The McLaughlins were farmers. They had come to America to escape starvation and oppression at the hands of the British, with a dream of building a new life. Initially they settled in the town of Dix, in Schuyler county,working for others while they saved to purchase their own farms and start their own families. Farms were purchased in the town of Orange and Tyrone in Schuyler county and in Hornby in Steuben county. As I write this I do not have the exact locations of the farms, but will endeavor to discover them, if possible, to include in a later post. The following pictures provide a look at the Tyrone and Hornby areas.
When the McLaughlins began farming, the finger lakes area was still teaming with wild life including; Bobcats, brown and black bear, timber rattle snakes, red fox, grey fox, timber wolves, coyotes, mink, weasels, just to mention a few. Farming the country side in those days meant taming the land and protecting livestock against predators. Farming was not an easy business. Plows were pulled by horses, mules or oxen while the farmer walked behind keeping the furrows straight and scattering seed by hand as he went. Crops needed water, which was hand carried in pails from wells or ponds. The typical farmer was up before the dawn and worked long after sundown, plowing, watering, feeding live stock, mending fences, harvesting crops. There was no electricity, no indoor plumbing, But the McLaughlins took pride knowing they owned the land they farmed and the crops they raised. Money earned from the harvest was their own. They did not have to scrape and bow to a landlord any longer.
When the McLaughlins began farming, the finger lakes area was still teaming with wild life including; Bobcats, brown and black bear, timber rattle snakes, red fox, grey fox, timber wolves, coyotes, mink, weasels, just to mention a few. Farming the country side in those days meant taming the land and protecting livestock against predators. Farming was not an easy business. Plows were pulled by horses, mules or oxen while the farmer walked behind keeping the furrows straight and scattering seed by hand as he went. Crops needed water, which was hand carried in pails from wells or ponds. The typical farmer was up before the dawn and worked long after sundown, plowing, watering, feeding live stock, mending fences, harvesting crops. There was no electricity, no indoor plumbing, But the McLaughlins took pride knowing they owned the land they farmed and the crops they raised. Money earned from the harvest was their own. They did not have to scrape and bow to a landlord any longer.
Tyrone NY, Waneta Lake
Waneta and Lamoka lakes , a view from the hills of Tyrone NY
schuyler county NY
As early as 1855 we find Mary McLaughlin McGinley working in Bath NY as a servant in the Rice home With her one year old daughter, Mary McGinley. Mary had also given birth in January to her daughter Hannah. neither Hannah or Mr. McGinley appear in the 1855 census. By 1860 both Mary and Mr. McGinley are deceased. Hannah is living with her uncle James McLaughlin in the town of Dix, Schuyler county NY. Mary has left the child there while she works . By 1866 Mary has met and married a second time. This time to James Harvey of Watkins Glen NY. Mary and James had a son, James Harvey Jr, in 1867. Shortly after this blessed event, James Harvey Sr. passed on, leaving Mary a two time widow. Mary raised her children with the help of her family and her own hard work. By 1872 Hannah has married Emmet Ellis (July 1842-1920), a civil war veteran working as a laborer. They continued to living in Watkins Glen where Hannah gave birth to Anna Ellis ( Sept.1872), Minnie Ellis(1875) , Nellie Ellis (May 1878), Mary Katheryn Ellis (1886-1888) Charles Ellis, (July1881) Myrtle Ellis (March 1888), and Mildred Ellis (Oct. 1894) . In 1880 Mary McLaughlin Harvey and son James McGinley are living in Watkins Glen with the Ellis family.
In 1900 Mary is again living alone, still in Watkins Glen NY. She died in 1902 and is buried in Saint Mary's Catholic cemetery in Watkins Glen NY.
