On the 1st of April, 1882, Patrick Jr. came to Ardoch, Dakota Territory alone. He was in good health but had very little money and clothing. (Patrick left by train from Lawler, Iowa and after 3 days arrived at Ardoch. D.T.) Having mechanical ability and being a good farm hand, his services among the settlers was much in demand.
That year, 1882, Patrick Jr. files on the southeast quarter of section #12 in Eden township, 155-55, Walsh Co., Dakota territory. (He was the 8th settler in the township, the earliest being Ingebrit Seilstad who had arrived only three years earlier. It is interesting to note that one settler, Mr. Seidmore, was originally from Nova Scotia.). Mr. Docksteader, a neighbour, broke 15 acres of land for him. (As this was virgin prairie sod a special large breaking plow would have been used.) Note the words and the map have him in different locations: SE vs SW quarter sections.
In 1883 Patrick Jr. bought three head of oxen and a seeder and planted wheat on his newly broken sod. This crop of wheat became frosted in the fall (so no yield per acre was recorded) but he used part of it for seed the following year. The wheat that grew from this frosted seed was excellent grain.
Insert #3 : The first church.
St. Marks Catholic Church was the first area church built in 1887 on land donated by T. Curtin for a total cost of $7000. It was a frame structure 30 x 60 feet with three doors and eight windows and a steeple housing a bell. It was used for 50 years, and it was only closed as of 2003 although it was destroyed by fire in 1939 and rebuilt before this was written (pre 1939).
The original church members were:
Mr. Mrs. Patrick Flynn; Mr. Mrs. James Bulger;
Mr. Mrs. Henry Burris; Mr. Mrs. James Doherty;
Mr. Mrs. Thomas Fee; Mr. Patrick Kelly.
Mr. Mrs. Henry Murphy; Mr. Joseph Whalen;
Mr. Mrs. John Foerster Sr.; Mr. Mrs. Joseph LaBine;
Mr. Mrs. James Kelly; Mr. Mrs. Fitzpatrick;
Mr. Mrs. John Phelan
Insert #4 : School data.
The first school in the area was built by a Mr. Peterson in 1886 for a cost of $1000. It was a frame building, 30 x 40 feet with two doors and five windows and heated by a wood stove. The first class was held in 1887, and it was taught for 9 months by A. R. Hill, who earned the princely sum of $40 per month.
Timothy Curtin, an early settler of Eden Twp., was appointed immigration agent for the Canadian northwest in 1903. In 1904 he sent Patrick Flynn Jr. to northwest Alberta as a delegate. In 1908 Patrick was a pilot for prospective settlers in northern Alberta. He also filed on land and lived there for five months. In 1907, Mrs. Patrick Flynn Jr. passed away in Conway, ND, the month and day being 17th August. (This oddly worded sentence is the actual words of the biographer.)
On the 4th of May 1910,Patrick Flynn Jr. and Mary Walker, of Eden Twp. were united in marriage in Conway, ND, Father Simpson performing the ceremony. Two daughters, Edna and Bertha, were born of this union. Mary had 1 brother, William, and two sisters, Anna and Bertha, and they all lived in Walsh County, but at the time of the biography Patrick Flynn had no knowledge of their addresses.
Insert #5 : Family details of Mary Walker:
Born: sometime in 1896*, married at 14, quite young considering Patrick was 54 years old when they were married; * according to 1910 census this should be c1891, married at age 19. Died: 18 Aug. 1914, seems likely due to complications after Bertha’s birth. Another wife who died very young.
Father: William Walker, farmer English nationality;
Mother: Margaret (?), house wife. English nationality;
Brother: William Walker lived in Walsh County, present address unknown;
Sister: Anna Walker lived in Walsh County, present address unknown;
Sister: Bertha Walker lived in Walsh County, present address unknown;
Daughter: Edna Flynn 30 June 1911, Eden Twp. Mrs. Smoat of Woodbridge CA;
Daughter: Bertha Flynn 18 Aug. 1914, Eden Twp. Mrs. Hight of Bridgewater, IA.
