William Rooney Irish John Smith's Step-Father
William Rooney
“Irish” John Smith's Step-Father
William Rooney
William Rooney was “Irish” John Smith's step-father. Very likely John’s son, William Smith, was named after this man. In the Irish naming convention the first boy is named after the father's father (Peter). The second boy is named after the mother's father (Michael). The third boy is named after the father, which would have been John. Instead, the third son was named William, and we suspect it was done to honor William Rooney.
Not much is known about his early life. William was an Irishman; however, outside of this nothing is known of his nativity. He was born in 1824 to Raymond Rooney and Ruth McManus. In 1848 William moved to America and lived in the south. How many years he lived in Dixie are not known, but at some point he moved to Wisconsin. William married our great-ancestor, Catharine Greenan Smith, in either 1859 or 1860. One government document suggests Catharine and William married in the Madison, Wisconsin area. It is possible they did meet each other in Brooklyn.
What do we know about this surname? Rooney is the anglicized version of O Ruaniaidh, which a personal name meaning ‘champion’ or ‘hero’. This name is found in all parts of Ireland. It was in County Down, Ballyroney Parish, where this surname first appeared. Two families in County Fermanagh also anglicized their surname to Rooney. They were the Ó Maolruanaidh ("Mulrooney"), and the Mac Maolruanaidh ("MacArooney") families, both prominent in the early history of this county. Consequently, one finds several coats of arms for this family. They appear below.
William Rooney family through the Years
According to the 1860 US Census our ancestor, Catharine Smith, married William Rooney within the past year. From pension papers filed by Mary Huebsch, we learn that William and Catharine were married in Madison, Wisconsin. Mary Huebsch married William Rooney after Catharine Smith’s death. Currently we are looking for Catharine and William’s marriage record.
1860 Decade
The 1860 US Census shows the Rooney family living in Bear Creek Township, Sauk County, Wisconsin. On one side of this family lived the Terns Greene family. On the other side lived a Patrick Smith family. Is ‘Terns Greene’ the same person as ‘Terence Green’ who lived with Irish John’s family in Brooklyn? Terence Greenan was Catharine Greenan Rooney’s brother. In 1860 “Irish” John Smith was living in Cross Plains, Dane County, Wisconsin. Where were Catharine’s other children (Owen Smith and Bridget Smith)?
Another neighbor was John King and his family. Bear Creek was known for its high concentration of Irish-born citizens.
William Rooney and the Civil War
As we already know, John Smith volunteered for military service in 1862 with the 29th Wisconsin Regiment, Company G. William did not sit out this war, but enlisted later. With four other Bear Creek residents, William Rooney volunteered with the Wisconsin 49th Regiment, Company C. Others from Bear Creek who joined William in battle were neighbors John King, Dennis Phelan, Francis McCarville and Dennis Cummins. John King was next door neighbor to the Rooney family. Frank McCarville attended Irish John's funeral so it is possible he was related to our family in some way. Dennis Phelan visited Irish John's mom, Catharine, at her death bed. He attended Catharine's funeral too.
There was some confusion which regiment William served with during the Civil War. His grave information suggests he was with the 20th Wisconsin Regiment; however, this is incorrect. Fortunately, the 49th was created in the last throes of the Civil War and none of those who volunteered saw any significant action. At any rate, William enlisted on February 1, 1865 as a Private, and was discharged of his duties on November 1, 1865.
The 49th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment was organized at Camp Randall, Madison, Wisconsin, leaving the state on March 8, 1865. From William Rooney’s own handwriting we understand he traveled from Chicago to St. Louis, Missouri. From here the regiment was assigned to duty in western Missouri, where it remained actively employed until August 17, when it returned to St. Louis. Companies B, C and D were mustered out on November 1 and returned to Madison. The remaining companies were mustered out on November 8, 1865, reaching Madison, Wisconsin, on the November 10. On November 10, 1865, the whole regiment was paid off and disbanded. (“Irish” John Smith stayed at Camp Randall during his basic training.)
The men of the 49th left Wisconsin riding box cars from Chicago to St. Louis. William Rooney "contracted a severe cold which settled through his system causing inflammation of eyes and rheumatism of which he suffered at intervals surely during the remainder of his service." This was written by William Rooney’s doctor. As his commander wrote in one of the official documents, "My men of which said Rooney was one were terribly exposed while in transit from Chicago to St. Louis Mo on freight cars during a severe cold storm. This together with subsequent confusion on going into Camp at Rolla, Mo in rainy weather was the cause of said Rooneys sickness."
He probably got ill on or about March 10, 1865. William claimed he had no protection from the cold weather, and the damp weather in Benton Barracks, Missouri, probably contributed to his later ailments. He was conveyed from Benton Barracks to the cars in an ambulance enroute to Rolla, Missouri. There he was treated by Assistant Surgeon, Jonathan Gibbs. By 1886 William claimed he could only work limited amounts, and sometimes could not work at all due to his disability. William saw little action in the field and spent a lot of time recovering in a field hospital.
The following was taken from the book, Memoirs of La Crosse County, by Benjamin Bryant:
The Forty-ninth was organized early in 1865, and had one officer, Lieut. Francis Down, and seventeen men in Company C, who were from La Crosse county. The regiment was stationed near St. Louis, and engaged chiefly in guard duty.
1870 Decade
According to the 1870 US Census the following were living together in Bear Creek Township, Sauk County, Wisconsin: William Rooney, Catharine Rooney, Owen Smith, and John Smith.
1880 Decade
By this time “Irish” John had married Susan McPhillips. In 1880 Owen Smith was no longer living with the Rooney family; rather, he was living with the “Irish” John Smith family. According to the 1880 US Census the following were living together in Bear Creek Township, Sauk County, Wisconsin: William Rooney, Catherine Rooney and David Carr. Who was David Carr? In the 1870 Census there was a Patrick Carr family living near the Rooney family. One of their young sons was named David, aged 3 years old. David is identified as a ‘Ward’ in the 1880 census.
Continuing Ailments
One doctor wrote the following concerning William’s ailments: "Has rheumatism constantly in all the joins worse in those of left side. Is always worse in wet or changeable weather. Is troubled with short breath and palpitation on exertion. Is blind in left eye. Has pain in it occasionally." This was written in 1886. Due to his ailments William received a higher monthly pension compared to Irish John’s monthly pension. Irish John probably knew what William was getting each month. John complained to the Pension Board and noted that others who were less disabled than he were higher pensions.
William first applied for a service-related disability pension on April 26, 1886. He identified his occupation as Farmer and stated he had lived in Bear Valley, Richland County, Wisconsin, since leaving the military.
The following people supplied testimony to verify William’s disability: William Larkin, Dennis Cummings and John G. Sullivan. Dennis was also a member of the 49th Wisconsin Regiment. John Sullivan also attended Irish John's funeral in South Dakota. The Rooney family was one of John Sullivan’s nearest neighbors and frequently worked on each other's farm. John saw William nearly every day. According to Sullivan, William Rooney would often complain about the pains in his back and arms while loading hay or harvesting.
In 1886 William was given $12 for a pension. In 1887 he was given $18 a month for a pension. By 1890 he was getting $24 a month.
1890 Decade
Unfortunately, no 1890 US Census exists for Wisconsin. Most census forms for this year were destroyed by fire. The 1890 US Special Veterans Schedule and the 1895 Wisconsin State Census still place William Rooney in Bear Valley.
By the end of the nineteenth century Catharine Rooney had died. Catharine passed away on February 21, 1896. A few years earlier her youngest son, Owen Smith, died at home in Bear Valley, Wisconsin. Both Catharine and Owen may be buried near each other. We know one neighbor, A. L. Ochsner of Bear Creek, attended Catharine’s funeral in Keyesville. He knew this family for at least 30 years.
In a government document William indicated Catharine’s maiden name was Greenen. He said he had no children, nor was he married before marrying Catharine.
William Rooney married Mary Huebsch the following year on August 17, 1897. Mary’s first husband, John Bohl, passed away in February of 1896. Mary did not keep her husband’s name after his death, and was known by her maiden name, Huebsch. William Rooney and Mary Huebsch were married in St. Mary’s Church in Keyesville, Wisconsin, by Reverend Devine.
William could read and write. Mary could not read or write and signed her name with an ‘X’.
All these people are buried in Saint Mary’s Cemetery in Keyesville, Wisconsin. St. Mary’s Catholic Church was the family church.
Last Hurrah - 1900
William died in Bear Creek Township on September 5, 1900. He probably died as a result of paralysis brought on by one of his known heart ailments in which he had suffered for years. Mary died some years later on May 4, 1915, in Richland Center, Wisconsin. In a government document he was identified as an Irish Catholic in good standing with the Church. The cause of death was identified as below:
Primary: Rheumatism and Endocorditis and Nephritis
Secondary: Heart Failure
Is
gairid ár gcairt ar an saol seo.
Our lease on life is short.
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