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Bernard McGough and Catherine Kernaghan of Lindsay, Ontario, and Allamakee County, Iowa by Hugh McGough

Bernard McGough (1805–1890) and his family moved from county Monaghan, Ireland, to Lindsay, Ontario, in 1833—perhaps as early as 1831. Michael McGough (1804–1882) and his family moved from county Monaghan to Lindsay in 1845. The fact that Michael followed Bernard to the same place suggests that they were related. Their years of birth, Bernard in 1805, and Michael in 1804, suggests that they may have been brothers, or perhaps first cousins. Michael named his first child Bernard, which supports the hypothesis that Michael and Bernard were related. The story of Michael's family is on a separate page: Michael McGough and Rosanna Halton of Lindsay, Ontario; Connections with Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

In 1852, Bernard McGough and his brother, Francis McGough, moved their families from Lindsay, Ontario, to Winnebago county, Illinois. In 1852/3 and 1856, respectively, they moved their families across and up the Mississippi River to Allamakee county, Iowa. (The pronunciation is AL-uh-mah-KEE.)

My great-grandfather, John McGough, moved from Pottsville, Pennsylvania, to Eau Claire, Wisconsin in 1855 or 1856. What may have brought him to the Mississippi Valley is the presence of the families of Bernard and Francis McGough in Allamakee county, Iowa, or Peter and John McGough in Jo Daviess county, or both. See John and Peter McGough—Two Brothers in Jo Daviess County, Illinois.

McGough or McGeough?

Bernard and Francis McGough and their families first appeared in the census records of Allamakee county as McGough. Bernard McGough died in Allameakee county at age 81 on January 18, 1890. He is buried in Cherry Mound Cemetery under the name Bernard McGough. See the Iowa Gravestone Photo Project . Bernard's wife, Catharine, who died in 1867 at age 58, is also buried as a McGough. Bernard's brother, Francis, however, is buried under the name of Frances (sic) McGeough as are the members of his family.

In the 1885 census of Paint Creek, Bernard, age 75, a retired farmer born in Ireland, is living with the family of his son, Francis, age 46, a farmer born in Canada. The surnames of all members of the family, including Bernard, are spelled McGeough.

When Francis (IA-3-B-412) died on March 2, 1910, and his wife, Mary (IA-3-B-149), died, on July 15 1898), their estates were probated under the surname of McGough. Allamakee County, Iowa Will Testators.

Iowa Maps

There is a map of Iowa on the World Site Atlas. For a detailed zoomable map, see Colton's new railroad map of the states of Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Wisconsin & Iowa. Minnesota, Nebraska & Kansas: showing the township lines of the United States surveys, 1864, by Joseph Hutchins Colton, in Historical Maps of the Midwest Region on Alabama Maps. By clicking on Individual States and then Iowa, several other maps of Iowa in the 1850s and 1860s will be found. Several Iowa maps will be found on Iowa Maps. See also maps.iowa.gov.

Allamakee county is at the upper right corner of Iowa, with Dubuque county one county removed to the south. The eastern edge of the map is the Mississippi River. Paint Creek township lies on the southern edge of Allamakee county, on its border with Clayton county. There is a county map of Iowa in the Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection at the University of Texas in Austin.

There is a map of Allamakee county with the townland boundaries from A. T. Andreas Illustrated Historical Atlas of the State of Iowa 1875 on Sharyl's Cabin website.

There is a map of Allamakee county in 1872 on microfiche in the Library of Congress’ Geography and Maps Division, titled "19th Century Land Ownership Maps of Iowa." The University of Iowa (UI) Map Collection contains a copy of this microfiche. Much of this material was filmed using copies from the collections at the State Historical Society offices in Iowa City and Des Moines.

The townships of Allamakee county are shown on Map III at page 9 of 2001 Iowa Do-It-Yourself Redistricting Maps, prepared in March of 2001 by the Iowa Legislative Service Bureau. This is a a PDF file (dymaps.pdf), and a long download. All the townships in Iowa are shown in the several maps in this document. A map of the townships of Winnebago County, Illinois, is also available on the Internet.

A good source of general information is the Allamakee County section of Sharyl's Cabin. See also: A Memorial to those who came from Ireland to Iowa and the IAGenWeb Project.

Phyllis McGeough Devereux's Book

Much of the basic information on this page comes from McGeough: The Story of an Irish Family, by Phyllis McGeough Devereux (1992) (Family History Library #929.273 m173d). Two other of my web pages that should be read with this one, are: Michael McGough and Rosanna Halton of Lindsay, Ontario; Connections with Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and John and Peter McGough—Two Brothers in Jo Daviess County, Illinois. See also: McGoughs in Iowa in the 1900 census of the United States and the 1915 State Census of Iowa.

I have supplemented Devereux information with facts now available on the Internet and CD-ROMs that were not readily accessible twenty years ago. I have generally limited this website to persons born in the nineteenth century or earlier—unless there is a chance that later information might help make a connection to my great-grandfather, John McGough, and his family in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. See McGoughs and McGues in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, 1856–1900. Devereux has compiled and published a comprehensive genealogy of her family well into the twentieth century, with many family anecdotes, photographs, newspaper clippings, and excerpts from books. I refer the reader to her book for this valuable material—the product of twenty years of work. For more detail on the McGoughs/McGeoughs in Iowa see my page: McGoughs in Iowa in the 1900 Census of the United States and the 1915 State Census of Iowa

Devereux puts forth the hypothesis that all four of the sons of Bridget McGeough emigrated first to Lindsay, Ontario. In her book, she says, doubtless correctly, that Francis was the younger brother of Bernard. She makes the assumption, with the citation of no hard evidence, that the other two of Bridget's sons who emigrated were the John and Peter McGeough from the neighboring townland of Dromore, county Monaghan. Their ages were about right to be Bridget's sons. John was born about 1808, according to his gravestone, and Peter about 1802, according to the 1850 census of Illinois.

Devereux suggests that John and Peter McGeough moved from Dromore township to Lindsay, Ontario, sometime after Bridget, Francis and Bernard made the move in 1833, and that John and Peter later moved from Ontario to Jo Daviess county, Illinois, near the town of Galena. The problem with this hypothesis is that John McGough moved to Jo Daviess county no later than the early part of 1847, when he began buying land there, and Peter McGough's daughter Mary, who was shown as 3 years old in the Illinois census of 1850, along with her seven older siblings, were all born in Ireland. The evidence, cited by Devereux herself, provides better support for a move by John and Peter McGough directly from Ireland to Illinois late in 1846 or early in 1847. I have found no evidence that they were ever in Ontario. The story of John and Peter McGough is on a separate page: John and Peter McGough—Two Brothers in Jo Daviess County, Illinois.

There is evidence, however, that four McGough brothers at different times moved to Lindsay, Ontario: Michael, Bernard, Francis and Patrick.

Bridget, Bryan and Francis McGough in Clontibret Parish, County Monaghan.

Phyllis McGeough Devereux, in her book, tries to put flesh on the bones of family lore that Bridget McGeough, Bernard's mother, emigrated with four of her sons from Ireland to Lindsay, Ontario. Based on family tradition and her research, Devereux concludes that her progenitors in Ireland were the widowed Bridget McGeough (#320), shown by the Tithe Applotment Books as residing in 1830 in the townland of Drumbeo, parish of Clontibret, county Monaghan; and Bridget's four sons, Bryan McGeough (#321), Francis McGeough (#322), John McGeough (#314) and Peter McGeough (#315). (The numbers refer to lines in my table McGoughs, McGeoughs, and McGeoghs in Ireland in the 1820–30s and 1850–60s: By County, Parish, and Townland.)

The Tithe Applotment Books show Francis living with his mother in Ireland, and Bryan living nearby, all in the townland of Drumbeo, in 1830; and John and Peter together occupying a tract of land in the nearby townland of Dromore. According to Devereux, Francis was five or six years old in 1830, but "old enough to have inherited under the law."

Devereux says that in 1830 Bryan was a civil or state form of the Latin Bernardus and that, when Bryan moved to Canada, he used the name Bernard or Barney. Devereux, page 23. Bryan sounds less Catholic than Bernard, and there was pressure to anglicize Catholic names in Ireland in the 1830s. I asked Brian Trainor, Executive Director of the Ulster Historical Society in Belfast, for his opinion on the interchangeability of the names Bryan and Bernard. He replied, with a chuckle, that he didn't know, but his baptismal name was Bernard. He has used Brian throughout his adult life because he doesn't like the nickname Barney. Bernard McGough, the son of Michael McGough and Roseann Halton, was referred to as Bryan in the records of the Shirley estate. See my web page: Michael McGough and Rosanna Halton of Lindsay, Ontario; Connections with Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Meg Cavanagh of Scotland, in commenting on this page in an email of May 11, 2003, tells me:

"The point you made about Bernard and Bryan being interchangeable seems to be supported by my experience with my G. Grandfather, Hugh McGough's, marriage and death certificates. On his marriage cert. he names his father as 'Bryan'. On his death cert., (reg. by his wife) his father is named as 'Bernard'."

Some references in nineteenth century Irish literature indicate that Bryan was used as an affectionate form of Bernard. For example, in 1835, in his Ordnance Survey Letters—Armagh and Monaghan 39, John O'Donovan refers to Bernard MacMahon of Ballybay, the senior member of the MacMahon family at the time, as Brian:

"Brian is a worthy, high-minded patriotic Fitzursa (1.3. descendant of the Normans as the MacMahons were sometimes wrongly alleged to be) and though he is a tradesman who by industry has accumulated some thousand pounds he nevertheless retains a considerable spark of the old fire of pride, hospitality, and hatred of the sons of the Boyne."

See The Monaghan Story by Peadar Livingstone, at page 557.

Bernard McGough's gravestone in Cherry Mound Church Cemetery, Paint Creek Township, Iowa, shows a life span of 1805 to 1890. (According to Devereux, his lifespan was 1809 to 1891.) The gravestone of Bernard's wife, Catherine, in the same graveyard, shows a life span of 1809 to 1867. The gravestone of Bernard's brother, Francis McGeough, also in the same cemetery, shows a life span of 1825 to 1910. (See: Cherry Mound Cemetery, where Bernard's lifespan is shown as 1805 to 1890, and Francis is listed as Frances.)

