Gehan, Patrick family 1860-1907

GEHAN, MORRISSEY

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 4/5/2020 at 10:33:22

From the Hawarden Centennial Book 1887-1987 ‘On the Right Track’ page 617-618

Patrick C. Gehan Family

The father of Patrick Gehan was probably the first of the Gehans in the Hawarden area. Joh S. Gehan was born 1830 in County Cork Ireland, came to New York as a young man where he met his wife-to-be, Julia, also born in Ireland in 1830. This would have been 1849-1850, during the California gold rush and John S. Gehan journeyed by ship to somewhere in the Isthmus of Panama where the Passenger made their eay overland to the Pacific coast, there taking a ship to San Francisco and the gold fields. By 1856, he had returned, married Julia and their oldest child. James S. Gehan was born.

The family was living in New Diggings,WI., where Patrick Charles was born on Sept 20, 1860. This wa the site of a thriving lead mining industry at that time, not far from Dubuque, IA. The family later moved to Le Mars, then to Emmett Vicinity near Beresford, SD. Patrick attended College at Valparaiso, IN; met his bride-to-be, Mary, at St. Joseph Catholic Church social at Emmett, a festive annual event held every Aug 15th.

Mary Elizabeth Morrissey was born May 28, 1865, to Roger and Catherine Morrissey at Dubuque, IA. The family moved to Union Co. Dakota Territory where may taught school She and Patrick were married at Emmett in the winter of 1889. Patrick and Mary built a home in Hawarden where Patrick operated a general Store and mea market. The were the parents of four sons and two daughters; Joh Charles, born Feb 26, 1890; James Andres burn Aug 10, 1891; Clarence Patrick born Oct 1893; William Thomas born Nov 26, 1895; Marie Julia born Dec 23, 1898 and Kathryn Agnes born Mar 1, 1906.

There were other families of Gehans in Hawarden. By that time Patrick’s brother James, who had been postmaster in Calliope at one time and later (late 1800s) with is wife Agnes Glenn, operated the Lily Rooming House-Hotel in Hawarden; also Patrick’s and James’ sister, Julia, who had married Harry Harrison, an Englishman who was an engineer on the Northwestern Railroad in the early days.

About 1900, Patrick and Mary bought a farm and built a home six miles south of Hawarden, in Sioux Co. Patrick’s father, John, lived with them part-time in his later years, his wife having died Feb. 23, 1888. John Gehan died Sep 25, 1905.

Kathryn was just 18 months when Patrick died very suddenly, on Nov 23, 1907. Mary stayed on the farm a few more years, then moved the family back to Hawarden.

Charles and Bill operated a clothing store. Charles married Lorraine Simmons; they had two daughters, Patricia Regan, now deceased (in 1987); and Florence Amick, living in Northern California, Charles died at his home in Waterloo Aug 6, 1967

Bill remained a bachelor, living in Sioux Falls where he retired, and died Sept 15, 1956.

Marie taught school in South Dakota. She married Russell Bus Walseth, a teacher and coach. They lived in Pierre SD for 37 years; Marie died 8, 1984. They had one son Russell Maurice Jr., (Sox) He and his wife Ellie , their two sons and daughter, all live in Boulder CO.

Kathryn: After high school in Hawarden, I (author) graduated from Nursing School at Mc Kennan Hospital Sioux Falls, SD., worked as a Registered Nurse in Doctor’s office. Mother, Bill and I lived in Sioux Falls until Mother’s death Nov 9, 1940. I moved to California, worked in administrative capacity at Memorial Hospital Long Beach, where I still live and enjoy my retirement.
Author’s notable remembrances:

THE 1927 FLOOD
Our house was not far from Dry Creek. The water rose so fast, my brother Bill carried my mother to a row boat and took her to Charles’ home, which was on higher elevation. She lost nearly all her possessions, including the family Bible. When the water subsided, a picture of Charles was found in the basement of Ed Lynott’s house a mile south of town, where the flood waters had carried it.