The second wife (Mary Walker) of Patrick Flynn Jr. passed away on the 18th of August 1914. The biography did not state the cause of death but I assume it was during the birth of their second daughter Bertha. If the 1910 census is correct, Mary Walker was the niece of Patrick Flynn. This would make her his sister Margaret's child, or the child of Mary Kelly's sister Margaret. See the 1910 census data at very end of this document. To date I have not found Mary's family.
In 1916 Patrick Flynn Jr. sold his farm and other property and moved to Conway, ND where he lives now alone and receives old age pension.
Offices held by Patrick Flynn were:
1. St. Marks Church, Conway, ND, church treasurer, from 1903 to 19162. Corresponding secretary for the Catholic Order of Foresters of Conway, ND. No dates were given for years he held this office.
Parents of Patrick Flynn
The biography had no real data on Patrick's parents. I have included census data and have included other data which I have since uncovered. Patrick Flynn Sr. and Kathern Lehane both were born in Bantry Ireland, or at least in that area. The west of Ireland in the mid 1800's was a very poor area especially for Catholics, and thus he and many others immigrated even before the Great famine of 1845. Census data claims he came in 1840 and he does appear on the 1850 census (below). See maps below for location of Wexford (top right), Cork and Bantry (bottom). Wexford is included since Ballycanew was the home of Jack Langstaff’s early relatives. Insert #6 : 1850 Census for Fort Winnebago, Columbia Co. Wis. 5th Sep. 1850 Patrick Flinn, age 30 born Ireland and labourer is living with Michael(50) and Jane(35) Kene, who operates a saloon. Other Irish labourers include Walter Kelley(40), Robert Doyle(27), Dennis Horrigan(25) and Patrick Race(29).The 1894 Atlas description of Bantry follows:
Bantry, seaport and market town (south) on Bantry Bay, parish of Kilmocoge (q.v.), S.W. Co. Cork, Ir., 10 miles NW of Skibbereen. Situated in a valley, it is surrounded by mountains on all sides except towards the sea. It contains a parish church (CE), a Roman Catholic chapel, a Wesleyan chapel, a courthouse, a bridewell (A house of correction for the confinement of disorderly persons; so called from a hospital built in 1553 near St. Bride's (or Bridget's) well, in London, which was subsequently a penal workhouse) and a dispensary. Quarter and petty sessions are held, and it is the site of seven annual fairs. Bantry is a well-known tourist resort, and the inhabitants are mostly engaged in the fisheries. A once considerable trade in corn (grain) and flour has almost dwindled away, but all necessary supplies for vessels calling at the port may be had. A monastery was erected 1466, and Ireton (see below) built a fort in the neighbourhood during the time of Cromwell, but it was soon dismantled and allowed to fall into decay.Bantry was threatened by a French fleet which put into the bay 1689; and a force from Flanders, consisting of soldiers of William of Orange, was landed and occupied it in 1697. A year after (1698) a second French feet had come into the bay, but was scattered by a storm before hostilities commenced.Bantry House, a seat of the Earl of Bantry, and Gurtenroe House are local mansions.Henry Ireton was one of the most enthusiastic of the 59 signatories of King Charles I death warrant. Charles was executed Tuesday the 30th Jan. 1649. Ireton died in Ireland on 26th Nov. 1651 but his body was returned to England for a state funeral and buried in Westminster Abbey. Like other prominent Regicides, Ireton's corpse was exhumed after the Restoration and hanged at Tyburn. His head was exhibited at Westminster for at least 24 years.I have only a very small bit on the family of Mary Rose Kelly.
Insert #7 : Two census, one from 1870, Galena, Jo Daviess County, Illinois and one for 1880 Money Creek, Houston County, Minnesota, are as follows: In 1870 they are living in Galena, Jo Daviess County, Illinois.
Name Relation Marital Gender Race Age Born Occ.
