McELDOWNEY GENEALOGIES AS DEVELOPED AND RECORDED BY JAMES CURRAN (September 1994, last update. seamus@worldnet.att.net) [James Curran's motto: "Oh, keep my memory alive. For if you forget me, only then shall I have surely died.] In Part-- [Web or HTML version at - http://poe.acc.virginia.edu/~pm9k/mcalk/mcsjem.html Check it out.] ================================================================= McELDOWNEY FAMILY Great-Great-Grandparents Generation ================================================================= McELDOWNEY-GGGP-JMSR Last updated: 8/15/94 John & Mary McCutcheon/Margaret Malcolm/Jane Morris McEldowney John (nmn) McEldowney b. 1790-1800 (per 1840 Census if we have right one) c. 1792 (per 1850 Census) 1783 (per RM3; Frances A. Metcalf Curran claimed this date was absolutely known!) m. Mary McCutcheon wid 1830 rem. 1832-1834, Margaret Malcolm, Omagh, Co. Tyrone emig late 1835-early 1836 to St. John's, New Brunswick emig 1837-early 1838 to Pittsburgh area Nat. D.I. 10 Feb 1841 Nat: 7 Oct 1844,Sponsor: George R. RIDDLE moved to Iowa mid-1850's wid 1864 rem. c. 1865, Jane Morris d. FEB 1870, LaGrange, IA bur. semi-abandoned cemetery near what used to be LaGrange, IA with 2nd wife Margaret Malcolm and daughter Margaret A. McEldowney Mary McCutcheon daughter of a Methodist minister in Omagh; a James McCutcheon is listed as a Former Superintendent minister in 1837-38 for the Omagh Methodist Church in their , 7 May 1966. b. Scotland d. 1830, Omagh, Co. Tyrone Children of Mary McCutcheon: Mary McEldowney Wilson b. c. 1814, Omagh, Co. Tyrone, Ireland m. 6 NOV 1836, James Wilson, New Brunswick, Can. d. 16 SEP 1857, Pittsburgh bur. Uniondale in McEldowney plot reinterred 16 MAR 1929, Homewod, Sec. 9, Lot 709 See McELDOWNEY-MMcC-GGP-MMW (unknown daughter) *** The following contradicts the extended obit of John McEldowney, Jr., both as to the total number of children and the number of each sex, which states there were three brothers and two sisters in the family; poss. this is actually the child I have identified as an unknown daughter, or it may mean that the obit only counted the children who emigrated. George McEldowney d. in infancy, Omagh, Co Tyrone, Ireland James McEldowney b. 8 SEP 1815, Omagh, Co. Tyrone, Ireland m. prob c. 1840, Nancy Ray (would have been at SMEC but records for 1832-1848 are missing) d. 17 MAR 1880 (per RM3) See McELDOWNEY-MMcC-GGP-JM John McEldowney b. 6 JAN 1824, Omagh, Co. Tyrone, Ireland m. 5 NOV 1846, C(K)atherine Kimes of Baltimore (but apparently resident in Pittsburgh at the time) d. 6 MAR 1904, MI See McELDOWNEY-MMcC-GGP-JMJR Robert (nmn) McEldowney b. 10 SEP 1826, Omagh, Co. Tyrone, Ireland m. 1 APR 1847, Hester L. McFarland, Pittsburgh, PA d. 8 DEC 1895, Pittsburgh, PA bur 10 DEC 1895, Uniondale Cemetery See McELDOWNEY-MMcC-GGP-RM Margaret Malcolm b. c. 1800 m. 1832-1835, John McEldowney, prob. Omagh, Co. Tyrone d. 10 SEP 1864 bur. semi-abandoned cemetery near what used to be LaGrange, IA with husband John McEldowney and daughter Margaret A. McEldowney Children of Margaret Malcolm: 4 daughters "went west when grandfather died married a third time, second wife having died" (Aunt Essie) **** Where was Catherine in the 1850 Census? Already married at 16? C(K)atherine J. "Kate" McEldowney Boyd b. OCT 1834, poss. Dublin, more likely Omagh m. R. J. Boyd (d. 1888) d. 22 JUN 1916 Children: Tom Boyd married, but no children (unk dau) Boyd Talbott m. S. G. Talbott Children: 1 son, 1 dau (unk dau) Boyd Copeland Ingersoll b. c. 1865 m. ? Copeland Child: D. H. Copeland rem. W. H. Ingersoll Children: (none) Jemima/Harriett "Hattie" McEldowney Scott b. c. 1835, New Brunswick, Can. m. ? Scott res. Griswold, IA Children David Scott published Wilma/Willa Scott Georgia Scott Kittie Scott Carlisle m. Frank P. Carlisle Hester Ann "Hetty" Rodgers McEldowney Lind Prather b. 23 APR 1839, Bakerstown, PA m. Dr. W. H. Lind rem. Dr. Prather d. 2 JUL 1930 This almost certainly is the girl who shows up in the 1850 census with the unreadable name of (?Adss? - female) McEldowney See McEldowney-MM-GGP-HARMP Margaret/Margaretta A. "Maggie/Margie" McEldowney b. c. 1842, Bakerstown, PA (father: 50, mother:42) d. c. 1863, LaGrange, IA bur. semi-abandoned cemetery near what used to be LaGrange, IA with husband John McEdlowney and daughter Margaret A. McEldowney Lucinda/Lucille/Lucinella/Leneineda/Lucinad Caroline "Lucy/Lucie" McEldowney Parr b. c. 1844, Bakerstown, PA (father: 52, mother: 44) m. 12 JUL 1865, Samuel Benton Parr (d. 1876) See McELDOWNEY-MM-GGP-LCM Jane Morris b. c. 1834 m. c. 1865, John McEldowney wid FEB 1870 prob. rem. ? Scott d. 1904, near White Rock, SD, at home of son William Lynn McEldowney bur. May 1904, White Rock Cem, SD Children of Jane Morris: William Lynn McEldowney b. 1 SEP 1866, La Grange, Lucas Co, IA (father: 74, mother: 32) m. 11 DEC 1892, Ella Jane Mason (b. 13 MAR 1876, d. 25 MAY 1955) d. 14 NOV 1955 See McELDOWNEY-JM-GGP-WLM Benjamin Wade Butler McEldowney 28 APR 1869, La Grange, Lucas Co, IA (father: 77, mother: 35) m. 1903, Elizabeth Louise Clark (b. FEB 1872, d. 5 OCT 1963) d. 26 OCT 1941 See McELDOWNEY-JM-GGP-BWBM General: This immediate family was Church of Ireland while living in Ireland and New Brunswick, although some members of their extended family in Ireland were Methodist. After death of first wife, Mary McCutcheon, John was remarried to Margaret Malcolm. Due