WORLD WAR I
James, Clarence and Bill were all in the Army during the war. James went from Camp Dodge, IA, over seas saw very heavy duty in France. We didn’t hear from him for months and the Red Cross couldn’t find him. His Unit had been Billeted with the English Army. He had been gassed and his eyes injured, was hospitalized in England. Shortly after he left the hospital, it was bombed. His injuries cleared up and his eyesight was not impaired.
Clarence was a Lieutenant in the Calvary and saw patrol duty on the Mexican Border, was stationed at Camp Demming NM.
Marie, together with several other young ladies from Hawarden worked as clerks for the Wat Department in Washington DC.
Our Cousins Florence Gehan (Rose) and Mary Gehan (Scroggs) were borh W. S. Army Nurses and servied in France. Their Brother Lieutenant Jerome (Jay) Gehan was a pilot in the Army Air Corps and served overseas also.

THE INFLUENZE EPIDEMIC OF 1918
Schools were closed: Children had to stay indoors. Many of our friends died. Mother volunteered to go to people’s homes to help nurse the sick.

Submitter’s research note:
From a family report on Ancestry.com (by Ellen Owen)
John S. Gehan born about 1830 County Cork, Ireland to Peter and Mary Gehan died 26 Oct 1905 Hawarden Iowa or Emmett, SD.
Julia Smith was born abt 1830 County Monaghan, Ireland died 23 Feb 1888 Emmett, SD. They were married about 1855 New York. Children listed were – Catharine 1854-1903, James 1856-1900, Patrick Charles 1860-1907, Mary Ann 1864-1897, Julia Ann 1867-1944 and John J. 1869-1909.

OBITUARY OF John Gehan Hawarden Independent of Nov 2, 1905.
AN OLD SETTLER GONE
John Gehan Passes Away at Advanced Age
John Gehan, an old time and well know resident of this city, died last Thursday at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Harry Harrison at Emmett SD. He was in his 75th year and infirmities of old age have been Telling upon him of late years, but he was not considered in a serious condition until a couple of weeks before his death. He was born in Ireland in 1830 and came to New York City on Christmas day 1850, May 1st 1858 he was married to Miss Julia Smith. In 1855 he came to the lead mines of Wisconsin and in 1860 went to California, making the trip around South America which took nearly six months in those days. He remained there a few years and then returned overland to Wisconsin. In 1876 he came with his family to Plymouth county and in 1881 purchased the farm house near Emmet where both he and his wife passed away, his wife having preceded him in death in 1888. He came to Hawarden in 1890 and lived with his eldest daughter until her death eight years ago since thisch he has made his home with Mr. and Mrs. Harry Harrison. The funeral was held at Emmett last Saturday, Rev. Fathers Traynor of Emmet, O’Neil of Beresford and Masteron of Hawarden conducting high mass. There was a large gathering of old friends and neighbors in attendance at the last obsequies.
John Gehan had many friends in Hawarden and surrounding county who will sincerely mourn his death. He was a plain, blunt spoken man but within him he carried a heart that was full of sympathy for anyone in distress and many of the person who can truly say: John Gehan was a friend whenever a friend was needed. He leave three Children, B. C. Gehan, Mrs. Julia Harrison and John Gehan R., to mourn his death.

Hawarden Independent of Marc 1, 1888
Died - Gehan – At her home near Beresford Dakota on Thursday Feb 23rd, 1888, Mrs. John Gehan, after a protracted illness of about two months, aged 58 years.
Mrs. Gehan was born in Monohan County, Ireland in May 1830, and came to this country at the age of 18. She was married to John Gehan in New York where they resided for some time and then moved to Wisconsin. From there they came to Plymouth county, this state, In 1876, where they reside until four years ago when they moved to their present home sic miles south of Beresford Dakota. Mrs. Gehan was a woman whose heart was always overflowing with kindness and she made friends of all with home she met.
Her life was that of a true Christian woman and mother and was the exemplar of all around her. Mrs. Gehan left a husband and several grown up children to mourn her death. The funeral took place on Sunday and although the weather was bitter cold, a large circle of friend gathered to pay their last sad tribute of respect to on who was held in such high esteem.