A Donlin Family History
1
A Donlin Family History
Last updated on 11 July, 2007
Please send questions and suggestions to:
Dan Jensen and Carolyn Donlin
djensen@kaweah.com
Cover photo: The Donlin homestead, Spring Township, Hand County, SD
(taken from the north).
2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1
2
3
INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................... 5
1.1
SUMMARY ..................................................................................................................................... 6
1.2
OBJECTIVE ..................................................................................................................................... 7
1.3
BACKGROUND ............................................................................................................................... 8
1.4
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .................................................................................................................. 9
REMOTE ANCESTRY ......................................................................................................................10
2.1
THE DONNELLAN NAME ...............................................................................................................10
2.2
THE MEALY NAME .......................................................................................................................11
COUNTY CLARE ..............................................................................................................................13
3.1
DONNELLAN .................................................................................................................................13
3.2
MEALY .........................................................................................................................................13
3.3
MICHAEL PATRICK DONNELLAN ..................................................................................................14
3.3.1
Which Milltown? .................................................................................................................14
3.3.2
The Mulvihills......................................................................................................................16
4
BIRTHDATES ....................................................................................................................................18
5
MASSACHUSETTS ...........................................................................................................................19
6
BRIDGET CARMODY ......................................................................................................................21
LEGACY .....................................................................................................................................................21
7
6.2
ORIGIN ..........................................................................................................................................22
6.3
THE CARMODY MIGRATION, CA. 1847–1865................................................................................23
WISCONSIN .......................................................................................................................................24
7.1
JAMES M. DONLIN ........................................................................................................................24
7.2
DELIA POWERS .............................................................................................................................26
Pat Powers ............................................................................................................................................28
7.2.2
Alice A. (Powers) Geary ......................................................................................................28
7.2.3
Mary (Powers) Hynes ..........................................................................................................29
7.3
8
DELIA AND MIKE ..........................................................................................................................30
IOWA ...................................................................................................................................................31
8.1
JOSEPH DONLIN ............................................................................................................................35
8.2
FRANK DONLIN .............................................................................................................................37
3
9
SOUTH DAKOTA ..............................................................................................................................39
10
GENE DONLIN AND FAMILY ...................................................................................................41
10.1
TILLY SCHAEFER ..........................................................................................................................41
GENE AND TILLY .......................................................................................................................................43
10.3
THE CHILDREN OF GENE AND TILLY ............................................................................................44
10.3.1
Detroit .................................................................................................................................44
10.3.2
Miller ...................................................................................................................................45
10.3.3
Phoenix................................................................................................................................46
10.3.4
Minneapolis–Saint Paul ......................................................................................................46
10.3.5
Denver .................................................................................................................................46
11
APPENDIX: DONLIN GEOGRAPHY ........................................................................................47
11.1
DONLIN PLACES............................................................................................................................47
11.2
POWERS PLACES ...........................................................................................................................47
11.3
CARMODY PLACES........................................................................................................................49
12
APPENDIX: FINDING LIVING DONLIN DESCENDANTS ...................................................50
13
APPENDIX: THE "DONELAN" VARIANT ..............................................................................51
4
1
Introduction
This document is a work in progress; it is not presumed to be final. Any
corrections, additions, or other suggestions are welcome. Please note the
date of the document. A more current copy may be available.
5
1.1 Summary
This is an account of the history of the family of Michael “Mike” Patrick
Donlin, including the family histories of his wives Bridget Carmody and Delia
Powers, with a particular interest in his son E. M. “Gene” Donlin and family.
Mike Donlin survived the Great Irish Famine as a boy in County Clare,
reported to have lived in part off sea birds and their eggs. He then emigrated
as a young man, settling in Springfield, Massachusetts, where he married his
first wife Bridget Carmody in 1862, and started a family.
Mr. And Mrs. Donlin and family moved to Lancaster, Wisconsin after the Civil
War, and lived there about a dozen years, until Bridget died in the Spring of
1877. Mr. Donlin married his second wife Delia Powers the following
Christmas Eve.
Mike and Delia moved to Plymouth County, Iowa in late 1879, soon after
their first child, Bessie, was born. It was here that the rest of their children
were born, and where his eldest son Gene was born and raised.
Mike Donlin had eighteen children between Bridget and Delia. Thirteen of
those children survived childhood. Ten lived to age 45. At least seven of
Mike’s children had children of their own.
After the Donlins had their last child, they moved to Hand County, South
Dakota, where Gene would marry Mathilda “Tilly” Schaefer and raise a
family. Gene and Tilly lived the rest of their lives in Hand County.
6
1.2 Objective
Our primary purpose in investigating the life of Mike Donlin is to learn about
the ancestry and family history of his son Gene Donlin.
We have a primary interest in Mike Donlin’s second wife Delia Powers, Gene’s
mother. On the other hand, we must contend with two facts:

Mike spent 15 of his 17 years in Massachusetts and Wisconsin married
to Bridget Carmody.

Mike had close connections with the Carmodys in Wisconsin as well as
in Massachusetts, and even later, after leaving Wisconsin.
These facts make it clear that to study Mike Donlin, we must study Bridget
Carmody and her family as well. For this reason, we have prepared a detailed
study of Bridget Carmody entitled “The Origins of Bridget Carmody”, the
conclusions and major arguments of which are also contained herein.
7
1.3 Background
We began this investigation in late 1997 with several unanswered questions
about Mike Donlin:

Where was he born?

known to be Milltown in County Clare, but there are two Milltowns
in Clare.

Where did he reside in Ireland?

Who were his siblings, and what became of them?


When did he emigrate?


Names and birth dates of two sisters known)
Thought to have been in 1857, but may have been in 1861.
When did he leave Massachusetts?

Thought to have been in 1864.
We also began with several unanswered questions about Mike’s second wife
Delia:

Where in Ireland were her parents from?

It is said that her father, William Allis?, was born in County
Limerick, Ireland, and that her mother, Catherine Carroll, was born
in Newtown, Ireland, presumably near to County Limerick. Since
hearing this, we have done little serious research.

When did her family emigrate?

Most likely between the births of their sons William and Patrick
(about 1848 to 1851).

Who were her siblings, and what became of them?

We have contacted the families of two sisters: Alice and Mary)
8
1.4 Acknowledgements
Much of what was known when we began was provided by the brothers Ray
and Vince Donlin1, Claire (Donlin) Sweeney, and the records of Bev Donlin2.
We began with Bev's records, then spoke with Ray, Vince, and Claire, each of
whom has been very helpful. Ray Donlin provided two very useful
documents:

A copy of the marriage certificate of Mike Donlin and Delia Powers.

