Ada Lee Birney McGonagle
1893-1976
Ada Birney was born December 24, 1893 to Carrie Lee and John Wesley Birney at their farm home near Cozad, Nebraska. She was lovingly welcomed into this Methodist home by her parents and three older sisters: Blanche, Lizzie and Lida.
Ada received her schooling in a one room school house near her home. When she was sixteen her Father died. Her sisters were married and had homes of their own. Ada and her mother continued to live on the farm. Ada loved the farm; she was good with horses and could really handle a horse and buggy.
On December 24, 1913 Jesse Thompson McGonagle and Ada Birney were married at her home. Jess and Ada lived with Ada's mother for two years and Jess farmed the home place.
In the spring of 1916 Ada and Jess moved in an immigrant car to the Powell Flat in Wyoming and rented a farm. Soon Mother, Carrie Birney came to Powell and lived with Ada and Jess.
Ada and Jess had two daughters, Marie and Esther.
Over the years Ada and Jess farmed, he rode ditch, they operated a dairy and in 1937 they moved to the Riverside Community where they were living when Jess died in May of 1970. Ada lived on the farm a year after Jess passed on. She moved into the Rocky Mt. Manor in June of 1971 where she lived until September of 1975 when she moved into the Nursing home.
Ada was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and friend. She was constantly doing for others. Ada was a very good cook. She grew a good garden and beautiful flower garden. She shared her flowers with others, bouquets and perennial starts. She enjoyed taking her friends places with her. She was active in the Methodist Church, Rebecca Auxiliary and Farm Bureau.
In 1963 Ada and Jess celebrated their Golden Wedding with an Open House. All of the family and many friends attended.
Ada died March 3, 1976 of a heart attack.
Written by daughter, Marie Grant*****************
Ada Lee Birney McGonagle
Funeral services for Ada B. McGonagle, an early settler of the Powell Flat, will be Friday, March 12 at 2 p.m. at the First Methodist Church in Powell with Rev. Jarrell Tharp officiating.
Mrs. McGonagle died March 3 at the Powell Nursing Home of an apparent heart attack. She was 82.
She was born Dec. 24, 1893, on a farm near Cozad, Nebraska, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Wesley Birney. She received her schooling in a one-room school house near her home. When she was 16, her father died and she and her mother remained on the farm.
She married Jesse Thompson McGonagle Dec 24, 1913. The couple lived with her mother until 1916 when they moved in an emigrant car to the Powell Flat. They moved to the Riverside community in 1937 where they lived until his death in 1970. She remained on the farm until 1971when she moved into the Rocky Mountain Manor. In September 1975, she moved into the Powell Nursing Home. She was active in the Methodist Church, Rebekah Lodge and Farm Bureau.
Survivors include two daughters, Mrs. Marie Grant of Big Piney and Mrs. Esther Wollam of Cody, 13 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren.
Burial will be in Crown Hill Cemetery.
Taken from the Powell Tribune, Powell, Wyoming
*************
Excepts of a letter written to Cindy Grant 3 July 1971 by Ada McGonagle.
My father John Wesley Birney was born in Harrison County Ohio My Mother Carrie Lee Birney was born in Carol Co Ohio My 3 sisters Blanche, Lizzie and Lida were born in Harrison Co. Not far from where your Grandfather was born but as far as I know the two families never met But the McGonagle family did know my father's sister Jane K Birney Pittis. In 1911 and 1912 Jesse decided he wanted to see the west. He knew James Meldrum when he (Mr. Meldrum) lived in Ohio. He was a very good friend of my Father and Mother. Your Grandfather worked for my sister Lizzie's Husband Edd Wedge, Shucking corn. My Father died August 27. 1910, and Mother and I lived on the farm 8 miles from town. Edd came to help dig a storm cellar and Jesse came too - a short time later I was at Edd's to get a load of corncobs that was what we used for fuel. Jess was shucking corn near the road. He left his team and wagon jumped the fence and asked me to go to church that night. We called it Revival Meetings. They lasted 2 weeks and I don't think we missed a night. I don’t think there were a dozen cars around there but a horse and buggy was much nicer any way Even if you could not go as far. We were engaged before Christmas and he went home to Ohio and came back in Dec 1913. Last night I got a box of his letters out and read some of them. Don’t have all of them. A few got lost and the mice got some before I put them in a little cedar chest. My father and mother and 3 sisters moved to Nebraska in 1890 or 1891 I hope this answers your question.