to the possible birthplace of Dublin for their first child Catherine in 1834, they may have lived, and even been married in Dublin. Yhey then emigrated to St. John's, New Brunswick where he taught school, and then to Pittsburgh. There also appears to be some question as to whether the James and Margaret McFarland of Omagh whose daughter Hester married Robert McEldowney may have emigrated at the same time as the McEldowneys, possibly even traveling with them. There are clear ties between McFarlands and McEldowneys in Omagh and both families are first definitively identified as being in Pittsburgh in 1838. The McFarlands had been in NYC and the McEldowneys in New Brunswick in 1836. However, Mary McEldowney Wilson was apparently the first to leave New Brunswick in 1836 and might well have ended up in New York before moving on to Pittsburgh. They didn't become Methodist until after arrival in Pittsburgh where they attended the Smithfield Street Church and were converted in 1838 in a revival meeting. Abstracted from the biography of his son John: [John McEldowney] was a classical scholar versed in the ancient languages and steeped in the love of ancient Greece and Rome. This schoolmaster thought more of books and of Latin verse, and of the poems of Homer than he did of business thrift or of financial gain . . . He was interested in education and men. So marked was his . . . taste for classical studies that at the age of six the boy John [his son] was learning Latin congugations [sic] and Greek declensions. Taught school in Omagh, Co. Tyrone. Had a private school in Pittsburgh. "All very literary folks" (Hester Luella McEldowney). The biography of his grandson Henry Clay McEldowney states that John "had the first and, at that time, only private school in Pittsburgh." Have been unable to identify the school in any records. 2nd wife "not kind to first wife's children" (Hester Luella McEldowney) In 1837, a Mrs. McEldowney is listed as a bonnet maker, East Common, Allegheny. Almost certainly has to be John's 2nd wife Margaret. In 1839, he was listed as a teacher on Ohio St., boarding at E. commons & Main 1840 Census, Allegheny, All. Co., p. 273: Jn McEldourgh[sic] 1 male 10-15 [Robert at age 14] 1 male 40-50 [John at approx. age 48] 1 female 30-40 [Margaret Malcolm at approx. age 40] This is the only possible found in the State of Pennsylvania Index. However, where is John, Jr. at age 16, Katherine at age 6, Jemima at age 5 and Hester at age 1? From [A List of Immigrants Who Applied for Naturalization Papers in Allegheny Co., 1841-1855], McELDOWNEY, John (1844) Bn: Ire; DI: 10 Feb 1841; Nat: 7 Oct 1844; Sponsor: George R. RIDDLE Only his son James was old enough to require separate naturalization which he did in 1849. Split with SMEC and went to the Wesleyan Church, apparently on basis of abolition and apparently c. 1844-1845. Unfortunately this falls in the 1832-1848 16 year gap in SMEC records. Are there Wesleyan Church records for the period? From the biography of his son John: Soon after [son John's] marriage [in 1846], [John] was led partly by the example of his father and his elder brother James, and partly by his own convictions, to transfer his membership and his ministry to the Wesleyan Church [apparently Abolitionists], which was the pronounced and implacable foe of African slavery. 1850 Census, 3rd Ward, Allegheny, Allegheny Co.: Household 167, family 177: John McEldownie[sic] 58 laborer real est=$500 Ireland Margaret 50 Ireland Jemima H. 15 New Brunswick (?Adss? - female) 11 PA Margaret A. 8 PA Lucinda C. 6 PA Frances A. Metcalf Curran, commenting on this same entry, says "age? makes him born in 1792? We know he was born 1783!" How does she know? There is some question as to where John and Margaret Malcolm lived in the late 1830's & 1840's. RM3 believes family first settled in Bakerstown, PA. There is a Bakerstown on Rte. 8 just north of the Turnpike. If so, they were prob. there only a **very** short time; the timing is very tight: a. Jemima/Harriett "Hattie" McEldowney Scott b. c. 1835, St. John's, New Brunswick, Can. b. Mary McEldowney m. 6 NOV 1836, James Wilson, New Brunswick, Can. c. Mary & James Wilson preceded family to Pittsburgh d. In 1837, Margaret Malcolm McEldowney is listed in Allegheny as a bonnet maker. However, it may well be that Bakerstown was the home of Mary and James Wilson. We can positively place John and Margaret in Pittsburgh- Allegheny in 1837, 1839 & 1850 and poss. 1840. There is indirect evidence that they lived there up through 1846 attending SMEC in Pittsburgh proper. Their son Robert was married and lived in Pittsburgh proper in 1847. The first two children of son John were born in West Middleton in 1847 and Allegheny in 1849. Cannot find West Middletown today, but Middletown is east of Pittsburgh near Youngwood. Have a specific birthplace for only one of son James' children, James Henry in 1850, and that is Bakerstown. In the 1850 Census, James was in West Deer Twp. Bakerstown today is north of Pittsburgh in Richland Twp., but Richland wasn't incorporated until 1862, and it was made up from two other townships, one of which was West Deer. So it is safe to say James lived in or near Bakerstown. However, the families of 3 of the daughters of John & Margaret Malcolm McEldowney also claim that their progenitors were born in Bakerstown - Hester Ann "Hetty" Rodgers in 1839, Margaret