About the Descendants of Robert and Rosanna (McCrystal) McCauley

In my last post, I wrote about Robert and Rosanna (McCrystal) McCauley of Plum Creek Township, Mitchell County, Kansas.   Now I'd like to write about their children and and grandchildren.

Robert and Rosanna came to the Port of New York in 1870 and then went directly to Illinois, where they stayed for a short time before moving on to Mitchell County, Kansas in 1871.   This is the same route followed by Robert's brother, John McCauley, when he came to America.    It would be plausible to think that there must have been other McCauley relatives in Illinois, but I have not been able to discover that connection at this writing.   John McCauley was married three times.   He and his first wife, Mary, were married in Ireland before they immigrated to American in 1855.    It would also appear that the brothers had some financial means to pay for their families passage and to purchase farms in Kansas.

Robert and Rosanna built what was described by my Grandmother, Mildred McCauley Corbin Clark, as a "substantial" stone house on their 165-acre farm in Lulu Township.   They raised their children there.   The first born was Michael McCauley, born February 28, 1871 on the new farmstead.   It is not known why he died in infancy, but he died that same year.

The second child was my great grandfather, Samuel McCauley, March 5, 1872 on the farm.  I think I have mentioned earlier that the Union Pacific Railroad went through the farm of John McCauley and very near the farm of Robert and Rosanna McCauley.  It was work on this railroad that brought many members of the Lemon Family first to Concordia, Cloud County, Kansas and then Beloit, Mitchell County, Kansas.   I have never heard that Samuel McCauley worked on the Union Pacific, but it is definitely how he met his future wife, Lucy Mae Lemon.  Lucy Mae was working as a laundress and seamstress for Union Pacific railroad workers.    They were married on January 2, 1896 at Beloit, Mitchell County, Kansas.    They were not married in the Catholic Church but at the courthouse by a judge.  So far as is known, they never had any association with the Catholic Church.

This is a photo of an 1880 Rock Island locomotive.  This could have been similar to those used to build the CRI and P through Wabaunsee County, Kansas

Many of Lucy Mae (Lemon) McCauley's family had moved to Maple Hill, Wabaunsee County, Kansas in 1887, where the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad was building a new double track from Topeka, Kansas to Herrington, Kansas through Wabaunsee County.   Maple Hill was a brand new town company, established in 1887, and located 22 miles west of Topeka on the CRI and P route.   Dozens of men were required to grade the land, cut the timber for ties and trestles, and depots.   Many men were also required to lay the ties, lay the rails, put in place the signals, etc.  They railroads also provided three meals each day from large box cars converted into kitchens.   They also used huge tents to make dining rooms.   Some of the dormitory cars were also designated for use only by women who were employed in the kitchens, dining rooms, laundries and sewing areas.   It was a huge undertaking and the railroads used old passenger cars converted into crude living spaces to house the men and women that worked on construction.  Many of the Lemon family men and women were employed in this way and moved with the railroad as construction progressed.


Photo of Samuel and Lucy McCauley, late 1890s.

Samuel and Lucy Mae (Lemon) McCauley moved to Maple Hill, Kansas soon after they were married.  So far as is known, Samuel did not work for the railroad there and neither did Lucy.  Instead he relied on his farm background and experience and obtained a job as ranch foreman on the Frederick L. Raymond Ranch three and one-half miles west of Maple Hill at a little railroad stop called Vera.

This author had the good fortune to talk with Francis M. "Frank" Shipp when he was in his late 80s.   Frank was the son of Thomas and Evaline (Jones) Shipp.   He said that his father, Tom, worked for the CRI and P railroad in constructing the line through Wabaunsee County.  Frank was a boy of 10 (he was born in 1879) at that time and had a birds eye view of the construction.   He said that his father also worked for Frederick L. Raymond and that Raymond allowed him to build a lean to into the side of Buffalo Mound (which was part of the Raymond Ranch.)  He said that Tom, Evaline and he lived in the lean to and he and his mother could watch the actual construction as it occurred just below them.  The CRI and P line was not more than one-half mile just to the south of Buffalo Mound.

Frank said that there were hundreds of men below and it looked like a bee hive.  Frank also said that the engines and the flat cars that were used to haul ties and rails to the front of construction were much smaller than he had expected.   None-the-less, Frank said that it was his first experience in seeing a railroad locomotive and it was something he never forgot.

Samuel and Lucy Mae's first son, Robert M. McCauleyRossville High School in Shawnee County, and had been on one of the very early football teams.   He had also worked on the threshing ring owned by my paternal great grandfather, Leander E. Jones.  He had many stories to tell about their adventures as the crew moved from western Kansas to eastern Kansas with their big steam threshing equipment.

