MEAGHER FAMILY GATHERING UPDATE
July 24-26, the Kentucky Meaghers gathered for a warm and wonderful sharing time. Those attending the Friday night at the Brown Hotel Lobby Bar party were some of the children and grandchildren of Anita Meagher Owen and Joseph and Mary Elizabeth Savage Meagher. Anita and Joseph were the children of Michael Meagher, son of William Meagher who is one of the three brothers we know about who came from Ireland with their father, Stephen Meagher in 1864. This group grew up in Louisville, attending many celebrations at the Brown Hotel so it was delightful to be there again for this celebration of our ancestors. Good to see Joe Meagher’s daughters: Patsy Meagher Burch with her daughters, Mary Anita and Susan; Kathleen Meagher Hancock with husband Nick Hancock and son Tim; Helen Meagher Downard and yours truly, Anita’s daughter, Mary Carmel.
In Hardinsburg, the Louisville Meaghers were joined by the Meagher/Duffy’s from Owensboro, Susie Duffy Garwood and her husband, as well as Jim Duffy and his son from Cincinnati. They are the children of William (Bill) Duffy and the grandchildren of Mary Meagher, daughter of Dennis Meagher, William’s brother who came over with him with their father Stephen too in 1864. Their mother Mary Meagher married John Duffy of Louisville. Many other Duffy’s responded to our invitation and were positive about our research, looking forward to keeping up with new information. Mary Ruddy Diercksen who has done voluminous research over the years and was a partner in this effort, is also the granddaughter of Mary Meagher, daughter of Lucile Duffy Ruddy and her husband, Jim Ruddy. Mary grew up in Tarrytown, New York and now lives in Westport, Ct.
Also in Hardinsburg were Maggie Steptoe and her husband Al Spotts. Maggie’s mother Helen Meagher Steptoe was the daughter of Margaret Gardner and Andrew Meagher, Michael’s brother and the son of William Meagher. Maggie also grew up in the Louisville area and is very enthusiastic about continuing the research into the Meagher history.
In the context of our outreach the Michigan Meaghers connected, in particular Matthew Schooley , Martha Kemp, Patrick Sean Meagher and others. They were excited to learn that we were gathering. They had planned their own reunion and held it in mid-June. Frank Meagher was their grandfather and great-grandfather, the son of Dennis Meagher and sister to Mary Meagher Duffy. Frank and his wife Loretta left Louisville in 1916 when Dennis died, to relocate to Flint, Michigan where Frank had secured a job with Chevrolet. Twelve children and many years later their descendants held a reunion attended by more than sixty relatives, many living in the Flint/Lansing/Detroit area to this day. But of course others, spread out all over the world as in the other families. We hope to be able to post some photos from that reunion as well.
It was exciting for Mary Diercksen and me to hear from Janice Vannoy in Kansas, the great-granddaughter of John Meagher, brother to William and Dennis. John and his wife, Martha Dowling and their twelve children left Hardinsburg in 1883 and moved family and farm animals by train to Salina, Kansas. They continue farming the same land they purchased back then and have added more farms. Some of Janice’s extended family occupy the homes that their ancestors built back then and have of course added more farmland and homes.
Much of the local Hardinsburg research, particularly into the Meagher land deeds, was done by my friend, Myra Tobin. I met her several years ago in my workplace in New York City and visited her farm near Hardinsburg in 2012. At that time she had contacted the County Archives staff and provided much new information. She attended the Hardinsburg day of our gathering and spoke about Breckinridge County today. She also led us in a car train to the Meagher land along Tulles Creed Road, some of the richest, greenest and most fertile farmland in the Hardinsburg area.
I would like to extend thanks to all of those who helped organize and promote this family event. They are the following:
Gael Black – our website designer and manager
Mary Ruddy Diercksen – my partner in all of this research
Tom Owen- my brother
Michael Owen – Tom’s son
Myra Tobin
Jane Haynes at St. Romuald parish
St. Romuald parish in Hardinsburg
Fr. Edward Gorman, St.Louis Bertrand parish
St. Louis Bertrand parish in Louisville
Robert MacDonald, archivist assistant at Providence College, for Dominicans of St. Joseph Province.
Tim Bandy (local funeral director..family business since 1840)
Tomes Monument Company (restoration of headstone of Stephen)
Breckinridge County Archives
Kate Meagher Hancock – for her enthusiasm in rousing the relatives!
Mary Ellen Pratt
Gale Hinton, Hardinsburg caterer