The McPhillips

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The McPhillips Family

 Introduction 

For those of you who have followed our family history, you know that ‘Irish’ John Smith’s wife was from Corravilla townland in Aghabog Parish, County Monaghan.  Susan Smith was born Susan McPhillips.  Her parents, Michael and Mary McPhillips, moved to Wisconsin in 1867 in search of the American dream.  Only a few short years before their departure from Ireland the land suffered through a severe famine.  The population dwindled when emigrants left Ireland to find a better life in a new country.  The surname ‘McPhillips’ is quite popular in this part of Ireland.   

County Monaghan 

County Monaghan in Gaelic is known as ‘Muineachain’ or ‘Place of thickets’.  Located in the province of Ulster this County was known for its agriculture, primarily flax.  Monaghan is a county of lakes, gentle hills, farmhouses and market towns.  Monaghan also is home to several Bronze Age megalithic sites and prehistoric remains.  Monaghan is often described as the county of the little hills. These hills are called drumlins and were formed by melting glaciers.  The word ‘drum’ appears in many townland names and refers to hills or hillocks. 

It comprises an area, according to the Ordnance surveys of 327,048 statute acres, of which 9236 are unimproved mountain and bog, 6167 are under water, and the rest are cultivated land.  The population in 1821, amounted to 174,697, and in 1831 the population had jumped to 195,536.  Its greatest length southeast by northwest is nearly 40 miles, and its width southwest by east is about 22 miles. 

Smith Family Tree 

The following shows our family tree.  'Irish' John Smith married Susan McPhillips in 1874 in Keyesville, Wisconsin.  Susan's parents were Michael McPhillips and Mary Smythe.  We have also seen Mary Smythe written as Mary Smith. 

Michael McPhillips Family 

Not much is known about Michael 'Mick' McPhillips' early life.  He was very tight-lipped about his personal life.  From what we understand, Michael McPhillips never talked about his family in Ireland, or his life before he came to America.  His children and grandchildren pleaded with him to tell them something about his past, but he never did.  His family thought he was mad at someone in Ireland about some old 'wrong' that befell him.  His family assumed he never forgave the offender(s), and that is why he held a grudge his whole life.  Of course, this is pure speculation.  Even though it was thought he was mad about something, he never told anyone what it was.  Another possibility exists that Michael just did not want to talk about Ireland.  This was common with many Irish who immigrated to America.  Their generation was one that wanted to forget what they had seen in the old country.   

Michael never mentioned anything about his family in Ireland, except that his father's name was Patrick.  No one knows if he ever had any brothers or sisters living in America or Ireland.  What we know is that he refused to talk about his family.  Even less is known about his wife, Mary. 

A member of the McPhillips clan told us that Michael McPhillips was born in 'Bally Bay, Abbadog, Fermanaah, or Clones' in Ireland.  We assume 'Abbadog' is a corruption of 'Aghabog', which is a Civil Parish in County Monaghan.  If you recall, 'Irish' John Smith also traces his home to Aghabog in a townland called Rossnaglogh East.  Some speculation exists that Michael was also born in this same townland.  Our great ancestor, Susan McPhillips, was born in Coravilla, which abuts Rossnaglogh East.  Ballybay is a market town located east of Aghabog parish only a few miles away.  County Fermanagh is west of and adjacent to County Monaghan.  Clones is a market town located in County Monaghan but near the Fermanagh and Monaghan county line.  Clones is also a Civil Parish within County Fermanagh. One fact we do know is that Michael was born in 1824. 

We do know some things about his early life though.  In 1854 he married Mary Smythe (or Smith) in County Monaghan.  Mary was born in Monaghan, but it is not known exactly where she was born or lived.  In 1886 she died in Spring Green, Wisconsin, and is buried in St. Mary’s Cemetery found in Keyesville, Wisconsin.  She was born in 1826.  Michael died in 1912 and is buried in Kimball, South Dakota.  This was a real mystery to us as we could see a listing for Mary McPhillips in St. Mary's Cemetery in Keyesville, Wisconsin, but we could not find a listing for Michael.  Our great ancestor, Mick McPhillips, is buried at St. Margaret's Cemetery in Kimball, South Dakota. 

The McPhillips family emigrated from Dundalk, Ireland.  Dundalk is a market town located east of Aghabog on the Irish Channel.  Michael and his family sailed aboard the 'Historian' and finally arrived in Detroit, Michigan, on May 4, 1868.  In those days, sea travel was long and arduous.  It was not unusual for such a trip to take several months.  According to Owen McPhillips' naturalization papers he was born in 1868 in County Monaghan.  McPhillips family lore suggests he may have been born on the ocean while the family was in transit to America. 

Michael brought the following family members with him to America:

• Mary, his spouse
• Patrick, born in 1855
• Susan, born in 1857
• John, born in 1858
• Mary, born in 1862.  (Mary died in 1870 from Scarlet fever)
• Owen, born 1868.  (According to family lore Owen was born aboard ship.)

Mary lost three children in Ireland and their names are lost to memory.  Mary was 36 years old by the time she gave birth to Owen, her last child. 

Michael was a carpenter and he had a job with the railroad waiting for him in Spring Green, Wisconsin.  The McPhillips clan really could not tell us what railroad employed him.  However, we know he was employed as a rail worker in Spring Green, Wisconsin.  In searching nineteenth century railroad records there appears to be only one railroad servicing Spring Green, and that is the old Milwaukee Road.  The official name at that time was Milwaukee and Mississippi Railroad.  The 1870 US Census identifies Michael McPhillips as a day laborer.