Honorah ( Hannah ) McLaughlin(1826-1909) also married early. By 1857 Hannah had met and married Daniel McCarty. The McCartys settled in Hornby NY. James , like his family before him, was a farmer. In 1858 The McCarty's welcomed their first born son, Charles D. McCarty (1858-1939). In 1860 their second child, James McCarty was born. Like many Irish Immigrants in those days, Daniel left to fight in the civil war as a way of earning citizenship. Daniel was a private in eh NY 22 K company. While Daniel was off to war Hannah and the lived with her brother James on the family farm in Dix, Schuyler NY. Daniel was shot in battle and sent to the regimental hospital in New York and died of his wounds there on Aug. 30,1862.
Hannah did not mourn her dead soldier for long before marrying a second time to Joseph Bryan. Mary took her oldest son Charles with her into her new marriage. Young James was given to Elizabeth McLaughlin Butler. The Butlers officially adopted young James and raised him on their Hornby farm.
Joseph Bryan had come from County Cork Ireland in 1857 and settled first in Owego NY. He married Hannah Mclaughlin McCarty in 1863. Hannah delivered their first child, Mary E. Bryan in 1864. On Sept. 5,1864 Joseph enlisted in the army in Reading Schuyler NY and served one year fighting for the Union. For many Irish immigrants the civil war offered a chance at citizenship and with a new family Joseph wanted to insure their future. Joseph was mustered out of service on June 8,1865. Hannah and Joseph bought a farm in Orange New York where they raised young Charles McCarty (1858-1939), Mary E. Bryan (1864-1933),Katherine (Kate) Bryan (1866-),Ellen (Nell) Bryan(1868-1947), William Bryan(1870-1952). Hannah died in 1909 and Joseph followed her in 1918. They are buried together in St. Mary's Catholic cemetery in Watkins Glen NY.
Elizabeth (Lizzie)( May 1820- McLaughlin, the eldest daughter of James and Hannah married late. She met and married Thomas Butler (1909-1887), a widower ands civil war veteran around 1867. Thomas was a farmer who owned land and was raising his family in Hornby, Steuben NY. He too was an Irish immigrant.
Thomas and his wife Ellen had crossed the ocean and initially landed in Quebec Canada where their children John (1840-?), Cornelius (1842-?), Thomas Jr. (1845-?) were born. They entered the US in 1846 and settled in Hornby Steuben NY where they had two more sons, Edwin (1848-?) and William (1850-?) Cornelius was a deaf Mute. He remained with his father working on the farm. After his fathers death in 1887, Cornelius remained on the farm caring for Elizabeth.
Ellen, Thomas first wife who had made the journey with him from County Cork Ireland, passed away in 1864. Thomas was grief stricken and enlisted in the army September 4,1864 in Hornby NY. He was a private in company M regiment 15 and served until he was mustered out on June 13, 1865. Shortly after returning from the war Thomas met and married Elizabeth McLaughlin. Thomas was not a tall man, standing only 5'6, but with hi blue eyes, brown hair and fair complexion, he swept Elizabeth off her feet. He took to young James McCarty and the two adopted the boy. Elizabeth never had any children of her own but reared her sisters son and looked after Thomas children. In 1870 the only children still at home were William Butler and James McCarty. By 1875 William had moved away. Thomas and Elizabeth managed the farm with the help of Cornelius and James McCarty. In 1880 William has returned home with his two children, Francis (Frank)(1876) and Ellen (1878). He is a widower. James and Cornelius remain at home. In 1887 Thomas passed away, leaving the farm to his son William. By 1892 James has moved out to start his own life. William is caring for Elizabeth and his brother Cornelius as well as his two growing children. By 1900 William , Cornelius and Frank remain at home with , now 80 years old, Elizabeth. Elizabeth died before 1910. Thomas Butler was laid to rest in Saint Mary's Catholic cemetery in Corning NY. I believe Elizabeth is there as well, though her name does not appear on his stone.
stay tuned for part of The McLaughlins, the next generation, when we will look at William, James, Ellen and Ann McLaughlin.
In 1900 Mary is again living alone, still in Watkins Glen NY. She died in 1902 and is buried in Saint Mary's Catholic cemetery in Watkins Glen NY.
