Family Nibbles

Mike Gallagher and Ellen Dugan had married in Lamar in 1885. Their first child, a son John, was born in 1886. Sadly, John died at two months. There were no more children born in the 80s.

The 1890s were a different story. In the early years of the 90s, Mike and Ellen had three sons.

Patrick Henry Gallagher was born Monday, March 23, 1891, to Mike and Ellen Gallagher. He was named after Michael’s father Patrick. I don’t know the origin of Henry. He would go by his middle name Henry.

A year and a half later, on Sunday, November 27, 1892, James Joseph Gallagher was born. He was named for Ellen’s father James Joseph Dugan. He was called Jim.

Two years after Jim was born, on Sunday, November 11, 1894, Thomas Paul Gallagher was born. He was named for Michael’s grandfather Thomas Large. I don’t know the namesake for the name Paul. He would go by Tom.

A house in town

With a growing family, Michael and Ellen moved from the Gallagher farm to their own house in Lamar.   In 1894 they bought Block 5 in the Humphrey Brothers Addition of Lamar.  The price was $150. 

Perhaps the house in the photo with Ellen Dugan Gallagher and children is the Gallagher house on Block 5.

The neighborhoods and streets around the house weren’t yet developed, so it was referred to in news articles as “out north of town.”

The street address was confusing too. In ensuing years, the east-west streets were re-numbered and some north-south streets were re-named. The Gallagher’s address over the years is given variously as North Seventh, North Mill Street, North Fifth Street, etc. I think these all refer to the same location.

Life

Mike Gallagher did odd jobs around Lamar and helped his father with the farm. Patrick had developed diabetes, so had increasing difficulty with some of the farm work.

Ellen ran the household, caring for her three young sons. In the latter years of the 90s, Henry and Jim attended school. Central School wasn’t far from home. 3rd and 4th grades had an enrollment of 23, 1st and 2nd grades had 32.

Recall that Patrick’s brother Michael had come to Lamar in the early 1880s, followed by his daughter Hannah and Ellen Dugan. While Ellen had stayed and married Patrick’s son Michael, brother Michael and his daughter Hannah returned to Ireland.

Now, in 1897, Pat received a letter from his brother Mike. It gave Patrick the itch to visit the home country.

I’m not certain, but I don’t think Patrick ever got the chance to return to Ireland.

An estate plan?

In 1897, Patrick and Ellen deeded their properties to son Mike.  That included the 80-acre farm, the additional 8-acre plot, and two lots in town.  The price was $2,000.

Michael owned the properties, but Pat and Ellen continued to live on the farm.

Patrick and Ellen were starting to suffer health problems. Patrick was age 70, Ellen 67. Perhaps the sale was a step in transferring their assets to Mike while they still could. Maybe the sale went along with a promise that Mike and Ellen would provide for them in later years.

Reflection

1899 was the last year of the decade and the century. In October 1899, Barton County held its inaugural Old Settlers’ Picnic. Michael Gallagher was among those honored at the picnic as an early settler in the county.

Michael Gallagher had come to Barton County with his parents Patrick and Ellen in 1872, so they had been residents for 27 years.

Michael Gallagher was age 37, having been born in Eckley, Pennsylvania in 1863. Ellen Dugan Gallagher was age 33.

A new century

1900 was on the near horizon. Mike and Ellen were in prime middle age. They would soon have another child. They would continue their life in Lamar.

For sons Henry, Jim, and Tom, the new century would see them come of age and pursue lives away from Lamar.

Pat and Ellen were in their sunset years.

Timeline

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Sources

• Family tree – Ancestry.com – https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/tree/4491114?cfpid=-242171434
• Image – Birth records for Henry, Jim, and Tom Gallagher – Gallagher Family Bible – Teply family documents
• Image composites – baby pictures of Henry, Jim, and Tom Gallagher – Gallagher family photos and Wikemedia baby photos
• Deed – Morans to Michael Gallagher – Block 5 Lamar – 1894 – Register of Deeds – Barton County, Missouri – Lamar, Missouri
• Map composites – Plat Map of Barton County, Missouri – 1903 – State Historical Society of Missouri – Jefferson City, Missouri – https://digital.shsmo.org/digital/collection/plat/id/433
• Image – Ellen Dugan Gallagher in front of house – Brosseau family documents – Jim Brosseau collection
• News article – Patrick Gallagher gets letter from his brother Michael – The Lamar Democrat – June 24, 1897 – State Historical Society of Missouri – Jefferson City, Missouri
• Deed – Patrick and Ellen Gallagher to Michael Gallagher – all properties – 1897 – Register of Deeds – Barton County, Missouri – Lamar, Missouri
• News article – Michael Gallagher and Old Settlers Picnic – The Lamar Democrat – October 12, 1899 – State Historical Society of Missouri – Jefferson City, Missouri
• New article – New Year’s 1900 – Houston Daily Post – January 1, 1900 – Library of Congress – https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn86071197/1900-01-01/ed-1/seq-1/
• Music – Turkey in the Straw – Shake That Little Foot – Free Music Archive – https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Shake_That_Little_Foot/Shake_That_Little_Foot/Turkey_in_the_Straw_vbrmp3/