A Day at the Museum - Part 2

Deciding that I shouldn't hog the microfilm reader at the Cass County Historical Society Museum yesterday, I moved on to the Portrait and Biographical Album of Otoe and Cass Counties, Nebraska. What is nice is that the Museum has a bound copy of a reprint of this book that was published by the Greater Omaha Genealogical Society in 1977. If a researcher wants any pages photocopied, the museum staff will get the fragile original out of its protective box and make the copies for you.

I didn't locate any biographies of my kin in the book, but I recognized plenty of names. So I marked the pages that had biographies of the names I recognized as the pioneers buried at Sheffer Pioneer Cemetery between Greenwood and Ashland, Nebraska. One of my acquaintances on FindAGrave is a descendant of these pioneers, so I thought I could share the information should he need it.

While the curator was making copies, she recognized one of the names since she had recently been doing some research on Civil War veterans buried in the county. She said she had his obituary and asked if I'd like a copy. Sure! Why not? Maybe my FindAGrave friend could use it. As I mentioned in Part 1, I didn't want to leave empty handed, and it didn't matter if what I found wasn't about my family!

I have gathered quite a bit of information about a court battle over moving the remains of Edward Cagney from the Fitzgerald plot in Calvary Cemetery in Lincoln, Nebraska to the cemetery in Plattsmouth, Nebraska. The case went to the Nebraska Supreme Court which decided his mother had the right to move the remains, which had been interred about 10 years. It's a fascinating story which I will write about in depth at a later time.

The Museum has fairly detailed lists of interments at the local cemeteries and all I had to offer was that it was probably in the Catholic cemetery. This turned out to be Holy Sepulchre. With help of the museum staff, these entries were located.

Cemetery Listings for Edward Cagney and his brother, John J. Cagney

Cemetery Listings to Catherine Fitzgerald Cagney McEntee
and her second husband, Charles McEntee
This also notes that Catherine's information is on the Cagney stone.

Cemetery Directory showing the location of the Cagney/McEntee Lot
Additional information discovered: Charles McEntee's parents, Michael and Bridget,
are also buried here. Confirmation of Bridget's maiden name as Edoff.

My next field trip to Plattsmouth will definitely include a visit to Holy Sepulchre cemetery to photograph these gravestones. No, they are not my direct line, but it certainly makes for an interesting family history story! And I love a good story.

Read Part 1 of A Day at the Museum.

A Day at the Museum - Part 1

For many weeks I've been eagerly awaiting my visit to the Cass County Historical Society Museum in Plattsmouth, Nebraska. It has been a few decades since my last visit and after six years of staying busy with online research only, I was ready to get back into on-site research. 

Both sides of my mother's family - the Kellys and the Bellingers - were early settlers and long time residents of Greenwood, Cass County, Nebraska. My great grand aunt, Mary Kelly, married John Fitzgerald, a railroad contractor, banker, millionaire and they lived in Plattsmouth, Greenwood and Lincoln.

I've been researching the Fitzgerald line of the family for a long time. Because of their 'celebrity' (for lack of a better word), I have more information than I really know what to do with. But it has proven time and time again how important it is to research siblings. From a newspaper article of Mary's recollections I learned of the wagon train journey that my ancestors made from St. Paul, Minnesota to the Dakotas and returning East along the Missouri River until the family settled in Omaha and Council Bluffs, and later, in Greenwood. Researching the Fitzgeralds has given me a wealth of information about my Kellys.

The October 1 workshop sponsored by the Cass County Historical Society Museum provided a unique opportunity that combined two excellent lectures on beginning genealogy by my new friend and genealogy buddy, Gail Blankenau, as well as time to research many of the resources available at the museum. Gail and I first met when we both spoke at the Land Records and Genealogy Symposium in Beatrice, Nebraska in July.

As always, Gail did an excellent job introducing genealogy to a group of relatively new genealogists. She asked how I could possibly learn anything from a beginner's class and I replied, "I've been a beginning genealogist for 30 years." Sorry - not an original line - I heard someone else say that once and thought it fits my situation. As genealogists, I believe we can always learn something new. And with eight pages of notes from Gail's lectures, I certainly did!

This has been a hectic week and I admit that I had not properly prepared for what research questions I sought answers for. But I had brought along my netbook and when it was time for research, I brought up my database on Family Tree Maker. I jotted down some significant dates that matched up with the newspapers available on microfilm at the Museum. I already knew that I would be returning for further research, but I sure wasn't going to go home empty handed.

With the microfilm of the 1896 Greenwood Gazette in place, I was hopeful of finding an obituary or death notice of my great great grandfather, William D. Kelly, the Irish immigrant. It was not to be found. But I'm going to look again when I have more time available. To date, I found an obituary for him in the St. Paul Minnesota Daily Globe. I was hoping to find something in the newspaper of the locale where he was living when he died.

Next on my priority list was to find a newspaper article about the marriage of my grandparents. Here's what I found on page 1 of the Greenwood Gazette, October 9, 1913:

By the Journal we see that Wm. Kelly and Miss Lina [sic] Bellinger are to live as one ... We wish the young people long life and happiness

Grandmother's name was Sina, but at least I found a newspaper article.

Read Part 2: Browsing through the Portrait and Biographical Album of Otoe and Cass Counties, Nebraska - and what I found in the cemetery records.

