Mrs. James C. "Priscilla" (Lendeman) McDermott 1813-1885

LENDEMAN, MCDERMOTT

Posted By: cheryl moonen (email)
Date: 8/2/2017 at 21:17:52

Priscilla Lendeman was born in 1813 in Pottsville, Pennsylvania. She was the daughter of a French man and a German lady. When she was two years old, she was traveling with her parents in a wagon train which was attacked by Indians. Priscilla survived, but her parents did not. She was raised by family and friends in the area.

Priscilla married James McDermott on February 17, 1833 in St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Pottsville, Pennsylvania. Their first son was also born there. In 1833, James and Priscilla moved to Dubuque, Iowa with their first son. Their son, Austin, is believed to have been the first white male child born in the city of Dubuque.

In 1837, James and Priscilla bought a farm in Prairie Creek Township of Dubuque County. They lived on this farm for the rest of their lives. Their farm was close to an Indian settlement. Their sons, Edward and Francis were twins. Family stories tell that the Indians were fascinated by the two boys and asked permission to take the boys to show the tribe. The boys were taken to the village and returned unharmed. The Indians also traded with the family.

James and Priscilla had ten sons - John P., Augustine Sylvester "Austin", Edward T., Francis Bernard, William Charles, Ambrose, James Lawrence, Michael C., Joseph Thomas, and Matthias Martin McDermott.

Priscilla died on May 15, 1885 after developing pneumonia while visiting her son, Michael.