Emigration from Ireland to Ontario

Bernard McGough married Catherine Kernaghan (perhaps Hernahan—or Kiernan?) in Clontibret parish, county Monaghan, probably about 1831.

Bernard's (Bryan's, Barney's) oldest child, Bridget, was born in Ireland in 1832—perhaps earlier; and his son John was born in Ontario in 1834 (November, 1932, according to the 1900 census of Grant township, Franklin county, Iowa). Devereux estimates, therefore, that Bridget, her sons Barney and Francis, Barney's wife Catherine Hernehan, and their baby daughter Bridget, moved to Canada in 1833—but 1831 seems to be a better guess.

Barney and Catherine McGeough bought 100 acres of land in Ops Township, about 3 miles south of Lindsay, on August 28, 1844.

For a reference to Bernard McGeough, go to History of Victoria County—Part 21: Complete List of Crown Patentees Still Represented in County (By Watson Kirkconnell, M. A.).

Move to Illinois

Barney and Catherine McGough sold their land in Lindsay, Ontario, on December 9, 1851, and moved their family to Winnebago county, Illinois, in 1852. Winnebago county is one county removed to the east of Jo Daviess county, Illinois, and also on the Wisconsin border. The county between Winnebago county and Jo Daviess county is Stephenson county. The county seat of Winnebago county is Rockford. Bridget McGough, the daughter of Bernard (Bryan) and Catherine Kernaghan McGough, married Patrick Donahoe in Freeport, Stephenson county, Illinois, in 1852 (according to Devereux, page 44).

A Story of the Switzerland of Iowa, by J. W. Hinchon, published in the Dubuque Telegraph Herald of September 3, 1903, describes the family of Barney McGeough at Rockford, Illinois in about 1852 "who had left Canada for the 'States' and had stopped their to take their bearing." The article says that McGeough, along with Alexander Pope and his wife, journeyed to Allamakee county and settled in Paint Creek township in about 1853 where "McGeough bought several hundred acres of land so as to provide homes for his children." (Quoted by Devereux at page 73.)

For general information, see Winnebago County, IL Genealogy, part of the ILGenWeb Project.

Move to Iowa

In 1852 or 1853, Bernard and Catherine McGough moved west from Rockford, Illinois, across the Mississippi River, and about 50 miles north, to Waterville, Paint Creek Township, Allamakee county, Iowa. The year of settlement is given as 1855 in Ellery M. Hancock's Past and Present of Allamakee County. Devereux, page 45. But the 1856 Iowa state census says that Bernard had been a resident of Iowa for 4 years. See my page: McGoughs and McGues in the 1850 Census of the United States, under Iowa, Allamakee county, Waterville township. Allamakee county, Iowa, is the at the northeast corner of Iowa, and across the river from, and west of, Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. The county seat is Waukon. The town nearest to Painted Creek township is Waterville. Bernard's brother, Francis, followed him from Illinois to Iowa in 1856. The 1854 Iowa state census of Paint Creek township lists Barney McGough in a family of 7, 5 males and 2 females, including 1 militia and 1 alien.

Barney McGeough and his brother Francis McGeough (section 28) are both listed as settlers who took government or school lands in the early 1850s. Past and present of Allamakee County, Iowa : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement by Ellery M. Hancock, volume 1, chapter XIX, page 283 (S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, 1913, 1173 pages. Volume 1 of the books is available on Sharyl's Cabin. The books are on Ancestry.com in word searchable form. The surname McGough is not used in the book, but McGeough appears several times. The book is available in the Hathi Trust Digital Library. Part of the book is also available in the Electronic Library.)]

Francis McGough is not listed in the 1854 Iowa state census of Paint Creek, but is listed in the 1856 census of Waterville township, Allamakee county, with this family:

392 82 82 Francis McGough 28 M . Married . 0 years resident in county . Ireland . Alien. Militia. Landowner (roll IA_48, line 36).

392 ... Bridget McGough 20 F . Married . Canada [Bridget Murphy]
392 ... Mary McGough 0 F . Illinois.
392 ... Mary Murphy 13 F . Canada

Apparently, they moved from Winnebago county, Illinois, shortly after the birth in 1855 in Illinois of their daughter, Mary.

In the 1856 state census of Waterville township, Patrick Donahue, husband of Bernard's oldest daughter, Bridget, was living next to Bernard McGough. The two families are listed in the 1856 census (roll IA_48) as follows:

394 64 64 Patrick Donahue 30 M . X . 2 years residence. Ireland. Married. Alien. Landowner .
394 ... Bridget Donahue 25 F . Married .. Ireland
394 ... Michael Donahue 3 M . Ill.
394 ... Mary Donahue 1 F . Iowa

394 65 65 Bernard McGough 50 M . Married . 4 years residence. Ireland. Farmer.
394 ... Catherine McGough 50 F . Married . Ireland.
394 ... John McGough 20 M . Canada . Militia.
394 ... Edward McGough 16 M . Canada.
394 ... Catherine McGough 14 F . Canada.

The 1860 census of Paint Creek township (303), Allamakee county, Iowa, shows Barney McGugh, age 55, a farmer born in Ireland with real estate worth $1600 and personal property worth $350, who could not read or write. With him were his wife, Catherine, age 55, born in Ireland; and two sons, both of whom were born in Canada: Francis, 18, and Edward, 16.

The 1860 federal census also lists Bernard and Catherine McGeough's oldest daughter, Bridget, and her husband Patrick Donahoe in Paint Creek township, Iowa. Both are shown as having been born in Ireland. Their children are Michael, Mary, Patrick and Catherine. Bridget died in Iowa in 1878. U.S., Civil War Draft Registrations Records, 1863–1865 on Ancestry.com

On September 24, 1860, Bernard McGough (book 1, page 384) and Francis McGough (book 1, page 378), both born in Ireland, were naturalized in the District Court of Allamakee, Waukon, Iowa. U.S. Naturalization Record Indexes, 1791–1992, on Ancestry.com.

In June, 1863, Francis McGough, age 33 (on July 1, 1863), a farmer, married, born in Ireland, residing in Center Creek, Allamakee county, Iowa, was registered in the third Congressional District of Iowa (consisting of the counties of Dubuque, Delaware, and others) as a person of Class I subject for military duty.

In Paint Creek township in the 1880 census were Francis McGough, a farmer, age 41, born in Canada in 1839; his wife, Mary, age 21, born in Iowa; and their children, all of whom were born in Iowa: Thomas, age 13; Johanna, age 10; John, age 7. The mother of the three children is shown as having been born in New York, so Mary was apparently Francis' second wife.

Bernard's wife, Catherine Kernaghan McGough, died in Paint Creek township in 1867. Her gravestone in the Cherry Mound Cemetery is on the Iowa Gravestone Photo Project.The 1880 federal census of Iowa shows Barney McGough, a farmer, age 78, born in Ireland in 1802, living by himself in Paint Creek township (420B). Bernard McGough died in Paint Creek township in 1891, and is buried in the Cherry Mound church cemetery. His gravestone is on the Iowa Gravestone Photo Project.

The 1900 census of Paint Creek township, Allamakee county, Iowa, shows a Francis McGough, age 61, a widower, born in Canada in July of 1838, who immigrated to the United States in 1852, and had been in the United States for 48 years. Both his parents had been born in Ireland. He was a naturalized citizen and a farmer. Living with him was his son by a first marriage, Thomas, age 33, born in Iowa in December of 1866, a farm laborer, whose father was born in Canada and whose mother was born in New York. Also living with him were children of a second marriage, all of whom were born in Iowa to a father born in Canada and mother born in Iowa: William, age 13, born in Iowa in January of 1877: Clem, age 11, born in December of 1888; Seay (a son), age 8, born in October of 1891; and Rose E., age 3, born in January of 1897. Living with them was a servant girl, Mary Gaynor, age 18, born in Ireland in March of 1882. This household was number 84 in the order of visitation. The families of Charley McGough and Frank McGough are numbers 189 and 140, respectively, fairly close by.

Children of Bernard McGough and Catherine Kernaghan

In addition to Bridget (1832–1878), born in Ireland, and John (1834–1910)*, born in Ontario, the other children of Bernard and Catherine Kernaghan McGeough, all born in Lindsay, Ontario, were Francis McGeough (1837–1909) (grandfather of Phyllis Devereux), Edward (1839–1915) (according to his gravestone, December 28, 1841, to July 28, 1916), Mary (McNally), and Catherine (Kate) (McCormick).

*See the section below entitled John McGeough Moves From Paint Creek Township to Ackley, Iowa.

All the children moved with their parents to Winnebago county, Illinois, in 1852, and the family moved on to Allamakee County, Iowa, in 1852 or 1853. The oldest son, John McGough, is listed as age 20 and living with his parents in the 1856 census of Allamakee county, Iowa. John may have returned temporarily to Illinois by 1860. He does not appear in the 1860 census of Iowa. He may be the John McGue, age 29, born in Canada, listed in the 1860 census of Rockford, Winnebago county, Illinois. All the children of Bernard and Catherine had many children of their own. All usually spelled their surname McGeough.

Bridget McGough (Donahoe) (1832–1880)

Bridget, the daughter of Bernard and Catherine, who had been born in Ireland, married Patrick Donahoe (sometimes spelled Donahue) in Freeport, Stephenson county, Illinois, in 1852. Freeport is about 25 miles west of Rockford, county seat of Winnebago County, and about 50 miles east of Galena, Illinois.

Devereux, at page 44 of her book, says that in the 1850 census of Galena, Jo Daviess county, Illinois, Patrick Donahue, age 23, a laborer, is listed as residing with Edward and Ellen McGeough, and that this is the Patrick Donahue who married Bridget McGeough, the daughter of Bernard McGeough and Catherine Hernahan (whom I call Kernaghan). The record actually shows that this Patrick Donohue was residing in the home of Edward and Ellen Keogh. (Both Keogh and McGough are derived from the old Irish Mac Eochaidh.) I read the listing in the1850 census as follows:

(1850) Edward Keogho, age 39, liquor (?) retailer, value of real estate owned $2000, born in Ireland (roll M432_111, page 287A). [The o at the end of Keogh is detached and superfluous.]