A. in 1842 and Lucinda Caroline in 1844. In an attempt to tie James & Mary Wilson to Bakerstown, every name in the 1840 Census for West Deer Twp, which was a very small area, was unsuccessfully checked. However, even 'tho it might be entirely meaningless, I did find a Thos Wilson and a clutch of 3 McCutcheon familes, Saml, Geo., and Jas. G., any one of which might explain why the McEldowney family came to the Pgh area in the first place. Bakerstown in that day would have been one of those you-can't- get-there-from-here places. Hell, you can't get there from here today! It is a minimum of 16 miles from Pittsburgh over horrible territory north of the city almost to the Butler Co. border that hasn't really been opened up until the last 40-50 years. It would not have been a place that someone would have chosen to commute from for work or church in the 1840's. So we seem to be left with the following choices: a) they weren't really born in Bakerstown, but Pittsburgh- Allegheny, b) the Wilsons may have also lived in Bakerstown, c) the fact that John was a boarder in Allegheny in 1839 suggests he may have gone home only on weekends, d) there may have been another Bakerstown that no longer exists closer in, or e) Margaret went to step-son James' or step-daughter Mary Wilson's house for the births, even though there is the suggestion Margaret didn't get along with the step- children. Take your choice. City Directory: 1850: McEldowney, John, grocer, Ohio st., Allegheny Hester Luella McEldowney wrote "second [wife] not kind to first wife's children of whom my father was one - she had four daughters of her own - they went west where grandfather married a third time second wife having died and is buried in the west." Between 1850 & 1860, John and Margaret and the 4 remaining daughters went west to LaGrange, Iowa. Margaret died in 1864, and he married a third time, prob. in 1865, to Jane Morris. He and Margaret are buried in Iowa. From a letter written by Rev. James E. McEldowney, grandson of JMSR, to JTC, dtd. 19 JUN 1994: La Grange no longer exists. It was a town of some 100 residences at one time along the stage coach route but when the Burlington railway was put through and followed the valley instead of the hilltops people moved their houses to the railway towns (Melrose and Russell) so when I first visited the area in 1917 none of the houses remained and it had reverted to farm land. From a letter written by Benjamin Wade Butler McEldowney, last child of JMSR, to his half-cousin, J. Henry McEldowney, dtd. 27 JAN 1928: Father had been a store keeper in La Grange Ia. about the time he married my mother [Jane Morris]. He also had taught school in Lucas County near Russell as I have heard a number of people tell of his teaching. I think perhaps he did some preaching also as I have some books of his which he probably would have if he had been a preacher, although about this matter I cannot speak positively. From , by Rev. James E. McEldowney, grandson of JMSR, 1993: p. 18: While they were there Dad [Benjamin Wade Butler McEldowney] and Uncle Will [William Lynn McEldowney] took us boys to his birthplace near La Grange, Iowa (The town is no more). As we tried to find where the town had been we stopped an elderly man on the road who remembered Dad's father and he gave us directions. We found where the old town had been and also the site where Dad was born. It was along a country road. None of the buildings remained. Nearby, along a creek, there were outcroppings of coal. Dad had told us he remembered his mother saying there were coal mines not far away. Then we learned more about Dad's family when we went to an abandoned cemetery along Highway 34 not far from his home. Dad's father. John; his second wife, Margaret; and a twenty one year old daughter, Margaret, were all buried there. Dad did not remember his father, for he was only two years old in 1870, when his father died, Uncle Will barely remembered him. p. 43: I found out some things about my father's family that summer. There was a man from Iowa working in the mill who had known my grandfather, John McEldowney. As a boy he had sat on my grandfather's lap and listened as he told stories of Ireland. Grandfather had also been his teacher and much more. As he told it grandfather had also been postmaster at the La Grange Stage Stop on the overland road between Burlington and Council Bluffs, Iowa, and had also been a local Methodist preacher. Uncle Will had been about four when grandfather died and did not clearly remember him. Father was two years younger. My grandfather was eighty seven, married to Jane Morris, his third wife, when my father was born. I often regretted I did not ask the man more about Grandfather, for Dad was not able to recall anything of him. Cousin Alice [apparently Jennie Alice McEldowney Pearsall] had a picture of Grandfather, but not many pictures were taken in the 1860's and the picture was not clear. On 13 FEB 1946, Hester Luella McEldowney wrote the following note to Helyn Crow and included much McEldowney family history which is distributed through many of these writeups: Dear Helyn Hope everything is all right with you. Some time ago I thought you were not well informed about your family, so I thought I would send a little information. I hope you will be able to understand it. I thought Jane was interesting [apparently Jane McEldowney Freeland, great-granddaughter of John, granddaughter of Robert, daughter of Allen, and her marital escapades] but Allie might not like my repeating it, and in fact might not know I knew what I wrote. Perhaps I knew more than was so. Love Aunt Essie Postscript: It wasn't for lack of trying on John's part, or his sons' parts, particularly Robert and James, that McEldowney isn't a more common name. Things to do: 1. Marriages to follow up on: a. Sarah McEldowney and a George O'Neill found in marriage index at Carnegie Library. b. Samuel McE. Shepard & Ida B. Wright, 14 FEB 1883 c. Clarence Elbert McEldowney & Irene Frances Israel, 1918, banker from New Martinsville, WV, m. in Pgh 2. Who are Richard, Peter and Michael McEldowney? They don't show up anywhere in RM3's chart. 