush, Rensselaer County, NY
Wife Mary Anne McMenamin
Born: January 1, 1856 - Killeter, County Tyrone, Ireland
Baptized:
Died: 1913
Buried:
Children
1 M James Hugh McMenamin
Born: April 27, 1877 - East Greenbush, Rensselaer County, NY
Baptized:
Died: 1957
Buried:
Spouse: Ellen Nell Diehl
Marr: October 15, 1902 - St. Mark's Catholic Church, Chicago, IL
2 M John Henry McMenamin
Born: July 23, 1879 - East Greenbush, Rensselaer County, NY
Baptized:
Died: August 17, 1955 - Dekalb, Ill
Cause of Death: Adult Onset Diabetes
Buried: 1955 - St. Mary Cemetery, Dekalb, IL
Spouse: Martha Madeline McCormick
Marr: August 22, 1911 - St. James Catholic Church, Lee, IL
3 M Michael Joseph McMenamin
Born: July 1881 - Afton Township, Dekalb County, IL
Baptized:
Died: 1957
Buried:
Spouse: McMenamin
4 M Edward McMenamin
Born: 1882 - Afton Township, Dekalb County, IL
Baptized:
Died: 1885
Buried:
5 M Patrick McMenamin
Born: 1885 - Afton Township, Dekalb County, IL
Baptized:
Died: 1886
Buried:
6 F Mary Gertrude McMenamin
AKA: Mame
Born: February 1886 - Afton Township, Dekalb County, IL
Baptized:
Died: 1952
Cause of Death: Bone Cancer
Buried: - St. Mary's Cemetery, Maple Park, Dekalb County, IL
Spouse: Edward C. Sullivan
Marr: 1908
7 F Anna Cecelia McMenamin
AKA: Nan
Born: May 17, 1888 - Afton Township, Dekalb County, IL
Baptized:
Died: November 20, 1965
Cause of Death: Adult Onset Diabetes
Buried: November 23, 1965
Spouse: Patrick Ward
8 M Francis Aloysious McMenamin
Born: September 1889 - Afton Township, Dekalb County, IL
Baptized:
Died: February 7, 1952 - Portland, OR
Cause of Death: Heart Attack
Buried:
Spouse: Justine Hortense Pessemier
Marr: July 28, 1914
9 M Charles McMenamin
Born: December 1891 - Afton Township, Dekalb County, IL
Baptized:
Died: 1957
Buried:
10 F Kathryn Jeanette McMenamin
Born: April 1894 - Afton Township, Dekalb County, IL
Baptized:
Died: 1988 - Dekalb, IL
Buried: - St. Mary Cemetery, Dekalb, Dekalb County, IL
Spouse: William Buehler
11 F Josephine McMenamin
Born: 1896 - Afton Township, Dekalb County, IL
Baptized:
Died: 1896
Buried:
12 M Eugene McMenamin
Born: 1901 - Afton Township, Dekalb County, IL
Baptized:
Died: 1965
Cause of Death: Adult Onset Diabetes
Buried:
General Notes: Husband - Patrick Joseph McMenamin
Patrick was born on May 25, 1854. Left Ireland at nineteen, with a friend, Jim Crowe, in 1873. His betrothed was a colleen of the same surname, Mary Anne McMenamin, from the nearby town of Killeter. Three years after his leaving Ireland, she joined him in New York. They were married on June 8, 1876 at St. John's Church, Greenbush, New York. They were then young immigrants; he was just twenty two and she, twenty-one. He had emigrated, in 1873, to work on a farm several years beforehand and was illiterate but showed signs of being talented with good judgment. She was literate and though she bore the same surname before marriage it was always claimed that they "were not related". Their marriage must have been agreed upon before she emigrated.
Patrick was probably met by his brothers Owen and Michael who had immigrated several years before him and were living in East Greenbush. They probably took him up the Hudson River to the city of Albany, which was not far from East Greenbush. After their second baby, John Henry, was born, Patrick would move his family to DeKalb County, Illinois, where he would purchase his own 360 acre farm and rear another 10 children. Patrick and Mary would eventually have 12 children (8 boys and 4 Girls), three of the children would die before reaching the age of four. In addition, Mary lost 3 male infants at birth.
Later, he would sponsor the immigration of his younger bother Hugh, who would also settle in DeKalb County.
1906 was the year Patrick and Mary retired from farming and moved into their newly built house on South First Street (South of Perry Road) in Afton Township, DeKalb County, Illinois.
Patrick died at the age of 84 in 1938. Mary died of Diabetes in 1913.
THE LIFE OF THE ANCESTOR, PATRICK JOSEPH McMENAMIN
by Joseph Patrick McMenamin
April 1995
An old family Bible has in writing the birth dates of my McMenamin grandparents. His is given as "May 25, 1854"; hers as "January 1, 1855". Their marriage date and location are there, too: "June 8, 1876" at "St. John's Church, Greenbush, New York". They were then young immigrants; he was just twenty two and she, twenty-one. He had emigrated to work on a farm several years beforehand; he was illiterate but showed signs of being talented with good judgment. She was literate and though she bore the same surname before marriage it was always claimed that they "were not related". Their marriage must have been agreed upon before she emigrated; her baptismal name was Mary; his, Patrick.
We of this generation tend to impose our own stereotyped images of the new world into which my paternal grandparents entered. Understandably so. Yet the truth reveals something different than the picture so long held in my own mind. When Patrick McMenamin's vessel of immigrants sailed into New York harbor, there was yet no statue of Liberty to greet him. If he had been entering Paris instead there would have been no Eiffel Tower. He was probably met by his brother Owen or Michael from East Greenbush who took him up the Hudson River to the city of Albany, which was not far from East Greenbush.
There is a family story about his immigrating that could have been true. It was related to me in a letter from his nephew, Jamie, a 70-year old retired drover in New Zealand. Jamie wrote that the immigration vessel's departure date made the lad's leaving on schedule impossible because he had yet a few weeks left to complete a verbal contract as a laborer with his employer, a local landlord, who refused to release him from the contract. So my grandfather's family and friends subsidized the passage fee which he expected wages would have financed.
It is sad to report that none of us (his children or grandchildren) can tell much of the circumstances he endured on his immigration voyage. I do recall that he came with a companion, Jim Crowe, who was a brother-in-law of his own older brother Owen, (Owen and his small family had already settled near relatives in East Greenbush, Rensselaer County, of the State of New York.) Patrick also had another older brother, Michael, who had settled himself in this area; so he was not coming into a world of strangers. I have yet to find documentary evidence as to his year of entry, but it must have been about 1874 since we know he was married in 1876 to a girl who had known him in Ireland and who followed him to America.
A tintype photograph taken at the time of their wedding has been preserved through copies. Young Patrick was then twenty-two years old. His hair, we know, was Irish red and his hands look to be strong and large, of importance for a young farm laborer. Young Patrick, we were told, rose early in the dawn after his day of marriage to milk many cows.
By late 1879, his thoughts were given seriously to becoming a naturalized citizen. His second son (my father) had been born in July. In October, Patrick appeared in the Albany Justices' Court declaring his intention to become a U.S. citizen and to "renounce forever all allegiance . . . particularly to the Queen of Great Britain." This, of course, he found easy to do but his naturalization was not finalized until he had moved his small family to Illinois.
I can imagine my young grandfather's interest upon seeing his first live snake when he worked as a newly arrived immigrant in the farmland of Rensselaer County, New York. The only snake familiar to him was the serpent he had seen in the stained glass window of his parish church back in Ireland. In fact, young Patrick would also see his first toad and skunk in America, as these did not exist in Ireland due to the island's long geologic isolation.
It happens, however, that Ireland does have one wild flower not found on the Island of Britain, or the whole European continent. I would like to think it greeted him with its blue violet blossoms when he was (years later) inspecting the wet areas of the large farm he had purchased in Illinois.
This wild flower and I have been special friends ever since I was introduced to it by a botany professor. I still recall how we botany students on that field trip enjoyed trying to pronounce this grass like plant's Latin name sisyrinchium angustifolium. Its common name was so much easier - "blue-eyed grass". Each blossom (produced in early summer) is only about a half inch in diameter and consists of similar petals. Although the plant resembles a grass plant it actually belongs in the iris plant family. Years later I was to learn that the only other place in the world this little plant grew besides North America was in my grandfather's native part of Ireland.
Clustered colonies of blue-eyed grass are said to be conspicuous when blooming in wet places near the shorelines of rivers and lakes of Northwestern Ireland. Which leads me to thinking that my grandfather in his boyhood years must have seen large colonies of blue-eyed grass along the shorelines of the River Derg, so near his native home.
And I like to imagine that he discovered this familiar sight many years later when he first traversed the wet areas of his newly purchased prairie farm in Illinois. I can see his own blue eyes light up with recognition on that early summer day. I like to think he carried home a cluster of the blue-eyed grass blossoms to surprise MY grandmother. "Here Mary, see what I found!" She, too, had grown up in the same area of Ireland.
Now, I wish it were possible to have blue-eyed grass growing on their Illinois graves.
My grandfather died in 1938. We have no colored photographs to show his twinkling blue eyes, but I was pleased to learn some forty years after his death his eyes were still recalled. His only surviving niece (then almost ninety) surprised me with this comment: "Two things I'll never forget about Uncle Pat were his sense of humor and twinkling blue eyes!"
Those of us who visited him during his final illness cannot forget how he could still muster up that smile and ask that there be "plenty of food on hand for his wake".
What was the year Patrick moved his little family to Illinois and who prompted it? These are family facts that have been lost. We do know that he had become a naturalized citizen of the U.S. in October, 1892, for we have a copy of the document issued at DeKalb County's open court and witnessed by Mike Minnegan and Peter Redmond. The witness to Patrick's signature, confirming his mark "X", was W.W. Whitmore. The document cites that Patrick had resided at least one year in the State of Illinois and he had "behaved himself as a man of good moral character .
It becomes evident, then, that thirteen years had elapsed between the time he had applied for citizenship in New York State and the time he actually obtained it. By this time (October, 1892) he had become the father of nine children, two of whom had died. His wife, Mary, had no reason to bother with citizenship even though she was literate. Why? The answer undoubtedly is that she was a woman and women could not vote then.
Even so, she was to die before she would have been able to vote in his newly adopted country. She died in 1913; it was 1920 before the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution gave female citizens of the U.S. their right to vote. Patrick, then a widower was probably unaware (or if so, disinterested) of the event's historical significance.
So much has been lost as to how that young family (Patrick, Mary and their small sons Jim and John) traveled to Illinois. Hand-me-down tales suggest that the journey was accomplished by one or two stops where Patrick obtained money to progress further by working temporarily as a section hand on the railroad. The time must have been in the early 1880's. They were certainly aware that their social status set them apart from mainstream America because of their poverty, religion and culture. But they had pluck and vision of a better life in Illinois, so they forged ahead hoping for promise of opportunity in the rich agricultural region of DeKalb County.
If there was a purpose in their decision to consider the town of DeKalb as the end of the trek, I cannot say. But there is the story told by Patrick, himself, of his riding a horse about 10 miles to seek employment as a renter of Gormley farm property in Pierce Township southeast of DeKalb. He succeeded. This Gormley farm was to become his growing family's first Illinois home for several years. It was here the event took place which Patrick, himself, told me about many years later. I will tell it in his own words as I wrote them down during a visit with him in 1937.
"I was swilling(1) pigs one morning after a rain when we lived on the Gormley place. A fellow came walking down the road with his grip(2). I was very dirty. He came up to me and said, 'Good morning, Sir! Nice bunch of pigs!' He was as brown as a mulatto. I sized him up and said, 'I think I have seen you before' and shook hands with him. He was my older brother, Jim. I took him in to see my wife and other children . . . , whereupon I interrupted him and asked for the names of his children:
Jim - about age 10 years,
John - about age 8 years,
Mike - about age 5 years,
Edward - about age 3 years,
Mame - about age 6 months"
Using these children's birth dates I conclude that Patrick and Mary had not yet lost Edward, who was to die soon. Mame was born in 1886, so the year of this visit must have been about 1887.
My grandfather went on telling how Jim stayed with them about three weeks, during which time they visited their younger brother, Hugh, who had come to the DeKalb area and had married an Irish immigrant girl in 1884.
Another thing my grandfather could recall about the day of his brother Jim's coming to the Gormley farm was that he had had his sons Jim and John out in the corn field helping him plant white navy beans in each corn hill where gophers had eaten out the seed corn. He even recalled that the planted beans had produced a yield of eight to ten bushels that fall, so the visit must have occurred in late June.
Memories of this visit also gave more information about his remarkable brother, Jim, who was "a great traveler", "never married", "the smallest in statute" of his siblings, "didn't communicate much", and "was very independent".
How long did Patrick's growing family live on the Gormley farm? We have clues that give us an estimate. My father, John, told of attending the nearby rural school with my wife's mother, Sarah Powers, who was four years older. He was also said to have attended catechism lessons with a neighbor, Michael Malone, riding to DeKalb in a horse-drawn wagon.
On a cold day in March, 1896, Patrick McMenamin moved his family for the third and last time as a renter. His children now numbered five sons and three daughters. His wife was pregnant and the girl she would deliver in November would die shortly thereafter. They had already buried two boys(3).
Their three eldest sons, James 18, John 15, and Michael 14, were able to help Patrick with the heavier farm work. Frank, who was 8, had learned to milk and was soon able to drive a gentle team pulling the milk-laden wagon to the milk depot three miles away. Later in his memoirs son Frank wrote, "I do not yet understand how it was possible to play two ball games on Sunday and work as hard as we did during the week."
It was that hard work which Patrick expected of his sons that enabled him to purchase the 120 acres adjoining his rented 240 acre farm and within another few years even buy the 240 acres as well. So, prior to the turn of the century, Patrick McMenamin, the former Irish immigrant, owned more land than any landlord in his boyhood County Tyrone of Northern Ireland.
But in September, 1910, Patrick must have realized that his success had not been without cost. Three of his sons had left for the Northwest (Washington and Oregon). They saw better opportunities for education and a healthier life. The "West" was said to be freer of hay fever than Illinois. Their want of an education must have been something Patrick wondered about. Each of these sons had the advantage of some elementary school learning. Unlike him, they could read and write. He, their successful father, could do neither.
That he was changeable in his thinking, I digress here to point out, before he died he presented me with a $20 bill to express his appreciation of my graduating with high honors from the University of Illinois. He was 83 years old then; I am 82 now.
Today, I am more aware of the different changes this man experienced in his lifetime. Transportation, as his family grew, was chiefly by horseback or horse-drawn vehicles. In 1895 (the year prior to moving his family to the farm he would soon own) there occurred the first gasoline-powered automobile race in America from snowy Chicago to Evanston when on Thanksgiving Day the Duryea brothers won, making the round trip in ten hours. Their car looked very carriage-like and had, instead of a steering wheel, a "tiller"(4). If anyone told Patrick of this historic event, I can understand his lack of interest.
My "Uncle Jim" was the first to leave the farm for a better life. Contacts with his Chicago cousins (Owen's family) must have been influential. In the City of Chicago Directory of 1898 his name James McMenamin is listed at the same business address as his cousin, Eugene M. McMenamin. In October, 1902, for the first of his three marriages, my "Uncle Jim" (Patrick's eldest son) married a girl he met at Valparaiso College where he was a graduate of law. The marriage was brief. In 1903 he had left his bride and opened a law office in Tacoma, Washington. On the 31st of March, 1903, he had by a legal decree(5) separated himself from his bride on said grounds "that they have been constantly quarreling and they are so entirely different in temperament" and "that there is no issue of said marriage."