Photo of Mildred and Bob McCauley, taken at the author's home, Moundview Farm, Maple Hill, Kansas in 1973.
Bob McCauley was married to Pearl Iva Behr at Eldorado, Kansas by Rev. Kitch.   Pearl was the daughter of John and Josephine (Slater) Behr and was born at Garden City, Kansas on October 17, 1898.  Pearl grew up in the communities of Cimmaron, Garden City, and Buffalo, Kansas.   She attended schools at Garden City and Buffalo, Kansas.    I remember Aunt Pearl as always being immaculately dressed and using perfect grammar in her speech.  She was a very loving person.  She and Uncle Bob visited his sister, my grandmother, Mildred (McCauley) Corbin Clark once or twice every year, usually at Memorial Day, and we always enjoyed their visits.  Aunt Pearl had crippling arthritis and died on January 23, 1973.    After her death, Uncle Bob visited grandmother much more frequently until he passed away in 1980.

L-R:  Four Generations:  Gwen McCauley Brown, her father Robert M. McCauley, and Gwen's son Sammy Brown, and his daughter Lauven Michelle Brown taken in 1976.

Bob and Pearl McCauley were the parents of two children: Gwendolyn Ruth "Gwen", born February 27, 1925 at El Dorado, Butler, Kansas and James Franklin "Jim" born September 8, 1933, Medicine Lodge, Kansas.

Uncle Bob was a clothing salesman in a men's store in Medicine Lodge and worked for a laundry in El Dorado, Kansas.  He was in World War II from 1917 to 1919 and served in the 139th Infantry of the U. S. Army in France.   He was one of the "dough boys" and was wounded in action.   After spending several weeks in a French hospital, he was returned to the United States and honorably discharged.

Photo of Lloyd Brown, Jr. with sons Robert "Sammy" Brown, Donald Lloyd Brown, and William Alan Brown about 1976.

Uncle Bob McCauley was a member of the Rossville Presbyterian Church, and he and Aunt Pearl were members of the Methodist Church in Eldorado, Kansas.   He was active in the American Legion and the Masonic Lodge in Eldorado.  Aunt Pearl was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary and the Order of the Eastern Star in Eldorado, Kansas.

Gwen McCauley married Lloyd N. Brown on March 23, 1947 at Eldorado, Kansas.   He was born August 14, 1919 in Des Moines, Iowa to Lloyd N. and Edna Ellen (Evans) Brown and grew up at Bethany, Missouri and Manhattan, Kansas.   Gwen started school in Medicine Lodge and finished in Eldorado, Kansas.    Lloyd was in the U. S. Army from 1942 until 1945 and was then employed by the Internal Revenue Service as a Tax Law Specialist.  He and Gwen lived for several years in College Park, Maryland and then moved to Baton Rogue, Louisiana to be near family.

Gwen and Lloyd were the parents of three boys:  Robert Samuel born October 15, 1949; Donald Lloyd born September 10, 1952 and William Alan Brown born December 3, 1957.

Robert Samuel, called "Sammy," was married to Karen Lynn Jones on April 18, 1970.   Karen is the daughter of William and Lucy Jones and was born on October 3, 150 at Washington, D. C.    Sammy and Karen are the parents of a daughter, Lauven Michelle Brown born May 30, 1976.   They live in Baton Rouge, LA where Sammy is the director of a chapter of the National Electrical Contractors Association.

Lloyd died in 2008 and Gwen in 2010.   Her obituary follows:
Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2010. She was 85. She was raised in Medicine Lodge, Kan., and later moved to College Park, Md., where she was an administrative assistant at the University of Maryland and a host for foreign exchange students. She moved to Louisiana in 1988, and resided in Greenwell Springs. She was a longtime member of Magnolia Methodist Church and a member of First United Methodist Church of Baton Rouge. She enjoyed traveling, gardening, painting, and had a special gift for making everyone feel special. She is survived by three sons, Robert S. Brown and wife Ruth, Donald L. Brown and wife Kathy, and William "Casey" Brown; three grand-daughters, Lauren Brown Kennedy and husband A.J., Lisa Brown LaRue, and Jennifer Brown Pettry and husband Edward; four great-grandchildren, Lawson and Reese Kennedy, and Layvin and Adyson LaRue; and longtime friends, Karen Brown, Carol Maclin, Mr. and Mrs. George Clark, and Mr. and Mrs. Bob Moore. She was preceded in death by her husband, and best friend, Lloyd N. Brown; parents, Robert and Pearl McCauley; and brother, James McCauley. Visiting at Greenoaks Funeral Home, 9595 Florida Blvd., on Wednesday, Jan. 5, from 1 p.m. until a memorial service at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Methodist Children's Home.