A copy of a research report generated by the Clare Heritage Centre.3
Others contributors include, but are not limited to: Al and Louie Donlin of
Miller, South Dakota, Becky Daniels, Cletta Geary of Austin, Minnesota,
Esther Hamilton of Merrill, Iowa, Margie Malec of Summerdale, Alabama, and
John C. Mertes of LeMars, Iowa.
1
Passed away in July 2001.
2
Passed away in January 1994, before I’d ever heard the name Donlin, so I never
had an opportunity to speak with her.
3
Originally encountered in Bev Donlin's records, but thought to have been originally
in the possession of Ray and Vince Donlin.
9
2
Remote Ancestry
Mike Donlin’s parents had the surnames Donnellan and Mealy. We begin with
some background information on these names.
2.1 The Donnellan Name
The O’Donnellans were a sept of the Ui Máine. They belong, therefore,
by origin to the southeastern part of County Galway where the place
name Ballydonnellan perpetuates their connection with the district
between Ballinasloe and Loughrea. They claim descent from
Domhnallán, lord of Clan Breasail. The original castle of Ballydonnellan
is reputed to have been built by them in 936 A.D.; it was certainly
rebuilt by them in 1412 after being destroyed by fire. They are chiefly
known as ollavs or poets, many of whom are mentioned in the "Annals
of the Four Masters," the "Annals of Connacht" etc. The best known of
them was Brian Mac Owen O’Donnellan (fl. C. 1610), poet to MacWilliam
of Clanricard, whom Hyde describes as one of the last of the classic
poets. His contemporary, Rt. Rev. Nehemiah Donnellan (d. 1609),
Protestant Archmbishop of Tuam, also a Co. Galway man, translated a
great part of the New Testament into Irish. He was the direct
descendant of Chiefs of the Name, of Ballydonnellan, and ancestor of
the Donelans of Sylanmore, Tuam. The majority of the Donelans of this
line reverted to the Catholic faith. The name is quite common today in
Co. Galway and also in the adjacent counties of Clare and Mayo.
10
It is also spelt Donlan and Donlon. In Irish it is Ó Domhnalláin,
indicating descent from the Domhnallán mentioned above.4
2.2 The Mealy Name
Genealogies traditionally follow paternal lines, as do surnames, but maternal
lines contribute as much, and often more, to anyone's background.
Mike Donlin's mother was Alice Mealy.5 The Mealy name is a variation of
Malley, or O'Malley.
The O'Malleys are an ancient Irish line that originated in the province of
Connaught, specifically among the Islands along West coast of the Counties
Mayo and Galway from Achill to Inishshark.
According to ancient genealogies of Ireland, the O'Malley clan was
descended from the eldest son of the High King of Ireland, Brian Orbsen,
king of Connaught, who was killed at the battle of Dam Chluain near
Tuam, circa A.D. 388. In the Book of Rights (leabhar na g-Ceart), the
O'Malleys are listed as being tributary kings to the provincial kings of
Connaught. They were the hereditary lords of the region called Umhalls
(also spelled Umall and Umaill) which was latinised as Umallia and later
anglicized as the Owels, a territory that compromised the baronies of
Murrisk and Burrishoole. The barony of Murrisk was called Umhall
Uachtarach of Upper Owel and included the islands of Clare, Inishturk,
Caher, Inishbofin, Inishark and the smaller islands in the neighborhood,
including a multitude in Clew Bay. The barony of Burrishoole was called
Umhall Iochtarach or Lower Owel and originally included Achill. The two
4
From a book on Irish Names (source lost)
5
Spelled "Maly" on Mike Donlin's marriage certificate, but spelled "Mealy" in
Kilmacrehey Parish records.
11
baronies were referred to as 'Umhall Ui Mhaille' (territory of the
O'Malleys) or the Two Owels.
- The Life and Times of Grace O'Malley6
The "Mealy" surname of West Ireland is not the only occurrence of "Mealy".
Mealys appear to have immigrated from England, Germany, and Italy, so all
Mealys cannot be expected to descend from the Irish O'Malley line.
6
http://maley.net/maleyhome/name.htm
12
3
County Clare
3.1 Donnellan
Donnellans are recorded in West County Clare as early as 1796, when a
Cornelius Donnellan was listed on the "Flax Grower's List".7
3.2 Mealy
No Mealys, or any other O'Malley variant, was listed in the 1796 "Flax
Grower's List" for County Clare.8 There were Mealys near Milltown-Malbay in
the mid-19th Century.
The Mealy and Donnellan names both occur in a cemetery at Killeman
Township, Kilmurry-Ibrikane Parish, south of Milltown-Malbay.9 In 1855, a
Jeremiah Mealey lived in Knockanalban, adjacent to Killeman, in the same
parish. Both Killeman and Knockanalban are adjacent to Kilfarboy Parish,
wherein is Milltown Malbay, where a dozen Donnellan families lived in 1855.
Two men named John Mealy lived in Kilmanaheen Parish. They each lived in
the adjacent townlands of Furraglaun and Gortnaclohy (or Gortnaclony),
south of Ennistimon.10 Three Malley families lived in Kilfarboy Parish. Two of
these families lived in Cloghaun More, and a third lived in Kildeema North.
7
FHC Microfilm no. FHLC 1419442.
http://www.geocities.com/irishdonnellans/irishsite/results/flax.html
8
http://www.ancestry.com/search/rectype/inddbs/3732.htm
9
Memorials of the Dead, West Clare. http://www.from-
ireland.net/graves/clarewestgraves.htm
10
Griffith's Valuation, County Clare, 1855.
http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/genealogy/griffiths/griffith.htm
13
3.3 Michael Patrick Donnellan
Patrick Donnellan and his wife Alice Mealy lived in
or near Lahinch (also Lehinch), County Clare,
Ireland. They had four children as far as we know;
two sons and two daughters. One of those children
was Michael Patrick Donnellan. They appear to
have lived in the civil parish of Kilmacrehy - the
Catholic parish of Liscannor, at least during the
Famine. Church records11 show that two of
Michael's sisters were baptized there during the
Famine. These are the only records we have of
Michael's family in Ireland.
3.3.1 Which Milltown?
Michael Donlin was probably born in September 1837 in Milltown Malbay,
down the coast from Lahinch, perhaps because his parents had family there
to support his mother.
Family recollections, and more specifically Michael's obituary, state that
Michael was born in "Milltown, County Clare." The problem with this is there
are two Milltowns in County Clare. Fortunately, one Milltown, fully named
"Milltown Malbay", but also referred to as "Milltown", is much closer to
Lahinch than the other, and had about a dozen Donnellan households when
Michael was a young man. Lahinch and Milltown Malbay, seven miles apart,
might be said to be neighboring towns along the coast road. Both Lahinch
11
Baptism records for Alice and Ellen Donnellan, Liscannor Parish, County Clare,
Ireland (1846/49).
14
and Milltown Malbay were within the Ennistymon Poor Law Union during the
Famine.
In contrast, the other Milltown is on the other side of County Clare, may not
have had any Donnellan households in Michael's time, and is so insignificant
that one must wonder whether Michael would have referred to it as his place
of birth to his family in America.
A story has been passed down that Mike would collect eagle eggs as a young
man in Ireland. It turns out that men used to hang off the Cliffs of Moher to
collect sea birds and their eggs. So it appears that the word "seagull" must
have somehow changed to "eagle" as the story was passed down.12 This
story may indicate that the Donnellans lived northwest of Lahinch, toward
the cliffs.
12
Interview with Ray Donlin (son of Mike T. Donlin), August 2001.
15
3.3.2 The Mulvihills