Related web sites:

Cass County Historical Society Museum

Cass County Historical Society on RootsWeb

Gail Blankenau, APG

Gail Blankenau, Genealogical Speaker's Guild

Lost and Found

Omaha World Herald
November 27, 1920

LOST AND FOUND

LOST - Two gold rosaries and a wedding ring; one rosary has name of Mrs. Chauncy Abbott, Jr., on it; the wedding ring engraved "C. A., jr., to M. L. G. F. P. D., October 13, 1909." Were in very small leather pocketbook. Lost on Thanksgiving day, either in Omaha or Lincoln. Liberal reward. No questions asked. Chauncy Abbott, Jr. 840 First National bank building, Omaha, Nebraska.

------

Notes:

"M.L.G.F." would refer to Chauncy's wife, Mary Lillian Geraldine Fitzgerald. I don't know what "P.D." would stand for. Any ideas?

October 13, 1909 was their wedding day.

News article about their wedding

Two weeks later, Lillian took her own life.

Talented Tuesday - David Doyle

David Fitzgerald Doyle
December 1, 1929 -
February 26, 1997

Actor David Doyle was my third cousin. We share the same great great grandparents, William D. Kelly and Mary Casey. His great grandmother, Mary Kelly, was married to railroad contractor and banker, John Fitzgerald, whom I've written about numerous times on this blog.

David was one of Hollywood's most recognizable character actors, perhaps best known as John Bosley on Charlie's Angels.

As a youth, David appeared on the Lincoln stage in community theater productions.

David's early career was focused on the stage. Broadway credits include I Was Dancing (1964) at the Lyceum Theatre and Here's Love by Meredith Willson (The Music Man) at the Shubert Theatre in 1963. His "big break" came when he replaced Walter Matthau in Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter in 1956.


His television career began with some uncredited appearances on programs such as 77 Sunset Strip. By the mid 1960s, David was showing up on Naked City, Car 54 Where Are You?, The Defenders, The Patty Duke Show, That Girl, and then on to Hawaii Five-O, The Dick Van Dyke Show, Banacek, Love American Style, All in the Family, Kojak, Sanford and Son, Barney Miller, Ellery Queen, Police Story, The Love Boat, Fantasy Island, Murder She Wrote and Hart to Hart, among the more recognizable shows in a long list of credits.

In the 1960s, David appeared with his old buddy and former Nebraskan, Johnny Carson, on The Tonight Show. The phone call network would begin whenever word got out that David was going to be on with Carson. And they always told stories about growing up in Nebraska.

David's first regular TV series with a recurring supporting role was when he portrayed Walt Fitzgerald in 24 episodes of Bridget Loves Bernie during the 1972-73 season. It wasn't too much of a stretch for David to play a Catholic with the name Fitzgerald! We always got a kick out of that. That was one of the underlying themes of the show - his Catholic daughter, played by Meredith Baxter, was married to a Jewish man played by David Birney. The couple later married in real life.

In 1976 came the role that David is probably best remembered for - that of John Bosley on Charlie's Angels. The Angels were hot and, of course, there was that poster of Farrah that showed up everywhere. David appeared in 100 episodes of the show.

During 1986-87, David played attorney Ted Holmes on the ABC afternoon drama, General Hospital. Again, this was not much of a stretch as David's father, L.R. "Lum" Doyle was an attorney as is his brother, John R. "Dugie" Doyle. His paternal grandfather, T.J. Doyle, was also an attorney. David had also planned to become an attorney until the acting bug bit him. David ranked sixth in the state on his law school entrance exam.

David also made the round of TV game shows including Password, Super Password, Hollywood Squares, and the Match Game.

David's film credits include some movies you've probably seen: Capricorn One, Coogan's Bluff, and Paper Lion, as well as several others.

His last work was as the voice of Grandpa Lou Pickles in Rugrats.

David was one of those fortunate actors who always worked. If not in television, there was a film, stage production or dinner theater. Because of being a character actor, David was always employed.

It's fun researching David because there is such a wealth of newspaper articles about him from his entire career. It's especially fun to read those about his early stage appearances in Lincoln. When he went on to New York City, there would be snippets about his latest role in the society column. And whenever he came back home, that made news.

I met cousin David only one time, in 1980 when he was back in Lincoln for a fundraiser.

Meeting my cousin in Lincoln, Nebraska, 1980

Presenting David with the Greenwood history book

After explaining our common ancestry to David (in 25 words or less), I gave him a copy of the book on the Centennial History of Greenwood, Nebraska, where our ancestors settled. I always wondered if he took time to read it. I'd bookmarked the pages about our family. The biggest kick I got from meeting David was when he said to me, in that amazing raspy booming voice of his, "Hi, Cuz!"

David died of a heart attack on February 26, 1997 in Los Angeles. He was survived by his widow, Ann Nathan Doyle, whom he met while doing a revival of South Pacific, and a daughter, Leah, from his first marriage. His first wife, Rachel, died from injuries in a fall from a stairway in 1968.

I think David will not only be remembered as the sidekick to the Angels, but as a dedicated, hard-working professional actor who always maintained his Midwestern values.

Sentimental Sunday - Those Kodak Moments

This weekend I've begun the task of removing my photographs from those horrendous "magnetic" photo albums. I remember when those came out and were all the rage. Who knew then that they would turn out to be a terrible option for preserving photographs?