So, Patrick's eldest established himself as an attorney and something of a magnet who would draw his siblings, Michael, Frank and Anne, to the Washington-Oregon area.
That my father, John, was also tempted to follow suit is expressed in his own words in a letter written in 1909 from Tacoma to my mother (whom he had yet to marry), saying: "Everybody is trying to influence me to come out and start in business here, so don't be surprised if Mrs. John McMenamin would be out here some time in the near future."
But John was evidently not to leave Illinois or the farm his parents now owned. A month later he was writing about his farm home to my mother, saying that she was "the magnet that is ever drawing me nearer to you." And another month later he wrote: "Sold our hogs today; it is great to be a farmer at the price they are paying for pork . . . I heard they are going to close the creamery depot the first of the year (January 1, 1910) so I told Pa yesterday I didn't care to take chances on keeping so many cows and that it would be best to sell some. He seemed to agree with me and if he does we will sell some 30 to 40 head. That will leave 20 or 25 for me to keep."
In late January of the New Year, 1910, John was writing about his parents' plan to build their retirement home, which was to be built nearby on the first 120 acres purchased. "One of the architects from DeKalb just ate dinner with us; he is looking after the contract for building the house."
Patrick did have the new house built. He and his ailing wife moved into it in 1911 before John Henry was married in August. If Patrick surmised he was facing retirement years with less stress and challenges than his earlier family years had been he was in for a succession of surprises.
He and his wife had moved into their newly built home less than two years when she died of diabetes; and the three sons who had remained with him were giving him growing concern. Eugene, the youngest, was but 12. Charles, who had been a problem adolescent and chose not to attend the local high school, was 21 and incommunicado when his mother died. John, recently married, who had chosen to remain home and work the large 360-acre farm, was by August, 1914, in a sanatorium at Hinsdale, Illinois.
Did Patrick ever wonder at the successful lives of his three elder sons who had left him early in the family years? Their growing careers were an obvious contrast to the sad outcomes developing for those sons who remained with him.
Considering what he himself had accomplished without any education, maybe he felt he should have enabled those who "went West" to attend the local high school. But there was John who never went beyond seventh grade. And Charlie, who chose not to go beyond eighth grade. And there was his youngest, Gene, ever a problem, whom he had sent to Notre Dame Academy, who entered the local high school in 1918 and chose not to graduate.
True, his three daughters had done better with educational opportunities. Mame, his eldest girl, had entered high school at 17. (Her mother and he were not convinced their daughters needed an education.) So "Mame" did not graduate until 1907; but by 1910 she was earning a salary teaching in a nearby rural school. By 1912 his daughter, "Nan", had graduated from a nursing school and two years later "Kate", who had attended a parochial academy, would graduate at 18 from the local public high school; she, too, would be teaching in nearby rural schools.
Before their mother died it seems that Patrick must have realized that his three daughters should have more education than their mother had (who, I was told, usually read the daily newspaper to him). By 1910 Mame was teaching in a nearby rural school. Nan was learning how to become an accredited nurse, and young Kate had been sent to a parochial academy in Iowa. Patrick and Mary had adjusted their thinking to the changing times but not without some opposition at first. (Their eldest girl, "Mame", did not enter the DeKalb Township High School until she was 17 and graduated therefrom in June 1907, when she was 21.) Obviously they were pleased that she was soon a wage earner as a teacher.
Illiteracy certainly does not prevent an intelligent person from indulging in meditational hindsight when one reaches the lonely years of old age. I recall my grandfather's frequent rests and pipes of Prince Albert tobacco as he lay on his couch. It was in a nearby chair that I sat and wrote down some (but not enough) information about his early life. It seems now that he looked pleased that anyone would be interested to ask him to reflect.
It must have been during his later years, during lonely rest periods, that he concluded he should leave a second Will. Kate, his youngest daughter, and her husband had come to live with him and farm the 160 acres which was his retirement home. He decided they had merited the property for keeping him comfortable in his old age. He was completing his 84th year in 1938. He signed a second Will to this effect, leaving the rest of his estate equally distributed to his surviving children.
And so, about a week after his 84th birthday, Patrick McMenamin, retired farmer, "for over 50 years a resident of Afton Township", DeKalb County, Illinois, died. One could not have wished him a more beautiful death. I was there, home for a few days prior to the University of Illinois commencement ceremony at which I was to receive a diploma for the degree of Bachelor of Education. I chose to remain at home and attend the funeral instead of attending the ceremony.
Over a half century later my perspective reflections focus on the positive aspects of Patrick's death scene. He died knowing that his three adult daughters were attending him, as well as "round the clock" nurse, Mary McCormick. He died hearing about twelve of us kneeling about saying our beads - the Sorrowful Mysteries, of course. He died in the same bed he had knelt beside, with bowed head in his hands, when I slept with him, an overnight visitor of six. Above his death bed still hung the framed picture of the Assumption of the Virgin.
And so ended the life of one Patrick McMenamin. Only one of his offspring would know a longer life span; that was Kate, who lived to be 94. Three of his children had died in childhood; four in their sixties; three in their seventies; and one (the eldest) reached eighty.
My grandfather died without the fears of coldness of a nursing home or the problems that come with senility. He lived out his life showing us that "Living is a thing you do now or never." I think he realized the choice was up to each of us.
1. "Swilling" was feeding a liquid consisting of milk, water, and maybe some ground grain that had fermented.
2. "Grip" meant a suitcase.
3. And in August, 1890, brother Owen's coffin was sent to DeKalb by train. Patrick was asked to bury him in St. Mary's Cemetery.
4. The handle or bar for turning a boat's rudder.
5. Decree No.23485, Tacoma, County of Pierce, Washington.
General Notes: Wife - Mary Anne McMenamin
5th and youngest child of Bernard and Mary McHugh McMenamin of County Tyrone Ireland.
Died of diabetes; three of her offspring were also afflicted with diabetes; John, 1879-1955; Anne, 1888-1964; Eugene, 1901-1965. Two other children also acquired adult onset diabetes and died from complications of the disease.
General Notes: Child - James Hugh McMenamin
Graduated in June, 1902, from the Indiana College of Law.
Who's Who Biography - Added by hirshey on 13 Dec 2008
WHO'S WHO FOR OREGON
MCMENAMIN, JAMES H.
Lawyer
b. East Greenbush, New York, April 27, 1877; son of P. J. and Mary McM.;
Education, Valparaiso Univ., Ind., LL. B., 1902.
Married Nelle D. Diehl, Jan. 29, 1914.
One son, James H., Jr.
Law practice, Chicago, one year; law practice, Tacoma, Wash., 1903-13; since 1912, law practice, Portland, Ore.
Secretary, Tacoma Bar Assn., eight years.
Member, Co. A. Multnomah Guard, during World War.
Owner and operator of farms in Clark County, Wash.; promoter of dairying industry, extensive breeder of pure-bred live-stock. Member, State Holstein Friesian Assn. of Wash.; Press and City Clubs of Portland. Elk Woodman.
Republican.
Catholic.
"The Western Migration" - A Brief History From The Collected Writings of Patrick Joseph's Descendants
Patrick, born May 25, 1854 in the area of Castlederg, County Tyrone Ireland came to America about 1873. He joined his brothers, Michael and Owen who had preceded him by a few years in the East Greenbush, NY area. Even though P.J. could not read or write, his hard work and thriftiness enabled him to send for his bride-to-be, Mary Anne McMenamin to join him within a
few years. Although sharing the same surname she was not closely related. She could read and write. It is said she had church leaders in her family background. Surely her literacy was very influential in life directions her children would take. Patrick and Mary were wed June 8, 1876, St. John's Church, Greenbush, NY.
By the time their third son was born in the summer of 1881 they had moved to DeKalb County, Illinois. In 1901, the last of Mary's 12 children was born on their Afton farm. Nine would survive to adulthood. James Hugh, the oldest, would receive a law degree from Valparaiso University in 1902. That same year James married...sadly, the marriage ended abruptly. By 1903 James
would take the most familiar Chicago & Northwestern Railroad that stopped in DeKalb to its end of the line, Tacoma, WA. There he set up his law practice till 1912 when he moved on to Portland, OR.
The next son to feel the call of the West was Michael Joseph. His first 18 years were spent on the farm before going off to Valparaiso University. But it was not for him. Instead he left Illinois to join his brother James in Washington State after working as a cowboy in New Mexico for a few years. Exact dates aren't to be found but 1905 or 1906 is roughly when Michael came to Tacoma and an adventure of a lifetime...perhaps the first cattle drive to Alaska. Maybe cattle cruise-drive might be a bit more descriptive. 240 head of cattle were loaded aboard the Dashing Waves which sailed
north along the Canadian coast up to Nome, Alaska...a 5 week voyage...watering, feeding and cleaning the livestock muck twice a day. Once in Nome, Mike was given a compass and the instructions: "Get yourself to Council first, then head directly north to Candle from there." His thoughts 50 years later: "Well, there I was -a couple hundred cattle on my hands; two cowboys as green as myself; three packhorses and a compass. One hundred and eighty miles to go across country I didn't know anything about. I suddenly found myself wishing I'd never left New Mexico." Needless to say, it was a successful venture. By 1909, Mike married and over time became a commercial grain salesman in Tacoma. A fuller accounting of his adventure is to be found in: "First Alaskan Cattle Drive".
Added note: Michael's New Mexico cowboy foray was likely influenced by his cousin John,
Owen McMenamin's son. John had left Chicago for New Mexico about 1895. He appears on the 1900 Cimarron, NM census as day laborer. Later census’ find him as a stock rancher in Arizona.
Francis (Frank) was the third son of Patrick to leave DeKalb for the west. Having completed only the sixth grade, Frank, in 1910, age 21, joined his attorney brother Jim in Tacoma. The big brother advised him to go to the state university at Seattle. His lack of a preparatory education left him quickly rejected by the university however they recommended he try St Martin's College at Lacey, WA. St Martin's also offered high school courses. Frank was able to complete the high school courses begin some college subjects within 3 years. He received top honors on the debating team, a gold medal for composition and learned Latin, Greek and German. Besides being active on the football team he also took part in the theater group. Frank's 1914 marriage ended his St Martin's days but he went to law school at night. Once that schooling was completed and the bar passed he joined his joined his brother Jim's Portland law practice. Frank's paths crossed with a Heppner, OR, business man who lured him to the thriving eastern Oregon
farming community. There, besides practicing law, he also became involved in sheep ranching. About 1920, he went into a ranch partnership with Pat Ward. The ranch consisted of some 7,250 acres, lambing sheds and forest grassing permits. It was a going concern for a few years but a drop in prices brought an end to Frank's sheep ranching. In 1923 he returned to Portland.
The last child of Patrick to relocate to the northwest was Nan (Anne Cecilia). She had already received her nurse's training in Illinois before 1910 as she gave her occupation as "nurse" for that DeKalb census. It is likely that she made several visits to see her brothers and their families but in 1919 while visiting Frank and his growing family (a third daughter was born in 1918) she met Pat Ward. A marriage soon ensued.
John Henry, the second son, toyed with the idea of moving west. In 1909 while visiting Jim in Tacoma he wrote his to-be wife that he was being influenced to start in business in Tacoma “so don't be surprised if Mrs. John McMenamin would be out here some time in the near future." A month later, back in DeKalb writing about his farm home to Martha, he says that she was "the magnet that is ever drawing me”. And a month later "Sold our hogs today; it is great to be a farmer at the price they are paying for pork.”
In 1910, P.J. gave his running of the farm to John, and retired.
General Notes: Child - John Henry McMenamin
Diabetic (late onset) like his brother Eugene, 1901-1965, and sister Anne, 1888-1964.
John and Martha met at a "community party" in about 1908. John had dated Martha's sister, Evelyn, once or twice before meeting Martha. The party had been held at the farm home of a cousin. Young people had parties in their homes, dancing, card games, picnics - inviting neighbors and relatives.
John & Martha were 33 and 28 when married in 1911.
John continued farming the 360 acre farm owned by his father, Patrick.
Patrick, John's father, retired in a new home nearby, just north.
John bought 240 acres of the 360 acres in 1917; lost them in 1929, during the Great Depression. He stayed on the farm to run it for its new owners.
John & Martha left the "family" farm in 1941, moving into DeKalb on Augusta Avenue.
General Notes: Child - Mary Gertrude McMenamin
Mary Gertrude McMenamin was affectionately known as "Mame". She married Edward Sullivan, and they farmed just SE of Maple Park, IL. The farmstead is still in existence today. Set back from Rt. 38, it is the third farm east of County Line Road, on the north side of the road, amid a grove a tall, mature trees.
Mame and Ed never had children of their own that lived (three sons were stillborn), but adopted a daughter, Mary Ellen, in about 1925, who married Virgil Grzyva in the late 1940's. Barbara Jean McMenamin Montgomery acted as Matron of Honor at the wedding. Virgil and Mary Ellen Grzyva lived on the Sullivan farmstead until their later years and raised a family.
Mary Gertrude "Mame" McMenamin Sullivan died of bone cancer.
Must have been Rh negative; lost three male offspring at birth (Jos P. McMenamin's prognostication).
General Notes: Child - Anna Cecelia McMenamin
Diabetic like her brothers JOHN H. and Eugene.
General Notes: Child - Francis Aloysious McMenamin
Introduction
These memoirs were found among my Uncle Frank’s papers after his sudden death in 1952 at age 62. He was the eight of twelve children born to Patrick and Mary McMenamin, my paternal grandparents. A copy of these recollections was sent to me by his attorney son, Robert, in 1975, for which I am grateful.
Francis Aloysius McMenamin was born on September 27, 1889, married on July 28, 1914 and died February 2, 1952. He was the tallest and strongest of Patrick’s sons and probably the most sensitive. I could believe he was my grandfather’s favorite son. His leaving the family circle at twenty-one must have been particularly hard on his father.
When I visited my Oregon cousins in August, 1935, Uncle Frank and Aunt Justine were expecting their eleventh child. It was during this visit that this remarkable uncle confided his disappointment in hearing so little from his boyhood family after leaving Illinois. Now, having lived over seventy years myself I offer an explanation as to how this may have happened.
when he left home, his fifty-one year old mother, who had borne twelve children, was already unwell. She was diabetic and would die within three years, just before insulin injections were underway. At home yet were Frank’s three sisters, unmarried, able to care for her (Nan, already a nurse) and able to reply to Frank’s letters and cards; but they were young and insensitive to his distant need. And, his father who had ample time now, being newly retired, could neither read nor write.
I am glad to edit these memoirs since I was born in the farm house Frank knew as home for sixteen years. I milked cows in the same barn, worked in the same hay loft. I, too, plowed corn with a team of horses, learned to operate a cream separator, and took the milk to the depot. My brothers and I recall when Monkey, Uncle Frank’s horse died.
A few years back, I located some old faded post cards Frank sent home telling about his football team at St. Martin’s. I marvel at the graceful script his fingers penned; those fingers that had husked corn and milked cows not long before.