In a Clare Heritage Centre report (dated ?), the sponsors for one of Michael's
sisters were James13 and Bridget Donnellan14. These names match a couple
that lived in Milltown Malbay at the time. This "Bridget Donnellan" in Milltown
Malbay was born Bridget Mulvihill. What is particularly interesting about the
Mulvihill name is that currently available US census indexes for 1860 indicate
that 7 of 10 Mulvihill15 households in New England were in Palmer, MA, in the
Springfield area. Michael's first wife Bridget Carmody appears to have had
relatives in Palmer.
Mulvihills in New England, 1860:
Palmer, Hampden Co, MA
7
(Mulvihill, Malvihill)
Chelsea, Suffolk, MA
1
(Mulvahill)
Dedham, Norfolk, MA
1
(Mulvehill)
Danbury, Fairfield Co. CT
1
(Mulvahill)
Who were the Mulvihills? Were they the link between Michael Donlin and
Bridget Carmody? Did Michael meet Bridget while visiting the Mulvihills in
Palmer? Did Michael reside in Palmer before getting a job at the Springfield
Armory? We have reason to believe Michael did not know Bridget from
Ireland. They were both from Clare, but Bridget was very probably from the
far South, by the River Shannon. However, there were Carmodys in Milltown
13
Michael named his first son James.
14
Clare Heritage Centre. Report dated 18 March 1999; Ref: 19485. For some reason,
other reports from the Clare Heritage Centre have not provided the all-important
surname.
15
including variants: Malvihill, Mulvahill, Mulvehill.
16
Malbay, and they may have known Bridget's family. In turn, Michael's
relatives in Milltown Malbay may have known the Carmodys there.
A minor but noteworthy coincidence: one of the brothers of Bridget Carmody
married a Hennessey. Curiously, one of the sponsors of one of the children of
James Donnellan and Bridget Mulvihill was a Hennessey.
The accumulating circumstance gives us cause to focus on the family of
James Donnellan and Bridget Mulvihill of Milltown Malbay. By comparing the
list of sponsor names, we can attempt to link together families.
Unfortunately, this method only extends our search to one more family: that
of John Donnellan and Bridget Brown16, also of Milltown Malbay.
16
Linked by sponsors with the surname “Sullivan”.
17
4
Birthdates
Michael Patrick Donlin was probably born in 1837 or 1838, though
each year from 1836 to 1840 is supported by a document as a possible birth
year. His gravestone17 says he died at age 82, implying he was born in 1836.
The 1910 census18 indicates that he was 69 years old at the time, implying
that he was born in 1840.
1837 appears to be the most likely date because (1) Michael's
obituary19 states that he was born in 1837, (2) the family Bible of Eugene
and Mathilda Donlin states that he was born in 1837, and (3) the 1870
Federal Census20 indicates that he was age 32 at the time.
1838 appears to be somewhat likely because (1) the certificate of his
first marriage21 indicates that he was age 23 in January 1862, and (2) the
1885 Iowa State Census22 indicates that he was age 46 at that time.
The 1900 census23 indicates that Michael was born in September 1839,
and that he was age 60 at the time.
17
Gravestone inscription from St Michael Cemetery, Kingsley, IA: "Mike Donlin".
18
1910 Census of the United States, Spring Township, Hand Co., SD.
19
Obituary entitled "Death of Valued Subscriber", Le Mars Globe-Post, Plymouth
County, IA.
20
1870 Federal Census, Lancaster, Grant County, WI.
21
Marriage of Michael Donlon and Bridget Carmady, Springfield, Hampden Co., MA,
16 January 1862.
22
1885 Iowa State Census; Union Township, Plymouth County, Iowa.
23
1900 Census of the United States, Garfield Township, Plymouth County, Iowa.
18
5
Massachusetts
Michael Patrick Donlin appears to have lived in Springfield, Hampden County,
Massachusetts from autumn 1861 to sometime in 1865.
It's likely that Michael had been in America only a few months when he
married Bridget Carmody in January 1862. Though Michael's obituary24 states
that he immigrated in 1857, both the 1900 census25 and the 1910 census26
state that he immigrated in 1861. This discrepancy may explain why we
haven't found Michael in the 1860 federal census.
If Michael did immigrate in autumn 1861, then it follows that he immigrated
well after the Civil War began (in April 1861). We know that he worked at the
Springfield Armory. Perhaps that was his first job in America, considering
that the state of War would have required that he do something to support
the Union when he arrived. He married Bridget Carmody27 in Springfield
during the following January (1862), so it is likely that he had been in
Springfield awhile before that wedding. Hence, we can assume that if he
lived anywhere else in Massachusetts, it was probably not for long.
24
Obituary entitled "Death of Valued Subscriber", Le Mars Globe-Post, Plymouth
County, IA.
25
1900 Census of the United States, Garfield Township, Plymouth County, Iowa.
26
1910 Census of the United States, Spring Township, Hand Co., SD.
27
Marriage of Michael Donlon and Bridget Carmady, Springfield, Hampden Co., MA,
16 January 1862.
19
It is likely that Michael worked at the Springfield Armory as a night
watchman, as mentioned in his obituary28, from 1861 or 1862 to spring
1865. The obituary states that he held this job for three years. His marriage
certificate states that he was a laborer (in January 1862), but he was in
Springfield and it was wartime so it is somewhat likely that whatever his job
was it was at the Armory. He may have chosen to move to Wisconsin once
the War ended (May 1865), as his services may no longer have been needed
by the Armory at that point in time.
28
Obituary entitled "Death of Valued Subscriber", Le Mars, Plymouth County, IA.
20
6
Bridget Carmody
6.1 Legacy
When Bridget Carmody Donlin29
died at age 37 in the Spring of
1877, she left seven children under
age 15. After 35 more years only
one of those children would still be
living. That child was her youngest
son Frank, who was a mere three
years of age when Bridget died.
Frank’s older brother Joseph was
nine when their mother died, and
Joseph had eight children to pass
his stories down to, but Joseph’s
oldest child was only 19 when he
died. Passing down family histories
can be difficult under such circumstances.
29
Photo courtesy of Esther (Donlin) Hamilton of Merrill, Iowa.
21
6.2 Origin
According to her headstone, Bridget was born in Kilmore, County Clare,
Ireland on 11 April 1839. We have determined that this Kilmore is in the
Parish of Killokennedy, just North of Limerick.
Bridget's marriage certificate30 indicates that her parents were John and
Catherine Carmody. A couple matching these names lived in Lancaster,
Wisconsin (where Bridget resided) in 1870 and 1880. They were in the
expected age range31, so it is very likely they were Bridget's parents. A John
and Catherine Carmody were also in Springfield in 185732, five years before
Bridget's marriage to Michael Patrick Donlin in that same city.
30
Marriage of Michael Donlon and Bridget Carmady, Springfield, Hampden Co., MA,
16 January 1862.
31
1870 Census: John was 60 and Catharine was 55.
32
Birth record of Mary Carmody, 31 August 1857.
22
6.3 The Carmody Migration, ca. 1847–1865
The story begins in the vicinity of Kilmore, County Clare, Ireland at sometime
during the Great Famine, when James Carmody, one of Bridget Carmody’s
uncles, departed for Massachusetts. By 1850, James and his family are in
Chicopee, Hampden County. After a couple more years, James and family
move to New York.
It is likely that Bridget’s parents John and Catherine Carmody emigrated with
