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Survey of Local Holy Wells
We received a request today from Kilkenny for help in locating some local Holy Wells, or any local folklore regarding these Holy Wells. Please note that not all of the Holy Wells on the list are in Glenmore and not all Glenmore Holy Wells are on the list.
1. Davidstown, Tobar Phádraig (well of St. Patrick)
2. Flemingstown (2 x wells)
3. Jamestown, Tobar an tSagairt (well of the priest) (Ballygurrim area)
4. Shanbogh (James Murphy’s Rosbercon Parish history mentions a well to the north-east of the old church, called Loughmans Well (pg. 17), possibly quite close to the old national school; St Fintan’s Well, believed to be west of the old church)
5. Kilbraghan (St. Broghan’s or St. Brochan’s Well, which is also mentioned by James Murphy, pg. 14)
6. Ballyneale (somewhere near the old Dysartmoon Church)
Please feel free to reply below and we will gather up responses, or send any information you may have to glenmore.history@gmail.com.
From Danny’s Files: The Manslaughter of Catherine Fitzgerald of Glenmore, Waterford
Danny Dowling (1927-2021) spent a considerable amount of time in the Waterford Public Library searching old local newspapers for news articles regarding Glenmore. Danny recorded that in the Waterford Mail of Saturday, the 21st of July 1838, Cornelius Fitzgerald was transported for 15 years for the manslaughter of his wife Catherine Fitzgerald, at Windgap, the 25th of March.
It is not apparent from his notes, but it is likely that Danny realized quickly after reading the article that the Glenmore where the Fitzgeralds lived was located in County Waterford. We are featuring the Waterford manslaughter case today because of the insight it provides to crime and justice in the early 19th century. It also serves as a useful contrast to the 1822 manslaughter of Catherine Hanrahan (c. 1798-1822) of Rochestown, Glenmore which we posted on 6 November 2022. Catherine Hanrahan was pregnant and shot in the back by a Waterford bailiff who was sentenced to 6 months for her manslaughter.
Bridget Fitzgerald née Mulcahy (?-1838)
We were unable to locate baptismal or marriage records for Bridget Mulcahy and her husband Cornelius Fitzgerald. We know from the newspaper accounts, of Cornelius Fitzgerald’s trial for the manslaughter of his pregnant wife, that the couple were married about 1833. We were able to locate baptismal records for three children born to the couple: (1) James Fitzgerald was baptized on 10 November 1833; (2) Catherine Fitzgerald was baptized on 11 September 1836, and (3) Cornelius Fitzgerald was baptized on the 22 April 1838. All three of the children were baptized in the parish of Dungarvan, Co. Waterford. According to testimony at his father’s trial, Cornelius the youngest child, only lived 4 days. It is not known if either of Bridget’s other known children survived her.
Waterford Assizes July 1838
Some of the convictions of the Waterford Assizes of July 1838 are outlined below. There is a lot of concern today regarding violent crime, but it seems apparent that in 1838 society was very violent. In one month in Waterford there were two convictions for murder, one conviction for manslaughter and a conviction for what today would be an aggravated assault on an elderly man.
At the County Waterford Assizes at the end of July 1838, the following convictions were recorded: Cornelius Fitzgerald, for killing his wife, when in a state of pregnancy, was sentenced to 15 years’ transportation; John Fitzgerald, of Cappa, was convicted for harbouring and maintaining the notorious Connery’s, convicts and prison breakers; William Merman, carpenter, for the murder of his apprentice to be hanged the 4th of August; Martin Kelly, for shooting at, and grievously wounding the late Mr. John Keeffe (who was aged over 80); and John and Patrick Connery, goal breaking, were senteced to 15 years’ transportation (Kerry Evening Post, Wed. 25 July 1838, p. 1).
At the Waterford City Assizes, Andrew English was convicted of stealing sheep and sentenced to 15 years’ transportation. Thus, Cornelius Fitgerald received the same sentence for killing his wife as another man received who stole sheep and two other men received who broke out of prison. Lastly, Thomas McCarthy was convicted of the murder of his wife and sentenced to hang on the 4th of August (Waterford Mail, Sat. 21 July 1838 p. 3). Thomas Carthy (sic) was granted a “respite until further orders” for the murder of his wife. He was recommended to “mercy on account of imbecility of mind” (Waterford Mail, Sat. 4 August 1838, p. 2).
