County Mayo |
Mary (1Dad) St. Lebim
Mary St. Lebim was born on 6/18/1830 in County Mayo, Ireland. And, she was one of the survivors of the Great Famine which was especially pernicious in the later famine era in western Ireland. Of note, the place of origin for this family is proven by the 1903 Davenport Times obituary for Mary.
The task is to prove whether the St. Lebim Family migrated to America or whether their only known child, Mary, was a sole survivor of the Great Famine. Mary's immigration date is cited as 1/1850. To date, only Mary is found from her family in Otisville, Orange Co NY in 1850. And, Otisville's location in southern New York leads to the belief that Mary's immigration port was New York City.
In 6/1850 in Otisville, Orange Co NY, Mary St. Lebim married Martin Reagan b. 1830 in County Tipperay, Ireland.
The hamlet [town] of Otisville is located within the town [township] of Mount Hope, Orange Co NY. And in the 1850s, Otisville was an industrial hub which supplied workers for the Delaware and Hudson Canal and the Erie Railroad's expansion west out of New York City. So, the question is "Why were Martin and Mary in Otisville when they got married?" Irish laborers were welcome.
From the records, we know that Mary immigrated 1/1850, presumably to New York City. And, Martin immigrated 2/1850 to New York City. So, Mary and then Martin wandered around New York for about four months. Somewhere along the way, they met. And as they were considering marriage, an important question would have been "What kind of work could Martin do?" Why not the railroad?
Martin and Mary lived in Otisville NY for about two years. Why so long? There were lots of Catholic Irish laborers in Otisville. And eventually, Otisville would have a Catholic Church.
Martin and Mary migrated in about 1852 to Davenport IA after the birth of daughter Catherine and are first found in the 1855 Iowa State Census. Martin worked as a laborer, and the family lived at the bottom of Cork Hill, along the Mississippi River. Unfortunately, Martin died as a young man in 1863.
On 2/5/1866, Mary St. Lebim Reagan married Michael Hopper b. 9/22/1822 in County Sligo, Ireland. In the Reagan Family, Michael was known as Grandpa Hopper. Michael was a widower when he married Mary. Into the 1940s, the Hopper children by his previous wife attended Reagan Family functions, visiting with Mary's children and grandchildren.
Michael died 5/12/1902 in Davenport IA. On 12/22/1903 Mary died in the home of her daughter, Mrs. Henry Moss, across the Mississippi River in Moline, Rock Island Co IL. Mary and both of her husbands are buried in Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Davenport IA.
Born 6/18/1830 County Mayo, Ireland
Immigrated 1/1850 to New York
Married 6/1850 in Otisville, Orange County NY to Martin Reagan b. 1832 in County Tipperary, Ireland
Migrated c. 1852 to Davenport IA
Martin died 2/22/1863 Davenport IA
Married 2/5/1866 in Davenport IA to Michael Hopper b. 9/22/1822 County Sligo, Ireland
1880 Scott Co IA Census
Name | Relation | Marital Status | Gender | Race | Age | Birthplace | Occupation | Father's Birthplace | Mother's Birthplace |
Michael HOPPER | Self | M | Male | W | 60 | IREL | Laborer | IREL | IREL |
Mary HOPPER | Wife | M | Female | W | 50 | IREL | Keeping House | IREL | IREL |
Kate HOPPER [R] | Dau | S | Female | W | 26 | IA | Works At Tailoring | IREL | IREL |
Mary HOPPER [R] | Dau | S | Female | W | 19 | IA | At Home | IREL | IREL |
Mary Ann HOPPER | Dau | S | Female | W | 22 | IA | At Home | IREL | IREL |
1900 Rock Island Co IL Census
1900 Federal Census: Rock Island County, Illinois Dad Mom DW# FM# Last First Rel. Sex R Age POB POB POB =============================================================== 32 39 Moss Henry Head M W 43 Mo Ger Ger Katie Wife F W 41 NY Ire Ire Hopper Mary Mother/Law F W 68 Ire Ire Ire Cunningham Rosa Servant F W 34 IA Ire Ire |
Michael died 5/12/1902 in Davenport IA
Died 12/22/1903 Moline, Rock Island Co IL
The Davenport Times 12/22/1903 Mrs. Mary Hopper died at the home of her daughter Mrs. Henry Moss, 1628 Third Avenue , Moline, at 12:30 o'clock this morning. The deceased came to her death by reason of a paralytic stroke sustained a short time ago. The deceased was born in County Mayo, Ireland, June 18, 1830, being 78 years, six months and four days at the time of her death. She came to America in January, 1850, and was married to Martin Reagan in Otisville N.Y. in June, 1850. In 1851 the deceased came to Davenport where she had resided until a short time ago when she removed to Moline to make her home wither her daughter, Mrs. Henry Moss, where she died. Three daughters and one son survive, Mrs. Henry Moss of Moline, Mrs. Mary Fayr, Mrs. James Larkin and Thomas Reagan of this city. The body had been taken to this city to the home of her daughter, Mrs. Mary Fayr, 1025 Scott Street, from which place the funeral will be held at 9 o'clock, Thursday morning with services at St. Anthony's Church, and internment in St. Marguerite's Cemetery. The first husband of the deceased died 40 years ago, and four years later the widow was remarried to Michael Hopper who died May 12, 1902. |
Mary, Michael and possibly Martin are buried in St. Marguerite's/Mt. Cavalry Cemetery, Davenport IA
Born 1852 Otisville, Orange Co NY
Married 6/13/1888 in Davenport IA to Henry Theodore Moss b. 12/17/1856 St. Louis MO
Died 1926 Rock Island Co IL
Buried St. Mary's Cemetery, Rock Island Co IL
2. Thomas Martin Reagan b. 7/17/1857 Davenport IA
Born 1/1/1859 Davenport IA
Married 6/17/1881 at St. Anthony's Church, Davenport IA to William M. Fayr b. 1857
Died 12/16/1915 Davenport IA
Buried Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Davenport IA
4. Mary Ann Hopper
Born c. 1861 Davenport IA
Married c. 1880 in Davenport IA to James Larkin b. 1852 in Pennsylvania
Died after 12/1903 Davenport IA