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Susan McPhillips 

On April 14, 1874, ‘Irish’ John Smith married Susan McPhillips at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Keyesville, Wisconsin.  Keyesville is in Richland County.  Father F. X. Heller married them in the Church.  . 

Susan was born on September 2, 1857, in Corravilla, County Monaghan, Ireland. Her family moved to the USA and Wisconsin ten years later.  The following information shows the relationship between the Townlands of Rossnaglogh and Corravilla.  They were located in the same general vicinity in Ireland.   

 Susan’s parents were Mike (born 1825) and Mary McPhillips (born 1827).  Susan had two known brothers – Owney (Owen, born 1868) and John (born 1860).  Later in life Owen (Owney) lived in Kimball, South Dakota.  All were born in Ireland.  Susan may have had an older brother named Patrick who was born in 1855. 

The Irish John Smith family lived Sauk County, Wisconsin.  Most records during this six year period show the family lived in Bear Creek Township.  One record dated September 22, 1879, showed conflicting information for his residence.  This document suggests Irish John lived in Spring Green and then stated he lived in the town of Bear Creek in Sauk County.  His postal address still showed Bear Valley, Richland County, Wisconsin.  By November of 1879 ‘Irish’ John’s pension went from $6.00 a month to $8.00 a month. 

By 1880 they had three children – Peter, Michael and William.  Another name shows up as being part of the Smith household and that was John’s brother, Owen.  The census does not show Owen’s occupation, but does state he was 35 years old.  This would make his birth year as 1845, which is similar to what we see in his earlier immigration record.  John said his birth year was 1843.  The following shows the 1880 census record: 

 (Source Information:  Census Place Bear Creek, Sauk, Wisconsin; Family History Library Film 1255446; NA Film Number T9-1446; Page Number 55C) 

This was the first census to ask each household general health questions.  Except for Owen, all Smiths stated they had good health.  The census indicates Owen had a spinal disorder, was idiotic and insane.  Census takers were not medical practitioners, and they had to make a judgment based on what they saw or heard.  What was Owen’s medical condition?  Did Owen have a degenerative medical condition, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, or similar ailment? 

This is St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in tiny Loreto, Wisconsin.  It was the only Catholic Church located in Bear Creek Township.

ST. MARY’S CATHOLIC CHURCH HISTORY – ITHACA, WISCONSIN 

The Catholic Church played a huge part in the average Irish man and woman’s life.  The Smiths attended St. Mary’s Catholic Church, which although is listed with a Keyesville address is actually closer to Ithaca.  Father Max Gardner held the first mass in this area in 1856 and later erected a small building for this purpose.  Father Wendel Bernard was the first priest.  In 1865 Father Bernard was succeeded by Father Theopholis Bean who was the church’s pastor until May of 1872.  The local residents erected a stone house for the purpose of a school and home for the sisters in charge.  In May 1872 Father Francis X. Heller succeeded father Bean and stayed with this parish until 1875.  Father Michael Heiss served as the parish priest until 1878 when Father Henry Koenig took charge.  By the time the next priest moved into the parish the Smith family had long departed for the Dakotas.

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