Status
James KELLIE Self M Male W 35 IRE Farmer US Citizen*
Ann KELLIE Wife M Female W 32 IRE Keeping House
Patrick KELLIE Son S Male W 11 IL Attending School
James KELLIE Son S Male W 7 IL Attending School
Mary KELLIE Dau S Female W 6 IL Attending School
Jermiah KELLIE Son S Male W 3 Il
Maggie KELLIE Dau S Female W 1 IL
* James was a US citizen, but seems he could not vote, and his total estate valued at $100. Have not found him in Galena 1860. Parents of all foreign born, i.e. Ireland. The 1880 census has them moved to Money Creek Minnesota, as follows:
James KELLIE Self M Male W 47 IRE Farmer IRE IRE Ann KELLIE Wife M Female W 42 IRE Keeping House IRE IRE Patrick KELLIE Son S Male W 21 IL Farm Laborer IRE IRE James KELLIE Son S Male W 18 IL Farm Laborer IRE IRE Mary KELLIE Dau S Female W 17 IL At Home IRE IRE Jermiah KELLIE Son S Male W 13 CAN Farm Labourer IRE IRE Maggie KELLIE Dau S Female W 11 IL At Home IRE IRE Annie KELLIE Dau S Female W 9 MN At Home IRE IRE Willie KELLIE Son S Male W 6 MN At Home IRE IRE Edward KELLIE Son S Male W 3 MN At Home IRE IRE Perrie KELLIE Son S Male W 8m MN At Home IRE IRESource Information: Census Place: Money Creek, Houston, Minnesota, FHC Film #1254624, NA Film: #T9-0624, p 385B.Rushford, where Mary was born, is in the next County, Fillmore, but both towns are on the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul Railroad, one section apart, roughly 6 miles with the border between.The Univ. N. D. has a short biography of Kathern’s brother Patrick, and it confirms the family was from Rushford, MN and they came to the Dakotas about 1881. Patrick died, 1922 and his wife Kathern McKlellan died 1936. They raised a family of six children and one daughter died in infancy. Their daughter Lauretta married an Albert Sobolik, and probably is buried in Sidney, Montana. Albert was probably the son of Anton Sobolik, who came to Conway in 1881.A second son James, married Margaret (?) and they raised a family of seven children. One daughter had the strange name of Geneva. They farmed in Walsh County, Medford Twp., and the family is on the 1900 census.Mary C. is buried in the graveyard in Conway, N.D. and her head stone confirms the initial C.I also have some information on Katherine Lehane's family, who seemed to have remained in Columbia County as farmers and labourers. Below is a sketch of the first three generations of the family as I have it. Katherine Lehane was Patrick's mother.Descendancy Narrative of Patrick Lehane's family:I. Patrick 1 Lehane
Patrick Lehane was born in 1795, Ire. and married Margaret (?), at Cork, Ireland.Patrick Lehane died on 15 Jul. 1857, Portage, Wis., was moved to new cemetery 1857, no plot #s, etc. He is not buried with the other Lehanes I found in the Portage Cemetery.Children of Patrick and Margaret Lehane:
A. Timothy 2 Lehane
Timothy Lehane married Ellen Maher before 1861, as son Timothy was born that year.1. Timothy 3 Lehane
Timothy Lehane was born on 16 Aug. 1861, baptized 22 Sep. 1861, Portage, Columbia, Wis.B. John 2 Lehane
John Lehane was born on 15 Oct. 1820 (from gravestone), possibly Bantry, Cork, Ireland. He married Maria H. "Mary" Sullivan, circa 1854. He died 27 Dec. 1912 and is buried in Portage Cemetery.1. Kate 3 LehaneKate Lehane was born circa 1855 (from 1860 census) at Portage, Columbia, Wis.2. Mary 3 LehaneMary Lehane was born circa 1856 (from 1860 census) at Portage, Columbia, Wis.3. Daniel 3 LehaneDaniel Lehane was born on 7 Dec. 1858, baptized 8 Dec. 1858, Portage, Columbia, Wis.4. James 3 LehaneJames Lehane was born on 11 Mar. 1859, baptized 12 March 1859, Portage, Columbia, Wis.5. Margaret 3 LehaneMargaret Lehane was born on 6 Feb. 1861, actually baptized 2 Feb. 1861, Portage, Columbia, Wis.6. Ellenore 3 LehaneEllenore Lehane was born on 29 Jun. 1863, baptized 1 July 1863, Portage, Columbia, Columbia, Wis.7. Anna 3 LehaneAnna Lehane was born on 30 Dec. 1866, baptized 2 Jan 1867, Portage, Columbia, Wis.8. John 3 LehaneJohn Lehane was born on 11 Jan. 1869, actually baptized 15 Jan. 1869, Portage, Columbia, Wis.9. Elizabeth 3 Lehane.Elizabeth Lehane: was born on 19 Jan. 1872, baptized on this date, Portage, Columbia, Wis.10. Julia 3 LehaneJulia Lehane was born on 28 Oct. 1873, baptized 16 Nov. 1873, Portage, Columbia, Wis.11. Agnes 3 LehaneAgnes Lehane was born on 7 Sep. 1876, baptized 8 Oct. 1876, Portage, Columbia, Wis.
C. Patrick 2 LehanePatrick Lehane was born circa 1824 (from Gravestone) Ireland. He was God parent to Anne Lehane, baptized on 2. Jan 1867, and to Julia Lehane baptized 28 Oct. 1873.. He married Anne Leonard circa 1867. He and his family appear on the 1880 census at Pacific, Columbia, Wis: Insert #8 : 1880 census for Pacific, Columbia, Wis.Patrick LEHAN Self M Male W 56 IRE Farmer IRE IREAnn LEHAN Wife M Female W 50 IRE Keeping House IRE IREMary LEHAN Dau S Female W 12 WI IRE IREJohn LEHAN Son S Male W 8 WI IRE IREJames LEHAN Son S Male W 7 WI IRE IRESource Information: Census Place: Pacific, Columbia, Wis, FH Film #1255420 NA Film Number: T9-1420, Page Number 213A in 1880 at Pacific, Columbia, Wis.
Patrick Lehane died on 29 Mar 1897, at Portage, Columbia, Wis.1. Mary 3 LehaneMary Lehane was born on 2 Feb. 1868, baptized on this date, Portage, Columbia, Wis.2. John 3 LehaneJohn Lehane was born on 23 Aug. 1870, baptized 18 September 1870, Portage or Pacific, Columbia, Wis.3. James 3 LehaneJames Lehane was born on 26 Apr. 1872, baptized 18 May 1872, Portage, Columbia, WisD. Daniel 2 LehaneDaniel Lehane was born circa 1835 (from 1880 census) Ireland. He married Julia Sullivan, probably the sister of Mary Sullivan circa 1856. He was God parent to Patrick Henry "Flinn", Kathern's father. This data comes from the records of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Church, Portage.1. John 3 LehaneJohn Lehane was born circa 1853 (from 1860 census) at Portage, Columbia, Wis.2. Patrick 3 LehanePatrick Lehane was born circa 1855 (from 1860 census) at Portage, Columbia, Wis.3. Daniel 3 LehaneDaniel Lehane was born on 2 May 1857, baptized 3 May 1857, Portage, Columbia, Wis.4. James 3 LehaneJames Lehane was born circa 1858, at from 1860 census, Portage, Columbia, Wis.5. Jeremiah 3 LehaneJeremiah Lehane was born on 12 Feb. 1861, baptized 13 Feb. 1861, Portage, Columbia, Wis.6. Cornelius 3 LehaneCornelius Lehane: was born on 26 Nov. 1864, baptized on this date., Portage, Columbia, Wis.E. Katherine 2 Lehane (wife of Patrick Flynn)
Katherine Lehane was born in 1835, Bantry, Cork, Ireland (from 1860 census) and married Patrick Flynn circa 1856 at Portage, Wis. She died very young in Portage sometime in 1864, No record of her death is in the church, so they may have moved already to Iowa.Katherine Lehane: married Patrick Flynn circa 1856, at probably, Portage, Columbia, Wis. It is interesting to note that Patrick's two wives Mary Kelly and mary Wlker also died young leaving children and then Patrick's daughter Kathern died young leaving four children: Lorraine, Ken, Pat and Colleen.