The Trial of Cornelus Fitzgerald
Although the results of his trial were reported widely, the details of the trial were only reported in two Waterford newspapers: The Waterford Mail (Sat. 21 July 1838, p. 2) and the Waterford Chronicle (Sat. 21 July 1838, p. 7). We shall utilise the slightly longer Waterford Mail and place any additional facts or information from the Waterford Chronicle in parentheses.
Cornelius Fitzgerald was put forward, charged with the manslaughter of his wife, Bridget Fitzgerald, at Windgap, on the 25th of March 1838.
The Testimony of Mary Keily/Keife
Mary Keily was sworn and examined by Counsellor Dixon. (The Chronicle reported that Mary Keife, not Keily, was sworn and examined through an interpreter, Mr. Dixon.) It seems likely that all the witnesses and probably the defendant only spoke Irish while the trial was conducted in English. However, the reference to an interpreter was only made regarding the testimony of Mary Keily/Keife.
Mary testified that she knew “the prisoner at the bar” for the last 20 years, and she knew his wife, Bridget Fitzgerald. She explained that the prisoner and his wife lived near her at Glenmore. She stated that the prisoner and his deceased wife were “5 years married.” Before her death the deceased “was in the family way.” Mary stated that Brigid died on “last Easter Monday.” Easter in 1838 fell on Sunday the 15th of April which suggests that Bridget Fitzgerald died on the 16th of April and did not die on the 25th of March as her husband was charged.
Mary testified that she often saw the prisoner strike his wife, but she did not see him strike her for some time before her death. Mary saw him kick his wife and beat her with a rope and an iron back band. Bridget Fitzgerald only lived a short time after her lying in. Mary saw bruises on Brigid on the Good Friday before her death. She also had a cut on her head and blood on it. Mary washed Bridget’s head twice (and both times there was blood in the water.) She saw Brigid’s black back only at the inquest.
Cross Examination of Mary Keily/Keife
Mr. Hassard conducted the cross examination. Mary stated that it was the prisoner that called her to attend his wife during her confinement. He did not go for Bridget’s mother although her mother had been with her the week before her death. The prisoner and a little boy went for the priest, but when the priest arrived Bridget was insensible. The child Brigid bore lived four days after his birth. Mary could not tell at what time Brigid was struck with the backband.
The Testimony of Mrs. Bridget Mulcahy
Bridget Mulcahy was sworn, and examined by Counsellor Scott, Q.C. Bridget testified that she was the mother of the deceased, and that she had been with the deceased a week before her death. When she arrived at the house she went into the room where her daughter was lying, and found her “like a beehive” at the foot the bed. Her daughter told her to look at her head, and “said that she did not consider the pain in her head to be compared with her back.” She told her mother that “she was killed on the Friday before Good Friday,” when struck with bellows that the prisoner threw at her. Her daughter went on to say that “the blood coming from her head made her heart break and that it was her husband that killed her.” Mrs. Mulcahy testified that her daughter was delivered before she died in the week after Good Friday. Mr. Hassard cross-examined this witness, “but nothing material was elicited.”
The Testimony of Doctor Travers
Dr. Travers was examined by Counsellor Porter, Q.C. Dr, Travers testified that he performed a post mortem on the deceased about a week to ten days after she was buried. (He could not recall the date in early May). He found there was an open wound on the head about one inch and quarter long. The wound might have been given the week before the examination. He noted that there was also blackness about the abdomen and on the back. Dr. Travers said “he rather thinks that the wound was occasioned by violence.”
He also stated that there were “no evident marks to occasion the death of the deceased.” While the wound on the head was open, a blow on the abdomen, or on the spine, would be of great injury to person in the state the woman was in. He did not find any coagulated blood on the wound on the head. The doctor opined that the injuries might have brought on premature labour. In the doctor’s opinion, from the state of the womb, the wounds would have caused death. (The Waterford Chronicle reported that the doctor stated that death was caused in his opinion “from all of the circumstances, was, that violence was the cause.”)
(In response to a question from a juror the doctor stated that he thought the injuries caused premature labour.)
The Cross Examination of Doctor Travers
Cross-examined by Mr. Hassard the doctor testified that the midwife could have a better knowledge of the state of the woman because he had not seen the body until seven or ten days after interment. (If he had seen the blackness on the body before burying, he might say that they were not the cause of violence.) (The doctor also stated that if two ignorant women had been attending a person in her confinement, it is not unlikely that there would be more danger in that case.) (In response to another question from a juror the doctor stated that he believed that the woman who attended as a midwife was not usually employed in that way.)
