“Irish” John Smith’s Step-Dad

William Rooney married “Irish” John’s mom, Catharine Greenan-Smyth, about 1859 in Wisconsin.  When they actually got married is unknown, and we only know bare wedding details from data gleaned in the 1860 US Census for Bear Creek, and William Rooney’s Civil War pension records. Catherine died in 1896, and William married Mary Huebsch eight months later.

The 1900 census shows William Rooney and Mary Huebsch were married for 3 years and lived with May Bohl.  Mary Huebsch’s first husband was John Bohl.  After John Bohl died Mary once again began using her birth surname, Huebsch.  The 1900 census interests us due to what we learn from it.  It states William Rooney immigrated to America in 1848, having lived in this country for 52 years.  This census record was difficult to find since it shows William Rooney lived in Ithaca, Richland County, and not living in Sauk County. 

 

1900 US Census; Richland County; Ithaca; District 0115; Wisconsin

 

Irish Naming Convention

According to the Irish naming convention for sons, the father names the first born child after his own father, the second child is named after the mother’s father and the third child after himself.  In “Irish” John’s case he named his first boy ‘Peter’ after his dad, the second boy was named ‘Michael’ after Susan’s dad, and he named our own grandfather ‘William’ after William Rooney.  “Irish” John named his fourth son, John.

American Immigration

We know William Rooney was an early Sauk County pioneer as records show him living in Bear Creek by 1854 or 1855.  Did he live in New Orleans before moving to Wisconsin?  Perhaps, but that is unclear.  According to the 1900 US Census for Wisconsin, William immigrated to America in 1848.

Redmond Rooney and Ruth McManus

From William Rooney’s death record we learned his parents names were Raymond Rooney and Ruth McManus.  Raymond is not a traditional Irish name and we could not find this name listed anywhere in old Irish records.  So we thought William’s wife, Mary, did not know who Williams’ parents were, and simply made up some names.  What we did not realize ten years ago was ‘Redmond’ is the Irish variant for the modern English name, ‘Raymond’.  ‘Redmond’ means ‘wise protector’ and sometimes appears as Reamann or Raemonn..  In Ireland, Mundy is sometimes used as a nickname.  With this new information we continued our search.

Civil Registration Records

Civil Registration death records for Ruth and Redmond Rooney 

Most Irish census records for the the 19th century were destroyed.  Early 19th century Irish Tithe Applotment records, which are used as census substitutes, do not show any entry for ‘Raymond Rooney’ or ‘Redmond Rooney’. Another census substitute, the Griffith Valuation Survey 1847-1864, shows three Redmond Rooney entries.  Two are in County Fermanagh and one is found in County Cork.  Griffiths was a survey of all land owners and leaseholders in Ireland; however, it does not list all adult males in the country.  There were two doctors named Redmond Rooney who lived in 19th century Ulster.  One lived in County Fermanagh and the other in adjacent County Monaghan.  We soon discovered that Redmond Rooney of Cork married a gal named Elizabeth, not Ruth.  So we concentrated on Rooney records from County Fermanagh.

The Irish Civil Registration Indexes recorded deaths, births, and marriages from 1865 forward.  We looked for death records in any Registration District where both Ruth Rooney and Redmond Rooney appeared.  While only a few ‘Redmond Rooney’ death records were created in the 19th century, we found only one Ruth Rooney record in Ireland and that was created by the Registration District at Enniskillen, County Fermanagh.  A Redmond Rooney’s death was also recorded in the same Registration District - one who was born about the same time as Ruth Rooney.

Where did they live?

Good question.  In mid-19th century records we find three possible locations where someone name ‘Redmond Rooney’ lived.  In Fermanagh we find someone named Redmond Rooney living in Whilliter Townland, Greaghnafine Townland and working in the town of Enniskillen. 

1862 Griffith Survey of Whilliter Townland; Derrybrusk Civil Parish; Barony of Tirkennedy; Union of Enniskillen; County Fermanagh

 

Barony of Knockninny; Union of Enniskillen; Parish of Kinawley; Greaghnafine Townland (1847-1865)

A doctor named Redmond Rooney lived and worked in Enniskillen town, County Fermanagh.  Dr. Rooney was one of three physicians who worked in the same office.

MacCloskie’s Directory of Fermanagh; Enniskillen; 1848, page 101

These are the only three ‘Redmond Rooney’ listings we could find in mid-19th century County Fermanagh.  It is possible William’s father is listed above; however, it is also likely other Redmond Rooneys lived in County Fermanagh whose names appear in no land records.

