From Ireland to Iowa

Way Back When…

I started this before and then looking for something in the ‘OLD’ Bible I found an old letter addressed to Mary Fields, my grandmother, before she was married. It is information to her about a teaching position in Greene County, Iowa. The letter is signed by Phillip Picht and dated April 1, 1883, or 1893 (the date has been written over so I can’t be sure which is correct). It sounds as though he must have been school principal or Superintendent.

I am supposing, knowing she taught school at Lohrville, Iowa this must be how she met Grandfather Ambrose. They both, being Catholic’s, would have gone to the same church and lived in the same area.

Filling in some blanks on Grandma Mary Fields’s family. Here again there is so much I don’t know. Granma’s father was Timothy Fields, and he came to America when he was 17, from Ireland. He was from County Cork, and her mother was Brigid Warren, and she was 16 when she came from County Clare, Ireland. County Clare and County Cork are adjoining in Ireland as is Tipperary all in the southern part of Ireland in the Munster district or what every they call the divisions in Ireland. Guess I need to do some studying on my Irish history :) Timothy’s parents where John Fields and Abigail Kaliher. Both were from County Cork, as far as I know, neither of them left Ireland.

Brigid’s parents were Patrick and Ellen Keane and both were from County Clare. Timothy and Brigid had 5 children that I know of, although there may have been others who died in infancy as was so usual in those times. The children were all born in Illinois, at Wilmington. At this point I’m assuming that Timothy and Brigid were married in this country but don’t have the proof yet. (Update: The correct names are Bridget, her parents are Patrick Warren & Ellen Keane | Bridget is buried in Lohrville not sure about Timothy ~Julie)

The children were John Fields, died age 21, is buried at Grand Junction, Iowa, Abigail, died at age 12 of what is called Black Diphtheria, Mary (Granma), died in 1936 from pneumonia, and is buried in Mitchell, SD at Calvary Cemetery, Ellen, died age 9 died also of Diphtheria. The two girls having died within 2 months of each other in the same year, both are buried at Wilmington, Illinois and the last child, Johanna who lived in Rapid City with her husband Jim Grant at the time of her death in Feb of 1960. She and Jim are both buried in Calvary Cemetery in Mitchell. Auntie Jo (as we called her) was born Aug 31,1871 Jim was born in 1884 and died in 1966. Their graves are just a few steps from where my father Clarence Borchard is buried. Both of my grandparents are buried in the same cemetery, as are mother’s brothers Tim, Ambrose Jr., Leo, and her sister Mary (Babe).

My Best Guess

All of this following is pure guessing, Granma Mackey was 65 when she died in 1936 so that made her birth year 1871 (confirmed), her mother was 16 when she came to the States, and guessing again — she was 17 or 18 when she married, knowing John was probably born the following year it goes something like this, when Mary was born her mother would have been around 23 in 1871, making her 21 when Abigail — in 1869, and making her (Granma Brigid) around 17 to 18 in 1865 or 1866. So marriage date of Timothy and Brigid would have been around the year of 1866, or 1867 like I say guessing but a start date to start looking in records.

My reasoning — because they all being Catholic the general age difference in Children in large families was about 2 years. Does this make sense? “Say yes mother”

In early records of Lohrville church, it lists Timothy Fields. I have reason to believe it’s Granma’s father, so Granma Brigid must have been dead by that time so don’t know if she’s buried in Wilmington or Iowa. For some reason I think he is buried in Iowa so she may be also. Hope to answer that this summer also.

The Journey from Ireland

Switching gears a bit… to the other side of the family. At this time I’m trying to contact St. Patrick’s church in Lucan, Ontario, Canada to see if I can trace the early years of, the great grandparents, Martin Mackey and Bridget McLaughlin who were married in Ontario, Canada on January 26, 1857, (later learned the Church records, in Canada, indicate the date of their marriage was actually January 27, 1857).

How they arrived in that area, or just when, I’m not clear on at this point. Hoping some added information may come from Canada. From things I have heard, not through family, but people in a genealogy group I belong to, tell of many of the “Irish” immigrants landing in Nova Scotia, mostly at Halifax. So, how, where and when they arrived in Canada is still a mystery.

Looking at the map of Canada, from Nova Scotia to Ontario is a long distance and in the mid 1800’s would have been a very trying and I’m sure a dangerous trip. These people, who were our ancestors, must have been a determined and hardy group to have traveled to where we first had knowledge of them.

A Family Genealogy

They were at least 2 or 3 years in the area of Lucan, Ontario, and at least one of their children, possibly 2 were born there before they came to the United States, in 1865. First, coming to the Dubuque, Iowa area before moving on the Lohrville area in 1871.

I mentioned one of their children, Julia Mackey (Gaffney), was born on October 16, 1861 in Lucan, Ontario, Canada. It is my belief that Martin Jr. was also born there in 1863 before they left for the States. During the next ten years they had 11 children only 6 lived to adulthood.