3. What was this "first private school in Pittsburgh" school JMSR taught at? 4. Which of the Meth. churches in Pgh was the Wesleyan church? 5. Lynn appears as a middle name in two totally separate branches of the family. Does this imply a tie back to a Lynn, which is a cognate of Flynn, in Ireland? 6. Chk Thos Wilson, and McCutcheon families in West Deer Twp in 1850. ================================================================= McELDOWNEY-MISC-SMEC Last updated: 11/16/93 Smithfield Methodist Episcopal Church Smithfield was the stomping grounds of the McEldowney family in their early years in Pittsburgh. It was organized 27 SEP 1788, 4 years after the denomination was formed at Baltimore in DEC 1784. Several successive buildings existed at the corner of Smithfield and 7th Ave and eventually became the offices of the denomination. It was known as "The Brimstone Corner M. E. Church". The church in the early 1800's was structured into classes that met throughout the week at various locations. The Abolitionist movement within the church obviously had great antecedents; early in the 1800's approximately 25% of their membership were Blacks. However, interestingly enough, Blacks were apparently segregated within the church: they were always clearly identified as Blacks in 1810s and 1820s and there were classes composed of strictly Blacks. What is not clear is whether all Blacks were assigned to all-Black classes. By 1830s, these distinctions were no longer made. In the 1810s and 1820s, husbands and wives apparently did not belong to the same class although classes were mixed male-female. Found clear indications of such segregation, but am not sure whether there were examples of the opposite. By early 1830s, this policy seems to have changed. Membership lists were kept in ledger books. Each ledger seems to have held 15-16 years of lists. One ledger covering 1830-1846 seems to be missing. Have checked records up through 1920. Records in many cases are extremely difficult to interpret. There are many seeming errors or omissions that may result from these problems. Besides the obvious problems of faded and hard- to-read writing, the poor quality of the microfilms adds more difficulties. Often entries are not dated and only approximate time periods can be assigned to them. The ledgers were used as logs; i.e., the original entry would have been made at one time and later notes would be added, often in a very different hand. So even when an entry can be associated with a specific date, not all the information in that entry necessarily came from that date. Deaths and funerals were never recorded as such until 1912. Burials aren't mentioned at all. Previously, I found occasional notes added to membership or classes lists indicating a death date, but these were the exception and don't begin to cover all the deaths that would have occurred. The number of baptisms recorded is curiously low; I have the impression that there were many more marriages recorded than baptisms. Even then I have the feeling that some marriages that I might reasonably have expected to find aren't recorded. On top of all this, there appear to be several problems with microfilming with the same pages being microfilmed in different places, thus putting them in the wrong time frame. But this is countered by the evident problems presented by alphabetizing a large congregation by hand well into the 20th Century. Many, many pages were obviously worksheets that were used as the source for later, neater pages. It was also obvious there were some false starts. In some places, most notably a list of baptisms, a list was recopied in its entirety and added to at another later date. Why this was done is not at all clear. ================================================================= McELDOWNEY-JM-GGP-BWBM Last updated: 8/12/94 Benjamin Wade Butler & Elizabeth Louise Clark McEldowney son of John & Jane Morris McEldowney (McELDOWNEY-GGGP-JMSR) half-g-g-uncle of Ann Aikins Wright Curran (CURRAN-PC-CUR-JTC) Benjamin Wade Butler McEldowney b. 28 APR 1869, near La Grange, Lucas Co., Iowa grad 1900, Simpson College m. 1903, Elizabeth Louise Clark (b. FEB 1872, d. 5 OCT 1963) d. 26 OCT 1941, Des Moines Methodist Hospital bur. Norwalk, Iowa Elizabeth Louise Clark b. FEB 1872 m. 1903, Benjamin Wade Butler Clark d. 5 OCT 1963 Children: John Robert McEldowney b. 26 OCT 1904 m. 5 JUN 1928, Hazel Virginia Kringel d. 26 DEC 1982 See McELDOWNEY-JM-GP-JRM James Edward McEldowney b. 11 MAR 1907, Henry, SD m. 1933, Ruth E. Calkins wid. MAR 1989 rem. 4 NOV 1990, Jeanne Nave See McELDOWNEY-JM-GP-JEM Morris Clark