The Verdict & Sentence
The defence did not put forth any witnesses. Mr. Hassard addressed the jury on behalf of the prisoner (spoke to evidence, and said that the case was one of very considerable doubt at least. The learned gentlemen proceeded to speak at great length, and with much eloquence on the evidence. )
Mr. Hassard “dealt with the Crown Counsel with some severity for not having brought forward a person of the name of Shea who had been instrumental in ‘exciting’ the prosecution.” This “occasioned some warm expressions between him and Mr. Scott.” The matter was only settled when Mr. Scott explained “the cause for not bringing Shea forward.” The judge having charged the jury, they retired, and in few minutes found a verdict of guilty. (In contrast the Waterford Chronicle reported, the judge charged the jury at very considerable length, who retired for some time, and returned a verdict of guilty).
Cornelius Fitgerald was sentenced to be transported for 15 years.
Please send any corrections or additional information to glenmore.history@gmail.com.
The featured photo above is courtesy of wikimedia and depicts the 19th century connvict ship The Neptune. For further reading on transportation see generally, Allingham, “Transportation as Judicial Punishment in 19th Century Britain.”
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
Update: John J. O’Connor (1886-1943) native of Ballyfacey, Glenmore
In 1938, just five years before John J. O’Connor’s untimely death, the Citizens Historical Association compiled a book of biographical sketches of Kansas City Citizens. The Citizens Historical Association was organized in Indianapolis in 1934, to establish a national library of historical and biographical information. With a small fee, the company prepared biographical sketches which could include genealogical information on a person’s ancestors. The association disbanded in 1952 and the biographical sketches were sold to the Indiana State Library.
John J. O’Connor was a member of the Kansas City Chapter of the Citizens Historical Association. Thanks to the Kansas City Public Library for copying and sending the biography he wrote in 1938. The helpful library staff also sent a later photo of John J. O’Connor’s business premises of 1104 Union St., Kansas City, Missouri. See our post of 5 August 2024 for further information on the O’Connor family.
Biographical Sketch
The complete sketch is below and retains the abreviations used in the original publication. Non-original additional information has been placed in [ ].
John J. O’Connor, President, O’Connor-Thompson Brokerage Co., 1104 Union Street, Kansas City, Missouri (1938)
John J(oseph) O’Connor, b,, in County Kilkenny, Ireland, Mar. 2, 1886; s. of John Joseph and Brigid (Roche) O’Connor.
John Joseph O’Connor, b. in County Kilkenny, Ireland. He was a farmer in his native country prior to his death, which occurred in 1912. His wife, Brigid (Roche) O’Connor, who was b. in County Kilkenny, Ireland, died in 1905.
[John O’Connor and Brigid Roche were married at Glenmore on 4 March 1878. John was the son of George O’Connor of Ballyfacey and Brigid Roche was the daughter of Edmond Roche of Rathinure. Brigid “Conners” née Roche died at the family home in lower Balleyfacey on 1 June 1905 at the age of 58. Her son Pat was present when she died of suspected heart disease. Her husband, John “Connors” (widower) farmer died at Ballyfacey on the 16th of November 1911. His son George was present at his death. His age was recorded as 82. A baptismal record was located for John “Conors” the son of George Connors and his wife Catherine Dollard at Ballyfacey on 25 June 1830].]
John J. O’Connor, the subject of this sketch, attended rural grade schs., and the national schs. in Ireland, after which he was a student at Waterpark Coll., in Waterford, Ireland. He came to America in 1905, settling in Kansas City, Mo. and in 1908, graduated from the Kansas City School of Law with an LL.B. deg., after which he passed the bar examination. While attending law sch., he became employed as a bill clerk by the S & S Packing Company, of Kansas City, with which firm he remained 3 yrs.
He then was associated with the Commerce Trust Company, as a tell, three and a half years., following which he was identified with the Flanagan Brothers Manufacturing Company, in Kansas City, 18 mos. Mr. O’Connor subsequently was identified until 1936, with the McManus-Heryer Brokerage Company, of which he was sec., after which he organized the O’Connor-Thompson Brokerage Company, of which firm he is pres. He serves also as a dir. of the South Side Bank. Mr. O’Connor, who is an ind. Democrat, is a mem. of the following: Central Industrial Dist. Assn.; K. of C. (3rd deg.); Ancient Order of Hibernians; Milburn Gold and Country Club; Kansas City Chapter, Citizens Hist. Assn.; and Guardian Angel (Roman Catholic) Church. His hobby is golf.