Ellen Keogho, age 32, born in Ireland.

Francis Keogho, age 3, born in Illinois.

and thirteen tenants, all men, all born in Ireland, including a Patrick Donohue, age 23, laborer, born in Ireland.

The Edward Keogho listed is almost certainly the Edward Keogh listed in the Pedigree Research file on FamilySearch (the Internet Genealogy Service of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) as having been born on April 11, 1814, in the parish of Killcomb, county Roscommon, Ireland, and as having died May 28, 1851, in Jo Daviess county, Illinois, and whose spouse was Ellen Keogh. This birth and death information on FamilySearch for Edward Keogh is from a gravestone in St. Michael Catholic Cemetery, East Galena Township. This is the same cemetery in which John and Peter McGough are buried. See my page: John and Peter McGough—Two Brothers in Jo Daviess County, Illinois. The only Kilcomb parish I found in Ireland is in county Wexford. Griffiths Valuation of this parish of Kilcomb lists two Keoghs, James and Michael. Kilcomb is sometimes spelled Killcomb. An adjoining parish is Rossminoge (Rossmenogue) whose rectory was historically united with the rectory of Kilcomb, and this may explain the reference to county Roscommon on Edward Keogh's gravestone.

Here is a summary of the will of Edward Keogh from Jo Daviess County, Illinois, Will Book A, 1850–1863:

KEOGH, Edward dated May 7, 1851, proved June 21, 1851.

To brother Michael KEOGH one house and lot on Gear Street in Galena being the house and lot where he now resides.

To sister Ellen McGOLDRICK a small house on the rail road so called being the same house in which she now resides plus $100.00.

To brother William KEOGH $100 "in case he can be found", and if not the $100 to my wife Ellen KEOGH and my son Francis KEOGH.

One-half of remainder to my wife Ellen, the other half to my son Francis.

Executors: John CURLEY, Michael BRAHANEY.

Witnesses: Henry CORWITH, A. C. DAVIS, Edward SOLOMAN, Benjn. C. ST. CYR (page 31)

The 1850 census of Galena, Jo Daviess county, Illinois, lists Edward's brother as Michael Kehogh, age 30, laborer, born in Ireland, living with his wife Elizabeth, age 34, also born in Ireland, and 5 children: Mary A., age 10, born in Rhode Island; William, age 6, born in Rhode Island; Ellen, 4, born in Rhode Island; Eliza, age 2, born in Illinois; and Edward, 2 months, born in Illinois (roll M432_111, page 301A). The 1854 Galena City Directory lists Michael Keogh, laborer, home Gear Above bench, and William Keogh, laborer, High near Gear. Also listed is Mrs. Ellen Keogh, proprietor of a boarding house on Bench near Gear. The 1854 Galena City Directory (this link is to a digital version) also contains this listing: Donahoe, Patrick, laborer, bds M Harrigan. Timothy Donahoe, a laborer, boarded in the same home, which is described by this entry: Harrigan, Michael, farmer, h Hill near High.

Phyllis Devereux suggests in her book, at page 44, that the Patrick Donahoe who was boarding with Edward and Ellen Keogh (which she read as McGough) in Galena, Illinois, in 1850 may be the Patrick Donahue (or Donahoe) who married Bridget McGeough, the daughter of Bernard (Barney) and Catherine Kernaghan McGeough, in 1852 in Freeport, Stephenson county, Illinois, and moved with his wife to join her parents in Allamakee county, Iowa, in 1855. The entry for Patrick Donahoe in 1854 Galena City Directory, apparently living without a wife, makes this connection unlikely, however. (Stephenson county lies between Winnebago county and Jo Daviess county, Illinois, and Freeport is about 25 miles west of Rockford, Illinois, 90 miles west of Chicago, Illinois, 50 miles east of Galena, Illinois, and 65 miles east of Dubuque, Iowa.) There is a two or three year difference in the age shown by the 1850 census for the Patrick Donahoe in Galena and the age shown on the gravestone of the Patrick Donahoe, husband of Bridget McGeough, who is buried in Allamakee county, Iowa, in the Cherry Mound Cemetery under a gravestone which says: Patrick Donahoe, born in 1825, who died on April 19, 1883. His wife Bridget is buried in the same cemetery under the name "Bridget McGeough Donahoe." See Bernard McGough and Catherine Kernaghan of Lindsay, Ontario, and Allamakee County, Iowa.

Thomas Michael Donahue of Westborough, Massachusetts, sent me the following email on January 16, 2002:

"Please compare the information that you have on this page to a hand-written note inked by my Aunt Mary Donahue Malloch in 1980:

'Dad's mother was Bridget McGeough who married John Donahue. She was born in Lindsay, Ontario, Canada in 1832. They migrated to Freeport, Ill. in 1850 and stayed there for the winter where she met and married John Donahue. Her folks left the next spring for the Iowa Territory. She missed them so much that she grieved for them when she was pregnant with her first born and her husband took her to Iowa to see her folks.

'While there she prevailed on him to stay in Iowa. She had eight children—John, Mary, Kate, Michael, Patrick, Francis (our Dad—my grandfather) Ann and William. Our Dad was the 7th.

'I know that my Donahue relatives lived on a farm in Allamakee County, Iowa in an area what is now part of the Yellow River State Forest. My father would visit there as a child and went back to visit a few years before he died in 1985. The family is largely buried in Cherry Mound Cemetery.'

"The part that doesn't fit is that Bridget married Patrick according to your information, not John, however the other information matches almost exactly."

The Donahoe's had at least seven children, the first of whom, Michael, was born in Illinois in 1853 (or 1854). Their next child, a daughter, Mary, was born in Iowa in 1855. The other five children were born in Iowa. The earliest birth date in Iowa recorded by Devereux was that of a daughter, Catherine (who became Kate Donahoe Haas, wife of John Haas), born in 1859. A son, William Donahoe, may have been born earlier, but Devereux says his birth date is unknown.

The oldest son of Patrick and Bridget McGeough Donahoe, Michael Donahoe, was born in Illinois in 1853. He died of consumption in 1880 at age 26 in Allamakee County, Iowa. Michael is buried, as Michael Donahoe, in the Cherry Mound Cemetery, under a gravestone that shows the year of birth as 1854 and year of death as 1880. Buried in the same cemetery is his father, Patrick Donahoe, who was born in 1824 and who died on April 19, 1883. Buried under the same gravestone is Michael's mother, Bridget (McGeough) Donahoe, 1832–1878. (Devereux, page 51.) (Cemetery records say 1832–1880).

One of the grandsons of Patrick Donahoe and Bridget McGeough Donahoe assumed the name of Joseph Donahoe McGeough. He was the son of his father's namesake, Patrick Donahoe (Junior), who was born in Allamakee County, Iowa, in 1861, and died in 1915. This second Patrick Donahoe married Sophie Smith, and they had three sons and three daughters. Their son Joseph was born on April 5, 1902. Devereux (page 53) notes that Joseph was "raised by Jim Ed McGeough & took the name Joseph Donahue McGeough." This probably happened upon the death of Joseph's father in 1915. Devereux says that Joseph died in Chicago, and was an elevator operator during the last 15 years of his life.

The "Jim Ed McGeough" who raised Joseph Donahoe McGough was probably James Edward McGeough (November 19, 1866–1946), second son of Edward McGeough and Julia Hinchon McGough, discussed below. James Edward McGeough married Ella Kilpatrick on February 28, 1889. Devereux says that they had a son, Leo McGeough, but does not furnish a birth date. Don Meyers of Seattle, Leo's grandson, says the year of birth was 1891. (Charles and Jane Cosgrove McGeough also had a son Leo who was born in Iowa on June 25, 1898, about the same time as Leo, the son of James and Ella Kilpatrick McGeough, would have been born. See below).

Devereux (page 68) says that the Leo McGeough who was the son of James McGeough and Ella Kilpatrick "lived in Seattle." I did not find this Leo McGeough in Seattle city directories or censuses until his grandson, Don Meyers, told me that Leo's full name was James Leo McGeough—although most people called him "Leo." Don Meyers also told me that James Leo McGeough met Catherine Fitzgerald in Waukon, Iowa, while she was visiting there from her home in Tacoma, Washington, and Leo came to her home in Tacoma and married her there in about 1913. The newly married couple immediately moved back to Waukon, Iowa. They moved from Iowa to Tacoma around 1927, then to Seattle in about 1932. The 1930 census of Tacoma, Pierce county, Washington, lists this family:

(1930) James L. McGeough, age 38, with a home worth $4500, married at age 22, born in Iowa to parents born in Iowa, an insurance salesman. (roll 2511, page 2B)

Catherine L. McGeough, age 38, married at age 22, born in Washington, to parents born in Iowa.

Ilene L. McGeough, age 15, born in Iowa.

Catherine L. McGeough, age 13, born in Iowa.

Catherine Fitzgerald McGeough was the daughter of John Fitzgerald of Tacoma, who for many years was Captain of Detectives of the Tacoma Police Department, and who later became Chief of Police of Tacoma. Catherine's mother's maiden name was Catherine Delaney. Catherine Delaney was one of ten children of James (1819–June 3, 1906) and Margaret Delaney (1838–March 10, 1908), natives of Ireland, both of whom emigrated to America and settled in Indiana, where they were married. They moved to Iowa and in 1856 purchased land in Hanover township, Allamakee County. They farmed this property until 1906, the year when James died. Margaret died in 1908. Their son, James Delaney, Jr. (November 29, 1877–May 11, 1932) was operating that farm in 1913. For a story of the Delaney family in Allamakee County, with emphasis on the prosperous 120 acre farm of Catherine's brother, Patrick Delaney, go to: Delaney—Past and Present in Allamakee County, by Ellery M. Hancock. 2 volumes Chicago: S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1913. Dates of birth and deaths are from gravestones in St. Mary's Cemetery, Hanover Township, Allamakee County, Iowa.

Catherine Fitzgerald, daughter of John and Catherine Delaney Fitzgerald, met James Leo McGeough while she was visiting in Iowa. In 1913, he came from Iowa to Tacoma to marry her. The couple originally settled in Iowa, where their children were born. They moved to Tacoma in about 1927, and then to Seattle in about 1932. In Seattle, the family lived at 410 Wheeler Street on Queen Anne Hill from the late 1930s into 1962, just a few blocks from where I grew up at 18 Newell Street, which was also on the north side of Queen Anne Hill.

I found James Leo McGeough, his wife Catherine L. McGeough, and daughters Eileen L. and Catherine L McGeough, in old city directories. The oldest entry I found was in the 1928 Polk's City Directory of Tacoma, which listed James L. McGeough and Catherine L. McGeough in their home at 1140 North 11th Street, Tacoma. James L. McGeough's occupation was listed as a salesman for Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. The 1929 Tacoma city directory contained the same information. The 1931 and 1932 Tacoma directories showed James L. and Catherine L. McGeough at the same address, and his occupation as insurance agent. The 1933 Tacoma directory was not available. The McGeoughs were not listed in the 1934 Tacoma directory. The 1932 Polk's Seattle City Directory listed J. L. McGeough as a special representative of the AOUW (Ancient Order of United Workmen) Grand Lodge, with his home in Tacoma. The 1933 edition of Polk's Seattle City Directory listed James L. and Catherine L McGeough with a home at 6168 Greenwood Avenue, and Eileen L. McGeough, a student, at the same address. The 1934 Seattle city directory showed James L. and Catherine L. McGeough with a home as 7667 Latona Avenue. Residing with them was Eileen L. McGeough, a student. James L. McGeough was listed as a special representative of the AOUW. The 1935 Seattle city directory continued to list James McGeough as a special representative of the AOUW, but showed his home address as 2909 East Madison Street, apartment J. Catherine L. McGeough is shown as a resident of 7667 Latona Avenue, as is Eileen I. McGeough, a student. The 1936 Seattle city directory lists James L. McGeough of McGeough & Weldemann with a home at 2909 East Madison, apartment J, with the name of Emil E. E. Weldermann in brackets, and shows James L. McGeough, grand recorder of the AOUW, with a home at 7667 Latona Avenue with his wife, Catherine L. McGeough, and two daughters, Catherine L. McGeough, a student, and Eileen L. McGeough, a student at the University of Washington. In the 1937, these four McGeoughs are listed as residents of a home at 410 Wheeler Street, and the residence of James L. and Catherine L. continues to be listed there through the 1963 directory. The 1940 directory lists "Ilene" L. McGeough as a teacher residing with her parents.

In 1962, the McGeoughs moved from their residence at 410 Wheeler Street. The 1964 and 1965 Seattle directories list J. L. McGeough as retired and living at 204 West Highland Drive, apartment 3, which is also on Queen Anne Hill. The Washington state index of deaths lists the death of James L. McGeough on November 21, 1966 (#249520). Don Meyers tells me that his grandmother, James Leo's wife Catherine L. McGeough, died in Seattle in 1967.

The daughter of James Leo McGeough and Catherine L. McGeough, also named Catherine L. McGeough (born in Iowa in 1916), is the mother of Don Meyers. In December of 2002, Don Meyers tells me that she and her sister, Eileen (born in Iowa in 1914), are both alive. (An email in July of 2003 tells me that Eileen L. McGeough is living in Lake Oswego, Oregon.) He also says that they had a brother, Donald, who died in 1918 during his first week of life, and that he is named after this Donald.

The 1900 census of Union Prairie township, Allamakee county, Iowa shows James E. McGough, age 33, born in Iowa in November of 1866, married to Ella for 11 years, whose father was born in Canada and mother in Ireland, a farmer; living with his wife Ella R., age 30, born in Iowa in December of 1869, mother of two children, both of whom were living, whose mother and father were born in Pennsylvania; their daughter Mary (often called "Mamie"), age 10, born in Iowa in April 1890 (Don Meyers says 1889); and their son, James L., age 8, born in Iowa in September, 1891. Also living with them was Ella's brother, William R. Kilpatrick (Don Meyers says this should be Frank R. Kilpatrick), age 20, born in Iowa in January of 1880, a farm laborer, both of whose parents were born in Pennsylvania. Don Meyers informs me that Ella's given name was Louella, but that she was always known as Ella. Her gravestone in Waukon, Iowa, says Ella R, McGeough, 1869–1956. The same gravestone shows James E. McGeough, 1866–1946.

John McGough (1834–1910)

John McGeough, the son of Bernard and Catherine McGeough, who was born in Ontario in 1834, moved to Winnebago county, Illinois, with his family in 1852 or 1853, but may have returned to, Rockford, Winnebago county, Illinois, in 1860 or earlier. John McGough, age 20, is listed with his parents in the 1856 state census of of Waterville township, Iowa, but is not listed in the 1860 census of Iowa. He is probably the John McGue, age 29, born in Canada, a farm laborer, listed in the 1860 census of Rockford. John McGeough was in Paint Creek township, Iowa, in 1865 when he married Margaret Downing (or Downey). Margaret died, probably in childbirth, on or shortly after May 4, 1866.

John married his second wife, Bridget Horan in January, 1869, and they moved to Ackley, Franklin county, Iowa. The town of Ackley, Iowa, lies on the Hardin county/Franklin county border, at the northeast corner of Hardin county, and is partly in Franklin county. The home of John McGough and Bridget Horan was the second home in Grant township, Franklin county. (John and Bridget McGough are not listed in the 1870 census in either Grant township, Franklin county, or Grant township, Hardin county.) When John McGough died, he owned a house in the town of Ackley and 680 acres of farmland. (Devereux, page 56).

John and Bridget had at least seven children, whose families are followed in detail in Devereux' book. When his brother Francis died on October 14, 1909, Francis' obituary noted that he was survived by a brother, John McGeough, of Ackley, Iowa.

The 1880 census of Iowa shows John McGough, a farmer, age 50, born in Ontario in 1830, in Grant township (499C), in Franklin county. Living with him was his wife, Bridget, age 41, born in Ireland in 1839, and these children, all of whom were born in Iowa: Francis, age 10 (by John's first marriage to Margaret Downing or Downey); and children by his second wife, Bridget Horan: Michael, age 9; John, age 7; Margaret, age 5; Bridget, age 2; and Edward, age 1 month. Living with them was Michael McCormick, a farm laborer, age 19; and Margaret Gibbons, age 24, a servant. Bridget (Horan) is John's second wife, who was born in county Mayo in 1838, came to the US at age 13 with her parents, Michael and Bridget Horan, and died in 1912.

In the 1885 state census of Iowa, this family is listed in Grant township, Franklin county:

(1885) John McGough, age 51, farmer, born in Canada. [(1838-1912) Son of Bernard and Catherine Kernaghan (Kieran?) McGough. Much of the information on this family comes from the McGough Family Tree (owner Cwolpert71) on Ancestry.com.]

Bridget McGough, age 45, born in Ireland, keeping house. [Bridget Theresa Horan (1838–1912, born July 3, 1838 in Gorthinacullin, county Mayo, Ireland, and died on July 6, 1912, in Ackley, Franklin county, Iowa. ]

Mary A. McGough, age 18, single, born in Allamakee county, Iowa. [This is John's daughter by his first wife, Margaret Downing or Downey.]

Francis McGough, 15, born in Franklin county, Iowa. [Francis Joseph McGough, born in November, 1869 in Grant township Franklin county, Iowa; married Mary Ann Kiley on April 20, 1898, in Grant township; fathered 2 children; farmer; died on October 1, 1942, in Hardin county, Iowa.

Michael McGough, age 13, born in Franklin county, Iowa. [born February 25, 1871, in Grant township, farmer, died on September 27, 1921; buried in St. Mary's Cemetery, Ackley, Franklin county, Iowa.]

John McGough, age 11, born in Franklin county, Iowa. [born April 9, 1873, in Grant township; married Alice Cooney on April 11, 1901, in St. Mary's Catholic Church, Ackley, Iowa; father of 4 children; farmer; died May 5, 1947, in Ackley, Franklin county, Iowa; buried in St. Mary's Cemetery, Ackley.]

Maggie McGough, age 9, born in Franklin county, Iowa. [Margaret McGough, born March 28, 1875, in Grant township; died December 12, 1968 in Presbyterian Home, Ackley, Hardin county, Iowa. Religion: Catholic. Buried in St. Mary's Cemetery, Ackley.]

Bridget McGough, age 7, born in Franklin county, Iowa. [Bridget Teresa McGough, born on October 17, 1877; teacher; died on November 27, 1923, in Ackley, Hardin county, Iowa; buried in st. Mary's Cemetery, Ackley.]

Edward McGough, age 4, born in Franklin county, Iowa. [Edward B. McGough, born May 17, 1880; married Mamie E. Doherty on June 7, 1917; farmer; fathered at least 2 children; died on March 16, 1959, at age 78.]

Ellen McGough, age 2, born in Franklin county, Iowa. [Nellie, born February 14, 1852; died January 2, 1963, at age 80, at Mercy Hospital, Mason City, Cerro Gordo county, Iowa.; buried in St. Mary's Cemetery, Ackley.]

The family tree of Philip Kiley on Ancestry.com has much information on the family of this John McGough. See the entry under Franklin township, Grant township, on my page on McGoughs in the 1900 census. The Kiley family tree identifies the parents of John McGough as Bernard McGough and Katherine Kiernan (whom I call Kernaghan), both of whom were born in Ireland, and says that John McGough was born on November 1, 1832, in Peterborough, Ontario County, Canada. He and his first wife, Margaret Downing (or Downey), had one child born in Allamakee county, Iowa: Mary C. McGough, born on March 27, 1866. Mary is not listed with her father in the 1880 census of Grant township, Franklin county, Iowa, but is listed with her father and step-mother in the 1885 state census of Franklin county, age 18. Mary C. McGough died on May 4, 1827, and is buried in St. Mary's Cemetery, Ackley, Franklin County, Iowa.

In 1880, living with John B. Downing, a farmer, age 34, born in Ireland in 1846, in Paint Creek township (416B), Allamakee county, was his wife Eliza J. Downing, age 27, born in Illinois in 1853; his mother, Ann Downing, age 70, born in Ireland in 1810; and a niece, Mary A. McGough, age 14, born in Iowa, whose father was born in Canada and whose mother was born in Ireland. According to Devereux, John McGough (the son of Bernard McGough (1803–1891) and Catharine Kernaghan (or Kiernan) (1809–1867); born in Lindsay, Ontario, on November 1, 1832) married Margaret Downey (should be Downing) in McGregor, Iowa, according to Devereux. Margaret Downing McGough was probably John B. Downing's sister. John McGough and Margaret Downing , therefore, would have been the parents of the Mary A. McGough living in this household. Ann Downing, whose gravestone shows a lifespan from 1804 to 1901, died on February 4, 1901. Her gravestone in Cherry Mound Cemetery also commemorates her daughter, Margaret McGough, who died on April 18, 1866, at the age of 21. This makes it probable that Margaret Downing McGough died in giving birth to her daughter, Mary A. McGough.

According to Devereux, Mary was born on May 4, 1866 (but on or before April 18, 1866, seems more probable), during her life "kept house for priests," and died in 1927. The 1900 census of Levey township, Sac county, Iowa, shows Mary McGough working as a housekeeper for Father Daniel Kelly, a Catholic Priest. Mary McGough was listed as 29 years old, born in Iowa in August of 1872 to a father born in Canada and a mother born in Ireland. Despite the disparity of birth years, this was probably the daughter of John and Margaret Downing McGough. Here is an obituary of Mary Ann McGough from Ancestry.com: Waterloo Evening Courier, May 6, 1927: Ackley, Ia., May 6. — The funeral of Miss Mary Ann McGough, who died Tuesday about midnight after a few hours' illness of acute kidney disease, was conducted this morning at St. Mary's Catholic church here, by Rev. Thomas Fitzgerald. Miss McGough was born March 27. 1866. She is survived by two sisters and two brothers. Margaret and Nellie, Ackley; John and Ed, on farms near here.]

Mary McGough (McNally) (1835–1924)

Mary married David McNally, and lived in Linton, Allamakee county, Iowa, in about 1855, about three years after her family moved from Illinois to Iowa. Devereux names six of their children, and quotes a relative who says that Mary had thirteen children. There is a David McNally, 1831–1911, buried in the Cherry Mound Cemetery. Also buried there is a Mary McNally, born on January 1, 1834, who died on July 24, 1924. If this was Mary McGeough McNally, the birth date on her gravestone may be too early by a year or two. The 1856 state census of Linton, Allamakee county, Iowa, lists her as 20 years old. The 1880 census of Linton township, Allamakee county, Iowa, lists her as 44, with her husband, David McNally, age 50, born in Ireland, a farmer, and seven children, ranging from 15 to 3 (roll T9_325, page 372).

Here is the entry for this family in the 1856 state census of Linton, Allamakee county, Iowa:

(1856) David McNaly, age 25, married, 4 years in Iowa, born in Ireland, farmer, naturalized voter (IA_48, line 28).

Mary McNally, age 20, married, 4 years in Iowa, born in Canada.

David McNally, age 0, born in Iowa.

They were living next to Michael McNally, age 27, married (to Ann), born in Ireland, 4 years in Iowa, farmer. I assume that Michael McNally was David McNally's brother. Living with Michael and his wife were Charles (?) McNally, age 33 (probably another brother), and Sarah McNally, age 21, married (I assume to each other), both born in Ireland, and an infant named Mary McCormack (indexed by Ancestry.com as McCornad), age 0, born in Iowa.

Here is the entry for this family in the 1895 state census of Linton, Allamakee county, Iowa:

(1895) David McNally, age 62, born in Ireland, farmer, Catholic, entitled to vote, could not read or write (IA 1885_286, line 1).

Mary McNally, age 60, born in Canada, Catholic.

John McNally, age 30, single, born in Allamakee county, laborer.

Frank McNally, age 21, single, born in Allamakee county, farmer.

Margaret McNally, age 13, single, born in Allamakee county,

The 1900 census of the same place (under the surname McNelly) lists her as age 63, born in Canada in May of 1837, married 42 years, mother of 13 children, 10 of whom were living, and who immigrated to the United States in 1852 (roll T623_415, page 6A). David, age 80, and Mary, 75 (mother of 13 children, 9 of whom were living) are listed in the 1910 census of Linton township as living with their son, John McNally, age 46, single, a general farmer (roll T624_390, page 1B). In 1920, the widowed Mary McNally, age 83, was still living with her son John, age 52, single; with them was John's sister, Nellie Saussay, age 49 (roll T625_476, page 1A).

Francis McGough (1837–1909)

Francis married Mary Cunningham about 1864, who gave birth to at least five children. Two of them died young, and Mary herself died in 1874, perhaps as a result of the birth of an infant daughter, Catherine. Mary is buried at Cherry Mound Cemetery under a gravestone that reads: "Mother Mary McGeough, 1839–1874, Infant Catherine." (Devereux, page 51). Devereux lists purchases of land by Francis in section 25, township 97, of Paint Creek township, on May 28, 1867; November 26, 1870; and June 27, 1876. (Devereux, page 98.)

Francis married his second wife, Mary Agnes Boden, about 1879, and they had at least six children, whose families are set out in Devereux' book (page 57). In 1885, Bernard McGeough, the widowed father of Francis, was living with Francis and his wife, Mary Agnes. Here is the entry from the 1885 Iowa state census of Paint Creek, Allamakee county:

(1885) Francis McGeough, age 46, farmer, born in Canada (roll IA1885_143).

Mary Agnes McGeough, age 25, keeping house, born in Clayton county, Iowa.

Thomas Bernard McGeough, age 18, born in Allamakee county, Iowa.

Johanna McGeough, age 14, born in Allamakee county, Iowa.

John McGeough, age 12, born in Allamakee county, Iowa.

Edward Sylvester McGeough, age 4, born in Allamakee county, Iowa.

Mary Agnes McGeough, age 1, born in Allamakee county, Iowa.

Bernard McGeough, age 75, retired farmer, born in Ireland, cannot read or write.

William McGeough, the third child of Francis McGeough and Mary Agnes Boden, who was born on January 9, 1887, and who died in Willow Lake, South Dakota, on October 7, 1970, was the father of Phyllis McGeough Devereux. (Devereux, page 57). Mary Agnes Boden McGeough was granted an interest in land in township 98, adjoining township 97 where her husband Francis had acquired land, by her widowed father, John Boden, on November 25, 1895. Mary died on July 15, 1898. An Internet list of Allamakee County, Iowa, Will Testators includes Mary McGough (3-B-149) (spelled thusly), and I assume this refers to Mary Agnes Boden McGough. Devereux says she died of tuberculosis on July 15, 1898. Her will was admitted to probate on November 14, 1898. Her heirs were her four surviving children, William I. (1887–1970), Phyllis Devereux' father; Joseph Clemont (Clem, 1889–1960); Leo (1891–1919), and Rosella (Sister Mary John, January 31, 1897–August, 1975, in Dubuque, Iowa). According to Devereux, Mary's son, Joseph C. (Clem) McGeough was appointed the administrator of her estate on December 31, 1898, but if his year of birth, given as 1889, is stated correctly, he was less than ten years old. (Devereux, pages 58 and 98.)

Francis died in Paint Creek township, Iowa, on October 14, 1909. His obituary says he was 74, so he may have been born in 1835. His gravestone in Cherry Mound Cemetery, Paint Creek township, Allamakee county, Iowa, however, shows his span of life as 1837 to 1909.

Edward McGough (1841–1916)

Edward McGeough was born on December 28, 1841, in Lindsay, Ontario. On April 4, 1864, at McGregor Church, he married Julia Hinchon, who was born in Kilenlin (?) (possibly Kilmaclenine or Killawillin), county Cork, Ireland, in 1844, and came to America when she was two years old. Devereux traces the family history of ten of their children. Edward died in Waukon, Iowa, on July 27, 1916, and is buried at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Waukon, Iowa. Edward's gravestone says he was born on December 28, 1841, and died on July 28, 1916.

The 1880 census of Iowa shows the family of Edward McGough, a farmer, age 39, born in Canada in 1841, living in Union Prairie township (463A), Allamakee county, Iowa. His wife, Julia, age 37, was born in Ireland in 1841. Their children, all born in Iowa, were: Bernard, age 15; James, age 13; Ella, age 11; John, age 9; Katie, age 6; Thomas, age 3; and Mary, age 1.

The son, Bernard, who was born on February 9, 1865, in Iowa, is probably the Bernard McGough shown by the 1900 census as living in the city of Omaha, Douglas county, Nebraska. He is shown as 35 years old, born in Iowa in February of 1865, whose parents were both born in Ireland. He was working as a collector for an express company. He was living in a rented house with his wife, Mary, age 34, born in Iowa in June of 1865, and whose parents were both born in Ireland. She had been married 4 years and had one child who was living with them: Kenneth, two years old, born in Nebraska in June, 1897. A directory of Omaha Nebraska for 1889–1890 lists Barney McGough, employed by Merchants Express Company as a foreman, with a residence at 913 Capitol Avenue, in Omaha in 1890. (In the same directory is Barney McGeough, a teamster, who was boarding at 1007 Capitol Avenue, Omaha.)

The History of Winneshiek and Allamakee Counties, Iowa, 1882, pages 512-513, gives us this biography of Edward McGough:

"Edward McGough, P.O. Waukon, farmer, sec. 29; son of Barney and Catharine McGough; was born in Canada in 1839. His parents moved to Winnebago County, Illinois, when he was a small boy, and in 1855 they came to Paint Creek tp., this Co., where his father still lives, his mother having died in 1868. Mr. M. was married to Miss Julia Hinchon, in 1864. She was born in Ireland. They resided in Paint Creek tp. till 1876, when he moved to his present farm of 280 acres, which is well improved and among the best farms of the township. Their children are Birnet, James E., Thomas, John, Ella, Katie and Julia. He is a member of the Catholic Church."

Ancestry.com lists Edward's wife and children with his death record. His wife is named as Julia Hinchon McGeough who, according to her gravestone in Mt. Olivet Cemetery, was born on May 2, 1843, and died on July 17, 1928. The children (rearranged to put them in the order of their birth) are: Bernard (February 9, 1865–1929), James Edward (November 19, 1866–1946), Ella or Eleanor (Mrs. Edward or James Ryan) (January 3, 1869–February 25, 1941), John (February 16, 1871–1953), Kate (Mrs. Frank Spinner) (June 24, 1873–1946), Thomas (July 27, 1876–June 19, 1966), Mary (April 24, 1879–August 24, 1880), Julia (Lou) (July 28, 1881–December 7, 1961), William (December 1, 1883–?). Ancestry.com does not list Mary, who died in infancy, but Devereux, at page 68, adds a Mary (Mayme), as does the 1880 census. Ancestry.com also lists Julia and Lou as two separate persons, but I follow Devereux' lead and treat Lou as a nickname for Julia. Many of these children are buried in Mt. Olivet Cemetery, and my first source of dates of life span are the gravestones published on the Internet. My second source is the Devereux book.

The 1900 census of Makee township, Allamakee county, Iowa, lists: Edward McGough, age 59, born in February of 1841, married 36 years, born in Canada, parents born in Ireland, who emigrated to the United States in 1852, had been in the United States for 48 years, had been naturalized, and was a farmer. Living with him were his wife, Julia, 56 years old, born in Ireland in May of 1854, married for 36 years, mother of nine children, 8 of whom were living, who emigrated to the United States in 1852 and had been in the United States for 49 years; their son, Thomas, 23 years old, born in Iowa in July of 1876, a clerk in a grocery store; their daughter, Julia, 18 years of age, born in Iowa in July of 1882; and their son, Willie, age 15, born in Iowa in December of 1884. In 1900, Edward's farm adjoined that of his brother-in-law, Michael McCormick.

The "Jim Ed McGeough" who raised Joseph Donahoe McGough was probably James Edward McGeough (November 19, 1866–1946), second son of Edward McGeough and Julia Hinchon McGough, discussed above. James Edward McGeough married Ella Kilpatrick on February 28, 1889. Devereux says that they had a son, Leo McGeough, but does not furnish a birth date. Don Meyers of Seattle, Leo's grandson, says the year of birth was 1891. (Charles and Jane Cosgrove McGeough also had a son Leo who was born in Iowa on June 25, 1898, about the same time as Leo, the son of James and Ella Kilpatrick McGeough, would have been born. See below).

Devereux (page 68) says that the Leo McGeough who was the son of James McGeough and Ella Kilpatrick "lived in Seattle." I did not find this Leo McGeough in Seattle city directories or censuses until his grandson, Don Meyers, told me that Leo's full name was James Leo McGeough—although most people called him "Leo." Don Meyers also told me that James Leo McGeough met Catherine Fitzgerald in Waukon, Iowa, while she was visiting there from her home in Tacoma, Washington, and Leo came to her home in Tacoma and married her there in about 1913. The newly married couple immediately moved back to Waukon, Iowa. They moved from Iowa to Tacoma around 1927, then to Seattle in about 1932. The 1930 census of Tacoma, Pierce county, Washington, lists this family:

(1930) James L. McGeough, age 38, with a home worth $4500, married at age 22, born in Iowa to parents born in Iowa, an insurance salesman. (roll 2511, page 2B)

Catherine L. McGeough, age 38, married at age 22, born in Washington, to parents born in Iowa.

Ilene L. McGeough, age 15, born in Iowa.

Catherine L. McGeough, age 13, born in Iowa.

Catherine Fitzgerald McGeough was the daughter of John Fitzgerald of Tacoma, who for many years was Captain of Detectives of the Tacoma Police Department, and who later became Chief of Police of Tacoma. Catherine's mother's maiden name was Catherine Delaney. Catherine Delaney was one of ten children of James (1819–June 3, 1906) and Margaret Delaney (1838–March 10, 1908), natives of Ireland, both of whom emigrated to America and settled in Indiana, where they were married. They moved to Iowa and in 1856 and purchased land in Hanover township, Allamakee County. They farmed this property until 1906, the year when James died. Margaret died in 1908. Their son, James Delaney, Jr. (November 29, 1877–May 11, 1932) was operating that farm in 1913. For a story of the Delaney family in Allamakee County, with emphasis on the prosperous 120 acre farm of Catherine's brother, Patrick Delaney, go to: Delaney—Past and Present in Allamakee County, by Ellery M. Hancock. 2 volumes Chicago: S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1913. Dates of birth and deaths are from gravestones in St. Mary's Cemetery, Hanover Township, Allamakee County, Iowa.

Catherine Fitzgerald, daughter of John and Catherine Delaney Fitzgerald, met James Leo McGeough while she was visiting in Iowa. In 1913, he came from Iowa to Tacoma to marry her. The couple originally settled in Iowa, where their children were born. They moved to Tacoma in about 1927, and then to Seattle in about 1932. In Seattle, the family lived at 410 Wheeler Street on Queen Anne Hill from the late 1930s into 1962, just a few blocks from where I grew up at 18 Newell Street, which was also on Queen Anne Hill.

I found James Leo McGeough, his wife Catherine L. McGeough, and daughters Eileen L. and Catherine L McGeough, in old city directories. The oldest entry I found was in the 1928 Polk's City Directory of Tacoma, which listed James L. McGeough and Catherine L. McGeough in their home at 1140 North 11th Street, Tacoma. James L. McGeough's occupation was listed as a salesman for Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. The 1929 Tacoma city directory contained the same information. The 1931 and 1932 Tacoma directories showed James L. and Catherine L. McGeough at the same address, and his occupation as insurance agent. The 1933 Tacoma directory was not available. The McGeoughs were not listed in the 1934 Tacoma directory. The 1932 Polk's Seattle City Directory listed J. L. McGeough as a special representative of the AOUW (Ancient Order of United Workmen) Grand Lodge, with his home in Tacoma. The 1933 edition of Polk's Seattle City Directory listed James L. and Catherine L McGeough with a home at 6168 Greenwood Avenue, and Eileen L. McGeough, a student, at the same address. The 1934 Seattle city directory showed James L. and Catherine L. McGeough with a home as 7667 Latona Avenue. Residing with them was Eileen L. McGeough, a student. James L. McGeough was listed as a special representative of the AOUW. The 1935 Seattle city directory continued to list James McGeough as a special representative of the AOUW, but showed his home address as 2909 East Madison Street, apartment J. Catherine L. McGeough is shown as a resident of 7667 Latona Avenue, as is Eileen I. McGeough, a student. The 1936 Seattle city directory lists James L. McGeough of McGeough & Weldemann with a home at 2909 East Madison, apartment J, with the name of Emil E. E. Weldermann in brackets, and shows James L. McGeough, grand recorder of the AOUW, with a home at 7667 Latona Avenue with his wife, Catherine L. McGeough, and two daughters, Catherine L. McGeough, a student, and Eileen L. McGeough, a student at the University of Washington. In the 1937, these four McGeoughs are listed as residents of a home at 410 Wheeler Street, and the residence of James L. and Catherine L. continues to be listed there through the 1963 directory. The 1940 directory lists "Ilene" L. McGeough as a teacher residing with her parents.

In 1962, the McGeoughs moved from their residence at 410 Wheeler Street. The 1964 and 1965 Seattle directories list J. L. McGeough as retired and living at 204 West Highland Drive, apartment 3, which is also on Queen Anne Hill. The Washington state index of deaths lists the death of James L. McGeough on November 21, 1966 (#249520). Don Meyers tells me that his grandmother, James Leo's wife Catherine L. McGeough, died in Seattle in 1967.

The daughter of James Leo McGeough and Catherine L. McGeough, also named Catherine L. McGeough (born in Iowa in 1916), is the mother of Don Meyers. In December of 2002, Don Meyers tells me that she and her sister, Eileen (born in Iowa in 1914), are both alive. (An email in July of 2003 tells me that Eileen L. McGeough is living in Lake Oswego, Oregon.) He also says that they had a brother, Donald, who died in 1918 during his first week of life, and that he is named after this Donald.

The 1900 census of Union Prairie township, Allamakee county, Iowa shows James E. McGough, age 33, born in Iowa in November of 1866, married to Ella for 11 years, whose father was born in Canada and mother in Ireland, a farmer; living with his wife Ella R., age 30, born in Iowa in December of 1869, mother of two children, both of whom were living, whose mother and father were born in Pennsylvania; their daughter Mary (often called "Mamie"), age 10, born in Iowa in April 1890 (Don Meyers says 1889); and their son, James L., age 8, born in Iowa in September, 1891. Also living with them was Ella's brother, William R. Kilpatrick (Don Meyers says this should be Frank R. Kilpatrick), age 20, born in Iowa in January of 1880, a farm laborer, both of whose parents were born in Pennsylvania. Don Meyers informs me that Ella's given name was Louella, but that she was always known as Ella. Her gravestone in Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Waukon, Iowa, says Ella R. McGeough, 1869–1956 (born December 1, 1869; died April 1, 1956). The same gravestone shows James E. McGeough, 1866–1946.

The Ella McGeough who died in 1956 is the Ella Kilpatrick who, according to Devereux, married James Edward McGough on February 28, 1889, whose year of birth matches Ella, the daughter of Edward and Julia; but Devereux (page 68) says the daughter Ella died on February 5, 1941. The daughter is the Ella Ryan, also buried in Mt. Olivet Cemetery, whose gravestone shows a life span of January 3, 1869–February 25, 1941.

Devereux lists a daughter of Edward and Julia McGeough, Mary (Mayme), born on April 9, 1879. Devereux (page 68) shows a date of death as 1980, when she would have been 101 years old, and says that she may have married a man named Gavin in 1908 because "Cherry Mound shows 50th Anniversary 1958." (The life span shown on the gravestone of a Mary McGeough in Mt. Olivet Cemetery is April 24, 1879–August 24, 1880.)

An Internet list of Allamakee County, Iowa, Will Testators includes Edward McGeough (3-C-15).

See my page: McGoughs in Iowa in the 1900 Census of the United States and the 1915 State Census of Iowa.

Catherine McGough (McCormick) (1843– )

Catherine (Kate) married Michael McCormick and lived in Waukon, Iowa. Devereux names five of their children. A James McCormick was a pall bearer at the funeral of Francis McGeough who died in Paint Creek township on October 14, 1909. James was not one of the five children of Michael McCormick and Catherine McGeough whom Devereux names in her book. The 1880 census of Iowa shows Michael McCormick, a farm laborer, age 19, living with John McGough, a farmer, age 50, born in Ontario in 1830, in Grant township (499C), in Franklin county, Ackley, Iowa, with John's second wife, Bridget Horan, and six of their children. This Michael may have been a son of Michael McCormick and Catherine McGeough. A Michael J. McCormick, born on January 22, 1861, who died on June 18, 1925, is buried in the Cherry Mound Cemetery.

Michael and Catherine McGeough McCormick are listed in the 1860 census of Paint Creek township, Allamakee county, Iowa, as follows:

(1860) Michael McCormick, age 35, farmer, real estate $1000, personal property $300, born in Ireland (roll M653_310, page 302).

Catharin McCormick, age 17, housekeeper, born in Canada.

Bernard McCormick, age 4 months, born in Iowa.

Bernard McCormick, age 16, farm laborer, born in Ireland.

Michael and Catherine McGeough McCormick are listed in the 1870 census of Paint Creek township, Allamakee county, Iowa, as follows:

(1870) M. McCormic (indexed by Ancestry.com as McCormie), age 40, farmer, real estate $2000, personal property $676, born in Ireland (roll M593_374, page 291A).

Catharine McCormic, age 27, keeping house, born in Canada.

Bernard McCormic, age 10, born in Iowa, attended school with the year. [married Margaret Connors, Devereux, page 70]

Michael McCormic, age 8, born in Iowa, attended school with the year. [married Julie Ford, Devereux, page 71]

Catharine McCormic, age 6, born in Iowa. [Sister Mary Serenina, died 1957, Devereux, page 71]

James McCormic, age 4, born in Iowa.

Edward McCormic, age 1, born in Iowa. [married Rose Heim, Devereux, page 71]

Here is the listing in the 1885 Iowa state census of Paint Creek township, Allamakee county:

(1885) Michael McCormack, age 60, farmer born in Ireland. [Living next door was Bernard McCormack, age 50, farmer, born in Ireland; his wife Mary, age 39, born in Ireland; and their 8 children.]

Catherine McCormack, age 42, keeping house, born in Canada.

Thomas McCormack, age 18, born in Allamakee county, Iowa.

Edward McCormack, age 16, born in Allamakee county, Iowa.

Here is the listing in the 1900 census of Makee township, Allamakee county, Iowa:

(1900) Michael McCarmak (indexed by Ancestry.com as McCarmack), age 70, born in May, 1830, married 41 years, born in Ireland, immigrated in 1850, 50 years in the United States, naturalized, farmer, owned his farm free of a mortgage (roll T623_415, page 5A). [ Michael and Catherine were living next to Catherine's brother, Edward McGough and his wife, Julia.]

Catherine McCormak, wife, age 56, born in December, 1843 married 41 years, born in Canada, mother of 5 children, 5 living, immigrated in 1852, 48 years in the U.S.

Edward McCormak, age 26, son, single, born in Iowa in December. 1873, farmer laborer.

Here is a listing in Makee township, Allamakee county, in the 1905 state census of Iowa, post office: Waukon. The names are listed consecutively, with no indication of whether there is one or two households (roll IA_75, lines 403–410).

(1905) Edward McGeough

Julia McGeough

Thomas McGeough

Julia A. McGeough

William J. McGeough

(1905) Michael McCormick

Cathrin McCormick

Edward McCormick

In the 1910 census of Makee township, Catherine McCormick was a 66 year old widow living in the home of her son, Edward, age 38 and single, who was a house carpenter working on his own account (roll T624_390, page 5A). I did not find her in the 1915 or 1920 censuses.

Bernard's Brother Francis

Bernard's brother, Francis McGeough (October 1, 1826–March 2, 1910) married Bridget Murphy (March 2, 1836–September 3, 1911) who was born in Canada and died in Iowa. They were probably married in Canada—but possibly in Illinois. Francis and Bridget are buried under a common gravestone in Cherry Mount Cemetery.

Francis and Bridget Murphy McGeough's children were: Mary (Moore?), born in 1856 in Illinois; Michael (September, 1857–); Charles (1859–1934); John Thomas (1861– ); Julia (1863– ); Margaret (1865– ); Catherine (1867– ) [Catherine McGough and Timothy McGuire obtained a marriage license in January, 1896, according to the Marriage Records of Allamakee County; Francis B (1870–1908); and Robert (1876–1946). All but the oldest daughter, Mary, were born in Iowa. The youngest son, Robert, married Agnes Gavin (1877–1952).

In 1992, the year the Devereux book was published, their daughter Grace McGeough lived in Chicago and was married to "Pat Kilroy (Irish cop)." Their son, Pat Kilroy Jr. lived in Evanston, Illinois. My wife's mother was a Kilroy: Anne (Nancy) Kilroy born in Newport, county Mayo, Ireland, on March 2, 1900. She has several Kilroy relatives in Chicago. See The Kilroy Connection.

Bernard's brother Francis moved from Winnebago county, Illinois, to Allamakee county, Iowa, probably in 1856, about 4 years after his brother. Francis settled on a tract of land in Paint Creek township about a mile from where Bernard had settled.

Neither I nor Phyllis Devereux found Francis in the 1860 census of Iowa. Here is a listing from the 1856 Allamakee, Iowa, State Census (in the same household):

392 82 82 Francis McGough 28 Ireland waterville.txt

392 82 82 Bridget McGough 20 Canada waterville.txt

392 82 82 Mary McGough 0 Ill waterville.txt

This must be Bernard McGough's brother, Francis; his wife, Bridget Murphy; and their daughter Mary, although Francis' age does not match other information. Also living with this Francis McGough family was Mary Murphy, age 13, born in Canada—probably a younger sister of Francis' wife, Bridget Murphy McGough.

The 1870 census of Iowa shows Francis McGeough, a farmer, age 48, born in Ireland and a citizen of the United States, living in Paint Creek township (roll 374, page 282), Allamakee county. He is shown with real estate worth $800 and a personal estate worth $476. With him were his wife, Bridget, age 34, born in Canada; his daughter, Mary, 14, born in Illinois; and seven other children, all of whom were born in Iowa: Michael, 12; Charles, 11: John, 9; Julia, 7; Margaret, 6; Catharine, 3; Francis, 6 months (roll M593_374, page 282A; Family History Library Film 545873).

The 1880 census of Iowa shows Frank McGough, a farmer, age 54, born in Ireland in 1826, living in Paint Creek township (422A), Allamakee county, Iowa. Living with him were his wife, Bridget, age 44, born in Canada in 1826, and these children, all of whom were born in Iowa: Michael, a farmer, age 22; Charles, a farmer, age 21; John T., a farmer, age 18; Julia J., age 17; Margaret A., age 15; Francis, age 9; and Robert J., age 3.

The 1900 census of Paint Creek township, Allamakee county, Iowa, shows the family of Frank McGough, age 75, born in Ireland in September of 1824, a farmer, married 46 years; his wife, Bridget, 64 years old, born in Canada in March of 1836, mother of 12 children, 8 of whom were living; with their sons, Francis, 28 years old, born in Iowa in July of 1871, and Robert, 23 years old, born in Iowa in August of 1873. Both sons were farm laborers. Living with them was the granddaughter of Frank and Bridget, Maggie Moore, 19 years old, born in Iowa in October of 1880, whose father was born in Iowa and whose mother (Mary McGough?) was born in Illinois.

Living next to Frank and Bridget McGough in 1900 were their son, Charley McGough, age 41, born in Iowa in April of 1859, married 19 years, a farmer; his wife, Jane (Cosgrove) McGough, age 36, born in Iowa in September of 1863, mother of 8 children, 7 of whom were living; and their children, all born in Iowa: John, age 14, born in October of 1885; Frank, age 11, born in October, 1888; Vincent, age 9, born in April, 1891; Maggie, age 6, born in June of 1893; Clemen, age 4, born in August of 1895; and Leo, age 1, born in June of 1898. Their son, Leo McGough, died in Chicago in January, 1985, according to the Social Security Death Index.

The family of Michael McGough, the son of Frank and Bridget McGough, is listed in the 1900 census of Paint Creek township, Allamakee county: Michael McGough, age 42, born in Iowa in September of 1857, both of whose parents were born in Ireland, married to Agnes for 15 years, a farmer; his wife Agnes, age 33, born in Iowa in November 1866, whose parents were both born in Ireland, mother of 5 children, 4 of whom were living; their daughter Kittie, age 14, born in Iowa in February of 1886; their daughter Marcella, age 11, born in Iowa in July, 1888; their son Emmett, age 6, born in Iowa in January of 1894; and their son Leonard, age 3, born in Iowa in February of 1897.

An Internet list of Allamakee County, Iowa, Will Testators includes Francis McGough (3-B-412).

Julia McGough, the daughter of Francis and Bridget Murphy McGough, married Thomas Tangney in about 1886, and moved to the city of Superior, Wisconsin, in Douglas county in northern Wisconsin. The 1900 census of Douglas county, 7th Ward of the city of Superior (roll 1786. book 2, page 121), showed Julia Tangney, who was born in Iowa in March of 1865 to a father who was born in Ireland and a mother who was born in Canada, who had been married to Thomas Tangney for 14 years, living with her husband Thomas, six of their children, and her sister-in-law, Maggie McGough, in the seventh precinct of Superior City, Wisconsin. Julia had been the mother of seven children, one of whom had died. Her husband, according to the census, was born in Wisconsin in March of 1861. His parents were both born in Ireland. He was employed as an inspector for a railroad company. The children were all born in Wisconsin. They were: Frank, born in November of 1888; Thomas, born in August of 1890; Maggie, born in October of 1892; Vincent, born in January of 1895; Florence, born in August of 1897; and Emmett born in April, 1900. The mother of all the children is shown by the census as having been born in Ireland, but this must be a mistake. Julia is the mother, and she is shown by this same census return to have been born in Iowa. Julia's sister, Maggie McGough, was living with the Tangneys. Her birth date is shown as March (possibly May) of 1873. The actual year of her birth was probably 1865. She was born in Iowa to a father born in Ireland and a mother born in Canada. Maggie was employed as a dressmaker.

Thomas and Julia McGough Tangney moved to the state of Washington sometime before 1887, first to Spokane, then to Seattle. Julia's sister, Margaret McGough, joined them in Seattle sometime after 1910. Margaret McGough, age 52, single, born in Iowa, to a father born in Wisconsin and mother born in Canada, is listed in the 1920 census of Seattle, King county, Washington (roll 1925, page 256), as living with (and the sister-in-law of) Thomas Tangney, age 62, a ship wright in a shipyard, and his wife, Julia Tangney, age 56, born in Ireland (?) to a father born in born in Ireland and a mother born in Canada, with several children born in Wisconsin, and one (Clarence, age 13) in Washington—probably in Spokane; see the 1910 census of Spokane, Washington, roll 1671, page 134). The 1890–1906 Spokane County Birth Index (on Rootsweb) lists a child (Clarence) born to Thomas Tangney and Julia McGough in Spokane, Washington, on August 27, 1906.

The 1923 City Directory of Seattle, Washington (page 977) lists Margaret McGough at 5401 Woodlawn Avenue. I did not find Thomas or Julia Tangney listed in the directory. The 1930 census of Seattle lists Margaret McGough, age 64, single, born in Iowa, in the home of Thomas and Julia Tangney on Woodlawn Avenue.

Other McGoughs in Iowa

Thomas McGough married Mrs. Maryett Hasting on December 19, 1862, in Fremont county, Iowa. Fremont County, Iowa Marriages.

The 1900 census of Cooper township, Webster county, Iowa, shows William McGough, a farmer, age 25 , born in Wisconsin in January, 1875, to parents born in Ireland, who had been married to Emma G. McGough for 2 years; his wife Emma G., 21 years old, born in Iowa in March of 1879, mother of 1 child who was living, whose parents were born in Bohemia; and their son, Walter F. McGough, 11 months old, who was born in Iowa in July of 1899. For more on this family, see the entry for Cooper township, Webster county, Iowa, on my 1900 census page.

The 1860 census of Iowa shows a Terrence McGeough in Cass township (596) in Wapello county; Mary McGue in Agency city (856), Wapello county; and Patrick McGue in Durant township (134), Cedar county.

The 1870 census of Iowa shows a James McGough, age 18, born in Ohio, in Bloomfield township, Davis county (388-21); Francis McGue, age 21, born in Pennsylvania, in Jefferson township, Greene county (392-23); and Terrence McGue, age 53, born in Ireland, in Center township, Wapello county (422-57).

The 1880 census of Illinois showed this family in Bear Grove township, Guthrie county (west of Des Moines): Terrence McGeough, born in Ireland in 1817; his wife, Bridget, born in Ireland in 1820; their son Joseph, born in Iowa in 1861; and their son Matthew, born in Iowa in 1863.

Wapello county is in southeastern Iowa, not far from the Missouri border. Davis county is immediately south of Wapello county and on the Missouri border. Greene and Guthrie counties adjoin each other in west-central Iowa.

Most of the McGeoughs buried in Allamakee county are in either the Cherry Mound or Mt. Olivet Cemeteries, but others are buried in the Paint Rock and Sixteen Cemeteries. See Allamakee County Iowa Burial Grounds and Allamakee co. Cemetery Records Copyright© 1989 Dale P. Woodmansee, Waukon, Iowa 52172. See Paint Rock Cemetery, Taylor Township, Allamakee County, Iowa and Sixteen Cemetery, Linton Township, Allamakee County, Iowa. See also: Iowa Cemetery Transcriptions.

Hernahan probably should be Kernaghan

Although Devereux gives Catherine McGeough's family name as Hernahan, it was more likely Kernaghan (or Kernahan). I looked in Griffith's Valuation to see if there was a Hernahan family in the vicinity of the townland of Drumbeo. Not only was there none, but there was not one anywhere in Ireland. Hannrahan, Heenaghan, Hourihan, and similar names, were all located in the west of Ireland. Griffith's Valuation of 1860, however, does shows a Bernard Kernaghan in the almost-neighboring townland of Corvally, in the parish of Tullycorbet, less than a mile and a half to the west of Dromore. The townland of Dromore, in Clontibret parish, and the townland of Corvally, in Tullycorbet parish, are separated only by the townland of Corrishingo, which extends downward from the parish of Monaghan. Also about 5 miles east by southeast of Dromore was a Patrick Kernaghan in the townland of Lisdrumgormly, parish of Clontibret, county Monaghan. There was also a Patrick Kernaghan in the townland of Maghon in the Catholic parish of Aughnamullen West, on Lough Avaghon, about 12 miles to the south by southwest. There were several other Kernahans and Kernaghans in counties Monaghan, Armagh and Down.

Since the farmers in Ireland did little moving about within Ireland between 1830 and 1860, my guess is that Bernard McGough's wife was Catherine Kernaghan, a sister or aunt of the Bernard Kernaghan who occupied a farm in Corvally in 1860. On the basis of no stronger evidence, I have used Kernaghan in these web pages. Another possibility to be explored is the Monaghan surname Keelaghan.

McGeough Derived from Mac Geoghegan?

Before leaving Devereux' book, I must take exception to one of her conclusions. She says the surname McGeough is derived from the name Mac Geoghegan, and that the MacGeoughs originated as part of the MacGeoghegan sept centered in Munster, in what is now county Westmeath. To my eye, the geographical distribution of the two names in Ireland makes this connection unlikely, as do the pedigrees of the two families. There is nothing more than speculation to connect the names. ( I have, however, speculated along these lines myself.)

The Surnames of Ireland: Origins, Locations & History of Irish Families, Irish Genealogical Foundation, Kansas City, Missouri, at page 83, gives this history: of Geoghegan:

"Geoghegan is from the Irish Mag Eochagain, from Eochaidh, once a common Christian name rendered in English as Oghy."

Eochagain or Eoghan is the Irish equivalent of Owen and Eugene, common names in the McGough family. Put a "mag" in front of Eoghan for "son of" and you have: MagEoghan. Drop the an and you have McGeogh, once a fairly common form of McGough. I am told, however, that the Irish were careful about the orthography of their names, and therefore that the an sound would not have been dropped from the name. But if Eochaidh became Eochagain, which became McGeoghegan, why could not the ain added in the second step be subtracted in a fourth step? One writer says this happened to the surname McGaughey. According to the McGaughey Family website:

"According to author Polly McGaughey Sutton, the surname McGaughey can be traced to the 4th or 5th century to the family name MacGeoghan (also Mac Eoghain or Mac Geoghagan). The name was founded by Eachagan, son of Fiacha, who was the fifth son of Niall, son of Eochy, who occupied Ulster as an inheritance. He belonged to Clan Colman. Mag Eacaio is a variant in Gaelic."

Any connection between McGeoghegan and McGough/McGeough/McGeogh is speculative, conjectural, and not proved. What makes this speculation fascinating, however, is that the area of county Monaghan where the McGoughs have been most concentrated is the part of the Catholic parish of Aughnamullen West that was once called the Eoghanach or Owenagh. An entry in The Annals of the Four Masters reports:

"M1457.2 A war broke out between Maguire and Rury Mac Mahon; and Maguire assembled the forces of his country to march into Oriel. When the sons of [p.999] Mac Mahon had heard of this, they went with their cattle into their fastnesses, namely, into Eoghanach ... "

In footnotes to this passage, on page 26 of his book, The History of County Monaghan, Shirley defines Eoganach:

"Eoganach, called on Norden's map Owenagh, a territory south of Ballybay, comprising the parish of Aughnamullan, in the barony of Cremorne. Owenagh is still the local name of a river in that neighbourhood ; it rises in Lough Tucker, near Bellatrain, in the parish of Aughnamullan, flows through the parish of Drumgoon in Cavan, and joins the river Erne".

At page 239 of his book Shirley says:

"But it may be well to remind the reader that the Erganach, or as it was anglicized Owenagh, a territory south of Ballybay comprising the Parish of Aghnamullen and the mountainous part of Cremorne, was by the Four Masters denominated in the year 1457, the fortress of the Mac Mahons country, and as such resorted to for the preservation of their cattle during the wars between the Mac Mahons and the Maguires."

A more detailed discussion will be found under the heading The Eoghanach or Owenagh in McGough Origins in Ireland: Random Ramblings, Rumblings, and Ruminations. Since Owen is a form of Eugene, Eoghan, and Eochagáin, and the Eoghanach of Owenagh is the place of origin of the name, we can make a weak circumstantial case for derivation of the name McGough from MagEoghan. The connection is doubtful at best. The most that can be said is that McGeoghegan and McGough may have a common semantic origin. Eddie Geoghegan, who describes himself as the "WebDruid" of the (Mac) Geoghegan Family History Web Site, qualifies as an expert. He does not list McGough or McGeough among his many variant spellings of Mac Geoghegan. I agree with his conclusion, and do not believe that McGough is derived from MacGeoghegan.

Bernard McGough and Catherine Kernaghan of Lindsay, Ontario, and Allamakee County, Iowa <http://www.magoo.com/hugh/iowa.html> Updated June 20, 2013		Feedback » Site Search & Directory » © 1999–2013 Hugh McGough »