About PetersPioneersDaniel and Ellen Flannery McDonald Family

Marilyn Carroll Biggins, Mickey Carroll Varro, Sister Patricia Warbritton, and Audrey Flannery Wilhelmson contributed to this family history.

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Daniel Born in 1842

McDonald
 
Irish Flag
Daniel McDonald
1813-1883
Unknown
 
Irish Flag
Daniel McDonald
1842-1885+
Unknown
 
Irish Flag
Eliza
1816-1883
Unknown
 
Irish Flag

26-Star US Flag 1837-1845White Hall, 1842-1845/48. Daniel McDonald was born in White Hall, Washington County, New York, in 1842. The U.S. flag had 26 stars, the most recent one being for Michigan. The President was John Tyler.

Daniel's parents were Daniel McDonald, a farmer, born in 1813 in Ireland or Scotland, and Eliza Young, born in 1816 in Ireland. Daniel McDonald was said in the 1850 and 1860 censuses to have been born in Ireland and in the 1870 and 1880 censuses to have been born in Scotland. Sometime before 1842, Daniel and Eliza were married and immigrated to Brooklyn.

The village of White Hall (now Whitehall) is located five miles west of the Vermont border at the south end of Lake Champlain and lies between Champlain and Lake George. In 1823, the Champlain Canal was completed to Whitehall. The Champlain Canal is a 60 miles canal that connects the south end of Lake Champlain to the Hudson River in New York. It was simultaneously constructed with the Erie Canal. See Champlain Canal map.

Daniel was their fourth child. When he was born, Daniel had a brother Robert born in 1938, a sister Irene born in 1840, and a sister Sarah born in 1841.

In 1845, Daniel's brother Edward was born.

Wisconsin, 1845/48-1872. Sometime between 1845 and 1848, they moved from White Hall, New York, to Wisconsin.

In 1848, Daniel's brother James was born.

In 1852, Daniel's sister Mary was born.

In the 1855 Wisconsin State census, a D. McDonald was living in Washington Township, Green County. In the 1860 census, Daniel was living with his family in Monticello, Washington Township, Green County. In the 1870 census, Daniel's family was living in Albany, Washington Township, Green County, without him.

Ellen Born in 1853

John Francis Flannery
1788-1863
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James Flannery
1823-1900
Catherine Grady
1798-1861
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Ellen Flannery
1853-1937
Martin Murray
 
Irish Flag
Mary Murray
1827-1912
Unknown
 
Irish Flag

31-Star US Flag 1851-1858Baltimore, 1853-1855/57. Ellen Flannery was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on July 22, 1853. The U.S. flag had 31 stars, the most recent one being for California. The President was Millard Fillmore.

Ellen was baptized at St. Vincent de Paul Church at 120 Front Street on August 7, 1853. Her sponsors were John Flannery and Mary Duncan. The church was established 1841 and is still at 120 North Front Street.

Ellen's parents were James Flannery, a farmer, born in 1823 in Ireland, and Mary Murray, born in 1830 in Ireland. They were married in Castlebar, County Mayo, on Febraury 2, 1848. Ellen's sister Bridget was born in Castlebar and baptized on January 12, 1849.

Ellen's paternal grandparents were John Francis and Catherine Grady Flannery.

The family immigrated to Baltimore, Maryland, arriving there aboard the ship William Patten on May 10, 1852. Charles Theobald captained the full-rigged sailing ship that carried the family to America. The May 10, 1852, edition of the Baltimore Sun stated that the vessel had "experienced a continued succession of easterly gales since April 1st; had bulwarks, stove, bowsprit carried away, &c." The Good Friday storm would have occurred on April 9. One of the passengers on the voyage was Peter Doyle, age 8, who would become a close friend of Walt Whitman.

The 1855 Baltimore directory shows James Flannery, a laborer, living at 170 Columbia. Records of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad show James Flannery working in the Rd. Way Department in 1855 for $1 a day.

Ellen's brother Patrick was born in Baltimore on February 12, 1855. He was baptized at St. Peter the Apostle Church at Hollins and Poppleton Streets on February 18. His sponsors were Patrick and Mary Flannery. The church, 1.6 miles west of St. Vincent de Paul Church, was established in 1843 and is still there.

Wisconsin, 1855/57-1872. Sometime between 1855 and 1857, the Flannerys moved from Maryland to Leyden Post Office, Porter Township, Rock County. In the 1860 census, the Flannerys were living on a farm in Leyden Post Office.

Ellen's sister Catherine was born in 1857.

Ellen's sister Ann was born in 1859.

Ellen's brother John was born in 1861.

Ellen's brother James was born in 1863.

Ellen's brother Martin was born in 1865.

Ellen's brother Edward was born in 1862.