The map to the side was taken from an 1892 edition of the Gazetter.  This map shows the rail line from Milwaukee through Madison and points west.  Just west of Madison you can see Spring Green. This town is in Sauk County and is close to where the Smith and McPhillips families lived in Bear Creek, Wisconsin.

"Ballybay, Aghabog, Fermanagh, or Clones” 

Part of the McPhillips clan believes Michael McPhillips was born in 1824 in ‘Rusanglaugh’, County Monaghan.  East Rossnaglogh townland is found in Aghabog Civil Parish. 

McPhillips family lore considers Ballybay, Aghabog, Fermanagh and Clones possible locations for Michael’s nativity.  We know it is not possible for someone to have been born in four different locations.  Smith family lore tells us that the Irish John Smith family did not know the McPhillips family in Ireland.  Frank Smith thought these families lived perhaps 14 miles apart.  Since so many locations are mentioned in family lore, it is very possible Michael lived in different parts of Ireland.  His job would have required him to live in different parts of Ireland.  One possibility is itinerant farm laborer, or spalpeen.  One other possibility is railroad worker.  What do all these locations have in common – Ballybay, Aghabog, Fermanagh and Clones?  They all share the same railway – The Dundalk and Enniskillen Railway.

In the 1796 Flax Grower’s List we could only find McPhillips heads of household for Enniskillen in County Fermanagh.  Many McPhillips surnames could be found in County Monaghan.  What do all these locations have in common?  It is the railroad.  The Dundalk and Enniskillen Railway ran from Enniskillen in County Fermanagh to Clones.  Clones, in County Monaghan, had several rail lines running through it.  One rail line ran through Aghabog Civil Parish, specifically Rossnaglogh East.  As you know, Rossnaglogh East is “Irish” John Smith’s home area.  The railroad ran to the south of the Smith tenement there.  Although a coincidence, the McPhillips left port at Dundalk which is found on the east coast of Ireland.

 The railways were an important part of nineteenth century Ireland.  The railroads were also an important employer during difficult times.  Railroads were used for transporting people during the mid-nineteenth century, and only much later for transporting goods.                 

McPhillips in America 

The 1870 US Census shows Patrick McPhillips (aged 14) working on the Patrick Smith farmstead in Marble Ridge, Wisconsin.  Patrick Smith’s family included Margaret (wife, age 30), Mary (daughter, age 10), Catherine (daughter, age 7), Patrick (son, age 3) and John W. (son, age 6 months).  Patrick McPhillips married Catherine Smith.  Is Patrick’s daughter, Catherine, the future wife of Patrick McPhillips?   Two houses away lived the Michael McPhillips family.  Patrick Smith lived several houses away from William and Catherine Rooney.  Catherine Rooney was Irish John Smith’s mother. 

The McPhillips family lived near ‘Irish’ John Smith in the township of Bear Creek.  Susan McPhillips and Irish John eventually married in Wisconsin in 1874.  The following information is taken from the 1870 US Federal Census.  The census was taken for inhabitants of the township of Bear Creek in the County of Sauk, State of Wisconsin.  The census was taken on June 15, 1870.  The census asked whether any person older than 20 years old could read or write. 

 By 1880 the following four people were left in the McPhillips household:  Mike McPhillips (age 55), Mary McPhillips (age 53), John McPhillips (age 20) and Owney McPhillips (age 12).  Susan married Irish John Smith in 1874 in Keyesville, Wisconsin, at St. Mary’s Church.  The 1880 census also showed the following information for Patrick McPhillips and family.  Patrick was Susan’s older brother.  At this time it appears Patrick was living near Spring Green, Wisconsin and no longer living in Bear Creek Township. 

By 1900 Michael McPhillips was a widower living with his son, Patrick McPhillips, and his family.  Sometime later Michael moved to Kimball, South Dakota. The following information is taken from the 1900 US Federal Census.  The census was taken for inhabitants of the township of Bear Creek Township in the County of Sauk, State of Wisconsin.  The census was taken on June 14, 1900.  Although this census asked similar questions as other previous censuses, one question does stand out.  This census asked what year this person immigrated to America.  According to Susan Smith’s obituary, she immigrated to America ten years after she was born. That would either be 1867 or 1868.  

Some of the first names in this census are unreadable and sometimes the ‘e’ looks like an ‘r’.  This last census was enumerated by H. G. Ellefson.  One of the attendees at Susan Smith’s funeral was Mrs. Henry G. Ellefson, who is described as one of Susan’s nieces.  Before her marriage Mrs. Ellefson was known as Mayme McPhillips, who is listed in the census above. 

Owen (Owney) was already living in Kimball working as a shopkeeper.  Other family members started moving out of Wisconsin.  John moved to Minnesota.  

Later on you will see Michael and Mary’s family tree that shows their descendents.  In addition you will see the Smith family tree.  This is the first time that this list has been written; therefore, you may find it interesting.  Before we look at our descendents we try to uncover where Michael lived in Ireland. 

This is the grave registrations for McPhillips found in St. Margaret’s Cemetery in Kimball, South Dakota: 

McPhillips     Alice                              f           07 Mar 1884      02 Jun 1966    82y 02m 26d

McPhillips     Donald T.                       m         1920                 29 Sep 1983      63y

McPhillips     John                              m                                 01 Mar 1921     60y                  A   2   18  7

McPhillips     Mary J.                          f                                   31 Jul 1896      60y                  A   2   18  6

McPhillips     Mick                              m         1825                  1912                87y                  A   2   23  1

McPhillips     Owen                            m         12 Nov 1868       17 Aug 1940      71y 10m 05d

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