Removing the photographs has been a rather tedious task and I'm only going through a couple albums each day. That results in hundreds of photographs! Those of us who are baby boomers and younger grew up with cameras. Our friends and family took photographs of everything. That was all before video cameras and YouTube. Now, just about everyone has a camera - and video - with them 24/7, so it's easier than ever before to capture a special moment.

As genealogists, imagine our excitement if we had discovered this many photographs of our family and ancestors from say, before 1930? Were there more photographs that were thrown away? Why did so few survive? Are there photographs of our family in the hands of the descendants of their friends from the turn of the century (the 20th, not the 21st!).

As I look at the thousands of my own personal photographs this weekend, it becomes quite overwhelming. Questions face me about my own personal photograph archive: Do I keep all of them? Which ones should I scan? Will I attempt to rewrite my history by shredding photographs of former friends or toxic relationships? Will I keep photographs that elicit a bad memory? Even if the photographs are gone, those memories are still stored away in my brain somewhere.

I've just been through an album from the 1970s. If a stranger were to look through that album and try to create a story of my life, it would probably indicate that I was quite the party animal. Nothing is probably further from the truth. During that decade I was working hard, both at my day job and starting a magazine publishing business with a colleague (it didn't last!). I was also doing quite a bit of freelance writing on the side. Those stories are not represented in my photo album.

Hard at Work in 1977

I've included the photo above since it's one of the few that I have of myself on the job. Other photos are social events and vacations. Take a look to my left. That's a rotary dial telephone! You don't find many of those around any more. There's no computer to be seen anywhere! On the other hand, some things never change. Thirty-three years later, I still have my To Do list propped up in front of me.

What I've been enjoying about going through these photo albums is looking in the background of the photos - noticing the furniture and wall decor that were sold at garage sales. Some even have a little bit of significance in my family history.

1980
Nebraska State Capitol, Lincoln

This was in a series of photographs taken when I was about to audition for a job of host of "PM Magazine" in Omaha. That was probably one of the most disastrous moments of my journalism career - when I realized once and for all that I was better off behind the camera instead of in front of it. There's nothing like a cattle call audition to weed out the people who couldn't cut it in show biz. I'm still surprised I stuck it out and didn't walk out before my 30 seconds in front of the camera. Fortunately, my tape was not included in the "gag reel" that ran on the six o'clock news that night.

I digress - what does the photo have to do with my family history? See the parking garage directly behind me? For many years, one of the houses that stood there was 415 South 15th Street, Lincoln, Nebraska. My great grand aunt, Nellie Kelly Rector, lived there for years and various members of the Kelly and Fitzgerald families came and went through that residence over the years. It then became the home of Lum and Ruth Fitzgerald Doyle, whose son I'll be writing about on this blog on Tuesday. I'm sure you'll recognize him! I have been looking for some vintage photographs of the house and believe that I actually discovered one in my own collection - a photograph of what was then 15th Street - before it became Centennial Mall. I have several photographs that I took from the top of the State Capitol. It's not a great photo, but it's the only one I've found so far. I shall keep looking.

Family Heirlooms in Everyday Life 

This photo was taken at a wedding shower I cohosted for a coworker. On the left, in the china hutch, is the teapot that belonged to my great grandmother. It always sat on display at my grandmother Kelly's home, then it was passed along to my Mom, and then on to me. The other family heirloom in this photo is the pedestal cake plate my friend is holding. That, too, was passed down through the family and I've used it often for cakes or other pastries.

So, if you're still with me after this little trip down memory lane, I'm curious to hear what YOU are doing with your collection of contemporary photos from your lifetime. Are you keeping everything? Are you tossing out the bad, blurry or unflattering photos? Are you tossing out the photos of the ex? What kind of photographic history will you be leaving behind for future generations? What photographs will survive? Please share your comments below. I look forward to reading about how others are dealing with the avalanche of images we have created in our lifetime.

Wedding Wednesday: Lillian Fitzgerald and Chauncy Abbott, Jr

October 11, 1909


Mary Lillian Geraldine Fitzgerald, daughter of Mrs. Mary Fitzgerald, was married yesterday morning at St. Theresa's - pro-cathedral to Chauncey Abbott, Jr, of Schuyler, in one of the most beautifully arranged weddings which has taken place in Lincoln. The ceremony was performed in the presence of' about 250 invited friends, who were also present at the reception which followed at the home of Mr. and Mrs. O. E. Rector, 415 South Fifteenth street. The impressive ceremony was performed by Bishop Bonacum, assisted by Father Bradley and Dr. O'Loughlln.

The church had been elaborately decorated In pink roses and smilax. Four prie dieu in white satin were decorated with smilax across the front, the greenery placed In the form of large hearts. Pink tulle bows at the end of each pew formed part of the church decoration, and roses were everywhere to add to the beauty.

Mrs. Carrie B. Raymond presided at the organ, playing a program of music, with the Lohengrin bridal chorus as the introductory to the ceremony and the Mendelseohn wedding march as the bridal party left the church.

Those of the bridal party were Mrs. O. E. Rector, sister of the bride, [note: Mrs. O. E. Rector was the sister of Lillian's mother] who wore a gown of pink panne velvet, with elaborate trimmings of gold embroidery, the dress made princess, with a train. With this she wore a large gold cloth picture hat with pink plumes, and shoes of gold cloth.