Few fathers are heroes to their families. Proverbs says: "Children’s children are the glory of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers." At fifty-one Frank McMenamin still recalled that glory. He went back once to see his aging father who never "made it west to know the children of his special son.
Joseph Patrick McMenamin
Dec. 18, 1983
MEMOIRS OF MY EARLIER YEARS
Francis A. McMenamin, 1889-1952
Having reached the age of fifty-one, I sometimes think of things I have observed and happenings that transpired when I was a young boy. I have had experiences that might be interesting to those of younger years. With this in mind I write a few memoirs that may serve a useful purpose.
My main incentive is due to the many happy memories I have of talks with my father in my youth. He did not have the advantage of education, and could not read or write. However, he had a very logical mind and a fine memory. And many of his maxims of business, I found later, some authors would take several pages to tell what he had the faculty of saying in one sentence. Consequently, associations with him and the advice that he gave me from time to time caused these principles to remain with me for many years. It is possible that the following ramblings may contain information of benefit and cause the reader to think. I believe strongly with Elbert Hubbert that "you may not agree with what I have to say, but if I cause you to think, I have at least done you a service".
My earliest recollection reaches back to the year 1896, on cold days, about the first of March. Father moved from a rented farm to a larger one several miles away. This farm consisted of 240 acres, and was in DeKalb Country, Illinois, about seven miles south of the town of DeKalb. DeKalb was 58 miles west of Chicago, on the Chicago-Northwestern Railway.
There were eight children in our family. James was 18, John 15, Michael 14, Mary (Mame) 10, myself 8, Anne 7, Charles 4, and Katherine 2. Edward who died at three would have been 13 and Patrick who died at three weeks would have been 9. When we moved to this big farm mother was "expecting" again and would have Josephine in November; Josephine died about a week after birth. Five years later she gave birth to her twelfth and last child, Eugene. (Mother died of diabetes in 1913 at age 68, after I had gone west.)
When our family made this move in 1896, only three of my brothers - James, Michael and John were old enough to help father with the heavier farm work. But I would be soon for I had learned to milk at five, drove a gentle team to the milk deport three miles away at seven; and began doing the work of a man at twelve.
At four years of age I started to school, and went nine months of the year until I was eight. Then I stayed out in the spring and fall; and went in the winter time from eight until I was twelve. This was all the education I received until I was 21 years of age. (After I went West, I worked my way through high school, college and university.) My early recollections of the farm were quite pleasant. We always had plenty to eat and warm clothing. However, it was amusement that seemed to be lacking. The only amusement which ?I had was hunting rabbits in the wintertime and occasional duck in the spring. Baseball was quite a sport in the summer, but this could only be taken care of on Sunday; with the hard week’s work I do not understand how it was possible to play two ball games on Sunday and work as hard as we did during the week.
A few years Father moved his family to this 240 acres he purchased 120 acres adjoining for, as I recall, $57 an acre. By farming the 360 acres and breaking up some the virgin soil and putting the same into corn, it is my recollection that two years crops made sufficient money to pay for the 120 acres. Later he purchased the 240 acres at $100 per acre, which left him one of the finest farms in the vicinity. This was in one of the leading agricultural districts of the United States and I believe that DeKalb County was the first the United States to have a full time agricultural agent.
The years continued to roll along and as I went through boyhood and early manhood, considerable hard work was always ahead of me as I was big and husky and seemed to take the lead with much of the work. Father was a very hard worker and for years beyond when it was necessary for him to do so. He seemed to be of a nature that he would rather be doing something than to sit and rest. He had a beautiful philosophy of life and if he had heavy worries he did not inflict them on others and seemed to keep them to himself. Each day at noon after he had his lunch he would lie down and sleep for a half hour or so and then get up and approach the afternoon work with all the vigor he had in the morning. He enjoyed hard labor and did not take too easily to mechanical improvements. However, he did not stand in our way and as we urged him to buy machinery, he gradually fell into line.
One of the things that stands out in my memory was the ownership of a small horse whose name was "Monkey". This horse was bought when he was two years old at a farm sale for $10. He was stunted and had a heavy coat of hair as he had been out in the winter without proper shelter. When he was taken home he looked very poor but as I had been doing such good work, father gave him to me. In fact, I was taking a man’s place from about the time I was 12 years old, having learned to milk cows when I was 5 and drove a team to the milk factory when I was 6 and 7. I decided that milk would be good for him as we had a cream separator and plenty of warm skim milk. I gave him about a three gallon bucketful each morning and evening. This seemed to work like magic and by spring I had the colt looking much better. He then went out on grass pasture and it was only a short time before he was developing into a very handsome horse. He never weighed over 825 pounds. I took him in hand and broke him gently. He was rather stubborn and always high spirited. However, I worked with him carefully and taught him to single step and also to pace. I finally hitched him to a little rubber tired run-about; he had a nice harness to fit and a fancy fly net; this was quite a thing in those days.
When I drove down the street in town, trotting him down one side of the street and then bring him up pacing on the other side, people would stop and look to see whether or not he was a trick horse. He was wonderful under the saddle, and many a fine hour I spent with him as he was my means of transportation as well as my means of relaxation. He was my pal for some ten years and lived a couple of years after I left the farm. I believe he became quite old and died of old age.1
In addition to the farming of 360 acres, we always had a herd of large polled shorthorns, a milking strain. Father sold 15 to 20 of these cows each year which made it necessary to "break in" a number of heifers into being milked after having their first calf. I seemed to have a good knack in doing this; at least I was given the assignment. I believe that if I now have patience, milking those heifers in the spring and summer in a hot cow barn where the windows were very small, may be the reason. The cows stood side by side in stanchions. If a cat came into the barn and disturbed one cow, she would kick and commotion would spread through the barn. After awhile, however, by continual care and no abuse, the heifers would get acquainted with you. They would learn that you were their friend and it would not be long until they would be just as gentle to handle as the other cows were.
In those days, no one ever thought of ventilating a barn (which was free and should have been utilized). Also, there was too little consideration given to the welfare of the person doing the hard work. For instance, each harvest time it was my duty to go up into the big barn to move the hay away from the center of the loft as it came up in big fork loads from the driveway just outside the barn. At the top of the barn was a very small door, probably about 4 by 6 feet; now, there should have been four or five such door or at least one or two big ones which would have let more air circulate into the barn. But, as I say, no consideration was given to this. I worked for hours, the sweat running off of me in streams, with no ventilation at all. On a hot summer day the temperature was 95 or 100 degrees F. We accepted all this thinking it was necessary. Time gradually improved conditions, however, and some three or four years before I left home, along about 1906, hay loaders came into general use. The hay loader would be attached behind a large wagon and would rake the hay up from the field, push it up onto the wagon. The team would be walking along and the field would be rough in places. For a person to hold his balance as he was building up a large load of hay and field some 30 or 35 loads a day was an ordeal.. I can assure you that when night came we had to have a real ardent love affair or some other impelling motive to go out and not roll into bed as soon as we had supper. It was very hard work and as I look back now, we needed a union and an eight hour day.
After an ordinary hard day’s work was done, the cows milked, and the cream separated, we sometimes went off to a dance. But, first you took a lantern and hung it on the porch and got out a straight razor, hoping it was reasonably sharp. If not, it was up to you to strap it until it was. Then you shaved and got "dolled up" for the dance that might be ten miles away. Sometimes it was twenty. Often we would come home in the morning just as the gray dawn was streaking and if you got to bed and had one hour of good sleep you would feel very fortunate. You had to get up irregardless and start the day’s routine again. If there is anything in the world that is tantalizing it is cultivating corn when you have had very little sleep the night before.
I ran a cultivator for some time which cultivated two rows at once, and was drawn by three horses. This made it necessary for you to keep your horses walking three abreast and proceeding in a straight line. The work was comparatively easy, but if you had one slow horse or a fast one, it would make the machine pull sideways and you would have to use your feet and hands in order to keep the cultivating machine straight over the rows. This, at times, was certainly a job, particularly in fly time, as flies would light on the horse and cause them to become nervous and make it hard to do a good job and not plow out the small tender stalks of corn.
We had no regular allowance for spending money on the farm and the question of getting some money for a little spending, as little as it was, was a problem. I did not smoke until after I was 30 years of age and consequently my expense was not very much. One suit of clothes would last a couple of years, until we out-grew it. And if we went to a party, 25 cents would be a big expense. The girls would generally bring cakes and sandwiches, and the boys would probably pay 25 cents apiece to pay for the music. I believe that with this set-up we had more enjoyment than youngsters have now when they feel they have to spend at least $5 1 for an ordinary night’s outing.
To make extra money, for several years I trapped in the winter time. I was successful in catching mink , skunk and other fur bearing animals that would bring a fairly good price. One morning on my way to school with another boy I found a large skunk in one of the traps. Being eager not to let the skunk get away, we killed it and skinned it. When we arrived at school the teacher promptly sent us home as the room was well heated and "sensitive to odors".
After I was 14 years old, I spent a bit of my time breaking horses for harness work, no matter how wild or large they happened to be. I cannot help feeling lucky when I look back at some of the chances I took. We always had to be master of the horse in getting the first harness on him and getting him hitched to a wagon. We would probably have some outlaws that were shipped in from Montana or Wyoming. It was quite an undertaking. However, it was all part of a day’s work and I was paid good money for good results by neighbors who hear of my skill. Thus, I generally had some money in my pocket.
When I was 14 years old, unlike the average farm boy, I took some money and went to dancing school in the winter, one or two night a week. This I did for two or three winters and kept up on the latest dances. After- wards, I knew the square-dances and others so well that I was taken out a number of times to travel with an orchestra in order to be a dance manager and to do the calling for them. For this work I would generally get $5 a night and free expenses, so it paid me well to keep up on my dancing.
I was also considered a champion corn husker. I began husking when I was 14 years old. When I was 15, I husked and shovel into a crib 115 bushels in one day. For this I received 3 cents a bushel. Anyone who has not seen 55 or 60 bushels of corn piled up on a wagon does not know just how many ears you have to throw in order to produce that much corn. When we were through with the corn harvest at home, I was generally sure of a few weeks of outside work. This money would go a long way toward paying my expenses during the winter. For instance, in March 1910 (before I came West, to go to school in September 1910) I had a contract to husk corn in March for $1.75 an acre. I had to use hip boots, the snow and mud was so deep, and had two teams of horses on my wagon to pull it through the mud. I made $93.30 in 19 days and a quarter, but I lost 12 pounds in doing the work; finally I suffered an attack of rheumatism and had to quit the work. However, I did get my check of $93.30 and it was the biggest money that I had ever seen. The rest of the summer of 1910 I worked for $35 per month with my room and board and kept my horse. By September 1910 when I came West, I had saved several hundred dollars which lasted well through the first school year.
In September 1910 I phoned my eldest brother James in Tacoma, Washington where he was practicing law. He did not know the exact date of my arrival and he was somewhat perturbed that I should come to Tacoma and not have him meet me at the train. I got off the train, asked where his office building was and walked to his office. He did not like this as he said I walked through the toughest part of town. I always "felt the lion" however and the new surroundings just meant another day to me.
When I came to Tacoma, I weighed only 153 pounds.1 I had suffered severe attacks of asthma for a couple of years in Illinois and during the summer months. working in the hay fields brought severe attacks. Many nights I would have to sit up in a chair as I would be unable to sleep. I started to take on weight and in about two months I had gained 30 pounds; I also seemed to enjoy life much more.
My brother James advised me to go to the state university at Seattle so I went there to enroll as a special student. I must have been a problem because when they asked me where I had taken my high school work I told them that I had never been to high school. Naturally I was turned down and when I returned to Tacoma my brother James could not understand it and sent me back the next day. I figured that he knew better than I, so I went back and repeated the same procedures. This time I was advised to try St. Martin’s College at Lacey, Washington where I enrolled and started in taking high school courses. Some of the boys in my class were probably 13 and 14 years of age and some of them were in knee trousers yet.2 It would have been rather humiliating to some persons but one teacher soon took a liking to me, admiring my determination to get an education.
It was very difficult going for the first three or four months but gradually my mind began to work and my studies became much easier. I finished the high school course during the next two years and got in considerable college work. The professors were exceedingly kind to me and some of them would give me private instruction. Gradually, I understood what "X" stood for in Algebra and what Geometry was all about. In my first Geometry test I received a grade of 40. This made me determined to master the subject as it was the only one that was getting me down. So I began to study Geometry real hard and at the end of the year I won the premium for my class of 1913.
I carried a double load for each of the three years that I was at St. Martins, and received wonderful training. I also played football during the three years and made the first football team two weeks after I entered college. We only had 15 or 16 men on our squad but we were big huskies; we got our share of winnings against the teams we played. Football in those days was somewhat rougher than it is today; we had to be able to "take it" in order to stay on the team.
St. Martin’s College was a boarding school chiefly, and I have fond memories of the days spent there. We had plenty to eat although we could figure a day ahead just what the menu for the next day would be. One thing I remember was the hotcakes in the morning with black syrup. They were not very tasty, but if you ate three or four, you were able to play football.
During the three years that I was at St. Martins I would go out to eastern Oregon or eastern Washington in the summertime and work on combine harvesters so I was able to save a good bit of money each year. I spent two years doing this at Uniontown, Washington and recall one Fourth of July when my college chum, Clinton Fleet- wood, was with me. He was a hundred yard man at college and one of the best. We had only the old clothes we wore in the harvest field and during the Fourth of July celebration appeared in the races wearing our work overalls. A number of sprinters were there from the state university at Moscow dressed in shorts and spiked shoes. They warmed up and seemed to be put out that a man in overalls would have the nerve to enter a race with them. The gun shot off, and my college chum came in considerably ahead of their best sprinter. They walked around him in circles and looked at him in amazement when he took first money. We entered some of the competitive sports and were both ahead $25 in prize money for having spent the day at the celebration. We also got acquainted with some farm girls and as a result had interesting amusement for the rest of the summer on Saturday and Sunday nights.
General Notes: Child - Eugene McMenamin
Diabetic like his sister Anne and brother John H.
Husband Edward C. Sullivan
Born: 1879
Baptized:
Died: 1953
Buried: - St. Mary's Cemetery, Maple Park, Dekalb County, IL
Father:
Mother: Margaret Sullivan
Marriage: 1908
Wife Mary Gertrude McMenamin
AKA: Mame
Born: February 1886 - Afton Township, Dekalb County, IL
Baptized:
Died: 1952
Cause of Death: Bone Cancer
Buried: - St. Mary's Cemetery, Maple Park, Dekalb County, IL
Father: Patrick Joseph McMenamin
Mother: Mary Anne McMenamin
Children
1 M Son Sullivan
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Cause of Death: Stillborn
Buried:
2 F Mary Ellen Fleming Sullivan
Born: May 28, 1924
Baptized:
Died: March 3, 1997 - Phoenix, AZ
Buried: March 8, 1997 - St. Mary's Cemetery, Maple Park, Dekalb County, IL
Spouse: Virgil Stanley Grzywa
Marr: 1947 - Maple Park, Kane County, IL
General Notes: Wife - Mary Gertrude McMenamin
Mary Gertrude McMenamin was affectionately known as "Mame". She married Edward Sullivan, and they farmed just SE of Maple Park, IL. The farmstead is still in existence today. Set back from Rt. 38, it is the third farm east of County Line Road, on the north side of the road, amid a grove a tall, mature trees.