Interesting News Item...

INISMORE RIOT.

May 27, 1824 - Enniskillen Chronicle and Erne Packet - Enniskillen, Fermanagh

FERMANAGH - ENNISKILLEN, MAY 27. -- We are sorry to announce the death of ___ M'Creery, the man stated in our last to have his skull fractured in the unfortunate quarrel at Innishmore on the 17th instant.  He died of his wounds on Thursday last.  On Friday an inquest was held on his body by Mr. William Trotter, Coroner, and a respectable jury.  The verdict returned by the Jury was -- "Deceased came by his death from a fracture inflicted by a stone, or some heavy blunt instrument, on the lands of Clinticoragh, in the County of Fermanagh, on Monday, the 17th day of May instant, about the hour of seven o'clock in the forenoon, and that the fracture was inflicted by Thomas Rooney, and that in inflicting said wound he was aided and assisted by Redmond Rooney, Denis Rooney, John M'Connell, Andrew Cassidy, and Patrick M'Manus, and that he died on Thursday the 20th, about 11 o'clock in the forenoon. -- (Erne Packet)

A Correspondent of the Erne Pocket, who signs himself "A Protestant Freeholder," thus describes the late riot at Maguiresbridge:--

"The occurrences at Maguiresbridge, so briefly noticed by you last week, were such as, I trust shall never again be witnessed in this County.  I had occasion to attend that Fair, and, as a Protestant, I blushed at the ferocity and rebellious conduct displayed by a mob, miscalling themselves members of that communion.  I confess, had I not been an eye-witness, I would hesitate to believe it.  The recent defeat and abuse sustained at Innishmore may be pleaded by some as a justification, but could be none in any mind.  Were it not for the manly and spirited exertions of Captain Taylor, the only Magistrate present, and the very efficient assistance afforded him by Lieutenant Wardell and the party of the 66the Regt. under his command, the consequences, I might almost say, the carnage, must have been dreadful.”
It should be noted the deceased was a member of the pro-Protestant, anti-Catholic fraternal organization known as Orangemen.  The fight began in town between Catholics and Protestants and then moved into the countryside.  The defendants originally were charged with murder, but charges later dropped to manslaughter.

John Rooney

Another Rooney family lived near our own ancestors in Sauk County.  From the biography printed below we discover this Rooney line came from Rosslea, County Fermanagh.  I added this family to this writeup as we do not know their relationship to William Rooney, if at all.

 

ROONEY, John
Commemorative and Biographical Record of Columbia, Sauk and Adams Counties, WI. Chicago: Ogle, 1901, p 366-70 (Portraits of Mr. & Mrs. John ROONEY, p 367)

John ROONEY, a veteran of the Civil war and a citizen of Baraboo, Sauk County, WI, has been the architect of his own fortunes, having made his own way in the world from an early age, and although now broken down in health he still displays much energy and a devotion to principles which have been the means of bringing him to success. Mr. ROONEY was born in County Fermanagh, Ireland, 15 Aug 1844, a son of James and Ann (McMANUS) ROONEY. His paternal grandfather, Owen ROONEY, as well as the grandmother, who was a MURRAY, were
lifelong residents of County Fermanagh, where the former died at the age of eighty years. His ancestors were among the Catholics who clung to their homes during the oppression to which they were subjected in Cromwell's time.

Our subject's maternal grandparents, Bernard and Mary (BOYLE) McMANUS, were natives of County Cavan and Fermanagh, respectively, and were heirs of a large estate left by the lady's father, James BOYLE, in that county. They emigrated to the U. S., and Mr. McMANUS became foreman on railroad construction in PA. After his death his wife came to Sauk County, WI, where she died at the age of 87 years. In the BOYLE family were a number of prominent priests, including Rev. Francis Edward BOYLE, of Washington, D. C., who was chaplain in the Union army during the Civil war.

James R. ROONEY, the father of our subject, was a native of County Fermanagh, and was a well educated man for his day. He made his home on a farm near Rossleigh, where he followed the stone mason's trade until his emigration to America in 1847. He first located in Dauphin County, PA, and while there filled a large contract for wood fuel for the railroad which passed him home. There he died 15 Aug 1851. His wife, who was born in County Cavan, Ireland, 27 Apr 1816, died in Sauk County, WI, 28 Dec 1885. Of their seven children, one died in infancy and Patrick was accidentally killed while riding a horse in a race at Sugar Creek, Walworth County, WI. The others are Mary (wife of Thomas McGUAN, of Westfield, Sauk County, WI), John (our subject), Margaret
(wife of Nathan BLIVEN, of [p 369] Freedom Township, Sauk County), Anna (wife of Luke KELLEY, of washington, D. C.), and Elizabeth (wife of John NORTON, of Providence, RI).