Honorah ( Hannah ) McLaughlin(1826-1909) also married early. By 1857 Hannah had met and married Daniel McCarty. The McCartys settled in Hornby NY. James , like his family before him, was a farmer. In 1858 The McCarty's welcomed their first born son, Charles D. McCarty (1858-1939). In 1860 their second child, James McCarty was born. Like many Irish Immigrants in those days, Daniel left to fight in the civil war as a way of earning citizenship. Daniel was a private in eh NY 22 K company. While Daniel was off to war Hannah and the lived with her brother James on the family farm in Dix, Schuyler NY. Daniel was shot in battle and sent to the regimental hospital in New York and died of his wounds there on Aug. 30,1862.
Hannah did not mourn her dead soldier for long before marrying a second time to Joseph Bryan. Mary took her oldest son Charles with her into her new marriage. Young James was given to Elizabeth McLaughlin Butler. The Butlers officially adopted young James and raised him on their Hornby farm.
Joseph Bryan had come from County Cork Ireland in 1857 and settled first in Owego NY. He married Hannah Mclaughlin McCarty in 1863. Hannah delivered their first child, Mary E. Bryan in 1864. On Sept. 5,1864 Joseph enlisted in the army in Reading Schuyler NY and served one year fighting for the Union. For many Irish immigrants the civil war offered a chance at citizenship and with a new family Joseph wanted to insure their future. Joseph was mustered out of service on June 8,1865. Hannah and Joseph bought a farm in Orange New York where they raised young Charles McCarty (1858-1939), Mary E. Bryan (1864-1933),Katherine (Kate) Bryan (1866-),Ellen (Nell) Bryan(1868-1947), William Bryan(1870-1952). Hannah died in 1909 and Joseph followed her in 1918. They are buried together in St. Mary's Catholic cemetery in Watkins Glen NY.
Elizabeth (Lizzie)( May 1820- McLaughlin, the eldest daughter of James and Hannah married late. She met and married Thomas Butler (1909-1887), a widower ands civil war veteran around 1867. Thomas was a farmer who owned land and was raising his family in Hornby, Steuben NY. He too was an Irish immigrant.
Thomas and his wife Ellen had crossed the ocean and initially landed in Quebec Canada where their children John (1840-?), Cornelius (1842-?), Thomas Jr. (1845-?) were born. They entered the US in 1846 and settled in Hornby Steuben NY where they had two more sons, Edwin (1848-?) and William (1850-?) Cornelius was a deaf Mute. He remained with his father working on the farm. After his fathers death in 1887, Cornelius remained on the farm caring for Elizabeth.
Ellen, Thomas first wife who had made the journey with him from County Cork Ireland, passed away in 1864. Thomas was grief stricken and enlisted in the army September 4,1864 in Hornby NY. He was a private in company M regiment 15 and served until he was mustered out on June 13, 1865. Shortly after returning from the war Thomas met and married Elizabeth McLaughlin. Thomas was not a tall man, standing only 5'6, but with hi blue eyes, brown hair and fair complexion, he swept Elizabeth off her feet. He took to young James McCarty and the two adopted the boy. Elizabeth never had any children of her own but reared her sisters son and looked after Thomas children. In 1870 the only children still at home were William Butler and James McCarty. By 1875 William had moved away. Thomas and Elizabeth managed the farm with the help of Cornelius and James McCarty. In 1880 William has returned home with his two children, Francis (Frank)(1876) and Ellen (1878). He is a widower. James and Cornelius remain at home. In 1887 Thomas passed away, leaving the farm to his son William. By 1892 James has moved out to start his own life. William is caring for Elizabeth and his brother Cornelius as well as his two growing children. By 1900 William , Cornelius and Frank remain at home with , now 80 years old, Elizabeth. Elizabeth died before 1910. Thomas Butler was laid to rest in Saint Mary's Catholic cemetery in Corning NY. I believe Elizabeth is there as well, though her name does not appear on his stone.
stay tuned for part of The McLaughlins, the next generation, when we will look at William, James, Ellen and Ann McLaughlin.
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