Mame and Ed never had children of their own that lived (three sons were stillborn), but adopted a daughter, Mary Ellen, in about 1925, who married Virgil Grzyva in the late 1940's. Barbara Jean McMenamin Montgomery acted as Matron of Honor at the wedding. Virgil and Mary Ellen Grzyva lived on the Sullivan farmstead until their later years and raised a family.
Mary Gertrude "Mame" McMenamin Sullivan died of bone cancer.
Must have been Rh negative; lost three male offspring at birth (Jos P. McMenamin's prognostication).
Husband Michael McMenamin
Born: 1790
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Marriage:
Wife Mary Quinn
Born: 1790
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Children
1 U McMenamin
Born: 1807
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
2 U McMenamin
Born: 1809
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
3 F Ann McMenamin
Born: 1811
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: William Monteith
4 M Ned McMenamin
Born: 1813
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
5 M James McMenamin
Born: March 17, 1828 - Termonamongan Parish, County Tyrone, Ireland
Baptized:
Died: 1890 - Killeter Parish, Edenreagh, County Tyrone, Ireland
Buried: - Magerakeel Cemetery, County Tyrone, Ireland
Spouse: Anna McMenamin
Marr: 1843 - County Tyrone, Ireland
General Notes: Child - James McMenamin
Born about 1815. Died at age 62? His brother Ned emigrated to New York, a farmer.
James and Anne, by Joseph Patrick McMenamin
"It is with James and Anne (and their children) we start to find records of the McMenamins of County Tyrone. Before their time, family records were not kept; it was illegal to keep official entries of births, baptisms, marriages and deaths in Ireland's Catholic churches. James was the son of Michael and Mary. We believe Mary's maiden name was (probably) Quinn. We know from Jamie's Letter to Joe that Michael and Mary had at least two children, James and Ann. However, we do not know if they had others. We do find in the document "Earliest McMenamin Tree", a diagram that shows (possibly) four other siblings Edward (Ned), Henry, Mary and Joe. It would have been very uncharacteristic (at this time) for a good Irish Catholic family like the McMenamin's to have only two children, but it is possible (with the higher rates of infant mortality) that only two children may have survived. They had married four years before the famine. James and Anne were poor farm tenants on 17 acres, but James and Anne were lucky to live in an area that raised oats and barley as well as potatoes, one of Tyrone's better agricultural regions. According to Griffith's Land Evaluation survey of 1858 , they leased seventeen acres from an Anne Tennent. James and Anne were of the "lower class" an would have been classified as tenant farmers, a step above "cottier". A cottier was a sub-tenant; working a plot of land only big enough to raise potatoes. In the high ground of Magerkeel Cemetery the bones of James and Anne McMenamin have dissolved into the Irish earth whose nutrients maintained their sturdy bodies. Their graves lack a lasting marker. They, too, had parents and grandparents who are part of our legendary family history. Beyond their time we find fragments and anecdotes that tease the curious."
Husband Michael J. McMenamin
Born: 1903
Baptized:
Died: 1983
Buried:
Father: Hugh McMenamin
Mother: Mary McGuire
Marriage:
Wife Ruby Wonser
Born: 1915
Baptized:
Died: 1973
Buried:
Children
1 F McMenamin
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
2 F McMenamin
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Stogdill
3 F McMenamin
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Brown
General Notes: Child - McMenamin
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General Notes: Child - McMenamin
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General Notes: Child - McMenamin
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Husband Paul J. McMenamin
Born: 1925
Baptized:
Died: 1993
Buried:
Father: John E. McMenamin
Mother: Gladys Gertrude Youngs
Marriage:
Wife Doris J. Wilhelms
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Children
Husband Robert William McMenamin
Born: May 20, 1926
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Father: Francis Aloysious McMenamin
Mother: Justine Hortense Pessemier
Marriage:
Wife Wentworth
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Children
1 M McMenamin
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Foelker
2 F McMenamin
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Case
3 M McMenamin
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
4 F McMenamin
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
General Notes: Wife - Wentworth
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General Notes: Child - McMenamin
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General Notes: Child - McMenamin
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General Notes: Child - McMenamin
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General Notes: Child - McMenamin
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Husband Robert Swanberg
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Marriage: July 18, 1947
Wife Ruth Janet McMenamin
Born: December 31, 1927
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Father: Francis Aloysious McMenamin
Mother: Justine Hortense Pessemier
Children
1 M Swanberg
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Carter
2 M Swanberg
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Nagel
3 F Swanberg
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: M
4 F Swanberg
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Trapold
5 M Swanberg
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Dilly
6 M Swanberg
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Sinclair
7 M Swanberg
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
8 F Swanberg
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
General Notes: Child - Swanberg
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General Notes: Child - Swanberg
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General Notes: Child - Swanberg
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General Notes: Child - Swanberg
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General Notes: Child - Swanberg
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General Notes: Child - Swanberg
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General Notes: Child - Swanberg
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General Notes: Child - Swanberg
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Husband Robert Peterson
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Marriage:
Wife Sally McMenamin
Born: 1925
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Father: John P. McMenamin
Mother: Sarah Sadie Coyne
Children
1 M Peterson
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Claesson
2 M Peterson
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Thompson
3 M Peterson
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: West
Spouse: Medernach
4 M Peterson
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Olson
General Notes: Child - Peterson
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General Notes: Child - Peterson
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General Notes: Child - Peterson
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General Notes: Child - Peterson
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Husband Victarthur McMenamin
AKA: Vic
Born: October 11, 1915 - Afton Township, Dekalb County, IL
Baptized:
Died: October 14, 1996 - Veteran's Home, Manteno, IL
Buried: October 19, 1996 - St. Mary Cemetery, Dekalb, IL
Father: John Henry McMenamin
Mother: Martha Madeline McCormick
Marriage:
Wife Dorothy Snyder
Born: June 26, 1921 - Dekalb, IL
Baptized:
Died: September 5, 1980 - Seattle, King County, WA
Buried: - Seattle, King County, WA
Father: Snyder
Mother:
Children
1 F McMenamin
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Angelow
2 F McMenamin
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Foltz
General Notes: Husband - Victarthur McMenamin
Oral History Interview with Vic McMenamin, done by Erin Fitzpatrick-Bjorn and Jeff Bjorn, 18 August 1993, DeKalb, Illinois:
One day a few summers ago we had the chance to sit down with Uncle Vic in his apartment at the “High Rise” in DeKalb and hear some stories from his flying days. We’ve had the notes from our interview since then, and had just recently typed them up for Jeff to share at a very special Veteran’s Day celebration being held at the school he teaches at next month. Over 150 W.W.II veterans will attend and be honored during a full-day event which will include a “USO show” and a B-17 fly-by. Jeff will be sharing Uncle Vic’s experiences with his students. Below we’ve tried to capture the essence of the information and stories Vic shared with us. We hope you enjoy reading about this special man!
Mementos of Uncle Vic’s World War II flying days were scattered around his apartment as we sat down to hear him tell about his experiences: a few photos, a painting, a medal, even a model airplane. One photo was of a blue-gray plane with red highlights and a star on it. It was a B-24J “Liberator,” the type of plane Vic flew in. Another photo was of a plane in battle; that frame was decorated with Vic’s Distinguished Flying Cross Medal. A third photo was that of Combat Crew 240-172, with eleven flyers.
Vic said that at the time of the war he was not interested in history, just in girls and drinking. “The changing of the guard [at Buckingham Palace] meant nothing to me. Now I regret it. When I was over there [in England] I went into London two times.” One time Vic flew into London for a plane part but, as he told it, “all I saw was the inside of one pub for about an hour.”
He recalled that he went off the base one of the first nights he was over there and went into a town of about 40,000 people. He went through some villages along the way where there were houses with thatched roofs and streams running through the villages. “And damned if the geese weren’t even floating . . . Just like the postcards we’d seen.”
When Vic left home for Europe in 1942 his father had just gotten his first rubber wheeled tractor. In Europe he saw a man with a horse and an oxen with a single plow planting potatoes just as he’d done for years and years.
Vic spent one of his weeks on the Rock of Gibraltar and remembered it as “interesting as hell.” A GI and his wife had just been sent there. They were the first army personnel there and they invited Vic up to their home. The experience just getting to their home was an exciting one: “streets were curvin’ and curvin’. I was scared to death.”
One of the raids Vic told us about was over Proeste(1.), Romania. All bombing was done from about five miles up. In Proeste they had a concise target; they could’ve gone in with bombers to saturate, but they didn’t have enough planes, so they decided to go in at a low level. They lost about 40% of their planes. During the Proeste raid Vic sat for thirteen hours and forty-five minutes in the tail turret of his plane (80% of this flight was non-combat). He described it as “sitting in a high chair.” There was no room to move and he had to use a cup with a tube for urinating.
“I remember most just prior to target we had to climb up for 50 feet above fields to get over smokestacks. Coming down for the last initial point(2.) there was a call for test fire about fifteen to twenty miles out. Twin 50’s [guns] test fired and I noticed a farmer and his wife right between my bullets.”
After the raid there were several holes in the vertical stabilizers in Vic’s plane. The vertical stabilizers stick out on both sides of the plane just in front of the tail gunner’s (Vic’s) seat.
The Proeste raid was the only single action in World War II in which five Congressional Medals of Honor were awarded. Only two of those were awarded to living men. Five commanders of the bomber group received the military’s highest award.
Vic’s plane was eventually shot down about forty miles south of Vienna. It was June and they were doing a “milk run.” He didn’t remember seeing a fighter or very much flak. They had been in England and were sent back to Tunis. They could hit the Vengasi factory from Tunisia. On the return to base his and sixteen or seventeen other planes went down. He couldn’t see any of the other planes, couldn’t see much except the tail piece basically. They had extra fuel on board instead of a full load of bombs, and oxygen tanks above the fuel. Vic left his rear hatch, counted five and pulled the string.
He landed on the ground and began trying to get his wits about him. “Didn’t get a scratch. Couldn’t get a purple heart.” As he began drawing maps of Italy and Tunisia using the information he had about where they’d flown, Vic saw his co-pilot, Roberts, a man on his first mission, walking due north instead of south. “Obviously he was in shock and was bleeding from the leg.”
All the US soldiers were captured except one pilot(3.) and a bombardier who died. Vic wasn’t sure at the time, but said that when he didn’t see any other chutes open he assumed that his good friend Bugyie(4.) didn’t make it. They picked up several prisoners along they way to the camp, but still no Bugyie. About the fifth day, Vic was walking around the camp and saw Bugyie. Vic did not even stop to say hello or anything, he just ran back to the barracks yelling, “Bugyie’s here. Bugyie’s here.” Bugyie later told Vic he hadn’t pulled his cord until he was at about 3,000 feet because he was afraid of the fighters.
On April 8, 1945, the Germans began marching the group. At one point, while they were waiting to get water, Vic noticed there a small incline. He got a few friends to get the guards’ attention. “I said, ‘get their backs to where I’m going.’ I knew if I could get ten minutes the embankment would hide me.” Vic walked in the evenings and at night to prevent his detection. He dug up potatoes from the fields to eat. He also remembered kernals of corn from horse dung.
Once, Vic walked up to a farmhouse (it was rare to see a house outside a village) which had no phone wires running to it and no lights. He saw a man chopping wood. Between the man and the building (about 3/4 of a mile away) he saw another man, who he walked right up to. “I’ll be a sonafabitch if he wasn’t a mongoloid. He couldn’t talk. The one guy who could help me was a nut! I went right up to the farmer and asked for brot. He thought I was a refugee or something and gave me bread.”
Three or four days later Vic saw some women. He told them he was an “Amerikanish Fleiger.” They took him to a ditch and told him to lay down. Eventually they took him to Anna Engelbrecht, an aristocratic, anti-Hitler woman. She found a young lady of about 35 who spoke almost perfect English. Her husband happened to be a prisoner of the US from the African invasion.
“I couldn’t see the war ending until September or later so I thought I’d stock up on food and move on. [But] she knew a berger who needed help so I started working for him. I’d plant potatoes in the afternoon. The evening the ladies took me down it was nearly dusk. He took me into the barns and showed me his oxen, horse and a big pig. At the end of the barn he said, ‘here’s your toilet,’ and showed me.”
The next morning Vic had to take the pigs out to pasture, and he pitched manure later. Animal and human waste went into the same pot. He had to go down into it in his shoes and socks to pitch it up. While he was down there he saw some water trickling down the gutter. He didn’t realize it was actually waste coming down until he went over and looked up to see a woman on the hole!
The farmer Vic worked for had a winecellar on the edge of the village, and every so often they’d have to wipe down the kegs. “He would take me out say at noon and then return at four or five. He’d show me a keg I could drink from while I’d work. Then when he’d come out in the evening we’d drink from another keg. We visited as long as we could.”
Since they were still near a town that the 15th had been bombing and still in the area of the prison camp, Vic didn’t want anyone to know he was an American flyer. “It was reasonable to assume that people in this village had relatives killed.” It would not have been good if they had discovered an American flyer in their midst, so Vic posed as a North African Frenchman. However, “after all that wine I went home singing ‘Give My Regards to Broadway.’ Luckily no English speakers heard!”
This is the end of the stories Vic told us that day, but there were many, many others. His courage and resourcefulness and that of the thousands of other veterans like him who fought for freedom and justice in World War II is something to be admired and respected. We will always remember him, especially on this Veteran’s Day.
1. Uncle Vic called the town he was talking about Proeste. However, we can find no town by that name in Romania. The Romanian name for the town is Ploiesti.
2. The final turn and then there is no more deviating from the course. That point to the target is a dead run.
3. A Terry Olson corresponded with me in 1997, indicating that his father, Stan F. Olson, was the pilot who did not survive the incident. Terry said that his father was the only one aboard who did not survive.
4. The spelling of this friend’s name may be incorrect; Olson referred to Steve Buggie. The pronunciation is boo’jee.
In 1987, when explaining to his nephew, Bill Montgomery, about the moment the plane was hit he said, "All I remember was feeling the plane shudder a bit behind me, as I was sitting facing out the rear glass of the tailgunner position. When I realized we had begun a descent, I turned around to see the front of the plane gone. I quickly grabbed my parachute and headed for the way out and as I got just a few feet below the plane it exploded."
Two more stories Vic related to Bill Montgomery:
One story was about his "duty" one day of cleaning the open pit in the ground used as an open toilet, it being full of human waste. The only way to clean it was to jump down into it and shovel it out. That was one of his most degrading experiences, until a very large and very fat German woman came to use the toilet and did not regard his being in it at all, as she stood by the side of the "toilet", turned around, lifted her skirt and proceeded to make her deposit in the direction of Vic.
The other story was about an experience Vic had while living on a small farm after escaping from the prison camp, doing work for a Hitler-sympathizing little fat man, who even wore a small, narrow, black mustache as further example of his loyalty. This was much to the chagrin of Vic, and he could do nothing about working for such a slob of a man. He continued to pretend to be a frenchman until the American liberation came nearby and his host pretended to celebrate the Americans in his presence. With that, Vic gave up his "disguise" and punched the little Hitler in the stomach saying, "God Bless America", in English.