F. James 2 LehaneJames Lehane was born in 1839, at Cork, Ireland. He was God parent to Mary Lehane, baptized 2 Feb. 1868. He never married and in 1880 he is a labourer living with his mother in Portage. He died in 1915, and is buried with his mother in the Portage Cemetery. Insert #9 : 1880 census data: Name Relation Marital Status Gender Race Age Birthplace Occupation
Margaret LEHAN Self W Female W 85 IRE Keeping House IRE IRE
James LEHAN Son S Male W 45 IRE Laborer IRE IREG. Anne 2 LehaneAnne Lehane was born circa 1842, Ireland (from 1860 census).H. Margaret 2 Lehane
Margaret Lehane was born circa 1845, Ireland (from 1860 census). Let me finish this biography with comments on Patrick's daughter, off topic but interesting. I have always wondered how Jack and Kathern met met, as Dad was raised in the Kenora area at least until after 1911. He is not on the 1911 census with his siblings in Rainy River but is listed with his Aunt Sophia and Uncle William Torrance in Kenora. It may be that the family had moved recently and he, the youngest, was left behind while the family settled. But Dad always said he started to work when he was 10 years old and that would have been his age. Thus he may have been working in his Uncle's hotel. I have a vague rememberance of stories concerning a hotel and even stranger as it supposedly contained a ghost and father was not happy with "Owiji" boards and anything occult. But I have no other details.At first I thought that Dad actually went to North Dakota with his father. Allan John's brother Samuel lived very near Conway, in Michigan, N.D., and his biography states he built a rather elaborate wood home in the area around the turn of the century. I though Allan John, a great wood worker, probably went to help him. But recent data would support Kathern moving to Minnesota sometime after 1907, the year her mother died. I do know that her brother Patrick, who homesteaded around Vimy, Alberta, did move back to Minnesota sometime after 1915. So it is very likely Kathern lived with Patrick or another brother and worked in the Spooner Stave Mill. I do remember once, as a young child, visiting by boat a family in Clemenson, which is a few miles up river, on the American side, from Rainy and I suppose they were Flynns. Lorraine's first comment when she saw the picture of Kathern taken 1917 in her mill attire was , "Dad met Kathern when they both worked in the stave mill". The map below shows the homsteads where in 1906 the Flynn and Hess family were living: Joseph Flynn is located on section 30, Twp. 59, range 24, W4 and I assume this is where Patrick moved before he was married and there met Mary Rose Hess.
Insert #10: 1910 census for Conway Village, Walsh County, ND taken 26 April 1910.Patrick, head, M W 49 widower Wis Ire Ire Farmer, General Farm, Employee*Annie, dau, F W 22 s ND Wis Iowa, None James, son, M W 16 s ND Wis Iowa did not attend school since Sep 1, 1909 Lenora, dau, F W 14 s ND Wis Iowa did attend school since Sep 1, 1909 Frank, son, M W 12 s ND Wis Iowa did attend school since Sep 1, 1909 Katie, dau, F W 8 s ND Wis Iowa did attend school since Sep 1, 1909 Mary, dau, F W 5 s ND Wis Iowa did attend school since Sep 1, 1909 Walker, Mary, niece, F W 19 single Wis Can Min, None*home is owned and mortgaged and on a farm, but I believe it was on outskirts and he was working more as a mechanic than actually farming. His biography seems to indicate he was a very good mechanic just at the time when farming was becoming more mechanized.