McEldowney b. 29 NOV 1905 m. SEP 1932, Grace Smith (b. 17 SEP 1904) d. aft 1982 See McELDOWNEY-JM-GP-MCM Clara Jeanette McEldowney Faust b. 18 JAN 1909 m. Fon Faust 1928, freshman in college, apparently in Indianola, IA 1944 res, Marshalltown (Iowa?) Children Donald Faust m. ? Marilyn Lousie Faust b. 8 JAN 1942, Marshalltown, IA m. 24 JUN 1962, William Dennis Woodward (b. 2 OCT 1942; parents: William Russell and Cora Charity Houghton Woodward), Marshalltown, IA div. 1981, Scotts Bluff, Nebr. Children: William Mark Woodward b. 20 MAY 1964, Marshalltown, IA Monty Alden Woodward b. 5 JUN 1966, Cuba City, WI Kevin Lee Woodward b. 6 DEC 1967, Chippewa, WI Darin Eric Woodward b. 12 MAR 1971, Cumberland, WI General: Ltr. written by BWBM to his half nephew J. Henry McEldowney, son of James & Nancy Ray McEdlowney: 406 West Detroit Indianola, Ia. January 27, 1928 Dear Sir: When my sons were in Detroit in December, they got into touch with some people by the name of McEldowney, whom we think perhaps are related to us. My father's name was John McEldowney. My mother was his third wife. They were married only about five years before he died which was in February 1872 [sic], I think. My father's first family were grown up and married somewhere in the East and we have always been lost to them, and they to us, so far as I know. Of the second family there were four girls. They also had been married and were gone before I was born, or when I was very small. There was Hattie [sic? Hettie? Jemima was apparently also known as Harriett or "Hattie"] or Hester, who married Dr. Prather, and afterward Dr. Lynn; a Lucy who married a Parr; a Jemima, who married a Scott; and Katheryn, who married a Boyd. Of the latter two I never heard my mother say very much. Hattie lived in La Grange, Iowa for a number of years and afterwards moved to West Virginia, I think. Jemima lived in Griswold for quite a long time. There were two of us in my father's family. My brother [William Lynn McEldowney], who is older than I, lives in Washington State. We were glad indeed to get your letter. I have been preaching in the Methodist Episcopal Church now for nearly 30 years. My eldest son graduated from the Simpson Conservatory of Music last June. My two younger sons are to graduate next June. They are planning also to follow the vocation of preaching. My daughter is now in her freshman year in college here. I myself graduated from Simpson College in 1900. My mother has been dead now for about twenty five years. She was naturally somewhat quiet and did not talk much, besides she had to work very hard to provide for the boys, for we were scarcely more than babies when father died, so I never heard her say much about my father's side of the family. We were indeed glad to hear from you and to get your picture. If you have any pictures of my father, that you could spare, I should be glad to get one, as I haven't any picture of him and do not remember at all how he looked as I was only about a year and a half old when he died. Father had been a store keeper in La Grange Ia. about the time he married my mother [Jane Morris]. He also had taught school in Lucas County near Russell as I have heard a number of people tell of his teaching. I think perhaps he did some preaching also as I have some books of his which he probably would have if he had been a preacher, although about this matter I cannot speak positively. My children's names are Robert, Morris, James and Jeannette. The oldest is about 25 and the youngest 19. I was impressed with the similarity between the names of my children and those of my father's first family. This is all I can think of to write that might interest you. If you have any information, or if I can give you any further information, I would be more than glad to give it to you. Very truly yours, B. W. McEldowney From (minutes of 1944): [BWBM] was graduated from Simpson College in 1900 and became a member of the Des Moines Conference the same year, Very soon he transferred to So. Dakota where he served sixteen years in churches in the eastern part of the state. In 1903 he married Elizabeth Louise Clark of Lucas Co., Iowa, and she has been not only his joy in the home and the mother of his four chidren but a partner in the work of the church so that the sons and daughter hold as a sacred pledge the example of mutual love and Christian service of their parents. In 1916 he returned to Iowa from So. Dakota and since that time has served numerous pastorates in southwestern Iowa. He was appointed for the second time to Gray at the 1940 conference, the earlier appointment being to the Manning Gray charge in 1916. Though he received the retired relationship in the conference in 1941, he was invited to continue his ministry at Gray and served until sickness interrupted his ministry. On September 14th, he conducted this last preaching service under great pain but his usual desire to serve God. On the 25th of September he was admitted to the Iowa Methodist Hospital where the gracious care of the nurses and doctors and relatives brought him every comfort humanly possible during the last weeks of his life. He died at the Methodist Hospital in Des Moines on October 18, 1941 at the age of 73 years. The funeral and the burial were at Norwalk. ================================================================= McELDOWNEY FAMILY Grandparents' Generation Jane Morris Branch ================================================================= McELDOWNEY-JM-GP-MCM Last updated: 8/12/94 Rev. Morris Clark & Grayce Smith McEldowney Morris Clark McEldowney b. 29 NOV 1905 ord. United Church of Christ m. SEP 1932, Grayce Smith d. aft 1982 Grayce Smith b. 17 SEP 1904 m. SEP 1932, Morris Clark McEdlowney Children: (Jane?) Pauline McEldowney Whitney b. 12 MAR 1935 m. 14 APR 1962, John H. Whitney (b. 22 APR 1935) res 1981, Upper Saddle River, NJ This, I believe, is the woman who her father Morris called Jane in at least one of his letters to JM3. In 1982, John represented the Avon Corporation in the Far East, Japan & Hong Kong Children: Mark McEldowney Whitney Susan H. Whitney Ann Morris McEldowney Gallop b. 10 FEB 1940 m. 3 OCT 1961, Richard Gallop (b. 15 NOV 1938) res 1981, Briarcliff Manor, NY Children: Jeffrey R. Gallop b. 15 JUN 1962 James R. "Jamey" Gallop b. 17 JUL 1964 1981, at Holderness School General: Did quite a bit of genealogical work on McEldowneys, which I have started to incorporate as it is supplied by RM3. Served 17 years as Chaplain in US Army, retired from Regular Service in 1959. Three tours of duty in Europe and one in the Far Easr. 1944, Chaplain with 134th Medical Regt near Ft. Jackson, SC. Went ashore at Fox Red on Omaha Beach from an LCVP on 8 JUN 1944. Wrote . 1981 address 16 Arch Street, Dover, NH 03820. McELDOWNEY-JM-GP-JRM Last updated: 8/12/94 John Robert & Hazel Virginia Kringel McEldowney grandson of John & Jane Morris McEldowney (McELDOWNEY-GGGP-JMSR) son of Benjamin Wade Butler & Elizabeth Louise Clark McEldowney (McELDOWNEY-JM-GGP-BWBM) half 1st cousin twice removed of Ann Aikins Wright Curran (CURRAN-PC-CUR-JTC) John Robert McEldowney b. 26 OCT 1904 m. 5 JUN 1928, Hazel Virginia Kringel d. 26 DEC 1982, heart attack 1922 grad, Kirkham, IA High School 1927 grad, Simpson Conservatory of Music 1937 MA, State University of Iowa Hazel Virginia Kringel 8th child of ? (Don't have preceding pgs of ) b. 15 APR 1907 m. 5 JUN 1928, John Robert McEldowney 1924 grad, Atlantic High School 1928 grad, Simpson College Conservatory of Music Children: Phyllis Jean McEldowney Varner b. 11 JUN 1929 m. 21 JUL 1953, Charles R. Varner (b. 23 MAY 1922; 1940 Montpelier [VT?]; 1950 AM, Northwestern Univ; prob. WWII vet) 1947 grad. Central HS, Duluth, MN 1951 BS, University of Minnesota-Duluth 1952 Julliard School of Music Children: Cynthia Ann Varner b. 13 FEB 1954 1972 grad, Williamsburg, VA HS 1976 BS, Univ. of VA Kristine Louise Varner b. 6 DEC 1955 1974 grad, Williamsburg, VA, HS 1978 BS, James Madison Univ. Sara Elizabeth Varner b. 2 AUG 1957 1975 grad, Williamsburg, VA, HS 1979 BS, James Madison Univ. Charles Robert Varner b. 27 JUL 1960 1979 grad., Williamsburg, VA, HS Katherine Cecelia Varner b. 30 JUN 1965 Janet Louise McEldowney Smith b. 25 JUL 1930 1948 grad Central High School, Duluth, MN 1952 BS, Univ of MN 1952/53 Eastman School of Music m. 6 SEP 1952, James E. Smith (b. 13 NOV 1919; 1936 grad DuBois PA HS; 1942 Eastman School of Music; d. 31 JUL 1976) Children: Sharon Virginia Smith Josefowski b. 1 JUN 1954 1972 grad West Chester, PA, HS; 1978 Millersville State College m. 5 AUG 1978, Alan Josefowski (b. 28 MAY 1954;1972 grad Feasterville, PA, HS; 1979 Millersville State College) Stanley Frederick Smith b. 2 APR 1956 m 18 AUG 1979, Wendy Hackett (b. 11 AUG 1961) 1974 grad West Chester, PA, HS 1976/77 Paul Smith College, NY Child: Melissa Ann Smith b. 11 OCT 1980 Sheldon Thomas Smith b. 23 FEB 1959 1978 U.S. Navy Stella Laurie Smith b. b. 15 OCT 1962 John Robert McEldowney, Jr. b. 31 MAR 1932 m. JUN 1958, Elli Cherin (b. 4 OCT 1936; 1954 grad Fort Worth [TX?] HS; 1954 Univ of MN; 1958 Eastman School of Music) 1950 grad Central HS, Duluth, MN 1954 Univ of MN 1957 MA, Eastman School of Music Children: David Robert McEldowney b. 8 SEP 1959 1977 grad Palo Verde HS, Tucson, AZ Pima College, Ticson, AZ Ann Marie McEldowney b. 18 JUN 1961 1977 grad Palo Verde HS, Tucson, AZ Scott Charles McEldowny b. 27 AUG 1964 Nancy Ann McEldowney Page b. 26 MAY 1937 m. 2 JUL 1960, John T. Page (b. 16 AUG 1937; 1955 grad Creighton HS, St. Paul, MN; 1958, Univ of MN; data processor U. S. Army) 1955 grad Central HS, Duluth, MN 1955/58, Univ of MN Children: Mark Anthony Page b. 25 JAN 1961 Woodbridge HS 1980, U. S. Navy Valerie Jeanne Page b. 25 FEB 1962 Laura Ann Page b. 16 APR 1963 Stephanie Elaine Page b. 28 AUG 1964 General: What an incredibly musically-oriented family! 1944, both were music instructors, Sigourney, Iowa, schools 1981, retired in Green Valley, AZ Both concert level musicians. Part of an newspaper article, 28 DEC 1982: 1 suicide, 2 deaths mar holiday season Robert McEldowney, 78, was transported to St. Mary's Hispital, where he was reported dead of an apparent heart attack, the police report stated. Obit 30 DEC 1982: J. Robert McEldowney J. Robert McEldowney, 78, of Green Valley died Dec. 26. He is survived by his wife, Hazel; theree daughters, Phyllis Varner of Williamsburg, Va.; Janet Smith of West Chester, Pa.; and Nancy Page of Woodbridge, Va; son, John McEldowney of Tucson; 16 grandchildren, four great- grandchildren, two brothers and one sister. McEldowney was an active member of the Santa Rita Kiwanis Club, the Green Valley Community Church Choir and the Green Valley Chamber Music Society. Memorial services will be held Sunday, Jan. 2, at 4 p.m. at the Community