Flight Records for: Flight Crew 240172, 506th Bomb Squadron, 44th Group:
Mission No. / Pilot / (Victor McMenamin's) Position / A/C Type / A/C Serial No. / Date / Mission Date / Target
1 - Anderson, Belly Gun, D-5-CO, 41-23787, May 1, 1943, Diversion, France
2 - Anderson, Belly Gun, D-25-CO, 41-24235, May 4, 1943, Diversion, Holland
3 - Anderson, Tail Gun, D-35-CO, 41-40172, May 14, 1943, Kiel, Germany Submarine
4 - Beam, Tail Gun, D-35-CO, 41-40172, May 17, 1943, Bordeaux, France
5 - Beam, Tail Gun, D-35-CO, 41-40172, May 29, 1943, La Pallice, France
6 - Beam, Tail Gun, D-35-CO, 41-40172, July 2, 1943, Lecce, Italy
7 - Possey, Belly Gun, D-20-CO, 41-40172, July 5, 1943, Messina, Sicily
8 - Beam, Tail Gun, D-35-CO, 41-40172, July 8, 1943, Catania, Sicily
9 - Beam, Tail Gun, D-35-CO, 41-40172, July 10, 1943, Catania, Sicily
10 - Beam, Tail Gun, D-20-CO, 41-24201, July 13, 1943, Crotne, Sicily
11 - Anderson, Tail Gun, D-5-CO, 41-23787, July 15, 1943, Foggia, Italy
12 - Beam, Tail Gun, D-35-CO, 41-40172, July 17, 1943, Naples, Italy
13 - Beam, Tail Gun, D-35-CO, 41-40172, July 19, 1943, Rome, Italy
14 - Anderson, Tail Gun, D-35-CO, 41-40172, August 1, 1943, Ploesti, Romania
15 - Anderson, Tail Gun, D-35-CO, 41-40172, August 16, 1943, Foggia, Italy
16 - Olson, Tail Gun, D-160-CO, 42-72857, September 24, 1943, Pisa, Italy
17 - Olson, Tail Gun, D-160-CO, 42-40370, September 25, 1943, Lucca, Italy
18 - Olson, Tail Gun, D-160-CO, 42-72857, October 1, 1943, Wiener-Neustadt, Austria
CREW #240172, MEMBERS in photo of 27 May 1943:
Anderson - On mission, October 1, 1943, over Wiener-Neustadt, Austria
Shaw - On mission
Olson - On mission
Hurst - On mission
Goodson - Post Service, bef 1986
Ferkauff - Post Service, bef 1986
Bell - Post Service, bef 1986
Hearne - Post Service, bef 1986
Hartney - Post Service, August, 1988
Lt. Allen - Post Service, September 29, 1988
McMenamin - Post Service, October, 1996 First mission: ‘Kiehl, May 14th 1943’
In his own handwriting, on the back of his CREW #240172 photo;
"Killed on missions - Anderson, Shaw, Olson, Hurst. Deceased since leaving service, Goodson, Ferkhauff, Bell, Hearne, as of 1986. Aug. 1988, received word Hartney died. Sept. 29th, 1988 Lt. Allen died. As of this date I am the only surviving member of Combat Crew 240172 - Nov. 18th, 1988 - Vic
P.S. I had just been assigned to this crew as tail gunner; replacement for Goldiron who failed to return from pass to Norwich to attend briefing for mission to sub-pens at Kiehl. Later Court-Marshalled. Kiehl was my 1st mission, May 14th, 1943. Dec. 1988 - Just noticed in our Bomb Grp's quarterly magazine that our bombing altitude over Weiner Neustadt was 22,000 ft. but that we were down to 16,000 when our plane blew up. All these years U thought we were still at bombing altitude. I guess I was pretty busy not to notice our descent."
Editorial Written by Vic McMenamin, Staff Sergeant, 8th Air Force
DeKalb Chronicle, June 1990, DeKalb, Illinois
"Remembering"
Editor:
Re: The Flag Controversy.
The above subject has brought to mind a thrilling experience I enjoyed a few days after the Armistice Declaration of WWII in Europe. As an escaped prisoner of war I was returning to my former prison camp seeking transportation, and coming out of a wooded area one morning, lo and, behold, there was the camp with the American flag flying from the same pole that had flown the Nazi Swastika, and in front of which we had to stand for roll call each morning of the previous 18 mos. Even today as I write this, I recall distinctly the thrill I experienced - just standing there, trying to absorb the full impact of the moment. I do believe it is far more intelligent and useful for one to use a pen between his fingers rather than a match-stick to express himself, regardless of ones stand on this issue.
VICTOR A. McMENAMIN
More of Vic's memories of his WWII experiences:
Lived in on a military base in rural England from October 10, 1943 to about July 1, 1943, and in North Africa on missions until October 1, 1943.
His first mission out of Africa, after joining the flight crew he eventually "went down with", was May 14,1943. With that crew, Flight
Crew 240172, 506th Bomb Squadron, 44th Group, he flew a total of 16 missions. That Crew flew a total of 18 missions. The Crew's missions must have at first been based out of England, then transferred to Africa in about July of 1943.
Between May 14th and July 13th he racked up 13 bombing missions. July 13, 1943, was his 13th mission as a tailgunner, over Crotne, Sicily.
Doing the math, he must have flown a total of 21 missions, October 21, 1943, being his 21st mission; 13 missions up to and including July 13, and 8 missions from July 15 to October 1. (NOTE: A little conflicting information: On the back of the photo of his Flight Crew he wrote May 14, 1943, was his first mission, while he wrote home on July 13, 1943, that he had just flown his 13th mission. The Official Flight Records for Flight Crew 240172, 506th Bomb Squadron, 44th Group, say there were eight (8) missions by the crew in that time frame, including the May 14 and July 13 missions, yet Vic wrote home on July 13 that July 13 was his 13th mission. We may not straighten that out.)
On August 1, 1943, they bombed Ploesti, Romania.
They were shot down October 1, 1943, over Wiener-Neustadt, Austria. All but the pilot survived.
He escaped from the Stalag Prison Camp during a forced march on April 8, 1945, and laid low for a month.
While on the run and with enemy soldiers approaching, he knelt by a wooded shrine and said the Rosary (which was sent to him in prison camp by his Aunt Julia) while two Nazi soldiers walked past. The Rosary saved his life that day.
He was protected by an Austrian farmer, while he "passed" as French to the farmer's wife and daughter.
He was "trapped" in the farm's latrine (story related above).
Armistice Day / Victory in Europe Day / V-E Day was May 8, 1945.
He was later condemned by a U.S. Military Chaplain as having been AWOL because he'd escaped as a POW.
LETTERS HOME:
During his time of service, he wrote a total of 86 letters to his Mother and Father, which his mother dutifully saved and denoted as to their arrival dates, not to mention so many other letters to immediate and extended family members, and many friends.
His last letter home from England was dated June 17, 1943.
Martha and John did not receive any letters from Victor between October 30, 1943 (last letter home from Africa) until April 4, 1944 (first letter home as a POW). His first letter home from Stalag XVII-B took five months to arrive.
It was 2-1/2 years since he left home before he saw a photo of any family back home, and he received that in prison camp.
His last two letters were written January 6, 1945, from the Stalag, and were received at home probably in March. At that time, his letters were taking about 2 months to reach DeKalb.
With his last letters arriving in DeKalb in March, it would be well after May 8, 1945, until his parents and family would hear of his status as he was not "repatriated" at his former prison camp by Americans until, in his words, "a few days after the Armistice Declaration" (Letter to the Editor, June 1990, "The Flag Controversy").
It looks as though the POW's were, at first, allowed to write letters about once a month, later on writing twice a month.
Everything was censored twice - once by the Germans and once by the Americans when they received the letters from the Germans.
What day was it when he walked into his parents house on Augusta Avenue? He probably came home on the train from Chicago and may have been delayed in arriving while receiving specialized care in a military hospital following his ordeal as a POW.
He made reference to July 13 being his 13th mission, in his own handwriting on the back of his 8X10 Flight Crew photograph which used to hang in his apartment. NOTE: A little conflicting information: On the back of the photo of his Flight Crew he wrote May 14, 1943, was his first mission, while he wrote home on July 21, 1943, that he had just flown his 13th mission. The Official Flight Records for Flight Crew 240172, 506th Bomb Squadron, 44th Group, say there were eleven (11) missions by the crew in that time frame, including the May 14 and July 21 missions, yet Vic wrote home on July 21 that that day was his 13th mission. We may not straighten that one out. But, to support the 21st mission-count: He wrote in an earlier letter to home, and he once told me, he was hoping to get stateside right after that October 1, 1943 mission, his 21st mission. It was a required break and a required 2-week furlough, being sent home for 2 weeks, after which he would be stationed somewhere non-combat. And of course, he said, he had to get shot down on his last mission! It is also possible he filled-in on other Missions whose Flight Crew needed a tail-gunner, but that's unlikely.
Here's another WWII fact or two about Vic, and his POW experiences:
He wrote a total of 86 letters to his Mother and Father, which Martha dutifully saved and denoted as to their arrival dates, not to mention so many other letters to immediate and extended family members, and many friends.
His last two letters were written January 6, 1945, from the Stalag, and received probably in March. At that time, his letters were taking about 2 months to reach DeKalb.
It looks as though the POW's were, at first, allowed to write letters about once a month, later on writing twice a month.
Everything was censored twice - once by the Germans and once by the Americans when they received the letters from the Germans.
With his last letter arriving in March, it would be well after Armistice Day, May 8, 1945, until his parents and family would hear of his status as he was not "repatriated" at his former prison camp by Americans until, in his words, "a few days after the Armistice Declaration" when he was "looking for transportation" (Letter to the Editor, June 1990, "The Flag Controversy").
44th Bomb Group Roll of Honor and Casualties 1 October 1943
www.44thbombgroup.com Page 136
July 2005 edition
506th Sq., #42-72857 Bar-X, Olson STAR SPANGLED HELL
506th Squadron Crew:
OLSON, STANLEY F. Pilot lst Lt. Salt Lake City, Florence, ASN 0-730588 KIA WOM Utah
ROBERTS, EDGAR W. Co-pilot Flight Officer San Jose, ASN T-357 POW California
ALLEN, RONALD S. Jr. Navigator Capt. Wagoner, ASN 0-408633 POW Oklahoma
HANSON, CHESTER B. Bombardier 2nd Lt. Ft. Dodge, ASN 0-667289 POW Iowa
GOODSON, WALTER N. Engineer S/Sgt. Evansville, ASN 35255236 POW Indiana
HEARNE, ALLIE T. Jr. Radio Operator T/Sgt. Jasper, ASN 18059989 POW Texas
BELL, J. R. Asst. Engineer S/Sgt. San Bernardino, ASN 39094739 POW California
FERKAUFF, OSCAR Armorer S/Sgt. Kansas City, ASN 38157563 POW Missouri
BUGYIE, STEVE F. Ball Turret S/Sgt. Exeland, ASN 16131104 Evadee, POW Wisconsin
McMENAMIN, VICTOR A. Tail Turret S/Sgt. DeKalb ASN 16037239 POW Illinois
1st Lt. Stanley F. Olson was the pilot of this 506th Squadron aircraft. The MACR states:
“Approximately 125 to 150 enemy aircraft made vicious attacks on this formation in the target area at 1140 hours. It was hit individually by five Me 109s with nose and passing attacks, very close. This aircraft dropped its bombs and peeled off to the right and was still pursued by five fighters. No chutes observed.”
Steve Bugyie, ball turret operator, adds, “I think that I may have been the last one to depart the airplane - and the first to hit the ground. I delayed pulling my ripcord until the last minute and this, according to Vic McMenamin, tail gunner, may have saved my life. Vic was adjusting his harness when I came out of the ball turret, and he accidentally dropped my chest pack chute down into the turret. I had to crawl back into the turret to retrieve it. Victor claims that he pulled his ripcord right away and saw the ship blow into pieces.
“Due to the flames from the burning bomb bay tank, we do not know who left the plane last. Bell and Ferkauff, the waist gunners, were already gone. It may be that reports of only eight chutes accounts for my being reported as missing in action. I was loose for four days and made about 120 kilometers due west.
“After I got to the ground, my face felt like I had a bad sunburn. The fires were so intense that there was molten aluminum stuck to my face. The molten metal and exploding aircraft may account for the many holes that I had observed in my parachute.
“I did not normally belong to Olson’s crew, as I was flying as a spare gunner for that day only. I was the regular assistant engineer with Lt. Bunce. Lt. Olson may have stayed with the airplane too long as no one ever saw or heard of him again. I think that I had 15 missions when I went down.”
1 October 1943 44th Bomb Group Roll of Honor and Casualties
www.44thbombgroup.com Page 137
July 2005 edition
Due to the flames from the burning bomb bay tank, we do not know who left the plane last. Lt. Olson may have stayed with the airplane too long as no one ever saw or heard of him again. Bell and Ferkauff, the waist gunners, were already gone.
Up in the nose of the ship, Ron Allen could see the fire in the bomb bay, and was preparing to go out through the nose wheel doors. He snapped on his chest harness chute and moved toward the doors. He recalls: ‘Suddenly I was stopped. I had forgotten to disconnect my communications and oxygen equipment. I quickly disconnected them and jumped. The fires singed my wrists, jacket and hair. As I drifted down, I looked up to see my parachute was full of holes. I didn’t know if I had pulled the ripcord too soon. The chute may have struck the ball turret guns as I went by. There was also the possibility that the turret gunner may have put a few holes in the chute since he was still in the turret and firing.”
On the flight deck, Goodson and Hearne were both burned by the fires that were raging in the bomb bay when they jumped. Goodson also had quite a chunk of skin torn loose when he hit the catwalk in the bomb bay.
Norm Kiefer remembers there were a lot of planes, both bombers and fighters that were burning in the target area. Around this time, Ron Allen and Steve Bugyie were drifting to the ground in their parachutes. Ron reports: “I jumped at 11:45 when our aircraft was at 16,500 feet (we should have been at 22,000 over the target). It was 12:00 noon when I reached the ground. I was hungry, tired, and disgusted. I had an escape kit, but it was not intended to be used in this area. It had Francs in it rather than money that was appropriate to this area. I had an apple that I had obtained the night before. That was all I had to eat for three days except for berries that I could scrounge.
On that third day, I was in a thinly wooded area. As I was lying down trying to figure out what to do to get across a road, I suddenly heard a stick pop behind me. When I turned to look, I saw an Austrian army doctor. I later learned that he was on leave from the Russian front. “The doctor was with his family visiting a farm. The doctor could speak English just as well as I could. He sat down and we visited a while. At one point, the doctor said, ‘Well, the war is going to be over in about 18 months.’ He then went back to rejoin the others. He didn’t attempt to capture me. He told his wife about me and they discussed what to do. He brought me something to eat. He then told me that they had decided, for their own protection, to turn me in. We went to the farmhouse and they gave me some warmed milk. Having been brought up on a dairy farm, warm milk just did not appeal to me.
“One of the farm girls said something and the doctor broke out laughing. He slapped me on the shoulder and said, ‘Do you know what she said?’ I replied, ‘I have no idea.’ The doctor then told me, ‘The girl thinks you are good looking.’ There I was, unshaven and my clothing was filthy. What did she see?
“The farmer sent a boy that was about 12 years old for the local constabulary. They put me in the local jail and all the kids from around that town hooted at me. I don’t know whether or not they were making fun of me.”
Steve Bugyie continues: “When I came down, I landed in quite a large pine tree. In order to get down, I had to climb on the shroud lines and broke the top of the tree off. When I hit the ground, I am certain that I was unconscious for a short period of time. When I woke up, I hid in some evergreens. It was fairly late in the afternoon when I heard the whistles of the Germans who were out searching for me. I took off in a westerly direction heading for Switzerland. It was then that I made the rule that I would only travel at night.
44th Bomb Group Roll of Honor and Casualties 1 October 1943
www.44thbombgroup.com
July 2005 edition Page 138
“When I stopped, I found a haystack and went to sleep in it. I was startled awake when I heard a blast from an 88-mm antiaircraft gun. There apparently was a German encampment near there. It was daylight, but I went back to sleep and slept most of the day. When I tried to look out of the stack, I couldn’t see anything. It was mostly an open field in front of me.
“As soon as the sun went down, I took off again. I was loose for three nights and four days. By walking and trotting, from sundown to sunup, I was able to make 190 kilometers (about 120 miles). The next to last night I was loose, I couldn’t find any cover so I slept in a small hay field behind a tavern. It was around noontime when I heard some rustling in the grass next to me. When I looked, I saw a water spaniel smelling me. About 50 yards away was a German hunter, an old fellow with a shotgun. I just lay there and the hunter walked on. When night fell, I took off again.
“I was weak from dysentery as well as the lack of food and water. It was on the fourth day when I approached some people. I was hoping that I could get some help. I spoke to them in German. After a brief conversation, they spoke to one of the people in Hungarian, or some other language. I thought they were sending for food. Instead, they went to bring the Home Guard. The next thing I knew, I was surrounded. I was taken back to Wiener Neustadt. On the following day, Lt. Matson, a pilot from the 389th and I were transported to Dulag Luft.”
General Notes: Child - McMenamin
Contact submitter for discretionary information about Living Individuals.
General Notes: Child - McMenamin
Contact submitter for discretionary information about Living Individuals.
Husband William John McMenamin
Born: 1884
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Father: Michael McMenamin
Mother: Catherine Gallagher
Marriage:
Wife Winifred Walsh
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Children
1 F Marion McMenamin
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
2 F Ruth McMenamin
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Husband John McMicking
Born: May 3, 1931 - Niagara Falls, Niagara County, NY
Baptized:
Died: May 16, 1981 - Niagara Falls, Niagara County, NY
Buried:
Marriage:
Wife Margaret Mae Wadsworth
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Father: Stuart Rowland Wadsworth
Mother: Ruth Doyle Bunnell
Other Spouse: Richard Edsel Wooley
Children
General Notes: Wife - Margaret Mae Wadsworth
Husband McMillan
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Marriage:
Wife Ripley
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Father: Elmer Robert Ripley
Mother: Lauris Read
Children
1 F McMillan
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Husband Adam McMillan
Born: 1826 - Stewiacke, Colchester, Nova Scotia
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Father: James McMillan
Mother: Catherine Johnson
Marriage: May 15, 1861
Wife
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Children
Husband Adam McMillan
Born: 1826 - Stewiacke, Colchester, Nova Scotia
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Father: James McMillan
Mother: Catherine Johnson
Marriage: September 7, 1869
Wife
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Children
Husband George McMillan
Born: February 14, 1849 - Camden, Colchester, Nova Scotia
Baptized:
Died:
Buried: - Camden, Colchester, NS
Father: James McMillan
Mother: Catherine Johnson
Marriage: September 20, 1882
Noted events in his life were:
1. Occupation, Farmer
2. Resided, Clifton, Colchester, NS
Wife
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Children
Husband George McMillan
Born: February 14, 1849 - Camden, Colchester, Nova Scotia
Baptized:
Died:
Buried: - Camden, Colchester, NS
Father: James McMillan
Mother: Catherine Johnson
Marriage: February 4, 1886 - Clifton, Colchester, Nova Scotia
Noted events in his life were:
1. Occupation, Farmer
2. Resided, Clifton, Colchester, NS
Wife
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Children
Husband John McMillan
Born: 1837
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Father: James McMillan
Mother: Catherine Johnson
Marriage: September 1, 1863 - Upper Stewiacke, Colchester, Nova Scotia
Wife
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Children
Husband
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Marriage:
Wife Mary Ann McMillan
Born: 1841
Baptized:
Died: 1889
Buried: - Camden, Colchester, NS
Father: James McMillan
Mother: Catherine Johnson
Children
Husband Mathew McMillan
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Marriage:
Wife Megan Ruth Hellen Trick
Born: January 9, 1991 - Oshawa, Ontario, Canada
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Father: Paul Douglas Israel
Mother: Donna Dorothy Louise Chandler
Children
1 M Ayden Mathew Trick
Born: August 7, 2008 - Oshawa, Ontario, Canada
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Husband Robert McMillan
Born: 1850 - Upper Stewiacke, Colchester, Nova Scotia
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Father: James McMillan
Mother: Catherine Johnson
Marriage: February 18, 1887 - Stewiacke, Colchester, Nova Scotia
Noted events in his life were:
1. Resided, Upper Stewiacke, Colchester, NS
Wife
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Children
Notes: Marriage
Husband William McMillan
Born: 1846 - Upper Stewiacke, Colchester, Nova Scotia
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Father: James McMillan
Mother: Catherine Johnson
Marriage: May 4, 1892 - Truro, Colchester, Nova Scotia
Noted events in his life were:
1. Resided, Truro, Colchester, NS
Wife
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Children
Notes: Marriage
Husband Nathan V. Weller
Born: March 18, 1842
Baptized:
Died: January 18, 1910
Buried:
Father: Jacob Alanson Weller
Mother: Julia Fitzgerald
Marriage:
Wife Mary Ann McMoran
Born: August 23, 1844
Baptized:
Died: May 17, 1895
Buried:
Children
1 M Frederick M. Weller
Born: 1844
Baptized:
Died: 1864
Buried:
Husband Alexander Scammell Wadsworth
Born: 1828
Baptized:
Died: 1863 - Washington, D.C.
Buried:
Father: Alexander Scammell Wadsworth
Mother: Louisa J. Dennison
Marriage: 1855 - Washington, D.C.
Wife Helen McMorine
Born: 1834 - Washington, D.C.
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Children
1 F Marion Mcmorine Wadsworth
Born:
Baptized:
Died: - In Infancy
Buried:
2 F Helen Mcmorine Wadsworth
Born: 1855
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
3 M Alexander Scammell Wadsworth
Born: 1858 - Elizabeth City, NC
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
General Notes: Child - Alexander Scammell Wadsworth
Facts about this person:
Fact
lived in Elizabeth City, NC
Husband Owen Nolin
Born: 1855 - Goodland Twp, Lapeer County, Michigan, USA
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Marriage: 1874 - Goodland Twp, Lapeer County, Michigan, USA
Wife Isabella McMorran
Born: 1858 - Goodland Twp, Lapeer County, Michigan, USA
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Children
1 M James Thomas Nolin
Born: 1875 - Goodland Twp, Lapeer County, Michigan, USA
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Cora Mae Flansburgh
Marr: August 11, 1897 - Goodland Twp, Lapeer County, Michigan, USA
General Notes: Husband - Owen Nolin
was in info-L.Nolin 1998
General Notes: Wife - Isabella McMorran
/Nolin/
was in info-L.Nolin 1998
General Notes: Child - James Thomas Nolin
Husband Moses Tufts Pomeroy
Born: 1847 - New Brunswick, Canada
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Father: Andrew M. Pomeroy
Mother: Sarah Hamilton
Marriage:
Other Spouse: Liza McVay
Wife Isabelle McMorran
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Children
Husband John McMorran
Born: 1845 - Ireland, United Kingdom Of Great Britain And Ireland
Baptized:
Died: April 6, 1920
Buried:
Marriage: December 28, 1871 - Imlay City, Lapeer County, Michigan, USA
Wife Ann McNevin
Born: October 18, 1852 - Erin, Wellington, Ontario, United Province Of Canada, United Kingdom Of Great Britain And Ireland
Baptized:
Died: 1910
Buried:
Father: Alexander McNevin
Mother: Mary McDougall
Children
1 F Martha Jane McMorran
Born: September 15, 1872 - Goodland, Lapeer County, Michigan, USA
Baptized:
Died: 1939 - Michigan, USA
Buried:
Spouse: John Ingram
Marr: 1896 - Romeo, Macomb County, Michigan, USA
2 M William Clare McMorran
Born: May 20, 1875
Baptized:
Died: 1930
Buried:
Spouse: Hannah
Marr: 1913
3 F Mary Belle McMorran
Born: January 13, 1878 - Michigan, USA
Baptized:
Died: 1880
Buried:
4 M George Walter McMorran
Born: February 24, 1880 - Michigan, USA
Baptized:
Died: 1910
Buried:
5 F Florence Ethel McMorran
Born: March 23, 1889 - Michigan, USA
Baptized:
Died: 1910
Buried:
6 M Leroy McMorran
Born: February 17, 1891
Baptized:
Died: February 1973
Buried:
Husband John McMullen
Born: 1797 - Rathkenny Parish, County Meath.
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Father: James
Mother: Nancy Ann Cassidy
Marriage: 1831
Wife McMullen
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Children
1 M Thomas McMullen
Born: December 22, 1832
Baptized:
Died: 1894
Buried:
Spouse: Polly Wayman
Marr: July 5, 1852 - Summit, NY
2 M John McMullen
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
3 M Barney McMullen
Born: 1842
Baptized:
Died: May 25, 1918
Buried:
Spouse: Betsy Ann Truax
Spouse: May Effner
4 M James McMullen
Born: - Otsego County
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Fannie M. Roe
Husband Barney McMullen
Born: 1842
Baptized:
Died: May 25, 1918
Buried:
Father: John McMullen
Mother: McMullen
Marriage:
Other Spouse: May Effner
Wife Betsy Ann Truax
Born: 1826
Baptized:
Died: March 16, 1919
Buried:
Children
1 F Catherine McMullen
Born: July 22, 1864
Baptized:
Died: April 11, 1934
Buried:
Spouse: Philander Bradley
2 M William McMullen
Born: February 26, 1866
Baptized:
Died: February 26, 1932 - Richmondville, NY
Buried:
Spouse: Jennifer R. Fullington
3 M Richard McMullen
Born: 1868
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
4 M Henry McMullen
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
5 F Bertha McMullen
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
6 F Grace McMullen
Born: February 15, 1878 - Jefferson, NY
Baptized:
Died: July 7, 1959 - West Richmondville, NY
Buried:
Spouse: Frederick Edward Chandler
Marr: January 6, 1894 - Schenevus, NY
7 F Nora McMullen
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Husband Peter S. Terk
Born: February 3, 1857 - Summit, NY
Baptized:
Died: February 24, 1895
Buried:
Marriage:
Wife Betsey Ann McMullen
Born: November 24, 1856
Baptized:
Died: July 23, 1933
Buried:
Father: Thomas McMullen
Mother: Polly Wayman
Children
Husband Jerome Westfall
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Marriage: February 3, 1903
Wife Betsy McMullen
Born: 1875
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Father: James McMullen
Mother: Fannie M. Roe
Children
Husband Jacob Lynds Wright
Born: January 14, 1801
Baptized:
Died: April 23, 1888 - Upper Stewiacke, Colchester Co., Nova Scotia
Buried:
Father: John Wright
Mother: Sarah Lynds
Marriage: 1858 - Upper Stewiacke, Colchester, Nova Scotia
Wife Elizabeth McMullen
Born: September 1836 - Upper Stewiacke, Colchester Co., Nova Scotia
Baptized:
Died: February 4, 1888 - Upper Stewiacke, Colchester Co., Nova Scotia
Buried:
Father: James McMillan
Mother: Catherine Johnson
Children
1 F Lucilla Wright
Born: April 30, 1859 - Nova Scotia, Canada
Baptized:
Died: May 27, 1912 - Belmont, , Massachusetts
Buried:
Spouse: Louis Albert Locke
Marr: October 29, 1881 - Bedford, Massachusetts
2 F Catherine Wright
Born: May 8, 1860 - Upper Stewiacke, Colchester Co., Nova Scotia,
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
3 M Joseph Wright
Born: July 12, 1861 - Upper Stewiacke, Colchester Co., Nova Scotia,
Baptized:
Died: September 19, 1887
Buried:
4 F Janet Wright
Born: February 1863 - Upper Stewiacke, Colchester Co., Nova Scotia,
Baptized:
Died: September 17, 1883
Buried:
5 F Hannah Sophia Wright
Born: February 12, 1805 - Upper Stewiacke, Colchester Co., Nova Scotia,
Baptized:
Died: January 7, 1883
Buried:
6 F Mary Fulton Wright
Born: October 13, 1866 - Upper Stewiacke, Colchester Co., Nova Scotia,
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
7 M Jessie Wilson Wright
Born: October 3, 1868 - Upper Stewiacke, Colchester Co., Nova Scotia,
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
8 M James Wright
Born: July 10, 1870 - Upper Stewiacke, Colchester Co., Nova Scotia,
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
9 M George Fulton Wright
Born: May 4, 1872 - Upper Stewiacke, Colchester Co., Nova Scotia,
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
10 F Agnes Wright
Born: September 4, 1874
Baptized:
Died: February 8, 1892
Buried:
11 F Emmeline Wright
Born: December 29, 1876 - Upper Stewiacke, Colchester Co., Nova Scotia,
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
12 F Marie Creelman Wright
Born: September 3, 1882 - Upper Stewiacke, Colchester Co., Nova Scotia,
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
13 M Wright
Born: June 1881 - Upper Stewiacke, Colchester, Nova Scotia
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Husband James McMullen
Born: 1802 - Ireland
Baptized:
Died: September 29, 1865 - At His Farm Newstead, Erie County, NY
Buried: - Mt. Calvary Cemetary, Lockport NY
Father: Lawrence McMullen
Mother: Rose
Marriage:
Wife Jane McMullen
Born: 1803 - Ireland
Baptized:
Died: March 21, 1882 - Newstead, Erie County, NY
Buried: - Akron
Father: James
Mother: Nancy Ann Cassidy
Children
1 M Lawrence J. McMullen
Born: August 31, 1828
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
2 F Rosanna McMullen
Born: September 18, 1832
Baptized:
Died: February 4, 1923 - Greenwood, Wisconsin
Buried:
Spouse: George Cummings
3 M Henry C. McMullen
Born: 1834
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
4 M James F. McMullen
Born: May 11, 1836
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
5 M William Timothy McMullen
Born: February 20, 1838
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
6 F Julia A. McMullen
Born: February 16, 1840
Baptized:
Died: May 9, 1928 - Rochester, Monroe County, New York
Buried: - St Mary's Cemetary, Ridgeway, NY
Spouse: Terrance Morgan
Marr: 1863
7 F Matilda Jane McMullen
Born: 1842
Baptized:
Died: 1920 - Akron NY
Buried:
Spouse: Peter Morgan
8 F Josephine McMullen
Born: 1850
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
9 F Nancy T. McMullen
Born: 1853
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: V. L. Curtin
Marr: Tonawanda
Spouse: Patrick Morgan
General Notes: Husband - James McMullen
Town of Newstead
Erie County, New York
http://members.tripod.com/~wnyroots/index-new-led-cem.html
http://members.tripod.com/~wnyroots/index-newstead.html
McMULLEN
Rose, wife of Lawrence McMullen, died Sept 29, 1821, age 60 yrs ( stone broken, in bushes )
Lawrence, died June 29, 1841, age 71 yrs, 5 months
Possibly, but not confirmed:
McMullen, James
Event: Lived in: 1850
Place: Rochester County: Ulster
Comments: Cartman
Source: Daily American Directory of the City of Rochester, for 1849-50
Publisher: Jerome & Brother
Publication Information: Rochester, NY, 1849.