Uncle Bob and Aunt Pearl McCauley's son, James Franklin "Jimmy" McCauley, lived his entire life in Eldorado, Kansas.   He was married to Patricia A. Hopkins on August 17, 1957 at Eldorado.  Pat is the daughter of John H. and Elizabeth C. (Hunn) Hopkins.  She was born in Topeka, Kansas and the family later moved to Eldorado, Kansas.

Photo of James Robert McCauley, son of Jimmy and Pat McCauley.   Jimmy and his family loved to fish.

Jimmy served four years in the U. S. Air Force and was a membe of the1605th Air Police.   He was employed as a parts manager for Gray Motor Company in Eldorado.   Jimmy had macular degeneration and eventually lost his eyesight.  He and Pat are the parents of Deborah Sue McCauley, born June 19, 1958 in Eldorado, Kansas and James Robert McCauley, born March 21, 1963 at Eldorado, Kansas.      Jimmy and Pat McCauley were divorced before his death, which occurred at Eldorado on May 28, 2009.   His obituary follows:
James F. McCauley, 75 of El Dorado, died Thursday, May 28 at Golden Living Center in El Dorado. Memorial services will be next Saturday, June 6 at 1:00 PM, at Carlson Funeral Home. Cremation will precede the services. 

He was born on Sept. 8, 1933 in Medicine Lodge, KS the son of Robert M. and Pearl McCauley. He graduated from El Dorado High School and attended Pittsburg State College for a time. He was a parts manager for a Dodge Dealership. During the Korean War, he served in the United States Air Force. He loved watching his grand kids participate in all sports, and was an avid Butler Community College supporter and was a Butler Booster. He enjoyed fishing when he could get a chance to go.
He was married to Patricia on August 17, 1957 in El Dorado and she preceded him in death.Those he leaves are a daughter and her husband Debbie and Jack Sowder, El Dorado; a son and wife Jim and Martina McCauley, Rosalia; one sister Gwen Brown, Greenwell, Springs, LA; and grandchildren Cody Sowder and wife Laci; Casey Sowder and Cody Kitzke, and three nephews.
He was also preceded in death by his parents.  In Lieu of flowers the family request memorial for Butler Community College Sports.

Since I am a direct descendant of Mildred McCauley Corbin Clark, I will be writing about her family in future blogs.

Photo of James B. McCauley, taken about 1900.
The third child of Robert and Rosanna (McCrystal) McCauley, was James Barnard McCauley.   James was born May 27, 1875 on the family farm in Plum Creek Township, Mitchell County, Kansas.

James lived on the family farm all of his life.   After his father's death, he took over farm operations and cared for his mother.

He was married to Martena Chastain on November 21, 1906 at Beloit, Kansas.  To this union, one child was born: Margaret Lucile, on October 8, 1907.   Martena had one son, Clarence, by a previous marriage. 

James McCauley committed suicide on the family farm and his wife, Martena "Tena" later married Charles Montgomery Lemon and lived at Maple Hill, Kansas.  

James and Tena McCauley with daughter Margaret McCauley sitting on the front porch of Rosanna McCauley's retirement home in Beloit, Kansas.

The fourth child of Robert and Rosanna (McCrystal) McCauley was Margaret Catherine McCauley, born October 11, 1877 on the family farm.  Margaret married Bert E. Smith on June 24, 1903 at Beloit, Kansas.

Bert Smith was born in Janesville, Wisconsin in a logging camp on December 20, 1870 and died at the age of 103 on January 26, 1973 in LaMesa, California.   Margaret Smith passed away on September 29, 1934 in Denver, Colorado.

A photo of Margaret Catherine Smith taken before her marriage to Bert Smith in 1903.  Bert and Margaret were the parents of two children:   Rosalie Anna born on March 17, 1904 and H. Lucille on November 8, 1905.  Rosalie was married to Harry Wilson Admire on February 13, 1921 at Denver, Colorado.   Mr. Admire was born on May 15, 1893 in Morrison, Colorado and passed away on January 29, 1951 in Point Loma, California.   Their their union, one daughter, Betty Rosalie, was born on September 7, 1923 at Denver, Colorado.  Betty was married to Charles E. Lohman.  They were married on June 2, 1945.   Three children were born to this union:  Perry A. on March 26, 1949; Vonnie Lucille on December 8, 1955 and Wayne E. on March 6, 1957.

