Descendants of Patrick McGroarty.
Patrick McGroarty born in 1776 was one of the six sons [ of Neil ]. Patrick inherited from his father Neil a farm in Inver about 8 miles from the town of Donegal. Each of his five brothers had received an equal inheritance and each of the six sisters an equal amount in gold to the value of the sixth part of the townland. So therefore Neil McGroarty who owned Kellogs in the County Donegal, Ireland must have been a man of property. Patrick McGroarty married Susan Williamson, whose family was of Welsh descent and who brought the name Susan into the McGroarty family.
Patrick McGroarty's Children
James and Catherine of St Louis, Missouri and Neil of Cincinnati, Ohio.
Their son - Neil born in 1800 - died in 1839. Neil married at an early age to Catherine Bonner a charming young woman of Huguenot ancestry.
Cincinnati McGroartys.
In the spring of 1831 Neil and Catherine (Bonner) McGroarty emigrated to America coming directly to Cincinnati, Ohio. About this period of history the yearning for distant lands was no new thing in the Irish heart; the love of God and the love of country with liberty, freedom and equality for all had already sent Ireland’s sons and daughters abroad into every land whither the white man travelled. Remaining in Cincinnati only a short time Neil McGroarty moved his family to the farm on which Fayetteville in Perry Township, Brown County, Ohio now stands. In 1835 he returned to Cincinnati and was a contractor in the construction of turnpikes. He also constructed the little Miami Railroad.
Patrick McGroarty their oldest child named after his grandfather, later an attorney at law in Georgetown and Cincinnati was born in Ireland June 21st. 1824. Patrick attended school in Cincinnati, completing his education at St Mary’s College, Lebanon., Ky. graduating in 1841. He then entered the law office of Timothy Walker of Cincinnati and pursued the study of law. In 1845 he was admitted to the bar by the Supreme Court, sitting at Urbana. He began practice in Cincinnati and in 1848 moved to Georgetown. During the winter of 1848—1849 he reported the debates and proceedings of the lower house of the state legislature for the Ohio statesmen and at the name time reported for the Cincinnati Enquirer; being the first regular correspondent for the latter at the state capitol. At the close of the session he returned to Georgetown but the same year he removed to Cincinnati. He continued in the practice of law until 1863 when he moved again to Georgetown and has been engaged in his profession at this place since. While at Cincinnati he was assistant prosecuting attorney of Hamilton County two years. During his term he prosecuted the Nancy-Ferrer murder case in which ex-president Hayes appeared for the defense. He was also city solicitor. At the democratic primary, he won the nomination over E.A. Ferguson, who built the Cincinnati Southern Railroad, at the election he was defeated by the Whig candidate for President of the United-States, — Rutherford B. Hayes. He is the oldest of ten children; in the order of their ages, his brothers and sisters are: Mary-Ann, deceased, who was the wife of Dr. D. A. Doniphan of Tensas Parish., La.; Susan, now Sister Julia, Mother-Superior of the Convent of Notre-Dame of the U.S. Stephen Joseph McGroarty a general in the Civil War, who was elected clerk of Hamilton County but died before entering upon his duties from the effects of wounds received in service; Letitia, deceased; Frances, deceased; William H. a captain in the civil war, killed at Lookout Creek in 1863 while pursuing the rebels or at the battle of Wauhatchie on Kenesaw Mountain. John G. physician and surgeon accidentally killed while on his way home on a furlough in the civil war at the Neil House, Columbus Ohio.; and their youngest child was little Nellie (Ellen) wife of R. C. Rogers of Cincinnati, Ohio.
Patrick McGroarty the attorney was prevented from joining the army by a disabled hand but his brothers — Stephen - John and William enlisted. All were trained to high ideals by their brave and heroic mother: sacrifice of self was deemed but simple duty, when their country was in need. All 3 brothers made the supreme sacrifice.
General Stephen Joseph McGroarty's record as a soldier.
General Stephen was born in Mt. Charles, County Donegal, Ireland in 1830 and died in College Hill Ohio Jan 2 1870. He was brought to the United States by his parents when three years of age. His parents settled in Cincinnati, Ohio where he was graduated from St. Francis Xavier College. After college he engaged in the dry goods business in partnership with an uncle but left it at the end of five years to study law. He was admitted to the bar and began practice at Toledo, but subsequently returned to Cincinnati, where he achieved a reputation as a criminal lawyer. When the Civil war began he raised a company of Irish-Americans for three months with which he re-enlisted for three years. Stephen went to the front as Captain of the Tenth Ohio Regiment and many stories are told of his kindness to the men, who as a consequence filled their letters with his praises. We first hear for instance of his frequently dismounting during a long march to give worn-out soldiers in turn a chance to ride his horse while he trudged along on foot whistling "The Girl I left Behind Me" or something else as inspiring. His bravery was on every lip and dispatches from the front mentioned him with honor. At the battle of Carnifex Ferry he received a gunshot wound through the right lung. As soon as he had recovered he returned to the field of battle as Colonel of the 50th Ohio Infantry which was afterwards merged into the 61st and he commanded the latter till the end of the war. At Peach Tree Creek his left arm was shattered at the elbow at the beginning of the engagement, yet he remained through the fight. He was accustomed to expose his life with the utmost hardihood. During the war he received 23 — twenty three - wounds. He was brevetted Brigadier-General of Volunteers but he did not live long to bear the title. He was for two years collector of Internal Revenue. After great suffering as the result of the wound in his breast he died at the early age of forty years. Just before his death he was elected clerk of the Hamilton County Courts. In connection with his first wound the following thrilling story is told, "Stephen from where he lay, spied the regimental flag on the ground, where it had been dropped by the bearer when he had been shot down. Now Stephen's was the color company, and this flag, a very handsome one, had been … (unreadable) … before it marched away to the front. Wounded as he was, he crawled over to it, tore it from the staff and wrapped it around his body beneath his clothing; then he managed to creep under a corn-crib where he lay until found by searchers for the wounded. The flag was taken to his home drenched with his blood. He was wounded 23 times in all, but he went to Washington for the "Grand Review” and final Muster-Out as Colonel of the 61st Ohio with 187 men left out of a regiment of over one thousand – 1000 —. He was breveted Brigadier-General of Volunteers but he did not live long to bear the title.
Captain William H. McGroarty met his death in 1863 at Lookout Creek, while pursuing the rebels or at the battle of Wauhatchie on Kenesaw Mountain. However he lived long enough to learn that his army was victorious and that he died with the flag of his country waving over him. He was a brave and capable officer and his family received from his men and from his brother officers testimonials of his worth, and of the affection in which he was held.
John G. McGroarty a Physician and Surgeon did not enter the war at the commencement; he enlisted later, however in the 61st Ohio, of which his brother Stephen was colonel.
The life of Sister Julia (Susan McGroarty) at one time Superior General (1887 - 1901) of the congregation of Notre Dame de Namur in the U.S.
The annals of our American Catholic Teaching Sisterhoods are rich in figures of women who carved success out of their own faith, vision and courage and left to posterity a legacy of religious growth seldom, if ever, paralleled in all history. In the front rank of these noble women, women of sanctity and learning belongs the name of Sister Julia.
When Sister Julia a daughter of faithful Donegal entered the Order of Notre Dame de Namur at Cincinnati (1846) it had scarcely taken root in the U.S. Begun at Amies in France in the early years of the nineteenth century, it soon found a congenial habitat in the deeply religious City of Namur and in due time became one of the educational glories of Catholic Belgium, whence it spread rapidly through the English-Speaking world, notably in England and the United States.
In these different countries the congregation of Notre Dame de Namur has enriched honorably its Belgium record and has exercised on the Catholic education of girls an influence both thorough and far—reaching. The perfect womanly growth of thousands of young girls from Boston to San Francisco grew up under the beneficent administration and guidance of Sister Julia. To several such women, raised by the Holy Spirit to a high level of social influence, our American Catholic life is indebted for much of its progress, particularly for that spiritual refinement of its womanhood which elicits the admiration of friend and foe. Sister Julia holds an honored place in this illustrious body and with them merits a lasting memorial of esteem and gratitude. For nearly 20yrs. Sister Julia devoted herself to the opening of new schools and academies in several cities in the U.S.; however the outstanding accomplishment of Sister Julia was the erection and opening of Trinity College, Washington, D.C. To her must always be accorded the signal honor of establishing the first strictly Collegiate school for American Catholic young women. Sister Julia (Susan McGroarty) was born on Feb. 13th 1827 and died Nov. I2th 1901.