Page: 172 Province: New York
Additional people:
McMullen, John
Event: Lived in: 1850
Place: Rochester County: Ulster
Comments: Cooper
Source: Daily American Directory of the City of Rochester, for 1849-50
Publisher: Jerome & Brother
Publication Information: Rochester, NY, 1849.
Page: 172 Province: New York
McMullen, John
Event: Lived in: 1850
Place: Rochester County: Ulster
Comments: Laborer
Source: Daily American Directory of the City of Rochester, for 1849-50
Publisher: Jerome & Brother
Publication Information: Rochester, NY, 1849.
Page: 172 Province: New York
McMullen, William
Event: Lived in: 1850
Place: Rochester County: Ulster
Comments: Laborer
Source: Daily American Directory of the City of Rochester, for 1849-50
Publisher: Jerome & Brother
Publication Information: Rochester, NY, 1849.
Page: 172 Province: New York
General Notes: Wife - Jane McMullen
James McMullen b. 1802 and Jane McMullen b. 1803
First cousins, Jane was the daughter of James' uncle, James McMullen of
Worchester. James and Jane had the following children: Lawrence b. 1828 in
Rochester, NY; Rosannah, b. 1832 in Rochester, NY; Henry C., b. 1834 in
Rochester; Matilda J., b. 1842 in Rochester, NY; Julia, b. 1850 in Rochester,
NY;
Nancy, b. 1853 in Rochester, NY. James F. b. 1836 in Rochester, NY; William
T,
b. 1838 in Rochester, NY.
Birth Notes: Child - Julia A. McMullen
Rochester, Monroe County, New York
Death Notes: Child - Julia A. McMullen
Rochester, Monroe County, New York
General Notes: Child - Julia A. McMullen
Died at 106 Dickenson Street, Roch. N.Y.
Only shown in 1928 city directory
Lived with George Zuber family according to 1900 census
Birth Notes: Child - Matilda Jane McMullen
Rochester, Monroe County, New York
Husband James McMullen
Born: - Otsego County
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Father: John McMullen
Mother: McMullen
Marriage:
Wife Fannie M. Roe
Born: 1840 - Schoharie County
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Children
1 M Avery B. McMullen
Born: 1859 - Schoharie County
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
2 M Albert McMullen
Born: 1874 - Schoharie County
Baptized:
Died: October 2, 1948
Buried:
3 F Betsy McMullen
Born: 1875
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Jerome Westfall
Marr: February 3, 1903
4 M Richard W. McMullen
Born: 1879 - Summit, NY
Baptized:
Died: June 12, 1945
Buried:
Spouse: Alma May Chandler
Husband John McMullen
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Marriage:
Noted events in his life were:
1. Occupation, Yeoman
2. Resided, Stewiacke Valley, Colchester, NS
Wife C. Patterson
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Children
1 M James McMillan
Born: 1803 - Ireland
Baptized:
Died: August 8, 1869
Buried: - Riverside Cemetery, Upper Stewiacke, NS
Spouse: Catherine Johnson
Marr: October 4, 1825
Husband Terrance Morgan
Born: 1838 - Ireland
Baptized:
Died: November 30, 1888 - Medina, Orleans County, New York
Buried: - St Mary's Cemetary, Ridgeway, NY
Father: James Morgan
Mother: Margaret Daly
Marriage: 1863
Other Spouse: Matilda Brennan
Wife Julia A. McMullen
Born: February 16, 1840
Baptized:
Died: May 9, 1928 - Rochester, Monroe County, New York
Buried: - St Mary's Cemetary, Ridgeway, NY
Father: James McMullen
Mother: Jane McMullen
Children
1 M James Morgan
Born: 1864 - Orleans Co, NY
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
2 F Susan Morgan
Born: November 1867 - Orleans Co, NY
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: George Zuber
3 M Allen Morgan
Born: October 1869 - Shelby, Orleans, New York
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
4 F Ellen Morgan
Born: 1870 - Orleans Co, NY
Baptized:
Died: - Buffalo, New York
Buried:
Spouse: Walter
5 M Simon Peter Morgan
Born: September 1872 - Orleans Co, NY
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
6 F Catherine Morgan
Born: December 1874 - Orleans Co, NY
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
7 F Mary Ann Morgan
Born: January 2, 1877 - Shelby, New York
Baptized:
Died: April 18, 1945 - Rochester, Monroe County, New York
Buried: April 1945 - Rochester, Monroe County, New York
Spouse: Patrick Augustine Grimes
Marr: February 8, 1899 - Medina, Orleans County, New York
8 M William Morgan
Born: February 1880
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
9 M John P. Morgan
Born: 1881
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
General Notes: Husband - Terrance Morgan
First shows up in 1870 census in Shelby.
House #462, Medina 2nd district Ridgeway
pg.255 ED 151 1880 Census
1875 NY census Shelby NY
MORGAN, TERRANCE 35 M IRELAND LABORER 798
JULIA 33 WIFE MONROE
JAMES 11 SON ORLEANS
SUSAN 9 DAU ORLEANS ELLEN 6 DAU ORLEANS
SIMON P. 3 SON ORLEANS
CATHERINE 1 YR. 6 MO. DAU ORLEANS
http://www.rootsweb.com/~nyorlean/stmarysm.htm
St. Mary's Cemetery - "M"
Town of Ridgeway, Orleans County, New York
MORGAN, TERRANCE 50 YRS. 11/30/1888 MEDINA, NY BORN: IRELAND, FATHER: JAMES, MOTHER: MARGARET DALY
St. Mary's Cemetery - Town of Ridgeway, Orleans County, New York
MORGAN, CHARLES P. 1875 4/2/1937 MEDINA, NY BORN: AKRON, NY
MORGAN, DANIEL L. 42 YRS. 11/4/1912 MEDINA, NY BORN: MEDINA, NY, FATHER: PETER, MOTHER: MATILDA MCNULLEY
MORGAN, JAMES 32 YRS. 6/17/1865
MORGAN, JULIA 88 YRS. 5/9/1928 ROCHESTER, NY
MORGAN, KATHRYN 85 YRS. 3/26/1964 ALBION, NY
MORGAN, MARGARET 75 YRS. 3/5/1880 WIFE OF JAMES
MORGAN, MATILDA J. 4 YRS. 10/5/1865 FATHER: THOMAS, MOHTER: JULIA
MORGAN, TERRANCE 50 YRS. 11/30/1888 MEDINA, NY BORN: IRELAND, FATHER: JAMES, MOTHER: MARGARET DALY
Birth Notes: Wife - Julia A. McMullen
Rochester, Monroe County, New York
Death Notes: Wife - Julia A. McMullen
Rochester, Monroe County, New York
General Notes: Wife - Julia A. McMullen
Died at 106 Dickenson Street, Roch. N.Y.
Only shown in 1928 city directory
Lived with George Zuber family according to 1900 census
General Notes: Child - Susan Morgan
1892 Ridgeway Census
MORGAN, JULIA 50 F USA (WIDOW/THOMAS) D2-P 17 (Is this Julia McMullen and her daughter Susan?)
SUSAN 24 F "
MORGAN, SUSAN 34 F
" ELLA 22 F "
PETER 20 M
" KATE 17 F "
MARY 14 F "
PATRICK 8 M "
Not all the ages track, but they seen like the right folks
General Notes: Child - Simon Peter Morgan
1900 Census Ridgeway NY
MORGAN, PETER 27 (09/1872) SERVANT NY FARM LBR, SINGLE PAR: F/IRE, M/NY
Farm Laborer to the Peter Traux family in Ridgeway in 1900.
Death Notes: Child - Mary Ann Morgan
Rochester, Monroe County, New York
Burial Notes: Child - Mary Ann Morgan
Rochester, Monroe County, New York
Husband Peter Morgan
Born: 1836 - Ireland
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Marriage:
Wife Matilda Jane McMullen
Born: 1842
Baptized:
Died: 1920 - Akron NY
Buried:
Father: James McMullen
Mother: Jane McMullen
Children
1 M Leo Morgan
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
2 M James Morgan
Born: 1833
Baptized:
Died: June 17, 1865
Buried: - St. Mary's Cemetary, Ridgeway NY
3 M John Francis Morgan
Born: November 1863
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
4 M Frank Morgan
Born: 1864 - New York, New York
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
5 F Elizabeth Jane Morgan
Born: 1868 - New York, New York
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
6 M Daniel L. Morgan
Born: March 1870 - New York, New York
Baptized:
Died: November 4, 1912
Buried: - St Mary's Cemetary, Ridgeway, NY
7 M Charles P. Morgan
Born: August 1876 - Akron, New York
Baptized:
Died: April 2, 1937
Buried: - St Mary's Cemetary, Ridgeway, NY
Spouse: Kathryn F. Grimes
Marr: June 26, 1906 - Greenwich, Washington, New York
8 F Mary Ellen Morgan
Born: 1878 - New York, New York
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
9 M William Morgan
Born: March 1880 - New York, New York
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
10 F Anna Morgan
Born: October 1882
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
General Notes: Husband - Peter Morgan
Name: Peter Morgan
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1840
Age in 1870: 30
Birthplace: Ireland
Home in 1870: Newstead, Erie, New York
Race: White
Gender: Male
Post Office: Akron Roll: M593_931 Page: 465 Image: 237 Year: 1870
Name: Peter MORGAN
Age: 44 Estimated birth year: <1836>
Birthplace: IRE
Occupation: Farmer Relationship to head-of-household: Self
Home in 1880: Newstead, Erie, New York
Marital status: Married
Race: White
Gender: Male
Spouse's name: Matilda MORGAN
Father's birthplace: IRE
Mother's birthplace: IRE
Image Source: Year: 1880; Census Place: Newstead, Erie, New York; Roll: T9_827; Family History Film: 1254827; Page: 99A; Enumeration District: 101; Image: 0385.
Birth Notes: Wife - Matilda Jane McMullen
Rochester, Monroe County, New York
General Notes: Child - Daniel L. Morgan
Does not to appear to have ever been married.
Name: Daniel Morgan Home in 1900: Ridgeway, Orleans, New York Age: 30 Estimated birth year: 1870 Birthplace: New York Race: White Relationship to head-of-house: BoarderImage source: Year: 1900; Census Place: Ridgeway, Orleans, New York; Roll: T623 1142; Page: 30B; Enumeration District: 109.
General Notes: Child - Charles P. Morgan
NY 1915 Census
MORGAN, CHARLES P. 39 HEAD USA CABINET MAKER D2-P 4
KATHRYN 36 WIFE USA HOUSEWORK
BERNARD 7 SON USA SCHOOL
MARY 2 DAU USA
RAYMOND 2 DAYS USA SON GRIMES,
MARY 70 MOM/LAW IRELAND NONE
Husband Patrick Morgan
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Marriage:
Wife Nancy T. McMullen
Born: 1853
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Father: James McMullen
Mother: Jane McMullen
Other Spouse: V. L. Curtin - Tonawanda
Children
Husband Thomas McMullen
Born: December 22, 1832
Baptized:
Died: 1894
Buried:
Father: John McMullen
Mother: McMullen
Marriage: July 5, 1852 - Summit, NY
Wife Polly Wayman
Born: November 5, 1826
Baptized:
Died: March 16, 1919
Buried:
Children
1 M Leonard McMullen
Born: 1854
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Susan Clarkson
2 F Susan McMullen
Born: 1854
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Harrison Ives
3 F Betsey Ann McMullen
Born: November 24, 1856
Baptized:
Died: July 23, 1933
Buried:
Spouse: Peter S. Terk
Husband Frank Wesley Rideout
Born: March 22, 1888 - Hamilton, Butler Co., Ohio
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Father: William Francis Rideout
Mother: Mary F. William
Marriage:
Wife Virginia McMullen
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Children
1 F Hester Rideout
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
2 M Howard Rideout
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
3 F Mary Rideout
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
4 M William Rideout
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Husband Wightman
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Father: Max Wright Wightman
Mother: Edna Wilhelmina Schwartz
Marriage:
Wife McMullin
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Children
1 M Wightman
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
2 M Wightman
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
3 F Wightman
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
4 M Wightman
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
General Notes: Husband - Wightman
Those born 1920 or later, FOR WHOM I HAVE NO DEATH DATE, are by default considered living; therefore their names and other information have been automatically removed from this database by the software.
Research of <kuzzuns@gmail.com> and others who have shared information.
General Notes: Wife - McMullin
Those born 1920 or later, FOR WHOM I HAVE NO DEATH DATE, are by default considered living; therefore their names and other information have been automatically removed from this database by the software.
Research of <kuzzuns@gmail.com> and others who have shared information.
General Notes: Child - Wightman
Those born 1920 or later, FOR WHOM I HAVE NO DEATH DATE, are by default considered living; therefore their names and other information have been automatically removed from this database by the software.
Research of <kuzzuns@gmail.com> and others who have shared information.
General Notes: Child - Wightman
Those born 1920 or later, FOR WHOM I HAVE NO DEATH DATE, are by default considered living; therefore their names and other information have been automatically removed from this database by the software.
Research of <kuzzuns@gmail.com> and others who have shared information.
General Notes: Child - Wightman
Those born 1920 or later, FOR WHOM I HAVE NO DEATH DATE, are by default considered living; therefore their names and other information have been automatically removed from this database by the software.
Research of <kuzzuns@gmail.com> and others who have shared information.
General Notes: Child - Wightman
Those born 1920 or later, FOR WHOM I HAVE NO DEATH DATE, are by default considered living; therefore their names and other information have been automatically removed from this database by the software.
Research of <kuzzuns@gmail.com> and others who have shared information.
Husband Alexander McMurphy
Born: - Londonderry, Ireland
Baptized:
Died: - Kingston, MA
Buried: - By The Old Meeting House On The Hill
Marriage:
Wife McMurphy
Born:
Baptized:
Died: January 18, 1784
Buried:
Children
1 M Alexander McMurphy
Born: 1680 - Londonderry, Ireland
Baptized:
Died: 1750
Buried:
Spouse: Jenct
2 M John McMurphy Esq.
Born: 1682
Baptized:
Died: September 21, 1755 - Portsmouth, MA
Buried:
Spouse: Mary Cargill
3 M Archibald McMurphy
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Elizabeth Brown
4 F Jean McMurphy
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: William Craige
5 F Daughter McMurphy
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Archibald McCurdy
6 F Elizabeth McMurphy
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
General Notes: Child - John McMurphy Esq.
Nutfield, MA: The first frame house was for Pastor MacGregor and the second frame house was for John McMurphy, Esquire (Scotch-Irish Society, 1889). John McMurphy, Esq. held a commission as justice of the peace, dated in Ireland, and so antedated the commission signed by Governor Shute on 29 April 1720, to Justice James McKeen, the foremost man of the settlement.