James Carmody, but we have yet to document their presence in America
before 1857. At that time, they appear in Springfield, Massachusetts.
James moved his family once more in 1854–45, this time to Lancaster, in
Grant County, Wisconsin.
By 1860, James Carmody’s nephew Thomas Carmody arrived in Lancaster
from County Clare. James’ brother (and Tom’s father) Michael arrived in
Boston from Broadford, County Clare at some undetermined time.
During the Civil War, John’s daughter Bridget marries Mike Donlin from
western Clare. By the end of the war, Mike and Bridget have a family of their
own, and they head off to Lancaster with Bridget’s family to live near her
Uncle James and Cousin Tom. Perhaps Michael and his family move from
Massachusetts to Wisconsin at about the same time.
23
7
Wisconsin
Michael and Bridget raised their family in the Lancaster, Wisconsin area for
over ten years, until Bridget died at the age of 37. They had seven children
that we know of. All but one, a girl named Alice, survived Bridget. Their two
remaining daughters died of diphtheria as children.
Michael married Delia H. Powers eight months after Bridget died. Delia was
age 18 at the time, just three years older than Michael's son James.
7.1 James M. Donlin
We know very little about the first child of Michael and Bridget. His name was
James M. Donlin, also known as "Jim". He was born November 10, 1862.33
He may not have used the “Donlin” spelling, as his father was illiterate, and
several spellings appear in documents that refer to the Donlins. The “Donlin”
spelling may not have been established by the time Jim left home (1877-78).
Jim is known to have left home at the age of 15. He turned 15 in November,
1877, months after his mother Bridget died. It may be that his departure was
precipitated somehow by his father's remarriage on Christmas Eve 1877.
Mike Donlin received word that his eldest son Jim had died in Stillwater,
Minnesota immediately after Mike and the family had constructed their first
barn at their homestead in Spring Township, Hand County, SD, and were
preparing for a dance. Mike is reported to have said "bury him where he
died."34 In light of this, it is plausible that Mike and Jim parted on bad terms.
Given the reported location of Jim's death, it appears that he may have died
33
Birth record of James M. Donlin, Springfield, Hampden County, MA, 11-10-1862.
34
Interview with Clare (Donlin) Sweeney.
24
in prison. Hence, Mike may have said what he did out of a sudden shock or
disappointment, rather than a long-standing feud. That said, Mike and Jim
might have had significant differences to have stayed apart for so long, yet
their separation may have been purely circumstantial.
We paid the Washington County Historical Society to perform a record search
for a James Donlin in the Stillwater area for the decades preceding 1910.
Though the researcher had a variety of records at his disposal, and stated
that death records of prisoners would have been generated, still he found
nothing. In light of this outcome, it seems doubtful that we'll ever find
evidence of the place and time of Jim Donlin's death.
25
7.2 Delia Powers
Delia H. (Powers) Donlin was born in Troy, New
York, probably on 19 June 1859, to Irish
immigrants Michael and Elizabeth Alice (Allis)
Powers. They married and started their family
before they left Ireland, so it is likely they were
born and raised in the same part of Ireland.
Michael was born in County Limerick, and Elizabeth
was born in Newtown to William Allison (or Ellis,
Allis) and Catherine Carroll35. There are five or six
Newtowns in Ireland. The closest to County
Limerick, and arguably the most prominent Newtown in Ireland, is just
across the county line, in County Cork, on the “N20” highway between
Limerick and Cork.
The marriage certificates of Delia and also her sister Mary indicate that their
mother’s maiden name was Brigetta Alice. Their sister Alice’s marriage
certificate, however, indicates their mother was “Elizabeth Alles”. We have
found the name Elizabeth (and Eliza) in three censuses, but we have not
found Brigetta. The 1860 Federal census states that Michael and Elizabeth
had each been married only once, and that Elizabeth had ten children. This
and other evidence makes it clear that the name “Brigetta” must have been
an alias for Elizabeth.
35
Death record of Elizabeth Powers, Dubuque County, Iowa. Provided by Becky J.
Daniels. It seems peculiar that a Catholic such as Elizabeth would name her first (or
second?) son William, but now that we know that her father’s name was William, it
does not seem so strange.
26
We do not know what name Delia’s middle initial “H” represents, but it may
have been “Helen”, the first name of Delia’s youngest daughter.
Given that we have all this right, we can say that Delia’s father Michael
Powers was a carpenter36, and that the Powers moved from Ireland to Troy,
New York around 1850.37
Delia’s mother is remembered to have had an uncanny ability to detect
where in Ireland an immigrant was from by listening to the person speak.38
Delia’s father Michael Powers appears to have died some time between 1870
and 1885, whereas Delia’s mother lived until 1912.
It appears that the Powers moved from Troy, New York to Waterloo, Grant
County, Wisconsin sometime between 1865 and 1870. They were found
living in Waterloo in the 1870 federal census.39
It is likely that all the Powers children moved with their parents to Wisconsin.
The only unknown was William, and given that he was given a significant
place in his mother’s will, he must have been close to her. There is evidence
that at least three of the children later made the move to Iowa with their
mother (and possibly their father): Pat, Alice, and Delia.
36
1860 Federal census for Troy, NY.
37
1860 Federal Census (Troy, NY). 1865 New York State Census (Troy, NY). 1885
Iowa State Census (Elkhorn Township).
38
I believe I heard this from Vince Donlin. Claire Sweeney and Ray Donlin have said
they never heard anything in particular about Delia’s mother. More recently, Clare
told me a similar account: Delia’s mother could tell where an Irish immigrant
originated by their physical features.
39
Page 15, records 97–104.
27
7.2.1 Pat Powers
George Patrick Powers appears to have
remained a bachelor, and we have little more
than a photo of him. We do know that his
mother lived with him in Iowa, and we know
that he was a godfather of three Donlins. His
presence at the baptism of George Patrick
Donlin in March 1887 is the last we hear of Pat,
though his photograph may have been taken
later.
7.2.2 Alice A. (Powers) Geary
Alice married Will Geary when she was 16 years old. Alice and Will had
eleven children. Their marriage ended in divorce after 26 years. The children
were divided between their mother and father and lived separate lives. Alice
lived to age 86 or 87.
Alice’s oldest son Dennis, of Vermillion, South Dakota, was known to be a
good friend of Mike and Delia’s son Gene.40 Dennis and his first wife Amelia
had two children, Bernice and Wilson. Bernice married Lawrence O’Neill in
Des Moines, Iowa, and had four children.
Alice’s next son, George, married Bertha Olson, probably settled in Nebraska,
and had a son Herbert who had eight children of his own.
40
According to Claire Sweeney.
28
Alice’s oldest daughter, Mary, married Daniel Driscoll in Wayne, Nebraska,
and had six children.
7.2.3 Mary (Powers) Hynes
Delia’s older sister Mary was married to Patrick Hynes in Grant County on 21
April 1879. Patrick’s parents were Thomas Hines and Catharina Fannau.41
This marriage occurred just before the Donlins (and presumably the Powers)
moved to Iowa.
Patrick and Mary settled in Montana. They had eight children: Thomas, Mary
“Molly”, Elizabeth “Bess”, Katherine, Phillip, William, Harry, and Alise. Harry
was a Jeweler. He did not marry, and he died in Butte, Montana. Bess did not
marry either. She worked as a housekeeper at Fort Harrison, Montana, and
lived in nearby Helena. Katherine married Arthur Nelson and had a daughter,
Catherine in Helena.
Mary’s daughter Molly married William Daniels in Anaconda, Montana, and
had three children. Molly’s granddaughter Becky has been a valuable source
of Powers information.
41
Grant Co., WI marriage records, Bk. 9, Pg. 54.
29
7.3 Delia and Mike
Delia married Mike Donlin in Lancaster, Wisconsin on Christmas Eve, 1877.
At age 18, Delia became a stepmother of six children, and she would
contribute eleven more children to the household over the next quarter
century. In total, Delia managed a household of seventeen children, though
there were never more than ten under her care at once. Delia also managed
many of Mike’s official affairs, because he was illiterate (then a matter of
British policy for Irish Catholics).
Their first child, Elizabeth “Bessie” Agatha, was born in Grant County,
Wisconsin. Soon after Bessie was born, the Donlins set out, without Mike’s
oldest son James (nearly 17 at the time), for Plymouth County, Iowa.
Mike and Delia would have ten more children in Plymouth County during the
27 years they lived there. Next, they moved to Hand County, South Dakota.
Understandably, none of Mike’s surviving children from his previous marriage
came along to South Dakota. Frank, the youngest, was 33, and married with
two children. Within six years, Frank would be the sole surviving child of Mike
and Bridget Donlin, as James, Joseph, and William all died in the period
1907–1912. Aside from Frank, none of their seven children lived to age 45.
Mike and Delia were married 40 years. Delia survived Mike by 14 months.
They were buried alongside each other and their first child Bessie in Kingsley,
Iowa, in the same county where six more of his children (two of them
Delia’s) had already passed away. Mike and Delia had found a measure of
prosperity in South Dakota and lived out their lives there, but perhaps Iowa
was still home.
30
8
Iowa
Mike and Delia Donlin left for Iowa in autumn 1879 with their newborn
daughter Bessie and Mike's surviving children from his previous marriage,
except for Jim.
Joseph, then age twelve, was the oldest child to come along. They settled
first near Le Mars:
"In the fall of 1879 he came to Plymouth County, where he was
employed by M. A. Moore and Mr. Lorring, on a ranch as foreman near
this city, which they owned."
42
Sometime in 1880 or possibly early 1881, Mike Donlin is reported to have
thought his three sons, ages about 13, 8, and 6, must have been getting to a
farm hand's age. Mike took his family over the Big Sioux River to farm in Elk
Point in the Dakota Territory. They must not have lasted more than a year
there, as they were washed out by the Missouri Floods of 1881:
"As his sons grew older and were able to help with the heavier work,
he decided to start farming for himself, and bought a farm about a
mile from Elk Point, S. D., and was caught in the great Missouri
overflow of 1881. During this flood he lost practically all his property,
and nearly lost his family. He was so disappointed with Dakota that he
came back to Iowa in the fall of '81, …"
42
43
"Death of a Valued Subscriber", Le Mars Globe-Post, Monday, December 2, 1918 -
Obituary of Michael Patrick Donlin
43
"Death of a Valued Subscriber"
31
On March 27, 1881, the Missouri River suddenly burst from its icy
winter covering and overflowed its banks for 1,000 miles. The icy
waters paused for nothing. Water up to six feet deep left citizens to
watch helplessly from rooftops and hilltops as the mighty river
ruthlessly washed away 350 miles of river bottom from Pierre to
Vermillion, and whole villages were trapped and drowned in just two
hours. But reaction was swift, and the surviving towns and individuals
came quickly to the rescue in various manners. As one witness put it,
"Each citizen has apparently vied with the other in devoting his energy
to the relieving of the suffering of hundreds and in days in the far
distant future it will be a proud recollection for all who took part in the
rescue."44
Flood (Big Sioux River) -- Winter began in mid-October 1880. The total
winter was very cold and an accumulation of two to four feet of snow
covered the state. When the ice broke up in March, the Big Sioux River
Basin was flooded. Sioux Falls was especially hit hard. The river was
recorded as rising 16 feet in 24 hours on March 20, 1881. The rapid
rise brought widespread destruction throughout the Sioux Falls Area.
Approximately 100 buildings in north Sioux Falls were washed away.
Three major bridges were also washed out in a 15 minute period.
Estimated damage was $150,000 to the Sioux Falls area. Below the
falls, farms along the river suffered heavy flood damage. Large
amounts of grain, livestock and personal possessions lost to the flood.
Many of the railroad bridges and wagon bridges were washed away.
The only means of travel was by foot or horseback. No lives were
reported lost.45
44
University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD.
45
South Dakota Department of Public Safety, Office of Emergency Management,
Hazard Mitigation http://www.oem.sd.gov/Mitigation/hmgp/past_9.htm
32
The Donlins returned to Plymouth County, Iowa, and returned to working on
the land of other farmers. Mike would not venture back to homestead in
Dakota until nearly 25 years had passed.
"… when an epidemic of diptheria broke out in the spring of 82, he lost
three of his children."
46
Months later in Iowa, Bridget's two remaining daughters and Delia's newborn
daughter Ellen Theresa died of diphtheria. Bessie, age two at the time,
survived to adulthood, though she only lived to age 38.
"For one year after this he farmed in Elkhorn township, and moved to
Union township, and lived on the old Hart farm for two years."
47
According to this account, the Donlins lived in Union Township from autumn
1883 to about the same time in 1885. The 1885 Iowa State Census
corroborates the account, indicating that the Donlins lived in the SW quarter
of the NW quarter of section 27. This is probably where Eugene and Rose
were born.
By mid-1885, Joseph was age 17 and out on his own. William and Francis
were still at home with their half-siblings Elizabeth and Eugene Michael.
Eugene Michael was Mike and Delia's first of five sons to survive childhood.
Another son named Eugene did not survive childhood.48 Eugene Michael is
said to have been born "Michael Eugene" and later changed his name to
Eugene Michael, E. M. or Gene for short, to avoid any association with the
Methodist Church (initials MED). However, the 1885 census indicates that he
was already called "Eugene" just a year after his birth.
46
"Death of a Valued Subscriber", Le Mars Globe-Post, Monday, December 2, 1918 -
Obituary of Michael Patrick Donlin
47
"Death of a Valued Subscriber"
48
Interview with Claire (Donlin) Sweeney, January 2002. (?)
33
"He then returned to Elkhorn township and remained seven years."
49
The Donlins lived in Elkhorn Township from 1885/6 to 1892/3. This is where
George and Mike were probably born.
"Mr. Donlin purchased a farm in Garfield township. He found that his
160 acre farm was not enough for him and and he again settled on the
