The McIntyre's

Alice and Robert J. McIntyre

Alice Donahue McIntyre 

Alice Donahue was born on 16 Jun 1851 in New York to Andrew O'Donaghue and Mary Farrell. This is a picture taken of Alice with Mame standing and Belle.  The picture was taken by the Lee photography studio in Richmond Virginia about 1874.  

Robert J. McIntyre  was born on 02 Nov 1847 in Glasgow, Scotland as the first child of James McIntyre and Isabelle McKay. I am amazed at how much Henry O'Neill and Robert McIntyre looked like each other, at first I thought the picture below was of Henry, but at a different age.

James and Isabelle McIntyre immigrated to the United States with Robert around 1850 according to census forms.  Below are some excerpts from some of our local history books about him and his foundries here in the valley.

McINTYRE FOUNDRY

 

In 1893, Robert J. McIntyre leased the foundry of the Crane Iron Works, which was situated at the foot of Willow Street along the canal. The foundry produced all kinds of rolling-mill, furnace, and architectural castings, besides filling orders from the Crane Iron Works. After three years he closed the foundry and removed to Allentown.

 

Robert J. McIntyre had previously been a foreman at the New York City Iron Works and he had also served as superintendent of the Union Foundry and Machine Company at Catasauqua.

 http://himedo.net/TheHopkinThomasProject/CoalFireIronSteel/Appendices/CatasauquaIndustryResidences/DaleWint_TheIronBorough.htm 

Mclntyre Foundry.-Robert J. McIntyre was foreman for a time in the New York City Iron Works, where he learned under his experienced father the business of putting up structural iron buildings, and then he filled the position of superintendent of the Union Foundry Co. at Catasauqua for nine years. In 1893 he leased the foundry of the Crane Iron Co., which was situated at the foot of Willow street, along the canal, east of the furnace, and there he pro- duced all kinds of rolling-mill, furnace, and architectural castings, besides filling orders from the Crane Iron C0. He carried on the business for three years, then removed to Allentown.

https://play.google.com/books/reader?printsec=frontcover&output=reader&id=4XsrAQAAMAAJ&pg=GBS.PA579 History of Lehigh County Vol 1

Robert and Alice joined his parents in Richmond, Virginia before 1875, but had moved to back to New York City by 1881 and then I think to Catasauqua by 1886.  Robert built a house on Howertown road in Catasauqua.  It is still there but not in such great shape as it was turned into apartments.  I keep trying to get a good look at all the people on the porch.  The house looks much bigger in this photo than it really is.  It took me a while to recognize it, driving by several times, but the clue is the township(?) marker in the front yard. It is on a funny intersection too.  Maybe if it comes up for sale, I'll get my sister Maggie to take me through it.  

Robert J. McIntyre and Alice Donahue had the following children:

Mary McIntyre was born on 03 Oct 1869. She died in 1869. 

Mary Frances "Mame" McIntyre was born on 27 Apr 1871 in New York. She died on 23 Nov 1944 in Allentown City, Lehigh, Pennsylvania (Thanksgiving Day). She married Henry J O'Neill Sr on 06 Nov 1895 in St. Lawrence Church, Catasauqua, PA.

Andrew McIntyre was born on 23 Mar 1875. He died on 20 Jun 1877 in Richmond, Virginia, USA. 

Isabella McIntyre was born on 01 Mar 1873 in New York. She died in 1918.

Andrew James McIntyre was born on 13 Sep 1877 in Virginia, United States. He died on 11 Jan 1941 in Washington  DC (3060 Porter St NW). He married Joanna M "Josie" Curtin in 1903.

Robert Leo McIntyre was born on 12 Oct 1879 in Virginia, United States.

Alice Mary McIntyre was born on 22 Nov 1881 in New York City. She died on 26 Apr 1944 in Allentown  Lehigh, Pennsylvania. She married Thomas J McDermott Sr about 1901.

James A. McIntyre was born on 26 Sep 1886 in Lehigh, Pennsylvania. He died on 30 Oct 1960.

