The Egan Family




Mary Philomenia Egan and Daniel Leo Rock

Daniel Leo Rock
( 1896 - 1976 )
Mary Philomenia Egan
( 1895 - 1981 )
Married 8 February 1922

 

Mary was born 9 May 1895, south of Hyannis, in Grant County, Nebraska. She was the eldest child of Dan and Lizzie Egan and the first of our Egans born in the United States. She was a graduate of Hyannis High School, Class of 1914.

Leo was born 6 August, 1896 at Gettysburg, South Dakota. He was the youngest son of Michael Lally ROCK and Josephine MURPHY, and the grandson of Andrew ROCK and Sabina LALLY. His parents had a claim south of Hyannis, and Leo was a graduate of Hyannis High School in 1915. Soon after graduation, Leo joined the US Army and was stationed in France.

Mary and Leo were married on February 8, 1922, and while Leo spent much of his time with the demands of their ranching operation north of Valentine, Nebraska, Mary maintained their home in Alliance, Nebraska.

My 1st cousin, Cathy Munger, daughter of Anne G. Rock, wrote the following:

I Was thinking about Grandma Rock ... My memories of her were great. She had no indoor toilets, we had to have a spit bath because there was no bathtub. I remember her bee keeping and going out to get honey from the beehives with no protection at all. She said the bees knew her and would not sting her but we had to stay away from them.

I also remember the crab apple trees and the wonderful crabapple jelly she would cook on her coal burning stove. My mom still tries to scout out good crab apple trees to make that jelly. Grandma made the best toast. Sometimes thats all we ate for breakfast, lunch and supper when we were there, because thats what we wanted.

Her house was always a clutter with old books, newspapers, games and puzzles for the kids, do you remember the cardboard blocks that looked like bricks and the "tunnel" that was like a big slinky coverd with cloth?

I remember her rocking chair that squeaked on the wooden floor and she sang Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral to the babies when she rocked them. She had a big white rug that I thought was a bear rug but i think it was sheepskin we would lay on in front of the coal burning stove.

We always had to take a nap when it was time to watch Edge Of Night and As The World Turns so she could watch her "stories" in peace and quiet. I remember her long white hair braided and put up in a bun. I LOVED TO GO AND STAY THERE IN THE SUMMER.

As far as grandad goes I don't remember so much about him. We didnt see him real often but I loved to sit on his lap and he always had Dentyne gum to give us; he would do pony boy with us over and over.

Cathy and I used to have fabulous times at Grandmother and Grandad's. Grandmother was so delighted to see any of her grandchildren walk through the door, it was as if her entire world lit up the second the door opened. She always had neat things to play with that the adults used to call "educational toys." We just thought they were fun!

Grandad had a dry sense of humor and was a real tease. He was a good story teller and a generous man. When I was little he had me convinced that there was a pet bobcat that he kept under the bed and that would only come out when he, Grandad, was taking a nap after one of Grandmother's dinners. I don't know how old I was before I realized that it was just Grandad snoring! He loved his grandchildren and was proud of each of us and every accomplishment no matter how small.

I adored my Grandad and I used to beg him to let me come stay at the ranch with him in the summer like the boys used to do, but he would just give me a hug and say, "The ranch is no place for a young lady." Now by today's standards that would sound very sexist, but years ago Grandad was just being protective.

 

The Rose of Tralee

The pale moon was rising above the green mountains,
The sun was declining beneath the blue sea
When I strayed with my love to the pure crystal fountain
That stands in the beautiful vale of Tralee,
She was lovely and fair as the rose of the summer,
Yet t'was not her beauty alone that won me.
Oh, no! t'was the truth in her eyes ever dawning
That made me love Mary,
the Rose of Tralee.

 

 

They had seven children, the eldest of whom is my father, Daniel Leo Rock, Jr.:

Daniel Leo Rock, Jr. b. 1923 d. 1976
Bernard M. Rock b. 1924 d. 1991
Mary Catherine Rock b. private
Anne G. Rock b. private
Teresa Rock b. private
Madeline Rock b. private
William A. Rock b. private

 

 


to return to main page close this window