Francis2 McDonnell (Bridget1 Blaney, DanielA) was born on 9 July 1835 in the parish of Madawaska located in what was then Carleton Co. (now Madawaska Co.), New Brunswick, the son of Bridget Blaney and James McDonald. His godparents were his aunt, Bridget McDonald and her husband James Doll.[1]
The McDonnells left New Brunswick and settled in Ohio for a time. It is probably there that Frank married Mary Olive Brown on 9 December 1858. [2] Mary was born in Marysville, Union Co. OH on 2 September, 1836. [3] In Ohio their two oldest sons were also born. [4]
From Ohio they seemed to have moved briefly to Illinois, possibly Macon Co., which Francis' brother Henry identified as his home when Henry made his first purchase of land in Cass Co. MO in 1865. [5] In the 1870 census Illinois was given as the birthplace of Francis' daughter Joda, born c. 1867. [6] Francis and his wife probably settled in Austin in Cass County in late 1867, purchasing land there on 23 December. [7] The 1870 census identified Frank as a farmer, and already a U.S. citizen. He owned real estate worth $2400. [8] By 1880 he had acquired an additional trade: house carpenter. [9] Frank built many of the homes in Austin. [10] Late in life Frank and Mary relocated to Mill Iron, Carter Co. MT to take a homestead near that of Frank's sister Lizzie and those of other family members. In April 1917 they proved their claim to 80 acres of land under the Homestead Act, and soon after returned to Austin. [11]
Within a few months of their return in 1917 both Frank and Mary died within a few days of each other, Mary on the 4th of October at the age of 81, Frank on the 15th aged 82. They are buried together in Austin Cemetery under headstones that read "MOTHER" and FATHER."[12]
According to the 1900 census, Francis McDonnell and Mary Olive Brown had eleven children. By 1900 only six were still living. [13] Their eight known offspring are as follows:
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| 17 | i. | Richard C. McDonnell was born in Ohio on 31 August 1860. He died in Austin, Cass Co. Missouri on 2 April 1878, at the age of 17 and is buried in Austin Cemetery with two younger siblings.[14] | |
| 18 | ii. | Joshua R. McDonnell was born in Ohio c. 1863. [15] | |
| 19 | iii. | Joda E. McDonnell was born in Illinois c. 1867. [16] | |
| 20 | iv. | Mary Margaret "Maggie" McDonnell was probably born in Austin, Cass Co. MO on 4 May 1870, as calculated from her headstone in the Austin Cemetery, although the 1870 census gives her birth month as April. Maggie died on 4 September 1872 at the age of 2 years, 4 months, and 2 days. She is buried with her brothers James and Richard.[17] | |
| 21 | v. | Agnes B. McDonnell was born in Missouri c. 1873. [18] | |
| 22 | vi. | Frances Mayme McDonnell was born in Missouri on 2 January 1875. [19] She died in Casey, Montgomery Co. Kansas on 22 September 1917. [20] | |
| 23 | vii. | James W. McDonnell was born in Austin, Cass Co. MO on 20 September 1875 and died there shortly before his first birthday, on 20 August 1876. He is buried with his young siblings in Austin Cemetery. [21] | |
| 24 | viii. | Fannie H. McDonnell was born in Missouri in January 1877. [22] | |
| 25 | ix. | Francis Roland McDonnell was born in Austin, Cass Co. Missouri on 20 December 1883. [23] | |
| 26 | x. | Unknown child. | |
| 27 | xi. | Unknown child. |