William McIntyre was born on 21 Dec 1887.

Grace C. McIntyre was born on 01 Jan 1889 in Catasauqua, Pennsylvania. She died on 04 Mar 1977.

Justine C McIntyre was born on 21 Mar 1892 in Catasauqua, Pennsylvania. She died on 02 Jan 1968 in New York, New York, New York, United States of America. She married Charles F Ehrhardt MD on 12 Feb 1918 in Kings, New York, USA.

To the right is a photo of Alice's tombstone at Immaculate Conception Cemetery in Allentown.  Robert may have been buried with her, but I don't know.  The newspaper account of his death lists him as being buried in that Cemetery, but the Church did not have any records of it.  

If anyone can add any information or pictures I would be thrilled.

Mame and Henry O'Neill

This is a beautiful picture of Mary Frances McIntyre O'Neill, best known as "Mame".  She was so well loved, by both her children and her husband, Henry.  She was born in New York. (I have yet to determine exactly where.) Her family moved to Richmond, Virginia and then up to Catasauqua, PA.  She and her husband were married in the tiny St. Lawrence's Church in Catasauqua.   Below is a transcription of the newspaper article.








There are several copies of the letters that Henry sent to Mame before they were married.  Henry seems a bit OCD. He wrote them out first in a copy book, which Matt Mulqueen has the originals.  They are kind of funny.  In one of them Henry was kidding Mame about her "Catholic" views.  I guess she was a bit more pious than he.  In another it tells about her trip to visit her cousins and Henry's reaction. I can't imagine what a fiance he would have been.  Talk about a sit-com!









My grandmother told me that every morning Henry brought Mame a cup of tea and he got the children up and off to school.  One day I will just have to put up all the family portraits.



Henry, or "Papa" as my grandmother Anne called him, was born in Merthyr Tydvil, Wales on 30 August 1859.  He was the twin brother of Bryan P. O'Neill the photographer.  He also had a sister either Mary Alice or Alice who died either at birth or as an infant.  I can not find any records of other children.  He came to this country at the age of 8.  He was a lawyer in Allentown and had an office at the corner of 5th and Hamilton.

Henry not only was a lawyer, he was very much into buying and selling and renting real estate in Allentown, and much to the joy of my cousins and fellow genealogists he kept copious records and journals.  If anyone comes across any of these, please let me know.  I have one, but I do know there were quite a few others, including the "Big Journal".

He wrote several books including The Travels of John Wryland, a take off on Gulliver's Travels.  The reviews were not too good in the New York Times.  One that I have the transcript of is Robert Emmet: The Apostle of Universal Justice And Peace, Love And Kindness.  It is a long winded book, more like a lecture.  There may be another book on the flat tax.  

Henry and Mame are buried in Holy Savior Cemetery in Bethlehem, with quite a few of the cousins and relatives close by.

Great, Great Grandfather Revealed!!

I have had this picture for several years now, thinking that it was my great, great grandfather, but now it is finally confirmed.  My second cousin, Bill France, found the photo marked in his grandmother Alice O'Neill Mulqueen's photo album.  I guess networking pays off.  Now we have photos of all the great great grandparents.  Many thanks Bill for solving the mystery.

Photos

   Uncle Bob's Photo Album 

 (just click on the words and it will come up)

Uncle Bob O'Neill was somewhat of a historian.  He kept scrapbooks and family albums filled with newspaper clippings, cards and lots of other interesting items.  Throughout the years he sent old family photos to his brothers and sisters for Christmas.  He also transcribed many of the journal entries from Henry Sr.  He was lucky though, his Uncle Bryan P. O'Neill was a photographer and; because of Bryan we are lucky to have so many beautiful photos.  I'll be updating this album as I scan more and more of the photos.

Connecting

It has been quite a while since I last posted, but I have been keeping busy with some great finds and connecting with some "new" cousins.  Just the other day I made this find which would help explain why the McIntyres moved to Catasauqua.  I haven't verified it yet so perhaps some others can help me make the connection.  I found it on the Library of Congress website.