Patrick McGroarty, Sister Julia's brother, an attorney-at-law was born in Ireland June 21st 1824. He was married Oct. 29-1850 to Elizabeth, - daughter of Dr. Philip J. Buckner, an eminent physician of Georgetown and later of Cincinnati. They had four children: - Stephen, Charles N, William, and Alma, wife of I.L. Rensheim of Georgetown. Charles N. became editor of the Augusta, Ky., Chronicle in April 1874 and conducted the paper nearly two years. In April 1877 he purchased the Georgetown Sentinel and has been its editor and proprietor until his death in 1931. Charles N. was married October 6, 1874 to Evangeline, daughter of the late Dr. T.M. Tweed; they have three living children — Catherine Elizabeth, Lucina Frances and Evangeline. Their son Lt. Stephen P. a very fine young man was killed at Belleau Wood in France in 1918.
Mrs. Charles N McGroarty lives at Falls Church, Va. 7 miles from Washington D. C,. She has three daughters, Lucina - now Mrs John F. Bithun - or Bethune; the latter has one daughter, - Jean, now Mrs. Walter L. Phillips, the latter has one son, — Walter Lee Phillips, Jr. Catherine and Evangeline are the other daughters.
Nellie McGroarty, — Mother Julia's sister was an Aunt of Charles N. and Wm. Buckner McGroarty. Nellie married a Mr. Robert Rogers and one of her daughters married a Mr. Stevens. Thomas Cassilly Stevens in the Mart Bldg., St. Louis, Mo. is Vice-President or Head of Elliott and Stevens Tool and Machinery Company, Beatrice Stevens married Dr. Bair( Bauer) an Eye Specialist of Philadelphia, Penn. Charles L. Tweed a cousin is now in the Clerks Office Court House, Mpls, Minn. The late Charles N. McGroarty was a brother of Wm. Buckner McGroarty. Wm. Buckner McGroarty of Cincinnati, Ohio married Nov. 2-1887 Georgianna Fee Pease; Robt. Buckner was born, Nov. 6, 1883: Kathleen Fee McGroarty was born Nov. 25, 1891 and Alma Georgianna was born Sept. 11- …… (unreadable at this point)…
Wm. Buckner McGroarty, now (1940) lives at 122 So. Fairfax St., Alexander, Va. a suburb of Washington, D. C. near Mt. Vernon. His Daughter Alma lives with him. The population of Alexander is 25000. His son Robert Buckner honorably discharged from the army only a few days, while walking down the street in Washington, D. C. had a man fall out of a twelve story building on top of him and they were both killed. This history of Patrick, the attorney was written in 1883. The history of his family was written in 1903. These facts were taken from one of the libraries in Chicago and copied by me in 1911.
A book entitled the life of Sister Julia (Susan McGroarty) gives more detailed information about this McGroarty family. It can easily be seen that the spirit and courage of the McGroartys who had died fighting for their faith and the freedom of Ireland was not lessened in their descendants. It still lives strong in the family, as was proven by the three brave young men, grand-nephews of Sister Julia, who eagerly enlisted in the service of their country during the terrible World War (World War 1). Thomas Cassily Stevens, Robert Buckner McGroarty and Stephen P. McGroarty. The last the grandson of Sister Julia's brother Patrick, was fatally wounded in his first engagement and died in France at the age of twenty-three.
Tabulated Oct 24 - 1937
St Louis McGroartys
James and Catherine, brother and sister of Neal of Cincinnati.
James had five sons and two daughters.
|
Patrick |
Unmarried |
| 1 |
Edward J. |
|
| 2 |
William |
|
|
Neil |
Unmarried |
| 3 |
James |
|
| 4 |
Jane |
|
|
Susan |
Unmarried |
1 - Edward J. now deceased, has two sons and two daughters. His wife is still living.
Edward P of 7707 Landsdown Avenue, Schrewsbury, Missouri. His mother and his sister, Catherine live with him. His three boys- Ed, Jack, and Robert also live with him. His wife is dead. Edward P. is now about fifty years old.
Leonard lives in the same ward. He is a brother of Edward P.
Genevieve, now Mrs. Phil Gratiaa of 7751 Gisler Avenue, Richmond Heights, Missouri.