In Mar. 1912, Mr. O’Connor married Catherine Queenan, who was b. in County Mayo, Ireland. Children: (1) John J., Jr. He married Loretto Fetters, and they reside in Kansas City, Mo. (2) Catherine B., who resides in Kansas City. (3) Margaret Mary, who is employed in the Kansas City (Mo.) Public Library. (4) Mary Ellen, who is in school, in Kansas City. (5) Edward Patrick, who also attends school in Kansas City.
XXXXXXXXXXX
The featured photo above is of 1104 Union Street, the premises of the O’Connor-Thompson Brokerage Company of Kansas City, Missouri.
Website Update–We have added a large number of obits and other information to the family surname pages over the last few weeks. We are currently reviewing the website as we are outgrowing it.
If you have any corretions, additional information or thoughts on the re-structuring of the webpage please email glenmore.history@gmail.com.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
Building the Railway: Glenmore Man’s Remains Unearthed & Another Man Injured
The New Ross Standard, of Friday 27 Feb. 1903 (p. 5) published a sensational article concerning skeletal remains unearthed in Rosbercon on Monday the 23rd of February 1903. While excavating a sewer under the newly laid railway crossing “well preserved bones of what must have been a largely built man when in the flesh.” The same article appeared within days in the Wicklow People (Sat. 28 Feb. 1903) and the Enniscorthy Guardian (Sat 28 Feb. 1903). It was not carried apparently by any of the national papers.
The Centennial Controversy
As the 100th anniversary of the 1798 Rebellion approached the old tales and rumours concerning Glenmore man William Gaffney, and his alleged betrayal at the Battle of New Ross, surfaced and led to his headstone in Kilivory (Kilmakevogue) cemetery being broken by vandals. Danny Dowling (1927-2021) in his article entitled “South-east Kilkenny in 1798 and the Role of William Gaffney,” (Decies (Sept. 1983, vol. 24) pp. 14-19)) sarcastically labeled the gravestone vandals “patriots.” For further information on Glenmore in 1798 see our post of 22 February 2020.
Some descendants of William Gaffney were still residing in Glenmore in 1898 and challenged several of the published attacks on their ancestor. Eight decades later, Danny was so impressed with Brigid M. Gaffney’s letter of 28 May 1898 to the New Ross Standard, that he published it in his Decies article. The ear bashing she delivered in 1898 is perhaps the reason the New Ross Standard in its 1903 article stated that it had no desire to hurt anyone’s feelings. For further information on the Gaffney family see our post of 21 August 2023.
“GAFNEY OF GLENMORE, HIS REMAINS UNEARTHED”
SENSATIONAL DISCOVERY AT ROSBERCON. A sensational discovery, which has aroused much public interest, was made at Rosbercon on Monday. A man named Dillon, whilst excavating a sewer-way under the railway crossing, unearthed the well-preserved bones of what must have been a largely-built man when in the flesh. There was evidence of considerable quantity of lime about the remains.
Now whose remains could these be? The “oldest inhabitant” cannot say with certainty. The body of a man could not have got there by accident. How then? It is conjectured, and the belief is strongly held in the locality, that the remains are those of Gafney, of Glenmore, who figured prominently, and to say the least, doubtfully, in the dark days of New Ross in the year 1798, when a brave and glorious, though unsuccessful, struggle was made by the county Wexford insurgents for civil and religions liberty.
We have no desire now to hurt the feelings of anyone, but the discovery of Monday, and the very circumstantial account told, and the widely accepted deduction made, necessitates our reverting to what must be a painful recital to some people. The battle at New Ross, though admittedly one of the most brilliant of the series on the part of the insurgents, was nevertheless the Waterloo of the insurrection, and, like Waterloo, will be rightly or wrongly associated with betrayal. Gafney, of Glenmore, an athletic man, and the leader of the Kilkenny insurgents, had his men nested at Tinneranny before the battle of Ross, and while the engagement was taking place, he moved by a circuitous route towards Glenmore.
His answer for failing to come to the fray was that he did not get the proper signal from Corbet Hill. A few days after the battle he fell into the hands of the military, and was taken to Rosbercon, and there court martialled and shot nearly opposite the very modern castle, and his remains were interred in quick-lime at some some point between the place of execution and the river. We thus see it is very possible that the remains now found are those of the ill-fated Gafney, who, at any rate, can scarcely be acquitted of cowardice.