The last child was, my grandfather, Ambrose born on August 15, 1871. The following children died as infants, Bridget 1870, Patrick 1876, Jerima 1879, Denis 1880, and Mary Ann 1895. Other children who lived were Julia (Gaffney), Martin Jr., Winfred (Mahoney) 2nd Mary Ann (Flanagan), Temperance (Rosse 1st & Houihan 2nd) and Grandpa Ambrose.

Memories from the Past

As a small girl I remember Mom talking about Aunt Julia and Aunt Tempe, but don’t think I ever saw them or if so must have been so small it doesn’t register with me. I don’t know if any of them came for Grandpa’s funeral. Aunt Julia was still alive, she died in 1935 so it was possible, I don’t remember the funeral as I was only three at the time. In those years they had, what is called, a “wake” (just a family gathering) at home. Granma’s casket was set up in the front bedroom. All the furniture had been removed and just flowers and tall candlesticks (from the floor) and chairs.

Most of us kids were then run out in the yard, to play and not bother the grownups, so it doesn’t stick in my mind very much either. I’m sure the same arrangement was for Grandpa but I can’t remember seeing his casket or him, but I do remember Granma.

Farming Lohrville Iowa

Backing up some… the great grandparents (Martin Mackey Sr. & Bridget McLaughlin) farmed southwest of Lohrville, as did my grandparents (Ambrose Mackey Sr. & Mary Fields) in later years. Martin Jr. became a priest; he was ordained at the Cathedral in Montreal, Canada in 1897. His first Mass was said in Lohrville. In later years he was assistant at the Cathedral in Dubuque and then later in Sioux City, Iowa at St Joseph’s. He was still there when he became ill and died. He is buried there. Not sure, but seems to me I heard he may have had TB (Tuberculosis) they just called it a lingering illness.

Most Catholic families always felt so blessed if they had a son or daughter who went into the service of the Lord. Just as sure they really grieved when he died.

I was looking for something in the old “Bible” again last night and found tucked in the pages an old bit on Grandpa’s sister Tempe (Temperence)… she died in Calif. at the home of one of her daughters and was brought back to Woonsocket, S. D. for burial. She was the oldest born in 1859 (in Canada) and after her first husband died she remarried. The piece also said her husband Patrick was also buried in Woonsocket, all info I didn’t have. So now to continue

These are not my memories, but things told me. It starts back when my mother was a baby. The picture is where her parents went to church and where she was baptized. (not sure what pictures she is referring to ~Julie)

Fires, More Fires & Moving to South Dakota

In talking with Aunt Mary, the Aunt I grew knowing only as Aunt Babe until I was in my teens!! She told me of living on a farm south of Lohrville and twice in those early years they lost their home to fires. I guess after the last one, at some point my great grand parents gave up farming and moved into Lohrville. Some of what happened then is lost for the time being. My grand parents Ambrose and Mary also farmed also lost their home to fires. That brings me up to what I know or have heard about Iowa. Grandpa Ambrose and Mary decided to move on to South Dakota, I don’t know why, if some other relative had come this way, or if it was just looking for “greener pastures”.

Aunt Babe remembered her father building what she called “a surrey”. To the best of my understanding it was horse drawn buggy, with a longer box like part behind where Grandpa and Grandma sat. The box had higher sides and was covered with a canopy top. All five of the children rode in the back part, with what little family things they had left to bring along. Somewhere in this telling I seem to recall Aunt Babe said they had a cow tied to the back. At this time my mother Helen, was 2 years old, the other children all older than her, Loretta-1895, Timothy-1896, Ambrose JR-1901, Mary(Babe)-1898.

They couldn’t go long distances each day because the animals tired, especially the horse. The trip took nearly 2 weeks as Babe remembered, but that may or may not be right as she was only 6 and she is telling this when she is well into her sixties. So like I say ?? She never mentioned a second wagon but its hard to envision where, or how, they could have food, and other supplies for themselves and the animals in only one. Wish now I had thought more about what she was telling me and asked more questions.

Possibly they were able to obtain food for the animals at farms they passed on the route, a lot of animals would have grazed after stopping at night, but will never know for sure. Almost all the people involved are now gone, the only one still alive as I write this… Mom… and unfortunately her memory is totally gone, and even when it wasn’t she never wanted to talk about “all those old things” as she called it.

That’s part of the reason I started to put this story together for those of you in the future who are interested can have some idea where we came to be where we are now. So much is lacking and that’s sad.

Back to the travels. Grandpa and Grandma Mackey, finally settled in the area of Woonsocket, SD and then in Lane, SD Aunt Leora was born in Woonsocket and Uncle Leo was born in Lane. Don’t think they farmed, maybe just gardening for their own use, don’t really know what

From Farmer to Auctioneer

Grandpa did at first but have a business card with a Lane address and telephone #, advertising as an Auctioneer. Have no idea where he learned this trade

They must have lived in those areas only a short time, 3 or 4 years at the most as Mom (Helen Mackey) started school at Notre Dame, in Mitchell, in the first grade.