Husband James McMurphy
Born: July 28, 1733 - Londonderry, NH
Baptized:
Died: May 30, 1792 - Londonderry, NH
Buried:
Father: Alexander McMurphy
Mother: Jenct
Marriage:
Wife Mary Wilson
Born: 1738
Baptized:
Died: May 10, 1818
Buried:
Children
1 F Jane McMurphy
Born: October 1, 1766
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: John Duncan
Marr: December 5, 1795
2 M Alexander McMurphy
Born: April 24, 1770
Baptized:
Died: February 15, 1854
Buried:
3 F Margaret McMurphy
AKA: Peggy
Born: November 11, 1772
Baptized:
Died: December 10, 1851 - Londonderry, NH
Buried:
4 F Mary McMurphy
Born: April 4, 1775
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: William Duncan
Marr: November 14, 1801
5 F Elizabeth McMurphy
AKA: Betsey
Born: July 31, 1777
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Robert Boyce
6 M Benjamin McMurphy
Born: April 30, 1779
Baptized:
Died: November 14, 1859
Buried:
Spouse: Susannah Cobb
Marr: December 25, 1814
7 F Alice McMurphy
Born: July 30, 1781
Baptized:
Died: September 14, 1871 - Deny, NH
Buried:
Husband Thom
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Marriage:
Wife McNab
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Father: Donald Laird McNabb
Mother: Kathaleen Muggins
Children
Husband Walters
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Marriage:
Wife McNab
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Father: John Laird McNabb
Mother: Frances Vickers
Children
1 M Walters
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
2 M Walters
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
3 F Walters
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Husband Ron Melrose
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Marriage:
Wife McNab
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Father: William Laird McNabb
Mother: Elizabeth Deerie
Children
1 F Melrose
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
2 M Melrose
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Husband Walter Sherman
Born: January 18, 1902
Baptized:
Died: February 9, 1985 - Lethbridge AB
Buried:
Marriage: September 18, 1929
Wife Annie McNabb
Born: January 26, 1910
Baptized:
Died: February 8, 1976 - Lethbridge AB
Buried:
Father: Donald McNabb
Mother: Elizabeth Hunter Laird
Children
1 F Sherman
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Mike Slovak
2 F Sherman
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Cliff Winget
3 F Sherman
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Kovacs
Husband Donald Laird McNabb
Born: January 22, 1908
Baptized:
Died: July 1952 - Lethbridge
Buried:
Father: Donald McNabb
Mother: Elizabeth Hunter Laird
Marriage:
Other Spouse: Marjorie Ella Macdonald
Wife Kathaleen Muggins
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Children
1 F McNab
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Thom
Husband Harold A. McNabb
Born: 1947
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Father: Robert Laird McNabb
Mother: Gladys Mildred Macdonald
Marriage: 1968
Wife Marianne Wind
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Children
1 F Christine McNabb
Born: 1970
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
2 F Heather L. McNabb
Born: 1974
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Husband
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Marriage:
Wife Heather L. McNabb
Born: 1974
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Father: Harold A. McNabb
Mother: Marianne Wind
Children
1 M Kevin McNabb
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Husband John Laird McNabb
Born: September 28, 1904
Baptized:
Died: October 30, 1968 - Lethbridge
Buried:
Father: Donald McNabb
Mother: Elizabeth Hunter Laird
Marriage:
Wife Frances Vickers
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Children
1 M McNab
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Greenway
2 F Marigold McNab
Born:
Baptized:
Died: 1929
Buried:
3 F McNab
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Walters
Husband
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Marriage:
Wife Margaret McNabb
Born: October 3, 1892
Baptized:
Died: March 6, 1942
Buried:
Father: Donald McNabb
Mother: Elizabeth Hunter Laird
Other Spouse: Earl Welsh
Other Spouse: Ernest Francis
Noted events in their marriage were:
1. Divorce, Divorce
Children
Husband Earl Welsh
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Marriage:
Wife Margaret McNabb
Born: October 3, 1892
Baptized:
Died: March 6, 1942
Buried:
Father: Donald McNabb
Mother: Elizabeth Hunter Laird
Other Spouse: Ernest Francis
Noted events in their marriage were:
1. Divorce, Divorce
Children
1 M Morris Welsh
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Husband Robert R. McNabb
Born: 1935
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Father: Robert Laird McNabb
Mother: Gladys Mildred Macdonald
Marriage: 1957
Wife Barbara Ann Price
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Children
1 M Russell McNabb
Born: 1958
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
2 F Cynthia Ann McNabb
Born: 1959
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Sisicki
Husband Georges Michaud
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Marriage:
Wife Agnes McNally
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Children
1 F Leda Michaud
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Romeo Lagace
Husband George Archibald Nevers
Born: August 9, 1866 - Brighton, Carleton Co., NB, Canada
Baptized:
Died: 1929
Buried:
Father: George F. Nevers
Mother: Elizabeth Ann Orser
Marriage:
Other Spouse: Laura Lonargan
Noted events in his life were:
1. Unknown, Known as - Archibald
Wife Albina McNally
Born: 1877 - Ashland, Maine
Baptized:
Died: 1964
Buried:
Children
Husband Clayton McNally
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Marriage:
Wife Helen Maybell Perry
Born: April 19, 1927 - Sherman, ME
Baptized:
Died: March 15, 2000 - Houlton, ME
Buried:
Father: Alvah Temple Perry
Mother: Effie Maybell Curtis
Children
1 M Cary McNally
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
2 F Annette McNally
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
3 M Clayton Lee McNally
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
4 M Albert McNally
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
General Notes: Wife - Helen Maybell Perry
Helen Maybell (Perry) McNally, 72, died Wednesday, (March 15, 2000) in Houlton, ME. She was born April 19, 1927, in Sherman, ME, the daughter of Temple and Effie (Curtis) Perry. She is survived by her husband of 46 years, Clayton McNally of Sherman, ME; four children, Cary McNally of Wolcott; Annette Deperno of Santa Rosa, CA; Clayton Lee McNally of Granby; and Albert McNally of Strousburg, PA; several grandchildren; two sisters, Mavis Morgan of Sherman, ME; and Gloria McKenzie of East Millinocket, ME; a brother, Sherwood Perry of New Zealand; and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a brother, Baine Perry. Funeral services will be Monday, 2 p.m. at the Washburn Memorial Church, Sherman, ME, with the Rev. Ron Gillis officiating. Friends may call Sunday, 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at the church. Spring interment will be in Sherman Mills Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, those who wish may donate to the Visiting Nurses of Aroostook, Houlton Div., 12 Kellerin St., Houlton, ME 04730. Arrangements by Bowers Funeral Home, Houlton, ME.
Husband Dale McNally
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Marriage:
Wife Julie Willigar
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Father: Malcolm Willigar
Mother: Nora Socia
Children
Husband
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Marriage:
Wife Hester Ann McNally 1
AKA: Hester McNally
Born: 1838 - Carleton Cty, New Brunswick, Canada 1
Baptized:
Died: January 26, 1893 - Fort Fairfield, Maine, USA 1
Buried:
Father: James Heath McNally 1 2
Mother: Matilda Jane Treadwell 1 2
Other Spouse: Charles Burpee 2 - June 10, 1874 - Jacksonville, NB
Noted events in her life were:
1. Alt. Birth 1, Carleton, , New Brunswick, Canada, 1835
2. Alt. Birth, New Brunswick Canada, 1838
3. Alt. Death 1, Fort Fairfield, Aroostook, Maine, USA, January 26, 1893
Children
1 M Archie Burpee 1
Born: 1876 - Carleton Cty, New Brunswick, Canada 1
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Husband James Heath McNally 1 2
Born: 1795 - Maugerville, New Brunswick, Canada 1
Baptized:
Died: April 24, 1876 - Jacksonville, New Brunswick, Canada 1
Buried:
Marriage: March 29, 1821 - Canada 2
Noted events in his life were:
1. Alt. Death 2, 0022
2. Alt. Birth 2, 1795
3. Alt. Birth 1, Maugerville,Sunbury,New Brunswick,Canada, 1795
4. Alt. Death 1, Jacksontown,Carleton,New Brunswick,Canada, April 24, 1876
Wife Matilda Jane Treadwell 1 2
Born: 1803 - Maugerville, New Brunswick, Canada 2
Baptized:
Died: June 1889 - Millville, New Brunswick 2
Buried:
Father: Samuel Treadwell 2
Mother: Hannah Rideout 2
Children
1 F Mary Amelia McNally 2
Born: 1837 - Jacksonville, Carleton Co., N.B., Canada 2
Baptized:
Died: 1914 - Carleton County, NB, Canada 2
Buried:
Spouse: Charles Leverette Tilley 2
2 F Hester Ann McNally 1
AKA: Hester McNally
Born: 1838 - Carleton Cty, New Brunswick, Canada 1
Baptized:
Died: January 26, 1893 - Fort Fairfield, Maine, USA 1
Buried:
Spouse: Charles Burpee 2
Marr: June 10, 1874 - Jacksonville, NB
3 M Moses Adelbert McNally 1
Born: December 13, 1828 - Jacksontown, , New Brunswick, Canada 1
Baptized:
Died: December 1, 1904 - Ashland, , Maine, USA 1
Buried:
Husband Wallace Walter Wellington Noddin
Born: April 7, 1878 - Pleasant Ridge, Dumbarton Parish, Charlotte Co., NB
Baptized:
Died: August 15, 1967 - Millinocket, ME
Buried:
Father: Caleb C. Noddin 3
Mother: Mary Bulter
Marriage:
Wife Luzetta M. Suzetta McNally
Born: 1880 - Canada
Baptized:
Died: July 30, 1961 - Millinocket, ME
Buried:
Children
1 M Wallace Wellington Noddin
Born: December 5, 1921 - Fort Fairfield Maine
Baptized:
Died: November 27, 1985 - Bangor, Maine
Buried:
Spouse: Ethel Ursal Boynton
Marr: February 5, 1941
2 F Viola Noddin
Born: 1881
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
General Notes: Child - Wallace Wellington Noddin
Wallace W. Noddin
Millinocket - Wallace W. Nodding, 63, died at a Bangor hospital Nov. 27, 1985, after a brief illness. He was born in Fort Fairfield, Dec. 5, 1921, the son of Wallace and Luzetta (McNally) Noddin. He was employed at Great Northern Paper Co. in East Millinocket for 38 years, retiring in 1983. He was a member and past commander of Feeney-Groves Post American Legion, East Millinocket, a member of Bernard Coro Post DAV, Medway and a member of the Sno Rovers Snowmobile Club, East Millinocket. He was predeceased by his wife, Ethel (Boynton) Noddin in December 1984. He is survived by six daughters, Patricia Bonfarzone of Scituate, Mass., Mary Lou Merritt of Medway, Carol Bernier of Millinocket, Barbara Noddin of Auburn, Dorothy Rosignol and Belinda Lyons, both of Medway; 13 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Husband Silas Henry Watson
Born: June 26, 1878 - Benton, Carlton Co., New Brunswick, Canada
Baptized:
Died: April 29, 1968 - Saint Stephen, Charlotte Co., New Brunswick, Canada
Buried:
Father: William Henry Watson
Mother: Hulda Jane Tapley
Marriage:
Other Spouse: Jenny McNelly
Wife Lydia Jane McNally
Born: August 20, 1884 - North Lake, , New Brunswick, Canada
Baptized:
Died: December 31, 1917 - Forest City , New Brunswick Canada
Buried:
Children
1 M Albert Edgar Watson
Born: December 30, 1916 - Forest City, York Co. NB. Canada
Baptized:
Died: March 7, 1988 - Winchester, Ontario
Buried:
Husband Charles Leverette Tilley 2
AKA: Charles Leverett Tilley 2
Born: August 3, 1836 - Woodstock N.B. 2
Baptized:
Died: 1910 - Carleton Co, , New Brunswick, Canada 2
Buried:
Marriage:
Noted events in his life were:
1. Alt. Birth 2, Woodstock, New Brunsiwck, Canada, 1836
Wife Mary Amelia McNally 2
Born: 1837 - Jacksonville, Carleton Co., N.B., Canada 2
Baptized:
Died: 1914 - Carleton County, NB, Canada 2
Buried:
Father: James Heath McNally 1 2
Mother: Matilda Jane Treadwell 1 2
Noted events in her life were:
1. Alt. Birth 2, jacksonville, carleton cty, NB, 1837
2. Alt. Death 2, Carleton Co, , New Brunswick, Canada, 1914
Children
Husband Richard W. McNamara
Born: February 16, 1908 - Winthrop, Maine
Baptized:
Died: September 20, 1985
Buried: September 1985 - Lot 4, Maple Cem., Wintrhop, Maine
Father: Lendell T. McNamara
Mother: Annie Corthell
Marriage: Private
Noted events in his life were:
1. Residence - Last Known: Winthrop, Maine
Wife Ester E. Rowell
Born:
Baptized:
Died:
Buried:
Children
General Notes: Husband - Richard W. McNamara
http://www.familysearch.org - SSDI:
Richard MCNAMARA
Birth Date: 16 Feb 1908
Death Date: Sep 1985
Social Security Number: 006-34-5685
State orTerritory Where Number Was Issued: Maine
Death Residence Localities
ZIPCode: 04364
Localities: Winthrop, Kennebec, Maine
Notes: Marriage
Husband Charles Herbert Witham
Born: June 14, 1882 - Rangely, Franklin, ME
Baptized:
Died: February 6, 1968 - Skowhegan, Somerset, ME
Buried: - Sunyside Cemetery, Kingfield, Franklin, ME
Father: Lewis Cass Witham
Mother: Florence Maria Hinkley
Marriage: October 6, 1909
Noted events in his life were:
1. Census
2. Census
3. Occupation
4. Occupation
5. Residence
Wife Margaret Barr McNaught
Born: April 27, 1875 - Canada
Baptized:
Died: September 2, 1943 - Kingfield, Franklin, ME
Buried: - Sunyside Cemetery, Kingfield, Franklin, ME
Father: Thomas McNaught
Mother: Ruphemia Hatten
Noted events in her life were:
1. Census
2. Census
3. Occupation, Cook
4. Residence
Children
1 M Neil Lamont Witham
AKA: Neil L. Witham
Born: April 20, 1912 - Kingfield, Franklin, ME
Baptized:
Died: April 23, 1996 - Skowhegan, Somerset, ME
Buried: - Kingfield, Franklin, ME
Spouse: Hilda Loulla Lisherness
Marr: September 19, 1932
Husband Adolphus Strope
Born: January 17, 1869 - Slater Hollow, Bradford Co., Pennsylvania
Baptized:
Died: July 6, 1950 - Burlington, Bradford Co., Pennsylvania
Buried: July 1950 - Mountain Lakes Cemetery, Burlington, Bradford Co., Pennsylvania
Father: Isaac B. Strope
Mother: Jane M. Slater
Marriage: June 5, 1892 - Waverly, Tioga Co., New York 4
Wife Cora E. McNeal
Born: January 4, 1869 - Slater Hollow, Bradford Co., Pennsylvania
Baptized:
Died: February 6, 1946 - Powell, Bradford Co., Pennsylvania
Buried: 1946 - Mountain Lakes Cemetery, Burlington, Bradford Co., Pennsylvania
Children