Descendants of Dad St. Lebim
of County Mayo, Ireland

County Mayo

Generation #2

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 may have lived in Otisville NY for as long as four years. Why so long? There were lots of Catholic Irish laborers in Otisville. And eventually, Otisville would have a Catholic Church.

The family is next found in 1855 in Davenport IA where daughter Bridgett was born. 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. 

 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   Dau   S   Female   W   26   IA   Works At Tailoring   IREL   IREL 
 Mary HOPPER   Dau   S   Female   W   19   IA   At Home   IREL   IREL 
 Mary Ann HOPPER   Dau   S   Female   W   22   IA   At Home   IREL   IREL  
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
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.

Caveat
This site is provided for reference only. Except where specifically cited, information contained is conjecture and should not be considered as fact.
Home Index About Me