McNamara, Michael 1865-1928 & Mary O'Connor Family

MCNAMARA, OCONNOR, OLOUGHLIN, LINNAN

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 12/21/2021 at 15:45:18

McNamara, Michael 1865-1928 and Mary O’Connor Family

This story was taken from the ‘Rock Valley Records & Recollections’ book written about 1976 in honor of the two hundredth birthday of our nation. The story is on page 41 of the book. It was a revision of the history written by Lottie Thomas in 1955. It was transcribed for this BIOS by Beth De Leeuw of the Greater Sioux County Genealogical Society and some research notes were added.

Michael McNamara came to America from Ireland at the age of sixteen. He arrived in New York broke. His ambition was to get to Maurice, Iowa to find Tom Cullinan, with whom he had been friends in Ireland. By working his way from one state to the next, he made it to Maurice.

After awhile, he set out for the West, he and John Cullinan found work in a logging camp, and there made enough money to buy a claim in the Yukon area, enabling them to take part in the Klondike Gold Rush of 1897. As a miner, Michael made enough cash to purchase 160 acres of land in Sioux Township Northwest ¼ Section 13. This transaction was made in 1901 for the price of $100 per acre. The quarter was named the Klondike Farm. It is located three miles west and two miles north of Rock Valley.

On February 11, 1902, Michael married Mary O’Connor, and this farm was their home all of their married life. To this union six children were born, namely Margaret (deceased), John (deceased), Walter, Francis (deceased), Eileen, and Helen. Walter and Francis engaged in farming, and the three daughters became teachers. All three taught in the Rock Valley Community School. At the present time, Walter and his wife, Clara, reside in Rock Valley. Helen (Mrs. Robert “Spike” Thayer) resided on a farm near Rock Valley until her death in 1976; and Eileen, a retired teacher living in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

It is interesting to note that the first name on the abstract is the United States of America, which granted the land to the State of Iowa, which in turn, granted it to the railroad company in April of 1866.

At the present time, the farm is owned by Walter McNamara and farmed by Robert Konz.

Above submitted to the book by Walter McNamara.

RESEARCH NOTES added by Wilma J. Vande Berg
NOTE : The St. Mary’s Chuch book has more detailed accounts and pictures of the Children of Michael and Mary McNamara.
In the 1925 Iowa Census Michaels’s parents are listed as Michael Mc Namara and Nora Oloughlin. Mary’s parents are listed as John O’Connor and Margaret Linnan. Children were Margaret 21, John 20, Walter 17, Frances 16, Iiene 14, Helen 12.

Obits added by Beth De Leeuw.
OBITUARY OF MICHAEL McNAMARA
From the Rock Valley Bee, October 12, 1928:
M. McNamara Passed Away
The community was greatly shocked Thursday, October 4, when it learned of the death of Michael McNamara. He had been in poor health for the past two years but he had been actively engaged in his work until six weeks before his death. The real cause of his death was uremic poisoning, though he had been confined to his bed six weeks previous to his death.
Michael McNamara was an honest and upright citizen, and had the confidence of everyone who knew him. He was always interested in the affairs of his church and community and will be greatly missed in both but his family and relatives will sustain a loss that can never be replaced.
Michael McNamara was born in County Clare, Ireland, July 23, 1865. He immigrated to America in June of 1883, settling near Schenectady, New York, where he worked on a farm. After two years he went to Nebraska where he followed the same occupation during the summer and attended school during the winter. From there he went to Washington, where he homesteaded a claim. During this time he devoted three years to government surveying in Arizona and New Mexico. After preempting his claim in Washington he joined a party going to Klondike, Alaska during the gold rush where he spent three successful years. In 1901 he came to Rock Valley where he bought the farm which has been his home the last twenty seven years.
He was married February 11, 1902 to Mary O’Connor of Littleport, Iowa, to which union seven children were born, one of whom died in infancy, and a son, John, in 1925. He is survived by his wife, two sons, Walter and Francis and three daughters, Margaret, Eileen, and Helen.
Funeral services were held Monday from St. Mary’s church, Rev. J. A. O’Rielly celebrating Requiem High Mass and pronouncing the absolution in the presence of a large assembly of relatives and friends. The pall bearers were Charles Haas, Thomas Cullinan, Albert Schemmer, Peter Tuynman, Andrew Manning, Barney Doherty.
Those from a distance who attended the funeral were: Mr. and Mrs. Thos. Clancy, Mr. and Mrs. Austin Clancy, Mrs. Lawrence O’Connell and Mr. and Mrs. Edward Richter all of Madison, S.D., Mr. and Mrs. D. Doherty, Mr. and Mrs. John Lennan and Mr. and Mrs. Ray Deegan, Mr. and Mrs. Tom Lennan of Maurice, Iowa, Mr. and Mrs. G. Clark, Mr. and Mrs. George Clark and daughter Carol and Mr. and Mrs. J. Gerben and daughter Helen, of Worthing, S.D., Mr. and Mrs. C. Lennan, of Sioux City.
* * * * * * * * * *
The Alton Democrat, October 12, 1928, Rock Valley news, has a shorter obituary with some of the same information.
His death certificate has Micheal[sic] Francis Mc NaMara, married, resident of Rock Valley 32 years; born July 23, 1865 in Ireland; parents Mike Mc NaMara and Henara[?] O’Laughlin; occupation, farmer; died at 9:15 p.m. October 4, 1928; cause, chronic interstitial nephritis with uremia.
Source: Rock Valley Bee (10-12-1928)
Born: July 23, 1865
Died: October 4, 1928
This community was greatly shocked Thursday, October 4, when they learned the death of Michael McNamara.
He had been in poor health for the past two years but he had been actively engaged in his work until six weeks before his death. The real cause of his death was uremia poisoning, though he had been confined to his bed six weeks previous to his death.
Michael McNamara was a honest and upright citizen, and had the confidence of everyone who knew him. He was always interested in the affairs of the church and community and will be greatly missed in both but his family and relatives will sustain a loss that can never be replaced.
Michael McNamara was born in County Clare, Ireland, July 23, 1865. He immigrated to America in June of 1883, settling near Schuectady, New York, where he worked on a farm. After two years he went to Nebraska where he followed the same occupation during the summer and attending school during the winter. From there he went to Washington where he homesteaded a claim. During this time he devoted three years to government surveying in Arizona and New Mexico. After preempting his claim in Washington he joined a party going to Klondike, Alaska during the gold rush where he spent three successful years. In 1901 he came to Rock Valley where he bought the farm which has been his home the last twenty-seven years.
He was married February 11, 1902 to Mary O’Connor of Littleport, Iowa, to which union seven children were born, one whom died in infancy, and a son, John, in 1925.
He is survived by his wife, two sons, Walter and Francis and three daughters, Margaret, Eileen, and Helen.
Funeral services were held Monday from St. Mary’s Church, Reverend J. A. O’Rielly celebrating the Requiem High Mass and pronouncing the absolution in the present of a large assembly of relatives and friends.
The pallbearers were Charles Haas, Thomas Cullinan, Albert Scheummer, Peter Taynman, Andrew Manning, and Barney Doherty.