She carried an old-fashioned bouquet of pink roses. Little Ruth Fltzgerald. niece of the bride, who was the ring bearer, wore a pink silk, with pink hat. The bride wore a white brocade satin. with an over-dress of white chiffon, which reached in drapery effect nearly to the floor, with a finishing fold of the chiffon and real point lace. The drapery around the yoke was of the same lace, and the dress was cut in the princess style, with a long train, and with this she wore a long veil, held In place by a spray of real orange blossoms. Long gloves were worn with this costume and a large bouquet of lillies of the valley was carried. The only ornament worn was a diamond heart, the gift of the groom to the bride.

The groom was attended by Isaac Lorenze of Milwaukee, and the four ushers were Paul Fitzgerald, Lincoln; Wells Abbott, Schuyler; John Sumner, Schuyler, and O. E. Rector, Lincoln.

At the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Rector, where the reception was held following the ceremony, the decorations were entirely of pink roses and smilax. Smilax wound around the pillars and through the stair railings and baskets of the roses were placed in every nook about the rooms, with streamers of pink robbon, and above the large window in the parlor, where the bride and groom received the guests, were laid roses and smilax. In the dining room smilax and roses were arranged on the curtains and on the tables in great quantities.

Those in the receiving line were Mrs. O. E. Rector, Mrs. Mary Fitzgerald, mother of the bride; Mr. and Mrs. Chauncey Abbott, Sr. and Mr. and Mrs. Chauncey Abbott, Jr.

Those assisting in the dining room were Mesdames H. L. Lau, L. F. Searles, C. G. Crittenden, W. F. Kelley and W. M. Leonard. In the hall on the second floor Mr. M. Kelley of Greenwood and Miss Inman of Lincoln served the punch.

The gifts received by Mr. and Mrs. Abbott were elegant and numerous. A sliver coffee urn, which had been used by the great grandmother of the groom, was among the beautiful pieces of silver. A set of six pieces of solid silver from the groom's parents, a cabinet of silver and a chest of linen from the mother of the bride were among the gifts.

Mrs. Mary Fitzgerald wore a gown of black lace over silk, with diamond ornaments; Mrs. Chauncey Abbott, Sr., wore a gray velvet dress embroidered in gold, with diamond pins.

Mr. and Mrs. Abbott left in the afternoon for an eight weeks trip to the Hawaiian islands. They will be at home late in the fall at Schuyler, Neb., where the groom is engaged in business.

Miss Fitzgerald is the daughter of the late John Fitzgerald, one of the old settlers of Llincoln and has made this city her home all her life. Mr. Abbott comes of a family who are also old settlers of this state.

Source: Nebraska State Journal, October 12, 1909
Lillian's relationship to me: First cousin, twice removed

Railroad Reminiscences - John Fitzgerald breaks ground in Plattsmouth

John Fitzgerald
Railroad Contractor, Banker, Millionaire

Since the railroad figures prominently in the lives of several of my ancestors, I've decided to add a new blogging theme, Railroad Reminiscences, to share some of the stories of ancestors and relatives who worked on the railroad.

John Fitzgerald was a railroad contractor responsible for laying many of the primary railroad tracks throughout the Midwest. Fitzgerald was the husband of my great grand aunt, Mary Kelly. Mary was the sister of my great grandfather, Daniel Kelly.

Even as a youngster, this photograph grabbed my attention. Fitzgerald epitomized the Irish Catholic immigrant who created a better life in his new country.

He was born in Limerick county, Ireland in 1829.

The following is from Johnson's History of Nebraska by Harrison Johnson, 1880, page 242.


Groundbreaking in Plattsmouth, Nebraska

At a special election held in Plattsmouth on April 24, 1869, $50,000 in bonds were voted by the city, and donations made by individual citizens of a large number of city lots to the B. & M. Railway Company, on condition that the Company should erect there, and maintain depot, shops, and general fixtures, making and continuing Plattsmouth the headquarters of the Company in Nebraska; putting the road through to the west end of the County, all in good running order and actual operation, within sixteen months after June 3, 1869. These conditions were accepted by the company, and the contract closed by W. Thielson, the authorized agent of the Company, and the City Council, June 15, 1869. Early in July, in the presence of a large crowd of spectators, John Fitzgerald, at the foot of Main street, in Plattsmouth, displayed his strength and skill in "breaking ground" for the railroad track. In September, 1869, in a still larger and more excited crowd, the first locomotive, the "American Eagle," was landed and gave her first scream on Nebraska soil. The long wished, and long listened for whistle was now a matter of unquestionable fact upon the streets of Plattsmouth.

Sunday's Obituary - John FItzgerald

b. April 29, 1829 - Limerick Ireland
d. December 30, 1894 - Lincoln Nebraska

John Fitzgerald was married to Mary Kelly, sister of my great grandfather, Daniel Kelly.

FITZGERALD DEAD

Peaceful Close of a Long and Useful Life

Estate Worth $1,500,000

Brief Biographical Sketch of Deceased - Know Wherever the Cause of Ireland's Liberty is Revered and Patriotism Honored.

Close of a Busy Life

Although not by any means unexpected, the news of the death of John Fitzgerald, which was heralded abroad yesterday morning, awakened considerable surprise. It was generally known that Mr. Fitzgerald's condition has for some weeks past been critical, but there were but few who knew that Father Roche, who had administered to his spiritual needs during his last illness, was called upon as early as last Wednesday to administer the rites usually observed at the near approach of death. Death came to the sufferer at 2:20 yesterday morning. He died surrounded by his family and spiritual ministers, peacefully and without pain.