The key stone of an arch supposed to belong to the old monastery in Rosbercon was found at the head of the remains, which were only about two feet under the footway as one turns into the station from the river side. By the way, the stone in question has been annexed by Paddy Lee, the Boat Club caretaker for the curiosity of the members of that institution.
Unfortunately, the New Ross Standard did not report on what happened to the skeletal remains.
The Glenmore Grave
Danny stated in 2020 that the remains found in Rosbercon were buried in the Gaffney grave in Kilivory (Kilmakevoge) cemetery. No newspaper coverage of this burial could be located, and what steps the authorities took to identify the remains is not known. This event took place long before DNA or other modern forensics. If the remains showed gunshot damage as alleged in the 1903 article it is unlikely the skeleton belonged to William Gaffney. Gaffney in contemporary accounts was hanged not shot by the British in 1798.
The old headstone erected by William Gaffney’s widow still stands with repairs clearly visible. On the grave itself paving like squares, apparently concrete, were added and Danny opined in 2020 that they may have been added to stop further disturbances to the grave.
The marker is inscribed:
Erected by Bridget Gafney alias Dunphy
in memory of her husband Will'm Gafney
who dep'd this life June ye 13th 1798 aged
36 years
Also his father Mich'l Gafney who dep'd
this life Sept ye 26th 1783
Another Railway Injury
In searching for newspaper accounts regarding the remains we came across another serious injury connected with the building of the railway extension line through Glenmore.
On Thursday, the 5th of March, Michael Knox, Nicholastown, Co. Kilkenny, was admitted to the Waterford County Infirmary suffering from severe injuries to the head and face. His injuries were caused by the premature explosion of a blasting charge on the New Ross to Waterford railway extension (Munster Express, Sat. 7 March 1903, p. 5).
Please send any further information or corrections to glenmore.history@gmail.com. The featured photo above was taken yesterday of the Gaffney grave at Kilivory (Kilmakevoge) Glenmore.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
South Kilkenny Historical Society’s Events for Heritage Week 2024
Below are two local free events for Heritage Week 2024.
Mystery Tour of Carrigeen
Tour Guide: Eoin Walsh
Sunday, August 25th
Starting point and time: St. Kevin’s Church, Carrigeen at 2pm
Free – all welcome
Walking in the footsteps of the O’Neills’ of Owning
Tour Guide: Paddy O’Shea
Saturday, August 31st
Starting point and time: Owning National School at 10.45am
Free – all welcome
The O’Connor Brothers of Ballyfacey, Glenmore: Edward & John J. O’Connor
Recently we were asked about a grave marker in Kansas City, Missouri. It marks the graves of two Glenmore brothers Edward O’Connor (1882-1943) and John J. O’Connor (1886-1943) of Ballyfacey, Glenmore. They were younger brothers of George O’Connor (1881-1966) of Ballyfacey. Today, we are going to highlight the lives of these two brothers and their tragic deaths within two weeks of each other in 1943.
Ballyfacey, Glenmore
The name O’Connor was generally called Connors or Conners in Glenmore even in the Parish Records. The O’Connors’ originated in Wexford (Michael Hoynes, 4 Aug. 2024). The name George Connors has long been associated with Ballyfacey, and at one point two cousins bearing the name lived side by side. To distinguish the families the locals referred to them as Big George and Little George.
The first record located in the parish records of a George Connors was a baptism on 11 November 1793 at Ballyfacey. The child’s parents were Thomas Connors and Johanna née Bolger. Two years later another George Connors was baptized at Ballyfacey on 2 May 1799, the son of John Connors and Mary née Culleton.
Parents of John J. O’Connor (1886-1943) & Edward O’Connor (1882-1943)
The parents of the brothers who died in 1943 were John Connors (1830-1911) of Ballyfacey and Bridget Roche (1847-1905) of Rathinure, Glenmore. John and Bridget married on 4 March 1878 at Glenmore. John was the son of George Connors (farmer) & his wife Catherine Dollard. Bridget Roche was the daughter of Edward Roche and his wife Elizabeth Malone of Rathinure, Glenmore.
John Connors and his wife Bridget Roche had five known children all born at Ballyfacey: [1] Catherine Connors (b. 1879); [2] George Connors (b. 1881); [3] Edward Connors (b. 1882) [4] Patrick Connors (b. 1883); and [5] John Connors (b. 1886).
John J. O’Connor (1886-1943) Kansas City, Mo.
According to the Naturalisation documents that John Joseph O’Connor filed in the Federal Courts of Missouri seeking US citizenship, he emigrated from Ireland in 1905 aboard the Campania, landing in New York on 17 September 1905. He was granted citizenship at Kansas City, Missouri on 4 March 1908.