Church, Dr. Harold Frey officiating. Remembrances may be made to the Green Valley Community Church Foundation. ================================================================= McELDOWNEY-JM-GP-JEM Last updated: 8/12/94 Rev. James Edward & Ruth E. Calkins/Jeanne Nave McEldowney grandson of John & Jane Morris McEldowney (McELDOWNEY-GGGP-JMSR) son of Benjamin Wade Butler & Elizabeth Louise Clark McEldowney (McELDOWNEY-JM-GGP-BWBM) half 1st cousin twice removed of Ann Aikins Wright Curran (CURRAN-PC-CUR-JTC) James Edward McEldowney b. 11 MAR 1907, Henry, SD m. 1933, Ruth E. Calkins wid. MAR 1989 rem. NOV 1990, Jeanne Nave Ruth E. Calkins dau of Meth. minister b. 23 FEB 1908, Frontenrac, KN m. 1933, James Edward McEldowney d. 31 MAR 1989, Bradenton, FL, Alzheimer's Jeanne Nave b. 28 JUN 1926, Webster, SD m. Robert Nave wid. rem. 4 NOV 1990, James Edward McEldowney See McELDOWNEY-JM-GP-JNM Children of Ruth E. Calkins: Elizabeth Ann "Betty" McEldowney Conard b. 7 DEC 1937, India m. 16 APR 1961, Richard T. Conard (b. 15 MAR 1938) Children: Scott Edward Conard b. 1 OCT 1961 1994, doctor in Dallas, TX Kimberly E. Conard b. 25 FEB 1963 Christina Marie Conard b. 21 FEB 1970 Philip Fredric McEldowney b. 24 FEB 1941, India m. 14 SEP 1963, Gweneth Diann Runyon (b. 22 JUN 1944) 1994, Charlottesville, VA; occ: library, University of Virginia Children: Timothy R. McEldowney b. 25 FEB 1964 m. Kathy ? 1994 res: Charlottesville, VA; occ: Crutchfield computer/electronics catalog company Julie J. McEldowney b. 4 NOV 1968 1994 occ.: 1st year as high school French teacher, apparently in Iowa Barbara Joan McEldowney Bird b. 23 OCT 1943 m. 17 JUN 1967, Daniel W. Bird, Jr. (b. 26 JAN 1940) Children Virginia E. Bird Daniel W. Bird, III James B. Bird General: Methodist Missionary/Preacher Has what I suspect is an almost unique distinction; three generations - his grandfather, his father and he - virtually span four centuries. His grandfather, John McEldowney, was born in the 18th century; his father; Benjamin Wade Butler McEldowney, the 19th century; and he, the 20th century. And at the rate he is going, it will be well into the 21st century before he is gone. Wrote , privately printed, 1993, the story of his life. Quotes from that book are distributed throughout these writeups. By the way, for anyone interested, you can obtain a copy from him for $13.95 + $3.50 S&H by writing him directly at 7307 19th Ave. N.W., Bradenton, FL, 34209. The autobiography is, of course, the best discussion of his life. The following article and sidebar, both written by Alice Cronkhite, appeared 31 MAY 1994 in the magazine section of the Bradenton (FL) Herald and is intended as a very slight overview of his life. The Life of a Missionary At age 87, the Rev. James McEldowney chuckles at how "old" he felt in 1976. "I was amazed when the bank offered me a 30-year mortgage. The way I felt right then, I didn't expect to live half that long. I thought 69 was really old. "But as the years passed, I have grown young under the Florida sun, or it may be because I soon got involved." While McEldowney tuned up his French horn, his late wife, Ruth, set up housekeeping in the first home they owned. They planted roses and became charter members in the Manatee Symphony Association. "We were very impressed with the West Coast Symphony Saturday program for area youth. The MSA was formed to raise funds to train youth and encourage them to perform in public," McEldowney said. He still ushers for their concerts at Manatee Community College. As chaplain at the Shores Retirement Community (for eight years), McEldowney became involved in a ministry to the aging. "My most challenging talks were the weekly devotions for people in the Health Center. Those messages had to be down-to-earth spiritual aids." Many are in his book, , now in its second printing. "Often I felt I was not able to penetrate deeply into their lives. At times the most I could do was leave a rose," McEldowney said. Beside a bouquet of roses on the coffee table was a mirror , framed with shells that McEldowney collected. "Lining the inner border with tiny shells has become somewhat of a trademark.: McEldowney walks 2 miles each morning. "Walking was just part of our lives growing up in the Midwest, and then serving as Methodist missionaries in India for 36 years," he said. Time Apart Two of their children, Betty and Phillip, were born in India. "I didn't get to be a traditional American Father," McEldowney said.. Often the family was separated. Barbara was born in the united States while McEldowney completed his doctoral studies. "When I was ready to return to India, it took three months of war-time travel, sometimes in convoy, under three submarine attacks, and periods in South Africa and Kenya before I reached Jabalpur,: McEldowney said. Ruth and the children remained in Shenandoah, Iowa, for nearly two years. "Though we were half a world apart, we were one in spirit and devotion. Through the exchange of letters we continued to share our lives.", he said. Later when Ruth and the children were back in India, first Betty and then Phillip and Barbara attended boarding school (Woodstock School), 700 miles form Jabalpur in the foothills of the Himalaya Mountains. There were times when each family member was writing letters from a different locale. In addition to his many duties at Leonard Theological Seminary, McEldowney