He was conscious of what was going on around him up to about an hour before his death and sought to console the loved ones who were about him. The scene at the bedside is said to have been a most effective one. The devoted wife, worn out with her tireless attentions during the long illness, seemed to be the especial object of the thoughts of the dying man, and he endeavored in every way possible to reassure and comfort her. He had called his family about his bed on Saturday and rendered to each the parting admonition.

Mr. Fitzgerald's illness began three years ago with a stroke of paralysis and he lay for many weeks at that time at death's door, but finally rallied and in time became able to get around town again and devote some attention to affairs of business. His ailment at that time seems to have manifested itself chiefly in the brain and it was predicted tht he would never regain his mental vigor. When he again began to look after his business affairs it does not appear that he was much the worse mentally, but it was apparent that his physical vigor was gone. One morning last summer he took a trip to his farm near Greenwood, and upon his return was again taken ill. Since that time his strength has steadily failed. His death is ascribed to general sclerosis of the arterial system, a general breaking down. It was not due to any technical disease.

Deceased was a native of Limerick county, Ireland. He was born April 29, 1829. He came to America at the age of 15 years with the family of his father, the latter having been evicted from his farm in Ireland. They settled in New York, where the father soon afterward died. He began life as a laborer on the Erie Canal, but in company with his brother, Edward, soon branched out into business as a railroad contractor, a business which he pursued during the balance of his days,and in which he was signally successful. He built railroads in New England during the war and later came west and pursued the same business in Wisconsin and Iowa. In 1868, associated with R. C. Cushing, now of Omaha, Stephen Mallory and others as well known, he took a contract for the extension of the Burlington road through Iowa to Plattsmouth. They completed the work in 1869 and Mr. Fitzgerald at once took up his abode in Plattsmouth.

He immediately commenced the construction of the B & M and completed it to Lincoln in July of the following year. After the B & M had been completed to Kearney to a junction with the Union Pacific, Mr. Fitzgerald built the Atchison of Nebraska, from Atchison, Kas. to Lincoln, besides several other branch lines. In 1875 he commenced the long line of the B & M from Hastings to Denver, via Red Cloud, finishing the road to the latter point in November of that year. The work of constructing the line to Denver continued at intervals until 1882, when it was finally completed.

There are many other roads in the United States in the building of which the deceased and his associates were actively interested, among which are the Denver, Memphis and Atlantic, out of which grew the great lawsuit between deceased and a number of eatern money kings, including Jay Gould, Russel Sage and their clique, involving over a million, in which case deceased recently secured judgment in supreme court for $860,000.

The St. Louis & Canada road through Indiana and the Cincinnati Southern road through Tennessee were also built by him and his business associates.

Mount Emerald
The Fitzgerald home in Lincoln, Nebraska

In addition to his work in that line deceased was active in other lines of business. Especially was he a factor in banking and real estate transactions. He has dealt in real estate in many of the leading cities in the United States, and owned a large quantity of valuable real property at the time of his death. His possessions comprise a farm of about 4,000 acres near Greenwood in Cass county, large tracts in Gage and Jefferson counties and a large amount of city property in Plattsmouth and Lincoln. In the latter are notably his fine residence property comprising four blocks in the southeast part of the city, the large five-story building occupied by Plummer, Perry & Co's wholesale grocery house, of which firm he was a member, the building occupied by Mayer Bros., the building where his offices are located on the west side of government square, the vacant quarter block at Ninth and N streets and other properties almost as valuable. He was for years president of the First National Bank of this city and the First National bank of Plattsmouth. He recently disposed of his interests in the latter institution but he is still interested in the First National of this city. He has also been connected with the banking interests of other western cities.

First National Bank
Lincoln, Nebraska

Prominent as he was in the business and financial world, it was as an Irish-American patriot tht the deceased achieved his chief celebrity. He was always ready to give and to do anything that was required to advance the interests of his native country. His sympathies for the oppressed of his native land was manifested on every possible occasion, and not only commanded his large means, but his time and energy as well. It is said that this active sympathy was first manifest at the time of the ill-fated Fenian invasion of Canada, when the deceased incurred a considerable outlay in the purchase of a large quantity of arms for use in that demonstration, which, however, were never used, but lay for years stored in boxes in the basement of his large building at Plattsmouth.

In 1889, he was selected President of the Irish national league and devoted a great deal of his time to the work of that organization for several years. It was during his presidency that the organization did its most active and effective work, and even after he had been succeeded by M. V. Gannon, then located at Omaha, but no in Chicago, he accompanied a delegation of prominent Irish-Americans to ireland to endeavor to reconcile the factions that threatened the life of the league. His name was hallowed by every Irish patriot in this and the old world and is revered in the land of his nativity.

Deceased was a devout Catholic, and his generosity in the character of a religious benefactor is manifest in many institutions that owe their establishement chiefly to his liberality. The convent of the Holy Child Jesus, formerly the state university dormitory, was purchased outright by him and given for the work to which it is now devoted. He gave largely of his ample means to the church in whose teachings he had been reared, and his voice in the administration of its affairs was a powerful one.