2 - William, ordinarily known as Billy McGroarty of St. Louis has one son, whose name is William and one daughter who live with their father. He also has another son, Steve W McGroarty 216 Union Station, Chicago, Illinois, Business address Or Stephen W McGroarty 1312 N. Dearborn St. Chicago, Ill. Stephen W. McGroarty of Chicago has a Nephew and a Niece. His nephew is Stephen Bernard McGroarty 1521 Fairfield Ave. Bridgeport, Conn. His Niece is Mrs. John F. Bennison of 211 Canal St. Fort Plain, KY. Stephens brother, - James McGroarty 4546 Second St., Louisville, Ky. Steve W. McGroarty of Chicago, Ill. has a brother or cousin,— Dan — in Denver, Colorado. Dan McGroarty's address is 2451 York St., Denver, Colorado. Dan has one son, a lawyer in Omaha and one daughter - Sister Bernadette-Marie in the convent in Cincinnati and another daughter, Irene McGroarty at home. His son’s name is Joseph H. McGroarty and his address is Union State Bank Building, Omaha, Neb. Dan McGroarty and his daughter, Irene visited Sept 1928 for a week or ten days with my father and mother (Bryan and Mrs McGroarty of Inver Grove, Minn.) Steve W McGroarty had one brother and one or two sisters who were burned in a train wreck on route from St. Louis to Chicago. Ed. J. McGroarty of St. Louis, who died a few years ago, was an uncle of Steve W. McGroarty. Edward J. McGroarty of St. Louis, Mo. and his daughter Catherine visited my father Bryan in Inver Grove, Minnesota for a week in the fall of 1911.
When William or Billy McGroarty and his wife visited in 1878 the McGroarty's of St. Paul, he took Chas McGroarty’s daughter of Inver Grove, Bridget or Nellie as she was often called, back with them to St. Louis. She, Bridget (Nellie) never returned again to Minnesota. Bridget later on married Peter Lihou, of St Louis. He was a photographer. They had four girls and one boy:- Nellie, Victoria, Florence, and Lillian. One son Leroy. Mrs Lillian Anderson of 31 Upper Mountain Ave Mount Clair, New Jersey. The other three girls live on 127 St. New York. Harry G Lihou, of Ercker Bros. Optical Company, 610 Olive Street, St. Louis is a nephew of Peter Lihou.
Harry G Lihou gave me the information relative to Mrs. Peter Lihou and family.
3 - James McGroarty, deceased, had two sons. 1- Ally McG of 3919 Sullivan Avenue or the Sheriff's office, Civil Courts Building, St, Louis, Mo. 2- Edward A. McGroarty of 7024 Berthold Ave. He is in the insurance business located in the Pierce Building, St. Louis, Mo.
4 - Jane McGroarty married Anthony Gallagher. They had twelve children, - John, Vincent, Charles, William, Edward, Anthony, Neal, Alice, Mary, Cecelia, and Frances. One died. Alice, now Mrs. Obermoeller; Mary, now Mrs. M.G.(Molly) Mullally. Mary has two boys,- Pat JJ. in Chicago and Father William F. Mullally of 4931 Sutherland Avenue, St. Louis, Mo. Neal Gallagher of 4165 Clay Avenue, has two boys,- Neil and Roy. Frances, now Mrs. Neil Burke, of 4139 Camellia Avenue, St. Louis, Mo. Mrs. M. G. Mullally lives with her sister Mrs. Neil (Fannie) Burke. Mr. and Mrs. Neil Burke have three girls, Pat or Patricia, now Mrs. John L. Hedges of St. Louis, Mo. Alice married Dr. Ed Kealy or Kealey. Mary Virginia, now Mrs. Harold Clemens; both married girls live in Texas in a town near Austin, Texas. One boy Glennon died a few years ago.
Catherine McGroarty, a sister of James of St. Louis, and Neil of Cincinnati, Ohio, married James Murrin. She had three daughters; Sarah, Catherine and Mary-Ann. Sarah also married a man by the name of Murrin. Kitty (Catherine) is Sarah's daughter or Kitty Murrin's mother was Sarah Murrin and her grand-mother was Catherine McGroarty. Catherine Murrin married Mr. Malloy. Mary-Ann Murrin married William Tivy. George Tivy is their son. Mrs Dubuque, Mrs Geo. Keymer, formerly of Minneapolis and now of St. Louis., Grace, and Elicia are their daughters. Mrs. Dubuque has ten children. Elicia and Gertrude are daughters of Mrs Dubuque.
Mrs M. G. Mullaly gave me this information, relative to the St. Louis McGroartys, when I visited them in Oct. 1937.