Thomas & Mary Jane Malone

MALONE KEVILL ODONNELL

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 9/21/2010 at 18:34:25

History of Woodbury County, Iowa 1984

Thomas and Mary Jane (Kevill) Malone
By John T Phelan

Thomas Francis Malone was born near Florence, New York, on 18 August 1846. His parents were Richard and Mary (O’Donnell) Malone who immigrated to America from Tralee, County Kerry, Ireland, about 1830. The family farmed about four miles east of Florence. In the 1850’s the family moved to a farm near Garry Owens, Iowa, south of Dubuque. Tom attended public school and assisted his father on the farm.

As he grew older he became interested in the blacksmith trade and in 1868 operated a blacksmith shop in Manchester, Iowa. In 1870, Tom moved to Sioux City, where he formed a partnership and blacksmith under the firm name of McCarthy and Malone. Five years later he sold his interest and continued in blacksmithing on his own.

Mary Jane Kevill was born on 7 November 1850, the youngest child of James and Mary (Irwin) Kevill. She spent her early days in the Townland of Maydough, County Sligo, Ireland and with her parents, brother, Alexander, and cousin, Mary Ann, arrived in New York via Ship ‘Robert L Lane’ on 17 June 1864. They made their way west by rail and in the vicinity of Saint Joseph, Missouri, father, James, died and was buried. Proceeding upriver by riverboat, the family arrived in Sioux City on 8 July 1864. Shortly thereafter, another Mary died leaving the teenage Mary Jane in the strange frontier settlement. Fortunately an uncle, Tom Kevill, lived in Sioux City and aunts, Anna (Kevill) Dennison and Margaret (Kevill) Callahan lived in nearby Union County, Dakota Territory.

Tom and Mary Jane were married on 16 January 1872 in St Mary’s Catholic Church. They were blessed with eight children. Mary Angela ‘Mamie’ was born on 24 November 1872; Ellen Victorine ‘Nellie’ on 3 September 1874; Mary Anna ‘Margaret’ on 26 September 1876; Anna Celestine on 24 July 1879; John on 12 November 1881; Thomas Francis on 25 June 1884; James Kevill on 4 October 1886; and Alice Isadore on 12 February 1890.

In 1882 Tom opened the Malone Grocery at 507 Pearl Street and the family lived at the same address. The grocery business prospered and in 1895 Tom purchased a home at 615 Perry Street and about 1907, a larger home at 1310 Pearl Street. These homes live in many memories since the Malone relatives often gathered there. Holidays, especially Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving and July 4th were family days and, insofar as possible, all gathered for a celebration. Usually distant relatives and close friends joined the group too. Family ties were strong and remained so throughout their lives.

All of the children except Margaret lived to maturity. Nellie married John F Phelan on 21 February 1900; Anna married J E Sullivan on 18 January 1905; John married Mary Agnes Horrigan on 27 October 1910 and James married Catherine Emily Rozier on 22 April 1924. Alice joined the Sisters of Charity, BVM assuming the name of Sister Mary Josephine Malone, BVM. Nellie, Anna, John and Jim added a total of thirteen grandchildren to Tom and Mary Jane’s family.

Tom’s grocery business grew and in 1903 he moved into a new building at 501 Pearl Street. With the advent of telephones, Tom catered to orders taken by phone and delivered to the homes. Tom’s store was one of the most modern time. Well equipped, he stocked ‘fancy groceries’ and fresh vegetables which normally were not available out of season.

Tom was very active in civic and church affairs and became known throughout the city for his quiet generosity and compassion. He was elected City Alderman-at-large in 1890 and in 1893 was elected President of the Sioux City Retail Merchant Association, continuing to being re-elected to this post for the remainder of his life. He was active in obtaining legislation to improve the sanitation in stores and to assure pure food and honest weight and measures.

In August 1920, Tom became ill and the following March 13th, he passed away at his home. Mary Jane survived him till 1927 when she too passed away on January 25th. Both are buried at Calvary Cemetery in Sioux City.