Deceased leaves an estate that is estimated to be worth from $1,000,000 to $1,500,000, but it is difficult to place anything like an accurate valuation upon it. He leaves a family comprising his widow and four children. The latter are Ed. J., who is grown to manhood; John, aged about 18; Paul aged 12, and Lillian a girl of nine years. The former was not at home when his father died. He left home about a year ago, since which time his whereabouts have been unknown to his parents. When last heard from he was in Texas.

Three sisters and one brother also survive. They are Mrs. Charles McEntee of Plattsmouth, Mrs. John Blake and Mrs. John Toomey, both of Lyndon, Wisconsin, and David Fitzgerald of this city, who has been associated with the deceased in railroad building for several years and conducted the building of the recent extension of the Burlington to Billings.

The funeral will occur Wednesday morning at 10 o'clock in St. Theresa's pro-cathedral and the services will probably be conducted by Father O'Reilly of Detroit, who was prominently associated with deceased in his work as president of the Irish national league. If he is unable to come Father McGevney of Denver will probably officiate.

Few unlettered men reach the prominence that was attained by John Fitzgerald in national affairs, and many anecdotes relating to his life will long be recited by his friends. He was generous beyond the wont of men and wealth, charitable, public spirited, enterprising, a kind father and husband, a good citizen, thoroughly honest and a tireless laborer in any field of usefulness in which he was found.

Source: Lincoln Evening News, December 31, 1894, Pg. 1, Cols 1-2

Amanuensis Monday - Nellie Kelly's postcard to Dan Kelly

This is a postcard from Nellie Kelly Rector to her brother, Daniel Kelly (my great grandfather) of Greenwood, Nebraska.

The card is postmarked December (no date) 1911, Lincoln Nebraska

Sunday Eve


Was glad to see you looking so well today. But couldn't get you on the phone (co) tell you about Edward tonight.


Much love, Nellie

The reference to Edward is likely their nephew, Edward Fitzgerald, son of their sister, Mary Kelly Fitzgerald and John Fitzgerald. After the death of his wife, Mamie, in 1902, Edward seemed to move around quite a bit and at the time of his mother's death in 1940, news accounts listed him as a survivor, but "whereabouts unknown." He's one of those elusive family members who seems to have dropped off the face of the earth. 

Or was it about another nephew, Edward Kelly, son of their brother Michael C. Kelly and Mary Keleher. To me, that seems less likely as this Edward was a youth of eight years in 1911.

The postcard raises more questions than it answers. Was the reference to Edward Fitzgerald? What was the news that Nellie wanted to tell her brother about Edward? And why is this the only item in Nellie's hand that was kept in the family archives? It certainly must have been of some significance.

Amanuensis - one employed to take dictation or to copy manuscript

Amanuensis Monday is a daily blogging theme suggested by Geneabloggers.

Follow Friday (a few hours early): The Nebraska State Historical Society

Nebraska State Historical Society
Lincoln, Nebraska

This week I am recognizing a valuable resource right here in my own home town, the Nebraska State Historical Society. Headquarters are located at 1500 R Street in Lincoln, adjacent to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus. From the society entrance, there is a straight view down Centennial Mall to the Nebraska State Capitol building a few blocks away.

In addition to the headquarters and archives that are located in Lincoln, the Society also oversees the operation of other historic sites such as the Nebraska History Museum, Chimney Rock national historic site, Fort Robinson museums, Neligh Mills, and sites honoring John Neihardt, Willa Cather, Thomas Kennard, and others.

Rather than focusing on the facilities operated by NSHS, this post will feature some of the valuable information that the Society has made available online. There really is a lot to explore, and if you have Nebraska ancestors or connections, you may just find something to aid in your research.

I'll start with the Society's social network. The society has a presence on Facebook, as well as a blog that has some of the most entertaining and informative posts about the Society's collections. I encourage anyone with ties to Nebraska to visit both. Be sure to "Like" the Society on Facebook and add the blog to your favorite news reader.

The Society's web site address is: http://www.nebraskahistory.org/index.htm The site has an index of its major topics. This is really more like a browse feature, since the topics are alphabetical and cover several pages. But among the topics are: Bess Streeter Aldrich movie script, Arbor Day (which had its start in Nebraska), Atlases and Plat Books, the Solomon Butcher photograph collection, author Willa Cather, Made in Nebraska (bet you didn't know that Kool-Aid was invented in Hastings!), Quilts from the collection, among dozens of other Nebraska-related topics. Just browse the index and you can easily get lost for a couple hours.

The first stop for many genealogists on the site will be the Search page. This is broken down by different collections and databases. The search of the library and archives is one place to begin.

Search Result
Mary Kelly Fitzgerald

A search on my Kelly kin turned up this result on Mary Kelly (Mrs. John) Fitzgerald, who was the sister of my great grandfather, Dan Kelly.

Another search turned up a genealogy resource on some of the in-laws of my relatives who I am researching.

If you have some Nebraska connections, try a few searches, you may locate something.

The NSHS site also has some finding aids that may be of value to your research. Resources available in federal, state and municipal government records are included. And there's a page that features some of the more than 3,000 maps in the Society's collection.

The Society's manuscript collection can be searched for family and individual records. The manuscript holdings also include business, church, organization and political records.

The Society publishes Nebraska History magazine quarterly. Selected full-text articles from past issues are available on the site. Several of the articles have a tie-in with my family members or deal with a specific event or time period of stories that have been passed down. Browse through some of the article titles and I'm willing to wager that at least one or two will stir your interest.

Recently added to the Society's database are photographic images from the Society's William Jennings Bryan collection. I browsed through all 45 pages of images of campaign buttons, postcards, photographs and other types of paper ephemera. Bryan ran unsuccessfully for President three times. He was Secretary of State under President Woodrow Wilson. I'll write more about Bryan in a future blog post, as there are some family stories that indicate a connection to Bryan - I need to become a History Detective to either prove or disprove.

If you would like to receive Nebraska History magazine, as well as other benefits, consider a membership to help support the preservation of the state's history. One of the very special perks to members is the opportunity to reserve a reader/printer for research and print free copies! That's a pretty good selling point for those of us who have convenient access to the facilities.

I invite you and encourage you to explore the Society's web site. And if you find a connection to any of your Nebraska kin on the site, I'd love to hear about it! Feel free to leave a comment below.

Finding Your Family in Fiction

As genealogists, we seek facts, the truth. It probably never would have occurred to me to turn to a novel to discover some information about my ancestors.

Thanks to a search on Google books, I found an excerpt from Nebraska author Willa Cather's A Lost Lady (Scholarly Edition). The reference to my 2nd great grandfather is in the Notes section of this edition:

"Before the railroad reached Denver, supplies were carried across Nebraska by wagon. The wagons could carry three to five tons of freight, drawn by six to twelve yoke of oxen. . . .The father-in-law of John Fitzgerald hauled freight from Omaha to Denver."


The references to John Fitzgerald in this edition refer to the millionaire railroad contractor and banker, who was sort of the Warren Buffett of his time. Fitzgerald married my great grandfather's sister, Mary Kelly. Although not named in this book, the father-in-law of John Fitzgerald was William D. Kelly of Kilkenny, Ireland, my great-great grandfather. I've found other references to the freighting done by William D. Kelly and his brothers. Before moving to Omaha, the Kelly brothers freighted from their  home in St. Paul, Minnesota to Denver.

So in this novel, I've found just another small nugget that helps me fill in the fabric of the life of one of my ancestors.

Think outside the box; color outside the lines - you never know what you might find.

Madness Monday - The case of the Missing Mary Kelly

I keep staring at the 1880 United States Census for District 235 in the Mill Precinct of Lancaster county, Nebraska. Many members of my Kelly family are listed. There's my great grandfather, Daniel Kelly, shown at age 22 as the head of the household. Shown next is brother Willie - or William as I know him from other records. Johnie (John), Thomas, Nellie and Maggie (Margaret) are all there. Then another William shows up. Based on the age and the fact that his birthplace is shown as Illinois, this is most likely Michael C. Kelly, not another William.

Here comes the more perplexing aspect of this record. The last person shown in the household is W. D. (William) Kelly, who is my great great grandfather and the father of all of these siblings. His age is shown as 45, which is probably close to being accurate. But a housekeeper? Somehow, I just don't think he would have given up farming at that age to care for the house, especially since daughter Maggie is also shown to to keeping house.

The other two "facts" about W. D. Kelly is that he is reported as a Female and Widowed! I'm 100% certain that he was male, and his wife, Mary Casey, did not die until 1886. That is confirmed on her tombstone and in newspaper accounts.

The bottom line - where is his wife, Mary Casey Kelly, in 1880? I'm stumped. She was not living with her daughter and son-in-law (Mary Kelly and John Fitzgerald) in 1880. However, she and daughter Nellie were shown living with the Fitzgeralds at their Lincoln mansion, Mount Emerald, in the 1885 Nebraska State Census.

My only explanation is that the census enumerator got the information wrong - or it was given to him wrong. Whatever the case may be, it drives me Mad - Monday or any other day of the week!

Wordless Wednesday - Separated at Birth?

Celebrity Lookalike?

John Fitzgerald - Rupert from Survivor

Madness Monday - Mary Lillian Geraldine Fitzgerald Abbott death by suicide

The story of Mary Lillian Geraldine Fitzgerald Abbott has always saddened me.

Known as Lillian, she was the youngest child and only daughter born to John Fitzgerald and his wife, Mary Kelly Fitzgerald. Lillian was born to the couple on April 30, 1885. She was born into wealth, her father having amassed a fortune in the railroad contracting business and later in banking. The emigrant Irishman built his wealth from nothing and left an estate valued at more than $1.5 million at the time of his death in 1894.

The Fitzgeralds lived in what could truly be described as a mansion, known as Mount Emerald, close to the Nebraska state capitol building in Lincoln. Mount Emerald was Lillian's home.

When Lillian was born in 1885, a houseful of relatives were living at Mount Emerald. In addition to her parents and brothers, Edward (13), John (10) and Paul (4), the household included cousins Edward Cagney (25), James Toomey (17), Mary Toomey (18) and Mary Blake (22), children of John's married sisters.

John's brother, David, age 33, was living in the house, as were Mary Casey Kelly (my great great grandmother and mother-in-law of John Fitzgerald) and Nellie Kelly, sister of Mary Kelly Fitzgerald. Four servants also lived at Mount Emerald. By the looks of the house, they certainly seemed to have plenty of room!