OBITUARY OF MARY O’CONNOR McNAMARA
Alton Democrat Sep 25, 1947
Mrs. Mary Mc Namara passed away at her home in Rock Valley September 17, 1947 after an illness of seven weeks Mary O'Connor was born at Western Port, Alleghany County, Maryland, and came to this state with her family to Littleport, Iowa in 1882.
She married Michael Mc Namara in February, 1902 and to this union were born six children; three sons and three daughters. One son, John, died in 1925. Her husband preceded her in death in 1928.
She is survived by her children Margaret. Walter, Francis, Eileen and Helen (Mrs. Robert Thayer) and five grand children and one brother Edward, O'Connor.
She was an ardent member of the Catholic Church and was also a member of the Catholic Daughters of America. She moved with her husband to the farm shortly after their marriage where she continued to make her home until she moved into Rock Valley in 1946 where she lived until death claimed her.
Funeral services were held in St. Mary's Church on Friday morning at 9:00 conducted by Rev. Father David McGoey and interment was made in Saint Mary's Cemetery beside her loved ones.
Out of town relatives and friends were Mr. and Mrs. James Mc Elroy, Austin Mc Namara, Mrs. M. Gerber, Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Dougherty, Sioux Falls, S. D.: Mr. John Clancy, Mr. and Mrs. James Fitzpatrick, Mrs. M. L. Mc Laughlin and family. Leo Fitzpatrick and Mrs. Wm. Mc Cool of Madison, S. D.; Catherine Solon, Nunde. S. D.; Mrs. Margaret Kaskie and Mrs. P. Fitzpatrick of Gary, S. D.; Mr. and Mrs. L. E. Linnan, and Mrs. K. Mc Enroe, Algona, Iowa; Mr. and Mrs. A. Zittergruen, Garber, la.; Mrs. V. O’Connor, Dyersville. Towa; Miss Verna O'Connor. Elkader. la.; Mr. Martin McNamara Littleport, Ia., Mr. and Mr.5. Dan Doherty, Mr. John Linnan, Miss Jo Linnan and Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Grady of Maurice; Mr. and Mrs. M. Mc Cabe of Boyden; Miss Ellen Doherty, Baltimore, Md.; Mrs. Elizabeth Manning, Sioux City, Mrs. Annn O'Connor and Mrs. Larry Weir,. Amboy, Minn.; Mrs. Esther Mc Knight and Mrs. Ann Helder of Doon and Mr. and Mrs. John Saas of Hull. Pall bearers were: Clarence Schemmer, Peter Tuynman, Martin Cullinin, F. A. Thayer, John Keams and William Rielly.

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