old Lorring ranch, renting it, for five years."
50
The Donlins lived near Le Mars for five years, from 1892/3 to spring 1897.
Arthur was born during this period.
"Then he removed to his old farm in Garfield in spring of 1897. He
stayed there improving the land and property."
51
The Donlins lived in Garfield Township from spring 1897 to 1906. During this
time, Glen Marie, Leo, and Helen were born.
"Finding that he required more land, he removed to Hand County, South
Dakota, onto a two section farm."
49
"Death of a Valued Subscriber"
50
"Death of a Valued Subscriber"
51
"Death of a Valued Subscriber"
52
"Death of a Valued Subscriber"
52
34
8.1 Joseph Donlin
As stated above, Joseph Donlin was on his own by age 17. Perhaps he left
home to work near Marcus, nearby in Cherokee County.
Obituary:
SAD DEATH AT MERRILL, IOWA.
… Joseph Donlin was born in Grant County, Wis., July 13, 1867,
coming to Marcus, Ia., with his parents in the early eighties. He
continued to live there, excepting two years spent at Brownsville,
Minn., until coming here two years ago and settling on a farm
southwest of Adaville. He was married March 4, 1890, to Miss Martha
Woodall of Marcus, Ia., who with the following children, survive him:
Nellie, Ina, Mae, Jay, Will, Myra and Selina, the latter a little over two
years of age. There also survive his father and stepfather53, Mr. and
Mrs. Mike Donlin of Orient, S. D.; his brothers William, of Le Mars, Ia.,
and Frank of Merrill, Ia.; his half sisters, Mrs. A. C. Dugan of Canada
and Mrs. Dill of Orient, S. D.; also five half brothers, Eugene, George,
Mike, Arthur and Leo Donlin, of the same place…
54
Joseph's wife Martha was about seven months pregnant when he died. The
baby to be born, Albert H. Donlin, would not live beyond 18 months.
The obituaries of Joseph and his wife indicate that they resided in
Brownsville, MN for two years some time before January 1909. Their son
William is reported to have been born in Barnesville, MN in 1903. Joseph’s
older brother Jim, who is said to have died at Stillwater, MN, was still alive at
53
"stepfather" should read "stepmother".
54
"Sad Death at Merrill, Iowa" - Obituary of Joseph Donlin
35
the time. Did Joseph ever meet Jim in Minnesota? Joseph left no indication
whether Jim had anything to do with Joseph's residence in Minnesota.55
Brownsville is on the Mississippi River, about a hundred miles downstream
from Stillwater. Barnesville is near Fargo.
It is said that Mike Donlin received a message that James had died in 1906
or 1907. Who sent the message? Could it possibly have been Joseph?
It is interesting that in contrast to Eugene, who allegedly56 shunned the
Methodist Church enough to change his name, Joseph married a Methodist.
This is reported to have created some tension in the Donlin family. Joseph
was not a church-going Catholic, though he was given a Catholic funeral
service. His children, who were young when Joseph died, lived as
Methodists.57
55
Interview with Esther (Donlin) Hamilton, Jan 18, 2002. The 1900 Census for
Brownsville (Houston Co.) and Barnesville (Clay Co.) might be looked into.
56
The 1885 Iowa State Census reports that his name was already “Eugene Michael”
at a pre-verbal age.
57
Interview with Esther (Donlin) Hamilton, Jan 18, 2002.
36
8.2 Frank Donlin
Frank was known to visit the Donlins in Hand County, South Dakota
occasionally. He is remembered fondly by them.
In 1885, Frank was just a 11 year-old boy and living in Union Township with
his father and stepmother. By 1900, Mike and Delia were in Garfield
Township outside Kingsley, and Frank was in Elkhorn Township, just to the
west. By 1911, Frank had settled in Merrill, which is where he remained for
the rest of his life.
37
Obituary - Nov 9, 1950:
Frank Donlin, 77, Longtime Resident of Merrill Expires
Merrill, Ia. - Special: Funeral services for Frank Donlin, 77, longtime
resident who died Thursday at his home after a two-year illness, will
be held at 9 a. m. Monday at the Church of the Assumption here. Rev.
Lloyd Carel will officiate. The Wiltgen funeral home of LeMars will
direct burial in St. Joseph’s cemetery.
Mr. Donlin was born September 24, 1873, in Lancaster county, Wis.
He moved to Merrill when a boy.58 He farmed in the Merrill vicinity for
many years before retiring and coming to Merrill. Mr. Donlin married
Mary Sitzman September 27, 1901.
Survivors are the widow; two sons, Lester of Merrill and Joseph of
LeMars; five brothers, George and Leo, both of Mildred, Mont., E.M. of
Miller, S.D., Michael of Portage, Wis., and Arthur of Detroit; three
sisters, Mrs. Rose Dill of Dunkirk, N. Y., Mrs. Helen Bailey of Detroit
and Mrs. Marie Week59 of Mount Angel, Ore., and four grandchildren.
58
Frank almost certainly moved around the Plymouth County area with his parents
before settling in the Merrill area. He was in Elkhorn Township in 1900.
59
Vince Donlin appears to have corrected “Marie Week” to read “Marie Meek”.
38
9
South Dakota
The Donlins left Iowa for South Dakota in 1906. Bridget's sons who had come
to Iowa stayed in Iowa, as they were each well into adulthood, and had
established their own lives there. Within about a year, word of Jim's death
would reach the family from Minnesota, and Joseph and William would pass
away within five more years. Only Frank would continue to live in Iowa past
1912.
When Michael and family moved to South Dakota, Bessie was age 27, and
had probably already married and moved to Canada. Her husband, a Mr. A.
C. Dugan, had very likely been raised in Plymouth County, Iowa, so it follows
that she was probably married there. We know that she was still living with
her parents in June 1900, and that she was married and living in Canada by
January 1911.60
This family photo, taken
around 1915, may have
been prompted by a
visit from Bessie. The
only living child of
Michael not in that
photo was Frank, then
in Merrill, Iowa.
60
"Sad Death at Merrill, Iowa" - Obituary of Joseph Donlin.
39
In mid-1906, Gene was age 23 and George was 19. Each was old enough to
have settled in Iowa, but they moved with their parents to South Dakota. It
would probably be more realistic to say this was Gene's venture as much as
that of his father. Mike Donlin, age 68, would live about a dozen years in
Spring Township, then he would be buried back in Iowa next to his daughter
Bessie (as would Delia). In contrast, Gene had his entire professional and
family life ahead of him, and he lived out that life in Hand County, and he
was the first Donlin to be buried in Hand County.
George sold off his Hand County land in May 1918 and took a job with a
machine company overseas.61 Later, he farmed in Montana. Michael worked
on roads for Hand County, and lived in a company trailer.62 Art was a
sergeant in the quartermasters’ corps at age 24, and later co-founded a
business in Detroit painting auto factories, gas stations, and other large
structures. Both Michael and George would eventually work for Art’s
business. The youngest brother Leo was eighteen when their father died, and
probably worked on the farm for several years (the farm was sold off in
about 1924), before moving to Montana.
Rose was Gene’s closest sibling, in terms of age. Rose married George Dill,
had a family in Orient, and later settled in New York. Gene had two much
younger sisters: Glen Marie Meek and Helen Baily. Helen settled in the
Detroit area, and had three children.
61
"Death of a Valued Subscriber"
62
Ray Donlin
40
10
Gene Donlin and Family
Eugene Michael Donlin was born in Union Township, near Kingsley, Plymouth