Month's Mind

Well done good and faithful servant!

I can't believe it is a month since, our beloved uncle, Fr. Bob Reed passed away.  Well here is a story to share. It is taken from The Poster the Cursillo Newsletter where some of the groups members shared some of their memories, they published a special edition in memory of Fr. Bob.  Here is a classic story.

Father's dry sense of humor....
    Many years ago, Father Reed was behind me in a registration line for a workshop sponsored by our diocesan financial office.  He was in exceptionally good humor that day.
    I have to smile when I remember him saying, "All of my priesthood, I've been trying to care for the sheep; today, I'm going to learn how to  fleece them." Can't you hear him say that line and picture the smile on his face?  -- Mary Ann Hammer

Paydirt!

Well, I finally found something about Anne Magennis (Mcgennis) at the Lehigh County Historic Society yesterday!  Here is a transcription of her obit.....Not a whole lot of info, but it helped.

                           DEATH OF MRS. BRYAN O'NEILL. -- Mrs. Bryan O'Neill 

                           a lady of decided culture and refinement, wife of Bryan O'Neill,

                           the well known contractor, died at her husband's home, No. 221

                           Gordon street, this city [Allentown], on Friday morning last. She

                           was a native of Ireland, and in her youth was a teacher at Montreal, 

                           Canada, and subsequently pursued the same vocation in South 

                           Wales, England, where she first met her future husband, Mr. O'Neill. 

                           They were married in London in 1869 [ 25 Oct 1856], and husband 

                           and wife [and 2 ten yr old boys] shortly after came to the United 

                           States, and resided in our city since. She is survived by her husband,

                           two sons, Henry J., the well known lawyer here, and Bryan P., the 

                           photographer. Mrs. O'Neill was a lady of most admirable qualities,

                           and a devoted wife and mother. The family have the sympathy of 

                           the community in their bereavement.

                             --- Allentown Democrat 25 Aug 1897

                                   she passed away on 20 Aug 1897

Can you imagine!!! She must have gone to Canada sometime during the potato famine in Ireland about 1850, then went to South Wales. I guess I get my wanderlust from both the Reed and the Magennis side of the family.  I have a feeling that the picture does not do her justice.  Besides being a teacher some of the information I have about her indicates that she also played the organ at her local Church.  She is the one who lived near the "gherkin" in London.  

Wales

From London we went to Wales, and Tudy says, we used every form of transportation on the trip except helicopter and submarine!  Wales was so beautiful! Unfortunately we didn't even get to see the seacoast.  We loved Cardiff Castle, the owner during the time the O'Neil's were in Wales was the Marquis of Bute who was a member of the Oxford Movement and did the major renovations of the castle. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardiff_Castle Wikipedia has some good pictures.  One thing I did accomplish was getting to the Cefn Coed cemetery to take a pictures of the monument for Thomas and Mary O'Neill Owens (our great great grandfather Bryan's sister).  It took two days because of a little misinformation and lots of rain!  But I have Vaughn Williams and some of the cemetery crew to thank for helping me find it.

For more pics https://picasaweb.google.com/TravelingCRE/IrelandEnglandWales

To Let or Toilet

Stratford-Upon-the -Avon

As you can see blogging took second and third place when we were traveling.  Maggie, Tudy and I went from Dublin and caught the ferry to Holyhead then on to Stratford-Upon-the-Avon, learning that we needed an English translator some of the time, and often looking for Toilets, wc's and other facilities.  We loved Stratford-Upon-the Avon, such a quaint town.

"Gherkin" and St. Ethelburga Church

We then took off to see London and unfortunately the showers followed us.  I found that where my great great grandparents lived before they were married was very close to the "gherkin."  I don't have any idea of what it is really called but it is in the financial district of London.  They lived in the block across the street from the small church in the picture. The block was demolished for newer office buildings.