A review of the Campania’s register reveals that the ship arrived in New York on 16 September 1905. John was 19 years of age, and stated that his father paid his fare. He declared that he had $10 and was traveling to his cousin, Rev. P. Culleton at St. Mary’s Rectory, Westville, Illinois.
It is not clear how or why John went to Kansas City, Missouri, however, he attended and graduated from the Kansas City School of Law in 1908. This independent law school was founded in 1895 by three young local lawyers. Its most famous graduate was Harry S. Truman. In 1911, John married Catherine Queenan, (a native of Mayo) and the couple had 6 children. Catherine died 21 November 1941 at the age of 53.
It does not appear that John practiced law. He became a broker of food and was president of the O’Connor-Thompson Brokerage Company, located at 1104 Union Avenue. A quick newspaper search revealed that John was busy in the community. He was a member of the Committee for Friends of Irish Freedom along with Patrick J. Harpy; James Ahren; P.A. M’Kenna; C.A. Lawler; M.J. M’Nellis; and R.E. O’Malley. During de Valera’s trip to New York in 1919, the Committee telegraphed de Valera and asked him to come to Kansas City for a “monster rally.” (Kansas City Journal, Mon. 30 June 1919, p. 1). Some of the men on this Committee and other organisations that John belonged were John’s pallbearers when he died in 1943.
According to John’s obituary his other business interest was that he was a director of the South Side Bank. He was also a member of the local Democrats, Co-operative club, the Allied Food club, the Knights of Columbus and the Holy Name Society. He held city, state and national offices in the Ancient Order of Hibernians. In fact, he was first elected President of the Missouri Branch of the OAH in 1916 (Kansas City Journal, Fri. 1 Sept. 1916, p. 10).
Kansas City Scandal
The only negative news story that could be located was from 1938 when a former friend sued John. Maurice J. McNellis sued Roy W. Crimm, executor for the estate of William D. Boyle; J.L. Cashen and John J. O’Connor. McNellis stated that from 1921 until December 1935 he was President of the South Side Bank of Kansas City. He alleged the defendants conspired to destroy his professional reputation and asked for damages of $200,000 (The Kansas City Times, Thu. 29 June 1938, p. 2). It is not clear what transpired that led to this suit, but it was during the Great Depression when many banks failed. We found another case that may have been the cause of the lawsuit against John.
William D. Boyle left an estate of $484,499.61 when he died on 3 June 1938 after being hit by a bolt of lightning while watching a golf tournament. Boyle was a member of the Boyle-Pryor Construction Company. This company received city contracts and was being sued by the city to recover $356,000. Boyle’s partner Pryor was indicted in the $356,000 water leak scandal. Two notes in the Boyle estate were alleged to have been executed by McNellis. Both were listed at no value (Kansas City Star, Thurs. 6 July 1939, p. 3).
The City believed that Rathford Engineering was a dummy company operated by William D. Boyle and John J. Pryor of the Boyle-Pryor Construction Company. Rathford was set up to defraud the City (Kansas City Star, Thu. 15 June 1944, p. 6). Ultimately a ten day trial was held and Judge Thomas J. Seehorn found for the defendants. The City appealed to the Missouri Supreme Court where a new trial was ordered (Kansas City Star, Tues. 6 March 1945, p. 3).
John J. O’Connor was not named and apparently had nothing to do with the “water leak scandal.” He and the other defendant, J.L. Cashen were Directors of the South Side Bank and it appears likely they took actions to protect the bank from the scandal. The deceased, William D. Boyle had stock in the bank and secured two notes from McNellis when he was President of the bank. Maurice McNellis went on to form the McNellis Real Estate Investment company, and no further newspaper coverage of his case against John J. O’Connor could be found.
Death 24 October 1943
Just two years after his wife’s untimely death, John O’Connor was killed on 24 October 1943 at 3:55 a.m. when “a motor car in which he was riding crashed into a trolley pole across the street from 5335 Ward Parkway. The motor car spun in the roadway and struck the pole broadside. The side on which O’Connor was riding was crushed. More than an hour was required to extricate him.”
Police reported that the pole was on a curve and a downhill grade. Earlier in the year it also was the scene of a crash “which killed LeRoy Simons, the president of the Simons-Wiles Buick Company.” O’Connor was the passenger in a coupe driven by Eugene P. Sheridan, 49 of 305 West 37th St., a credit manager for a rubber company. Sheridan told police that they were returning to O’Connor’s home at 4133 Mercier St., after an afternoon and night at the Milburn Golf and Country Club (Kansas City Times, Mon. 25 Oct. 1943, p. 1).