County, Iowa, on 12 June 1883. The Donlin kids in the household at that
time were Joseph (16), William (10), Frank (9), and Bessie (4). The Donlins
had seen hard times in Iowa, but the worst was over.
Gene spent his entire youth (23 years) in Plymouth County, Iowa, and went
on to spend his entire adulthood in Hand County, South Dakota.
Though Gene almost certainly began his working life helping his father at
farming, he was also an auctioneer early in his years in South Dakota.63
10.1 Tilly Schaefer
Gene married Tilly Schaefer from nearby Polo about three years after the
Donlins arrived in South Dakota.
Tilly was born in Westphalia, Germany, though she had lived all but four of
her years in Polo. Her family was from Kreis (County) Büren in eastern
Westphalia. Her father Carl Schaefer was born in Wünnenburg, and her
mother Anna Marie Schaefers was born in nearby Hegensdorf64. Kreis Büren
has been part of Westphalia since the Duchy of Westphalia emerged from
medieval Saxony in 1180. The Saxons were, of course, one of the Germanic
(Frankish) peoples that invaded the northern Roman Empire in the 5th
Century.
63
Orient Business Directory, 1909.
64
Anne Marie’s Schaefers (Scheiffers) line has been traced back five generations in
Hegensdorf, as far back as about 1689.
41
Tilly’s parents Carl and Anna Marie did not speak English, but they came
across as very friendly people.65 They spent their last days in the home of
their youngest child Anna in Orient. Claire Sweeney remembers that Anna
always had plenty of sweet things to eat. This was before Anna married Pete
Schlechter (at age 32).
The Schaefer family is a large one. Tilly had three sisters and two brothers,
and many cousins. Her oldest sister Sophia married Anton Hardes and had
eleven children and 39 grandchildren. Anna and Pete Schlechter had seven
children. Tilly’s brother Francis and his wife Mary had eight children, and her
brother Anton and his wife Rose had six.
It is worth noting that, where Gene’s siblings settled outside South Dakota,
Tilly had several siblings with large families of their own in the Polo area. In
addition, Tilly had many cousins in Hand County, where Gene’s only known
cousins were the Gearys of Iowa.66
65
Claire Sweeney’s recollection.
66
Delia’s sister Alice married Will Geary in Plymouth County and had nine children.
Gene was known to have visited with Alice’s oldest son Dennis on occasion.
42
10.2 Gene and Tilly
Gene and Tilly had their own
land near his parents’ land by
1910. Perhaps the land was a
gift given at the time they
were married.
Life was hard for Gene and
Tilly and their children, though
they got an ostensibly good
start.
After marrying in 1909, Gene and Tilly had received the land complete with
new buildings67, but they were to find the land itself inhospitable. Their land
was located on a formation called “Bald Mountain”, one of the highest spots
in Hand County, and water was scarce. They dug thirteen wells, but never hit
water. So, after nearly seven years on the land, they left for Howell
Township68.
In contrast, Mike and Delia’s land has a spring, which is evident from the rich
growth where their house once was.
Gene and Tilly became tenants, occasionally moving from farm to farm. By
early 1930, Gene was a railroad laborer in Miller.69 They finally caught a
break when, later in the Depression, Gene was elected Hand County
Registrar of Deeds. After Gene, Tilly was also elected to this position.
67
Claire Sweeney
68
Claire Sweeney says they moved in early Spring 1916 (March or April).
69
1930 Federal Census
43
10.3 The Children of Gene and Tilly
Gene and Tilly Donlin had thirteen children over their first 22 years of
marriage. During their years70 in Spring Township (west/southwest of
Orient), they had Bert, Al, Joe, Claire, and Betty. They then moved to Howell
Township, east of Polo, where they had Vera71, Irene, Paul, and Louie. Next,
they moved to Wolf Creek, at the present site of Lake Louise, where Mary
and Edith were born. Their next child, Mike, was born in Ree Heights, their
next residence. Finally, their youngest child, Chuck, was born in Miller.
Four of the Donlin boys served in World War II (Al, Joe, Paul, and Louie), and
two served in the Korean War (Mike and Chuck).
10.3.1
Detroit
Bert left home at age 20, after the Donlins had moved to Miller. This was
after the stock market crash, at the onset of the Great Depression. He first
went to New York, and stayed there briefly until he found work in Detroit.
We haven’t figured out who among the Donlins was in Detroit first, but we
can say that Bert’s Uncle Art Donlin and Aunt Helen (Donlin) also settled in
Detroit. Bert’s little brother Chuck and sisters Vera, Irene, and Mary would
also settle in Detroit. Claire and her family lived in Detroit for seven years,
and Louie lived there briefly. It appears that Detroit was the place to be.
70
Seven years, according to Claire Sweeney. Nine according to Al Donlin.
71
Vera may possibly have been born in Spring Township.
44
10.3.2
Miller
Gene and Tilly’s second child Al has lived his entire life in Hand County,
outside of serving in World War II, and a trip or two. He has made a good
living as a horse trader, and is still strong, sharp, and mobile in his nineties,
though a bit hard of hearing.
Gene and Tilly’s other kids who stayed in Hand County were Joe, Louie, and
Edith.
Joe did not marry until his last fortnight of life, and had no children.
Louie married Bev Fulton, who was born in Texas, and raised in Texas till
moving to Miller as a teenager. Louie and Bev were fairly prolific, especially
with regard to girls. They started with a son, Mike, then had six girls: Kathy,
Mary, Carolyn, Lisa, Maureen, and Pegeen. All these children were born and
raised in Miller, graduating from Miller High. Mike and Kathy have settled and
had families in the Miller area. Mary, Lisa, and Pegeen married and have
settled in the Twin Cities of Minnesota. Lisa and Pegeen are parents, and
Mary is well occupied as an aunt. Maureen is raising a family in Saint Louis,
and Carolyn is doing the same in San José, California.
Edith married Bob Schroeder, and had four sons: Steve, Alan, Pat, and Greg.
Steve remained to work as a general practitioner in Miller, and his younger
brothers moved to Sioux Falls.
45
10.3.3
Phoenix
Claire, Gene and Tilly’s first daughter, was age 23 when she married Tom
Sweeney in Miller. After several years in Miller, they moved to Mitchell, the
Sioux Falls, and then to Minneapolis in 1938, where they lived for 13 years
and had their three children: Colleen, Tommy, and Kitty. After Minneapolis,
they lived in Detroit for seven years, then finally they moved to Phoenix
(1958). They all reside in Arizona, though Colleen and her husband Jim
spend the warm half of the year in County Galway, Ireland.
10.3.4
Minneapolis–Saint Paul
Paul Donlin served in World War II, and married Bette Egan near the end of
the war. They settled in Minneapolis–Saint Paul, and have three daughters:
Judy, Jane, and Janet. Paul is an attorney. Paul and Bette winter in Phoenix.
As mentioned before, three of Louie and Bev’s daughters have settled in the
Twin Cities, as well as Chuck and Marge’s son Kevin and his family.
10.3.5
Denver
The second youngest, Mike Donlin, married Anne Fountain and settled in
Denver, Colorado. They had one child, Eugene, and Anne had a number of
children from a previous marriage. Mike served in the Korean War (as did
Chuck), and passed away in Colorado at age 64.
46
11
Appendix: Donlin Geography
11.1 Donlin Places
Places known to Michael Patrick Donlin and his ancestors.