Sometime between 1850 and 1870, Ellen's family moved about 35 miles west from Leyden Post Office, Porter Township, Rock County to Adams Township, Green County. In the 1870 census, the Flannerys were living on a farm in Adams Township. Ellen's parents, James and Mary, were listed as unable to read or write.

Daniel and Ellen Marry in 1871, Have 4 Children

Marriage Record

Daniel McDonald and Ellen Flannery were married in Adams, Green County, Wisconsin, on March 26, 1871. Daniel was listed in the marriage record as a farmer living in Washington Township, Green County.

Sometime between 1870 and 1880, Daniel's parents and his brother James moved from their farm in Washington Township, Green County, Wisconsin, to a farm in Coon, Buena Vista County, Iowa. Also during that period, Daniel's brother Edward and his family moved from the farm in Washington Township to a farm in Silver Lake, Palo Alto County, Iowa.

Wisconsin, 1871-1880/90. In 1872, Daniel and Ellen had their first child, Lillian, who was called Lilly.

In 1875, Daniel and Ellen had their second child, John.

In 1877, Daniel and Ellen had their third child, Katie.

In the 1880 census, Daniel and Ellen and their three children were living in Adams Township, Green County. This is the same township where Ellen and the Flannery family lived in the 1870 census.

Sometime between 1880 and 1885, Daniel and Ellen moved to Browntown, Cadiz Township, Green County, Wisconsin.

On May 12, 1885, Daniel and Ellen had their fourth and last child, Charlotte Mae, who was called Lottie. Lottie McDonald was born in Browntown.

Sometime between 1880 and 1900, Daniel's parents, Daniel and Eliza McDonald, died.

Daniel Dies in 1885

Daniel McDonald died aat age 43 on September 14, 1885. He is buried in Franklin Cemetery in Browntown. See: Find A Grave.

Ellen Widowed

Green County, 1885-1893. Ellen was age 33 when Daniel died.

In 1891, Ellen's daughter Lillian married Edward G. Sands in Milwaukee.

David Powell and Ellen Married in 1893

Marriage Record

On June 12, 1893, David Powell, a harness dealer, and Ellen McDonald Flannery were married in Cadiz, Wisconsin. By the time of the 1900 census, however, he had died or they were separated.

David Powell Dies

Sometime between 1893 and 1900, David Powell died.

McDonald and Flannery
Ellen's son John McDonald (1873-1935) and her brother Edward Flannery (1868-1941). Circa 1905.
Flannery and Kenny
Ellen's brother James Flannery (1862-1942) and her son-in-law James Kenny (1871-1944). Circa 1905.

Ellen Widowed Again

Green County, 1893/1900-1937. Ellen was between age 40 and 47 when David Powell died or they were otherwise separated.

Sometime between before 1900, Ellen's daughter Lillian married Charles Hill. We do not know what happended to Lillian's first husband, Edward G. Sands. Charles Hill was born in Germany. Lillian and Charles' only child Christine, who was called Teen, was born in 1903 in Illinois. In the 1910 census, Lillian and Charles were living on the Near West Side of Chicago at 2427 W. Fulton Street. This was in St. Malachy's parish. Charles was listed as a carriage driver. St. Malachy was an Irish Catholic parish located at 2248 West Washington Boulevard. It opened in 1882.

On August 6, 1899, Ellen's son John McDonald married Martha Parmer, They had a child, Ellen, on April 20, 1900.

Sometime between 1885 and 1900, certain McDonald and Flannery families moved to a farm in Jordan Township, Green County. The farm was owned by Ellen's father James Flannery and her two brothers, James and Patrick. The 1900 census shows four households with a total of 24 people on this farm.

  • Ellen was in a household headed by her son John McDonald, his wife Martha, and their newborn baby. Ellen's last name was Powell. Ellen's daughter Lottie was also in this household.
  • A second household was headed by Ellen's brother, James Flannery, who had a son. Also living in that household were Ellen's daughter Katie and her father, James Flannery. Her father was listed as divorced. Ellen's mother Mary was not there.
  • A third household was headed by Ellen's brother, Patrick Flannery. He was living with his wife Amanda and their eight children, two of whom were married with no children.
  • There was an unrelated fourth household consisting of an older couple from Germany and their son, age 25.

Ellen's son John McDonald and his wife Martha had three more children: Mary, Katie, and Dennis. John's wife Martha died sometime before 1910.

In 1900, Ellen's father James Flannery died. He was buried in Calvary Cemetery in Argyle, Lafayette County, Wisconsin. Argyle is 12 miles north northwest of Browntown, Green County, Wisconsin.

Ellen and granddaughters
1906 photo of Ellen Flannery McDonald Powell, 53, and her granddaughters, Katie McDonald, circa 8 months old, Mary McDonald, 3, and Ella McDonald, 6, all children of John and Martha Parmer McDonald.

Sometime between 1900 and 1907, Lottie, age 15 to 22, moved from Jordan Township, Green County, Wisconsin, to Chicago. She probably lived somewhere on the Near West Side, because that is where her older sister Lillian lived. On January 23, 1907, Lottie, 21, married James M. Kenny, 37, in Green County. James was a clerk in the Railway Mail Service. He was living with his family before they were married, only a few blocks away from Lillian. Lottie and James lived at 1004 W. Lake Street (2350 W. Lake Street after 1909). Lottie and James' only child, Henrietta Margaret Mary Kenny, who was called Bunny, was born on New Year's Eve, December 31, 1907.

In the 1910 census, Ellen was still living with her son John's family on a farm on Dill Road, near Browntown Road, in Jordan Township.

In the 1910 census, Ellen's mother Mary Flannery, 80, widow, farm owner, born in Ireland, was living in Wiota Township, Lafayette County, Wisconsin. She was living with her son, Edward Flannery, 42, single, farmer. Wiota Township is 12 miles west northwest of Browntown, Green County, Wisconsin.

In 1912, Ellen's mother Mary Flannery died. She was buried next to her husband in Calvary Cemetery in Argyle, Lafayette County, Wisconsin.

Ellen and daughters
1918 photo of Ellen Flannery McDonald Powell, 65, and her daughters, Lillian McDonald Hill, 46, and Charlotte Mae McDonald Kenny, 33.

In 1931, Ellen's daughter, Kate McDonald died. She was age 54. She was buried next to her grandparents, James and Mary Murray Flannery, in Calvary Cemetery in Argyle, Lafayette County, Wisconsin.

In 1934, Ellen's home was destroyed by fire, and she and her son John moved from the farm to Monroe, where John's daughter Katie lived.

In 1935, Ellen's son John McDonald died.

In April 1937, Ellen sustained a head injury when she fell on a downtown street and struck a piece of pipe protruding from a truck. In May 1937, she moved to Chicago, where she lived with her daughter Lottie.

According to Ellen's granddaughter, Teen, one of Ellen's favorite things was tea and pie for breakfast.

Ellen Dies in 1937 at Age 83

Death Certificate     Obituary

On June 13, 1937, Ellen Flannery McDonald Powell died at the home of her daughter Charlotte in Chicago. Ellen was age 83. She was buried next to her parents in Calvary Cemetery in Argyle, Lafayette County, Wisconsin. She had moved to her daughter's home about six weeks before her death.

Powell McDonald Tombstone
Tombstone in Calvary Cemetery, Argyle, Wisconsin, for Ellen Flannery McDonald Powell and her daughter Kate McDonald.
Argyle Atlas, June 24, 1937
OBITUARY - POWELL
  Mrs. Ellen Flannery Powell, a former resident of Jordan Township, died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. James Kenny in Chicago Sunday, June 13 at the age of 83 years.
  Until May of this year she resided in Monroe after she moved from the farm in 1934 when her home was destroyed by fire. She resided with her son John McDonald until his death. After the death of her husband Dan McDonald, she married Daniel Powell, who also preceded her in death. Last April she sustained a head injury when she fell on a downtown street and struck a piece of pipe protruding from a truck.
  Survivors are two daughters, Mrs. Kenny and Mrs. Chas. Hill both of Chicago and several grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Kathryn McDonald. Mrs. Edward Brandt, Monroe, is a granddaughter.
  Funeral services were held Wednesday, June 16, at St. Victor's church, Monroe. Rev. E. C. McCollow officiated. Burial was in Calvary cemetery, Argyle.

In 1941, Ellen's brother Edward McDonald died. Edward was age 73. He was buried next to his parents in Calvary Cemetery in Argyle, Lafayette County, Wisconsin.

Daniel and Ellen: 4 children, 6 grandchildren, 5 great grandchildren

Lillian Mae McDonald 1872-1953  m. 1891 Edward G. Sands

  m. 1900 Charles Hill 1862-1922
  • Christine Lillian "Teen" Hill 1902-1990  m. 1922 James Carey McCann 1902-1971
John McDonald 1874-1934  m. 1899 Martha Parmer 1874-1975
  • Ellen McDonald 1900-1918  m. Fred Krause
  • Mary McDonald b. 1903  m. Peter Kubly
  • Kathryn "Katie" McDonald 1905-1966  m. Edward Brandt
  • Daniel McDonald 1914-1993  m. Frieda Jane Froelich 1917-2002
Catherine M. "Kate" McDonald 1877-1931

Charlotte Mae McDonald 1885-1948  m. 1907 James M. Kenny 1871-1944

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