After her father's death, Lillian's life as a young lady involved a lot of social activities and parties. In 1909, age the age of 24, she married Chauncy Abbott of Schuyler, Nebraska, an up and coming businessman in his own right. The wedding was attended by 250 guests at St. Theresa's pro-cathedral in Lincoln.

The child's first son, Chauncy, was born in 1912, followed by a second son, John Fitzgerald Abbott, in 1914. The baby lived only two weeks.

The news of Lillian's death at age 35 in 1920 was tragic, and it was reported in the press that she died in Omaha after suffering for two years from a nervous breakdown.

The events surrounding Lillian's death became known and the newspapers reported her death as a suicide. The press stated that she was found by her husband in the bathroom of the couple's Omaha home. He had climbed a ladder and broke in the bathroom window. When found, a revolver was still clutched in her hand.

Lillian is buried at Calvary Cemetery in Lincoln, Nebraska, next to her infant son, John Fitzgerald Abbott and her parents, John and Mary.

Wordless Wednesday - Mary Kelly Fitzgerald

Mary Kelly Fitzgerald, wife of John Fitzgerald









From reading newspaper articles about the wedding of the couple's daughter, Lillian Fitzgerald, to Chauncy Abbott, this photo probably shows the dress that Mary wore to her daughter's wedding. 1900.

(Not So) Wordless Wednesday - Cousin David Doyle

Actor David Doyle (1929 - 1997), known for Charlie's Angels, Bridget Loves Bernie and a host of other film, television and theater roles















David Fitzgerald Doyle and I are both descended from William D Kelly and Mary Casey. They are the great-great grandparents to both of us, making David and me third cousins. I met David once during the height of the Charlie's Angels show on tv. It was great to hear him say in that gravelly voice of his, "Hi, Cuz!"

Not so wordless, but that's okay!

Some of this week's favorite web sites

Here are a few web sites that I definitely recommend:

Script Tutorials - resources for old handwriting and documents. Are you having trouble interpreting some of the old handwriting styles? This site, managed by the Center for Family History and Genealogy at Brigham Young University, offers tutorials on how to read those old documents - in German, Dutch, Italian, French, Spanish and Portuguese.

Virtual Calendars - I don't think that a research day goes by that I don't use this resource to identify dates referenced in newspapers. Do you find an obituary that says only that someone died "last Tuesday" and doesn't give the date? Start with the date of the newspaper, then go to this site and view the calendar for that month and year. You can determine what date was "last Tuesday."

Missouri Digital Heritage - if you are doing any research at all in Missouri, you need to check out this web site. It even has a treasure chest of digital versions of death certificates - all for free. It doesn't get much better than that. It was named as one of Family Tree Magazine's 101 best web sites in 2009.

The Minnesota Historical Society is another of my favorite sites. I've located death records and have been able to order copies of death certificates for a reasonable price.

Closer to home, the Nebraska State Historical Society just keeps getting better all the time. The site has a fantastic blog you must check out! The April 23, 2010 entry deals with the Great Sheedy Murder Trial of 1891, a story that has surfaced frequently in my research on great-grandfather Dan Kelly's brother-in-law, John Fitzgerald.

Which brings me around to THE BEST interactive history site I've encountered in recent memory, Gilded Age Plains City. I challenge you to click that link and spend anything less than an hour looking around, following links and interacting with the site.

Paula's Genealogical Eclectica - this is Paula Stuart-Warren's fantastic blog. A fantastic blog from a fantastic person. I was fortunate to spend Friday and yesterday soaking up all of Paula's tips and research ideas at the Nebraska State Genealogical Society convention. Her blog offers more great ideas, resources and just plain fun.

And - I'm pleased to announce that LongLostRelatives.net has been added to the GeneaBloggers blog! With more than 900 genealogy blogs identified on the site, you can't help but find information on a topic you are interested in!

The Beautiful and The Damned

While seeking out information on long lost relatives, I often come across other advertisements and news articles that capture my attention.

Playing in theaters 87 years ago this week was the movie version of F. Scott Fitzgerald's book, The Beautiful and The Damned.

Jim McKee: John Fitzgerald, the Irish National League and Mount Emerald

Lincoln, Nebraska historian Jim McKee wrote this article about John Fitzgerald that was published in the January 17, 2010 Lincoln Journal Star newspaper.

Fitzgerald, the Irish National League and Mount Emerald

John was married to Mary Kelly, sister of my great grandfather, Dan Kelly.

Nellie Kelly Rector - Mrs. Ode E Rector of Lincoln, Nebraska

Below is the only photograph I have of my great-grandfather's sister, Nellie Kelly Rector. Also in the photo is my great grandfather, Daniel Kelly.



Nellie Kelly was born in Council Bluffs, Iowa in April 1871, daughter of William D. Kelly and Mary Casey Kelly. She was the youngest child in the family. She was married to Odin Ellis Rector, known mainly as Ode E. Rector. He was a Lincoln druggist for many years. As far as I can determine from my research, the couple had no children.

For many years, the Rectors lived at 415 South 15th Street in Lincoln, Nebraska. At different times, the home was occupied by Nellie's sister, Mary Kelly Fitzgerald, widow of John Fitzgerald. Later on, it would be the home of Mary and John's granddaughter, Ruth Fitzgerald and her husband, L. R. "Lum" Doyle. The home was demolished at least 30 years ago to make way for one of the parking garages for the Nebraska State Office Building. The sychronicity of the fact that I park in that garage every work day is not lost on me!