John’s wake was held in the family home. He was buried next to his wife and infant daughter, in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Kansas City, Jackson County, Missouri. John’s pallbearers were: Frank Sullivan; John J. Sullivan; Edwin M. Thompson; James P. Aylward; R.B. Lustig; John V. Hill; James A. Edwards; and Joseph M. Morrissey (Kansas City Star, Tues. 26 Oct. 1926, 1943, p. 7). A photo of the O’Connor grave marker can be viewed on Find a Grave.
[Editor’s note: The name Aylward has long been associated with Glenmore. The James P. Aylward (1885-1982) pallbearer was an attorney and served at various times as the chairman of the Kansas City Democrats, the Jackson County Democrats and the Missouri State Democrats. In 1934 the “Pendergast” machine asked him to stand for the US Senate. Aylward declined and instead recommended a county judge named Harry S. Truman” (Kansas City Times, Mon. 26 July 1982, p. 10.) James P. Aylward (1885-1982) the pallbearer was the eldest son of Tobias John Aylward (1860-1923) a native of Rochestown, Glenmore. See our A family surname page for further information.]
Children of John J. O’Connor (1886-1943)
[1] John J. O’Connor, Jr. (1912-1959) graduated from Notre Dame and the University of Kansas City School of Law. He worked for a time as a teller at the City National Bank, and in 1940 he went into the food business as a vice-president at George Hogue Mercantile, Co. . On the death of his father in 1943 he became chairman of the board of the South Side Bank. In 1957, he sold his interest in the mercantile and became president of the South Side Federal Savings and Loan Association in Waldo. He was married and had a large young family at the time of his death aged 47 (Kansas City Star, Tues. 24 Mar. 1959, p. 13).
[2] Catherine B. O’Connor Wyrsch (1914-1976) married Frederick R. Wyrsch, Sr. who was President of the South Side Bank and died in 1964. They had a large family. After Catherine was widowed she married Leo J. Cusick who was a manager of the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority and was a consultant to the Chicago Regional Transportation. Catherine died on vacation while in London, England (Kansas City Times, Thur. 6 May 1976, p. 84).
[3] Eliz. E. “Betty” O’Connor (1916-1918) died in infancy.
[4] Margaret Mary O’Connor Barry (1916-1989) married Robert C. Barry. Prior to her marriage she attended Alvila College and was a 1938 graduate of the College of St. Catherine of St. Paul, Minnesota. During the 1940’s Margaret worked as a librarian in the Kansas City Public Library. She had 5 children (Kansas City Times, Fri. 5 May 1989, p. 50).
[5] Mary Ellen O’Connor Ervin (1921-1999) continued to live in the family home 4133 Mercier until at least her brother’s death in 1959 (Kansas City Star, Tues. 24 March 1959, p. 13). She married Robert Edward Ervin in 1945. He died in 1984. The couple had five known children. Mary Ellen died in Leawood, Kansas in February 1999. In her obituary it was noted that her best friend remained her brother Edward (Kansas City Star, Sun. 21 Feb. 1999, p. 28).
[6] Edward Patrick O’Connor (1924-2020) was a freshmen at Notre Dame in Sept. 1941 (Kansas City Journal, Tues. 16 Sept. 1941, p. 8) just two months before his mother’s death. He graduated from the ROTC Naval Program in May 1944 and served as a Lt. on the USS Alvin C. Cockwell, a destroyer escort ship. He was on the deck of the USS Missouri and watched General McArthur accept Japan’s surrender. Returning to civilian life in Kansas City he became President of the Heritage Federal Savings and Loan, married and raised a family (Kansas City Star, Wed. 29 Jan. 2020, p. A3). He was he last of his family and died at the age of 95 in 2020.
Edward O’Connor (1882-1943) Kansas City, MO to Chicago, IL
Edward O’Connor filed naturalization papers in Kansas City, Mo. stating that he was born 23 April 1882. Edward stated that he arrived in the U.S. on the 27th of September 1907.
According to the Diary of James Aylward of Ballyhobuck, Glenmore [Danny Dowling’s Notebook 2], “Edward Connors of Ballyfacey and W. Grace of Kilbride sailed for the U.S. on 18 September 1907.” The 1901 Census provides that only one Grace family resided in Kilbride, Glenmore. W. Grace was William Grace (b.c. 1881).