Ireland
o
o
County Clare

Milltown Malbay

Lahinch

Cliffs of Moher
County Galway

Springfield, Massachusetts

Grant County, Wisconsin
o


Lancaster
Plymouth County, Iowa
o
Le Mars
o
Garfield Township
o
Union Township
o
Kingsley
South Dakota
o
Elk Point
11.2 Powers Places
Places known particularly to Delia Powers, her parents, and her children.

Ireland
o
County Limerick
o
County Cork

Newtown
47


New York
o
Dunkirk (Rose Dill)
o
Troy
Wisconsin
o
Colombia County (Mike T. Donlin)

o
Grant County


Pardeeville
Waterloo Township (between Potosi and Cassville)
South Dakota
o
o
Hand County

Spring Township

Howell Township (Gene Donlin)

Wolf Creek, Greenleaf Township (Gene Donlin)

Ree Heights (Gene Donlin)

Miller (Gene Donlin)
Faulk County

Orient

San Francisco, California (Helen Donlin-Baily)

Sioux City, Iowa (Helen Donlin-Baily)

Illinois (George P. Donlin)
o
Kankakee
o
Kewanee

Detroit, Michigan

Montana
o
Broadview (Leo Donlin)
o
Mildred (Leo & George Donlin)
o
Miles City (Leo Donlin)

Bremerton, Washington (Glen Marie Meek)

Milden, Saskatchewan (Bessie Dugan)
48
11.3 Carmody Places
Places known to Bridget Carmody and her children in particular.

Plymouth County, Iowa
o

Merrill (Joseph and Frank Donlin)
Cherokee County, Iowa (Joseph Donlin and family)
o
Marcus
49
12
Appendix: Finding Living Donlin Descendants
It is likely that a John and a James Donnellan found in the records of Milltown
Malbay, County Clare72 were uncles of Michael. Any of their children would
have then been Michael’s cousins. They provide us with a large list of names
and dates that can be used to identify living relatives, though such relatives
would be distant (third cousins of Michael's grandchildren).
The descendants of Michael’s siblings would be closer than those of his
uncles, but they may be harder to find and identify. We know the names of
his sisters Alice and Ellen. It has been said that Michael immigrated to
America with a brother and two sisters. Were the sisters Alice and Ellen?
Those two would have been very young at the time, but possibly old enough
to emigrate under the care of their brother(s). We may soon know that
Michael had a brother named James who immigrated to America. If we can
determine the name of Michael’s brother, presuming such a brother ever
came to America, that brother would probably be much easier to track than
Michael’s sisters.
Michael may have had a half-brother named Patrick. It is interesting that his
father and mother didn’t have any baptisms recorded after 1849, but then a
Patrick Donnellan had a child named Patrick with a wife named Bridget in
1853. This Patrick, like Alice and Ellen, would have been too young to
emigrate on his own in 1861, but he may have possibly gone under Michael’s
care. However, there was ample time between Michael’s birth and 1846 for
several brothers and sisters to be born – not to mention the years
immediately before Michael’s birth.
72
Clare Heritage Centre, Report dated 27 November, 2001; Ref: 19485.
50
13
Appendix: The "Donelan" Variant
The "Donelan" spelling is a common, and relatively correct, variant of
"Donnellan".
There was a Thomas Donelan in Burr Oak Township of Winneshiek County,
Iowa who was about 8 years older than Michael Patrick Donlin. Thomas was
born in County Clare on 17 March 1829, and Married Mary Ann Begly (also
born in County Clare, ca. 1835) in 1856. He died in Burr Oak Township and
was buried in St. Agnes Cemetery at Plymouth Rock in Winneshiek County.
A John Nicholas Gossman, who died in Decorah, Winneshiek County, IA in
1941, married a Katherine Mary Kate Donelan.73
Burr Oak is 98 miles from Lancaster, WI.
The 1860 census for Chicopee, Hampden County, MA includes a Thomas and
Ellen Begley.
It occurred once in the 1860 census in Boston, but not in Hampden County.
However, the "Donolan" spelling was used once by Michael Patrick74 and once
by a James Donolan who married in Springfieeld.75
The "Donelan" spelling was also used by a Thomas Donelan in Erin, Rice
County, MN in 1900. He was born in Wisconsin in April 1861, and his wife
73
Gene Pool Individual records, Ancestry.com.
74
Alice Donolan born to Michael and Bridget Donolan in Springfield on 15 October
1864.
75
Son of Patrick and Sally Donolan; married to Catherine Hanrahan in Springfield on
18 October, 1863.
51
Mary was also born in Wisconsin. Their children were born in Minnesota
beginning in February 1895.76
The "Donelan" spelling was also used in several other Iowa locations, notably
Dubuque. In 1860, a James B. Donelan and Bridget Donelan were living in
different households. There was a J. B. Donelan (presumably James B.
Donelan) in Dubuque in 1870. A James Donnellan from Dubuque married in
Grant County, WI on March 3, 1886. The parents of this James Donnellan
were James and Eliza Donnellan, presumably of Dubuque, though this James
was born in Pittsburgh, PA.
A Michael Donelan is buried in Alton Twp., Waseca County, MN. He was born
on 8 September 1818 and died on 13 May 1889.77
76
1900 Federal Census.
77
Minnesota Cemetery Inscription Index, Ancestry.com.
52