Previously Pea Hen Court Bishopsgate

St. Mary Mooresfield 

 Unfortunately I could not get into the church where Bryan O'Neil and Anne Magennis were married, St. Mary Mooresfield but I have a picture of the outside of the church. The architect designed the Church so that it fit in with the shops that were on the block.

Day One: Sun &Showers

Tudy and I arrived in Dublin after a quick half and 5 hour fight to sun and Tudy loving the showers.We seemed to be a little off balance though every where we went , the make up store in He airport(boy, they were glad when I left), the airport restaurant in the airport, and the dessert cafe.Barb got my reading card for the National archives!

THE EXCITEMENT BUILDS

Eleven more days!!

Getting our Kicks on Rt 66

Military Archive St. Louis, MO

Last Saturday, another beautiful wild Irish woman, Mary Kate got married to Dan O'Brien.  It was a fantastic time, and we are thrilled to have Dan in the family.  Afterwards Jibbsey and I started a road trip to some of the nearby family spots, some of which just happen to be along Route 66.  Jibbsey isn't too thrilled when I pull over to take a picture of a street sign.  We went to St. Louis and had dinner with Mary Kate's bro Michael and did some sightseeing.  We made an appointment to visit the National Military Archives in St. Louis.  Unfortunately Brigadier General C. T. O'Neill's file had been burned in the fire in 1973, but they were able to recreate some of it for us.  It gave us some information on where he served here in the US before his company left for Europe during WWI.  I am still hoping they will come up with some information on his service in the Spanish American War and the Mexican dispute.

Isabell McKay

Last week my daughter and I spent some time with our 2 cousins Michelle and John in downtown NYC.  Looking at some of John's beautiful pictures, and sharing some memories.  John has a fantastic collection of photos from the McIntyre family.  So now we can put some names with faces.  Here is the first of those pictures, Isabelle McKay.  I know she was born in Scotland and married James McIntyre (don't know where).  She and James had my great, great grandfather Robert J. McIntyre in Glasgow.  They lived in New York, Richmond Va., and for a while on Howertown Rd. in Catasauqua, PA.  I am not sure where Isabelle died, but James died in Brooklyn.  More mysteries to solve.

Memorial Day

Holy Savior Cemetery, Bethlehem PA

Today, Barb (another wild O'Neill woman) and I went to Holy Savior Cemetery in Bethlehem and put a Spanish American war marker on General O'Neill's grave.  I went stomping around cemeteries the other day and didn't see a one.  Now CT, has one along with his WWI marker.  Many thanks to all who served our country!  Bob, he needs a Knights marker too. (Thanks to brother Bob and his friend Viola at the Lehigh County Veterans' Affairs office for the marker)

Mary Francis "Mame" O'Neill

My Aunt Mary and Cousin Greg are allowing me to scan the photo's from my grandmother's album that Anne put together.  The first page consists of 2 pictures of Anne's mom, Mame McIntyre O'Neill and one of Mame's father, Robert J. McIntyre.  This may be a type of cabinet card of Mame that may date between 1890 and 1905. I think she may have been between 20 and 35 in this photo.  I am really lousy at guessing people's ages.  Mame's brother-in-law Bryan took the photo.  The address on the back of the card is his photo studio.
(I will post the other photos later)

It is a beautiful picture isn't it.  The story is that Henry J. O'Neill saw her at Mass at St. Lawrence Church in Catasauqua, PA and said I'm going to marry that woman.  Love at first sight.  Every morning he brought her tea in bed and got the kids moving, from what I understand an Irish custom.  So how many of our Irish male relatives bring their wives coffee or tea in bed each morning?

In the beginning.....

Several years ago...at least 40, my grandmother, Anne I. O'Neill Reed, planted the seed and I became an amateur genealogist.  She told me the stories of the Wild Irish Women and the God-fearing men who loved them.  I knew some of these eccentric and lovable men and women, and I am getting to know them better.  I am hoping that others who are interested in our family history will be able to get some insight into these delightful Irish ancestors.