Armed with this information we were able to find the two young men on the Baltic’s passenger list. The Baltic landed in New York on 28 September 1907. William Grace, aged 26, stated that he was a farmer. Edward O’Connor was 24 and stated that he too was a farmer and was planning to go to Kansas City where he had a brother.
Edward was naturalized on 6 July 1914 at Kansas City, Missouri. One of his witnesses was Maurice O’Connor of 1822 Summit St., Kansas City, Missouri. Maurice O’Connor per the 1911 City Directory was with the Fire Department. According to the 1910 Census, Maurice (b. 1870 in Ireland) was single, an Assistant Chief, and lodged with his cousin Joseph R. Scanlon who was also employed by the City.
Edward O’Connor remained a bachelor and lived for several years with his brother John J. O’Connor and his family in Kansas City. He worked as a clerk, an accountant and later sold life insurance. In the 1940 Census he recorded that he finished his education after the sixth grade.
Around 1926 Edward moved to Chicago, and died there in 1943. He appears to have remained close to his brother and his family the newspapers reported that he was “an out of town guest” at his niece’s wedding (Kansas City Journal, Sat. 25 Oct. 1941, p. 19). No newspaper articles could be found for Edward prior to 1943. By all appearances he led a quiet life, but here in Glenmore it was reported that he was robbed and killed on his way home one evening. Another rumour was that he was shot. We were unable to find any Chicago newspaper articles that indicated that Edward was the victim of a robbery or other violence that caused his death.
Death of Edward O’Connor (1882-1943)
The Kansas City Times (Tues. 9 Nov. 1943, p. 4) reported the following:
A Second Brother Killed: Tragedy Strikes John J. O’Connor Family Twice in Two Weeks—Tragedy has struck twice in two weeks in the family of John J. O’Connor, 4133 Mercier St. Mr. O’Connor was killed in a motor car crash near 53rd St and Ward Parkway October 24th, and yesterday his family was informed that M. O’Connor’s brother, Edward O’Connor, 61 years old, was found dead along a railroad right-of-way on Chicago’s near North Side early yesterday morning.
Friends of Edward O’Connor in Chicago said he was apparently in good health and spirits when they last saw him. Edward O’Connor, a bachelor, has made his home in Chicago for the last 16 years. He was in the life insurance business. Born in Ireland, Mr. O’Connor came to the United States and Kansas City in 1905. For many years he worked for Bruce Dodson & Co., and was a member of the Knights of Columbus. He left Kansas City in 1926.
He is survived by a brother, George O’Connor who lives in Ireland. A nephew, John J. O’Connor, Jr., East 61st St. Terrace, left last night for Chicago. He said that funeral services would be held in Kansas City.
The Culleton Cousin
The Rt. Rev. Mons. Culleton of Peoria was Patrick Culleton (1877-1960) of Kilbride, Glenmore. He was the son of James Culleton (1845-1912) and his wife Margaret Connors (1839-1918). His parents were married 3 February 1876 at Glenmore. Patrick was ordained in 1900 and appointed to diocese of Peoria on American Mission. He had two brothers, Michael & George Culleton (b. 1881). Margaret Connors Culleton (1839-1918) was a sister of John Connors (1830- 1911) the father of John J. O’Connor (1886-1943) and Edward O’Connor (1882-1943). Thus, the three men were first cousins.
Patrick served in the Peoria Diocese all his religious life. He officiated at the marriage of John J. O’Connor’s daughters in Kansas City in the early 1940’s. Patrick died in 1960 in Miami Beach, Florida. He is buried in St. Mary’s Cemetery of West Peoria, Illinois. To view Monsignor Patrick O’C Culleton’s headstone, see Find a Grave.
It is not known why Patrick used O’C for his middle initial. It is believed that there may have been other priests with the same or similar names, and he wished to distinguish himself by using his mother’s maiden name as his middle name. One of his nephews later became a priest and was also assigned to the Peoria Diocese.
Please send any corrections, additional information or photos to glenmore.history@gmail.com. Special thanks to Michael Hoynes of Ballybrahee, Glenmore for helping sort out the Ballyfacey Conners. The featured photo above is John J. O’Connor’s (1886-1943) yearbook photo from the Kansas City School of Law (1908).
We located a chapter in a book concerning John J. O’Connor which is held in the Kansas City Library. It is not available on line and when we secure a copy we may update this post.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh