1855, 1875, 1885 and 1895
Dane and Sauk County
| Wisconsin began taking census almost from its beginning. Census records exist for 1855, 1865, 1875, 1885 and 1895. Unfortunately, only a few records for 1865 are still available, and none for Sauk County. We also sought Sauk County records for 1855, but these do not seem to exist. It is too bad since we know William Rooney lived in Bear Creek at that time. William Rooney married Irish John Smith’s mother, Catharine Greenan Smyth. 1855 census records for Dane County are available. There are a lot of names found in census records, but which names mean anything to our family? |
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Starting Point – Irish John Smith’s Obituary
John Smith died in 1929 and many out of town people attended his funeral. You may have read this obituary before, but wondered who some of these people were. Smith and McPhillips names were easy to identify as relatives, but who were the others? The following was taken from John Smith’s obituary:
"There were so many out of town people attending the services that it is impossible to mention names. Those from out of state were Frank McCarville, Arthur McCluskey and John G. Sullivan of Lone Rock, Wisc., Genevieve McPhillips and Miss Rose Love of Spring Green, James Smith, Sam Farrell, P.J. Smith, Mrs. Mary Benton and Mrs. Will Coyle of Madison, all of Wisconsin. Mrs. Benton Was Mrs. Smith's bridesmaid when she was married in 1874."
Irish John’s obituary does not mention Mary Benton’s parents. They were Patrick and Margaret (Greenan) Smyth of Bear Creek Township, Sauk County, Wisconsin. Patrick and Margaret lived very near Irish John’s family in Wisconsin.
 Plain, Wisconsin countryside |
Mary Benton's sister was Catherine Smyth. Catherine married John G. Sullivan, who is also mentioned in "Irish" John's obituary. The Smith and McPhillips are relatives. So who are the other names listed here? Another name found on the obituary is Mrs. Will Coyle. William Coyle was born November 3, 1891, in Cross Plains, Dane County, Wisconsin. He died in June of 1963. William married Rose A. McPhillips who was born July 1892 in Bear Creek Township, Sauk County, Wisconsin. Her parents were Patrick McPhillips and Catherine Burns. Patrick McPhillips was brother to Susan Smith, and brother-in-law of "Irish" John Smith. |
Frank McCarville was born in Bear Creek Township in 1863, son of James and Julia McCarville. His parents moved to Bear Creek in 1847 making them one of the earliest settlers in this wilderness area. In 1891 Frank McCarville married Julia Farley. At a minimum the McCarville family were good friends to Irish John and his family, but we think they were relatives. Julia Farley was born December 1870 in New York to John Farley and Margaret Dwyer.
Arthur McCluskey is a known relative of Irish John. His parents were Bernard and Alice (Greenan) McCluskey of Bear Creek Township, Sauk County, Wisconsin. Alice Greenan's parents were Terrance and Mary (Smith) Greenan. Terrance's sister,
Catharine, was "Irish" John Smith's mother.
The above names all have some connection to "Irish" John's neighborhood in Bear Creek Township, Sauk County, Wisconsin.
John Smith also lived in Dane County. Sam Farrell is mentioned in John Smith’s obituary. Sam was born in Cross Plains, Wisconsin, to one of the five Farrell brothers who moved to Wisconsin in the mid-19th century. His cousin, Timothy Farrell, was also born in Cross Plains, Wisconsin. Timothy and his wife, Ellen, lived beside "Irish" John and his wife, Susan, in Highland Township, Brule County, South Dakota.
Other Surnames of Interest
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John Smith lived in Cross Plains Township in mid-19th century Wisconsin. Before enlisting in the Wisconsin 29th Regiment, John worked as a farmhand for the John Bryan family of Pine Bluffs, Wisconsin. In Pine Bluffs lived several families with ties to County Monaghan. Monaghan family surnames include Quigley, Farmer and Coyle. One Coyle descendant moved from Pine Bluffs and settled in Highland Township, Brule County, South Dakota. Coyle is a surname that falls in the Smith family tree. You will see census records for different years. My comments for each census year appear below.
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1855 Wisconsin Census
Township of Cross Plains
 Plain, Wisconsin - late 20th century |
Patrick Farmer (3 males and 3 females) – Family was from County Monaghan Michial Quigley (2 males and 2 females) – Family was from County Monaghan Edward Coyle (4 males and 1 female) – Family was from County Monaghan John Bryan (3 males and 3 females) – John Smith worked as a farmhand on this farm James Farrell (1 male and 1 female) – See Farrell references above John Farrell (1 male and 1 female) – See Farrell references above |
1865 Wisconsin Census - No Census records exist for Sauk, Richland or Dane County
1875 Wisconsin Census
Bear Creek Township, Sauk County
Michael Benton – Mary Smyth married into this family
John Smith – (4 males and 2 females) Unfortunately the census only gives the name of the head of household. John recently married Susan McPhillips, and Peter was the only child at this time. Who were the other people?
James McCarville – Father of Frank McCarville who attended Irish John’s funeral
Dennis Love – Rose Love, descendant, attended Irish John’s funeral
Dennis Phelan – One of last people to visit Irish John’s mom, Catharine, on her death bed
John King –
Wm Rooney (3 males and 1 female) At this time we knew William Rooney had two other people living in this house – Catharine his wife and step-son, Owen Smith. It is possible David Karr or Carr was living with the Rooney family at this time.
Joseph Weitzel - Related by marriage through the Peter Smyth family
Bernard McCluskey - 4 males and 2 females; cousins of Irish John Smith
Peter Smith (Smyth) – Next door neighbors of Rooneys, Irish John and Patrick Smith
Patrick Smith – Patrick and Peter lived beside each other. Patrick and his wife are buried in the same family plot with as Catharine Greenan Smyth Rooney and her son, Owen Smith.
Mary Sullivan – Descendant married into Patrick Smith family
Fred W. King
Augusta King
Michael King
Halvor Ellefson – Related to our family by marriage through the McPhillips family
Lawrence Smith – Unsure but other census records show his last name spelled ‘Smyth’
 Alex Smith farm, in Plain Wisconsin area |
 Distant View of Plain, Wisconsin |
1885 Wisconsin Census
Bear Creek Township, Sauk County
James McCarville – Descendant, Frank McCarville, attended Irish John’s funeral
Peter Smyth – Next neighbor of Rooneys, McCluskeys, Irish John and Patrick Smyth
Dennis Phelan - of last people to visit Irish John’s mom, Catharine, on her death bed
Joseph Weitzel – Descendant married into McPhillips family
William Rooney – (3 males, 2 females, 1 born in USA, 4 born in Ireland) We do know William lived with his wife, Catharine, and step-son, Owen Smith. One other person, David Carr, probably lived with the Rooney family at this time. Who is the other female?
Mary Sullivan
Michael Sullivan
Henry King
Patrick Love - Rose Love, descendant, attended Irish John’s funeral.
John King
Bernard McCluskey 7 males and 4 females 9 were born in USA, 2 born in Ireland – Cousins to Irish John Smith
Lawrence Smyth – Unsure but last name listed as ‘Smyth’
Patrick McPhillips – (2 males, 3 females, 4 born in USA with 1 born in Ireland) Brother of Susan McPhillips Smith
1895 Wisconsin Census
Bear Creek Township, Sauk County
John Davey - Patrick Smyth’s second wife was born a Davey.
Dennis Love - Rose Love, descendant, attended Irish John’s funeral
Patrick Love - Rose Love, descendant, attended Irish John’s funeral
Mary Sullivan
Michael Sullivan
William Rooney - 5 males and 3 females all born in USA according to census. Who is this other family living with the Rooney family at this time?
Dennis Phelan – One of last to see Irish John’s mother, Catharine, alive
Frank McCarville 1 male and 4 female all born in USA
James McCarville – Descendant Frank McCarville attended Irish John’s funeral
Peter Smith – Lived by Irish John, Patrick Smith, and McCluskey families
James Smith 1 male 2 female all born in USA – Smith relatives
Patrick Smith 2 males and 2 females 2 born in USA and 2 born in Ireland – Smith relatives
Mary Benton 2 female – Patrick and Margaret Smith’s daughter and her child
Patrick McPhillips 4 males and 6 females, 8 born in USA and 1 born in Ireland – Susan McPhillips Smith link
Bernard McCluskey 7 males and 2 females, 8 born in USA and 1 in Ireland – Irish John Smith cousins
Michael Benton – Mary Benton married into this family