The Wedding Portrait of Bert and Margaret Smith.

A Photo of Gil and Lucille Smith.H. Lucille Smith was married to Hugh Gilbert Martin on January 4, 1925 at Denver, Colorado.   Mr. Martin was a well-known television personality in Los Angeles before his death on January 24, 1959 from cancer.

To their union, one child, Hugh Gilbert Smith, II was born on June 2, 1927.   He was married to Shirley Ann Sprawls on May 31, 1952 at Los Angeles, California.  To their union, fou children were born:  Hugh Gilbert Smith III on June 2, 1954; Carrie Ann Smith on September 27, 1955; Russell Wade Smith on February 19, 1959 and Linda Jean Smith on December 7, 1962.   Mr. Gilbert was an executive with United Airlines.

Willaim Robert McCauley was born May 24, 1882 on the McCauley farm in Mitchell County, Kansas.  He was married on September 4, 1907 to Etta Marzilla Gallup at Beloit, Kansas.   Etta was the daughter of George and Martha (Springer) Gallup and was born April 14, 1888 at Beloit, Kansas.

A photo of William Robert McCauley taken about 1900.

To this union, two children were born:  Letta Anetta on May 22, 1908 and William Robert, Jr. on October 2, 1919.   the family lived on the McCauley Farm for many years until moving to Denver Colorado where William was a contractor.

A photo of Rosalie and Harry Admire

Letta married Dorsey LeRoy James on April 9, 1929 in Denver, Colorado.   Dorsey was born February 3, 1908 at Cairo, Illinois and was a lithographer before retiring.   The James now live at Cedar Edge, Colorado and enjoy hunting, fishing and horseback riding on their ranch.

William Robert, Jr. was married to Renee Wethington.  Renee was born December 28, 1922 at Clewiston, Florida.  Two children were born to this marriage:   Matthew David on April 4, 1954 and Mark Daniel on March 12, 1957.   Mrs. McCauley passed away on December 10, 1970 and Mr. Mccauley passed away in 1980.

A photo of Letta (McCauley) and Dorsey James taken at their ranch in 1973.

I would like to express my appreciation to Lucille Smith Martin and Letta McCauley James for assisting me in collecting genealogical information and photographs for their families.  The family bible of Robert and Rosanna McCauley was in the possession of William Robert McCauley and Letta McCauley James during the 1970s when we were in communication.

Rosanna McCauley, matriach of the Kansas McCauley Family, passed ay at the home of her son William, in Denver, Colorado on January 24, 1939.  The following is her obituary from the Beloit Call.

"Following an illness of four years after a stroke, the kindldy eyes of Mrs. Rosanna McCauley closed to these earthly scenes she loved at 4:00am on Tuesday, January 24, at the home of her son in Denver, Colorado.

A photo of Rosanna (McCrystal) McCauley and several of her grandchildren.  L-R:  Clarence, Mildred McCauley (looking down), James B. McCauley, Rosanna McCrystal McCauley (sitting) Tena McCauley and the daughter of James and Tena, Margaret McCauley.

Born Rosanna McCrystal to Michael and Margaret (Carr) McCrystal on June 24, 1851, she was aged 87 years, 7 months at her death.  She was married to Robert McCauley at Beragh, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland on June 2, 1870 and they came to the United States in that same year and to Kansas in 1871.   Their home was on a farm in Lulu Township where the husband died on August 2, 1900.   In 1912, Mrs. McCauley retired from their family and moved into the city of Beloit, where she made her home until going to Denver to be with her won, William R. McCauley.   She was the mother of five children:   William Robert being the only survivor.   She leaves seven grandchildren and eleven great granchildren.   She was preceded in death by Michael, Samuel, James, Margaret and Ada Belle.

Mrs. McCauley possessed a lovely character, one which endeared her to all with whom she came in contact and her death brings sorrow to this community where she long made her home and where she had lived an exemplary life as wife, mother, neighbor and friend.   Her life was long and well filled with kindly deeds so that she goes to her final rest with a record of a life well lived and truly mourned by all who knew her.

The remains were brought from Denver to Beloit, arriving last evening and tis morning at 9:00am, final services were conducted at St. John's Catholic Church, of which she was a devout member, by the Rev. J. B. Glynn.   Interment was made in St. John's Cemetery.  Pall Bearers were James Black, William Black, Andrew Black, Dan Johnson, Ed Reiter and George Eresch."

This concludes the information I have for the Robert and Rosanna (McCrystal) McCauley family except for detailed information about the Mildred Mae (McCauley) Corbin Clark family, which will present in a future blog.    Happy Trails!