established an audio visual department. Biblical dramas (to be shown in villages, often using a generator for the projector and a sheet as the screen) were produced. A growing AV team of students learned through hands-on filming of mission outreach (many denominations) and government films. The morning Ghandi's ashes arrived by train from Delhi, I was in the crowd and filmed the event," McEldowney said. In the following years, the development of communication techniques spilled beyond India to three continents. In 1968, McEldowney became administrative director of the London office for World Christian Broadcasting. "By then all three children were married, and Betty (Conard) and her family had moved to Bradenton," McEldowney said. From 1971 to 1976, he pastored in Virginia. "I have called 51 towns and cities home," McEldowney said. Ruth's death in 1989 triggered contemplation. They had been apart for many of their wedding anniversaries. Rereading the family letters brought comfort and clarified purpose. "I was able to remember that first year at Boston University School of Theology, when I was ready to give up and go back to being a school principal. I had gone to the chapel and my attention was drawn to the great painting of Christ above the altar. The words underneath the painting, 'Even as my father has sent me, so I send you,' took on a personal meaning." Without Ruth, doubts about the quality of the children's developing years tried to fester. "Our children had always spoken of their years in India in glowing terms, so accepting success as a father helped me face the future," McEldowney said. A New Life Today that future includes his wife Jeanne. A reunion of India missionaries brought them together. "She was a missionary in India for 27 years. Although we had not known each other well in India, we had many friends and experiences in common. Jeanne was a great help editing ," McEldowney said. McEldowney, who also wrote , continues to write. McEldowney serves on the mission board of the First United Methodist Church and corresponds with many former students and Indian leaders. He preaches annually at Westminster Asbury and the Manor, and conducts a weekly service at Just Like Home, an assisted-living facility. Instead of basking under the Florida sun, McEldowney continues to get involved. The sidebar: McEldowney Shares Memories , by the Rev. James E. McEldowney, moves from the flatlands of the American Midwest to the majestic Himalayan Mountains. McEldowney, the son of a preacher, was born in Henry, SD. "I am horrified when I remember how we would run along the river (the Missouri) as close to the water as we could," McEldowney writes. "The river was forever changing its banks. Sometimes the bank of the river was mud that had been recently washed up and had begun to dry. In places there were great cracks in it, and pieces would drop back into the river. Looking into the river, we saw whirlpools where branches would be sucked under, not to appear again. There were many stories of animals and men who had just disappeared when they fell into the river. Just to remember those capers gives me a shiver." From horse-and-buggy days to world conferences and ministry in three continents, the place and pace of McEldowney's life has mirrored the changing Missouri River. A divine hand has averted disaster and directed his steps, whether they were to mud huts or palaces. James and Ruth McEldowney's ministry in India as Methodist missionaries (fro 1935 to 1967) surged on the swell of a new nation hungry for the fruits of democracy. Readers can see and hear a mystical country and its gentle people through their eyes. Letters written during periods of exasperation reflect the joys and struggles of a growing family, Excellent photographs take us to the people and places around the world. The current of McEldowney's personal story carries us close to heartbreak, then lifts us beyond theological formula to a life that continues to grow and love and serve. Computer oriented; wrote his entire book on a word processor . Has a COMPUSERVE address [See list of relatives]. For the uninitiated, that means you can correspond with him by electronic mail. His son Phillip also has one. JEM has just purchased a new computer specially built for him and is currently dealing with the mysteries of Windows. ================================================================= McELDOWNEY-JM-GP-JNM Last updated: 8/12/94 Jeanne ? Nave McEldowney b. 28 JUN 1926, Webster, SD m. Robert "Bob" Nave wid. rem. NOV 1990, James Edward McEldowney (McELDOWNEY-GP-JEM) Children of Robert Nave: 4 children Children of James Edward McEldowney: (none) General: Webster, SD, Jeanne's birthplace is about 35 miles away from Henry, SD, where JEM was born. From JEM ltr. dtd 6/28/94: Jeanne [and Robert Nave] served in India for 27 years. They had four children and were particularly interested in the economic life of the people. They introduced ways to prepare soy crops. Soy is rich in protein which is in short supply because Indians generally do not eat meat. Now a considerable industry has grown up using this product commercially. They did much the same to powder potatoes to make them available throughout the year. She is a registered nurse and had a career in Minneapolis after her years in India. =========================== E N D ===============================