John ROONEY, whose name introduces this review, was only three years old when brought by his parents to the U. S., and was only seven when his father died. The following year the family moved to Zanesville, OH, and the next year to Roseville, OH [both in Muskingum County]. In 1855 they came to Whitewater [Walworth County], WI, and from there moved to Sugar Creek Township, Walworth County. Our subject was employed at railroad work, beginning as a water boy in OH, and after the death of his brother, Patrick, he drove the latter's
team. Going to Cross Plains [Dane County, WI], he worked on the construction of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad between Juda and Monroe, WI [both in Green County]. In the fall of 1857 the family settled in Honey Creek Township, Sauk County, where they engaged in farming, the mother in the meantime having married George SULLIVAN. Our subject then earned his livelihood as a farm laborer until the Civil war broke out.

On 09 Aug 862 Mr. ROONEY enlisted in Company K, 23rd WI Volunteer Infantry, which was assigned to the First Brigade, 10th Division, 13th Army Corps. In Sep 1864 he was transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps. He took part in the battles of Chickasaw Bayou, Arkansas Post and Port Gibson, and the day following the last named engagement he received a sunstroke and was sent to the hospital at Grand Gulf, MS, but he ran away and rejoined his regiment in front of Vicksburg. In Jun 1863 he suffered a relapse and was sent to Gayoso
Hospital, Memphis, TN. During this time his weight was reduced from 165 pounds to 96 pounds. After being employed as a commissary for a time, he rejoined his regiment in Mar 1864, but upon reaching New Orleans was taken ill with pneumonia, and sent to the marine hospital. Upon partially recovering his health, he became reception clerk at that place and continued in that capacity until discharged on 27 Jun 1865, on the surgeon's
certificate of disability.

Renting a farm at Loganville, Sauk County, in 1867, Mr. ROONEY engaged in hop culture with his step-father until the decline of that industry. In 1869 he bought land in Freedom Township, upon which he located in 1874, and began its improvement, making his home there until 1885, when he came to Baraboo, and has since given his attention chiefly to horticulture.

Mr. ROONEY was married 24 May 1869 to Miss Sarah Maria LAMB, a native of Huron County, OH, and a daughter of James Chauncey and Abbie Maria (PETTYS) LAMB, who removed with their family to Sauk County, WI, in 1857, and settled in Freedom Township. The father, a ship builder by trade, was born in VT 18 Jul 1814, and died in Baraboo [Sauk County], WI, 12 Sep 1889. The mother was born in Cattaraugus County, NY, 03 Sep 1819, and was a daughter of Oliver and Ruth (MEAD) PETTYS, the latter a granddaughter of a Revolutionary soldier. Mrs. LAMB also died in Baraboo [Sauk County, WI], 18 Feb 1887. Her children were (1) May Emma, wife of Daniel SEELEY, of North Freedom [Sauk County, WI]; (2) Sarah Maria, wife of our subject; and (3) George D., who was born 08 Feb 1844, and during the Civil war enlisted in the 3rd WI Cavalry, but died of measles before leaving Madison [Dane County, WI], 24 Feb 1864. Our subject and his wife had two children, (1) Edward J., a farmer on the homestead in Freedom [p 370] Township [Sauk County, WI], and (2) Aline M., wife of J. E. CURRY, of Lyons, Sauk County.

Mr. ROONEY is a charter member of John Faller Post, No. 83, G. A. R., at North Freedom. He was one of the pioneer workers in the temperance cause in his locality, and has always taken an active part in such work. He was one of the prime movers in organizing the lodge of Good Templars in his neighborhood, and was instrumental in cultivating a temperance sentiment among the people, which has been the means of excluding the liquor traffic from the town of Freedom. In 1867 and 1868 he was district deputy in Sauk and Columbia Counties for the Good Templars. Since the organization of the Prohibition party he has been a supporter of its principles, and conscientiously discharges all public and private duties. He favored McKinley's election in 1896, but owing to ill health was unable to go to the polls. He has never aspired to office, but does not hesitate to agitate any question which he believes will prove of public benefit.

Contributed by Cathy Kubly