I was born and married in the same room. The home had 3 rooms. A new kitchen was later added. All of my sisters were born in Ohio. My sister Maggie lived about a year then she died of spinal meningitis.
My folks (Birney) practically raised James Meldrum. After his wife died he came to Nebraska and lived with us. Jesse McGonagle knew Jim in Ohio, he came to Nebraska to see the country and looked up his old friend and stayed with him.
I remember Jess walking away over the little hills when he went back to Ohio. I can still see him in my mind's eye, walking away. There was a cute little school teacher that set her cap for him, but she didn't make any headway.
*******************
Ada played dominoes and blind man’s bluff with her children.
Many of the Grandchildren have fond memories of Sunday visits at Grandma’s House. She and Grandpa would also take some of the children home to stay for various periods of time.
Nelada remembers a time that she stayed during the holidays and got very sick. Grandma sat up all night nursing her. She bathed her feverish head and body with a sponge throughout the night. She cared for her so very lovingly. When she was finally feeling a little better Grandma asked if she wanted to go home to be with her mom while she was sick. She said no she liked how Grandma took care of her.
Strawberries were a favorite part of summer visits to grandma’s. Also, they had a “box” (a small shed) where boxes of old clothing and hats and things were kept. The children were allowed to play in there.
There was almost always some kind of cookie in the freezer when the grandchildren came to visit. It might just be graham crackers stuck together with frosting. Whatever it was; it was a very welcome treat.
1893-1976
Ada Birney was born December 24, 1893 to Carrie Lee and John Wesley Birney at their farm home near Cozad, Nebraska. She was lovingly welcomed into this Methodist home by her parents and three older sisters: Blanche, Lizzie and Lida.
Ada received her schooling in a one room school house near her home. When she was sixteen her Father died. Her sisters were married and had homes of their own. Ada and her mother continued to live on the farm. Ada loved the farm; she was good with horses and could really handle a horse and buggy.
On December 24, 1913 Jesse Thompson McGonagle and Ada Birney were married at her home. Jess and Ada lived with Ada's mother for two years and Jess farmed the home place.
In the spring of 1916 Ada and Jess moved in an immigrant car to the Powell Flat in Wyoming and rented a farm. Soon Mother, Carrie Birney came to Powell and lived with Ada and Jess.
Ada and Jess had two daughters, Marie and Esther.
Over the years Ada and Jess farmed, he rode ditch, they operated a dairy and in 1937 they moved to the Riverside Community where they were living when Jess died in May of 1970. Ada lived on the farm a year after Jess passed on. She moved into the Rocky Mt. Manor in June of 1971 where she lived until September of 1975 when she moved into the Nursing home.
Ada was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and friend. She was constantly doing for others. Ada was a very good cook. She grew a good garden and beautiful flower garden. She shared her flowers with others, bouquets and perennial starts. She enjoyed taking her friends places with her. She was active in the Methodist Church, Rebecca Auxiliary and Farm Bureau.
In 1963 Ada and Jess celebrated their Golden Wedding with an Open House. All of the family and many friends attended.
Ada died March 3, 1976 of a heart attack.
Written by daughter, Marie Grant*****************
Ada Lee Birney McGonagle
Funeral services for Ada B. McGonagle, an early settler of the Powell Flat, will be Friday, March 12 at 2 p.m. at the First Methodist Church in Powell with Rev. Jarrell Tharp officiating.
Mrs. McGonagle died March 3 at the Powell Nursing Home of an apparent heart attack. She was 82.
She was born Dec. 24, 1893, on a farm near Cozad, Nebraska, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Wesley Birney. She received her schooling in a one-room school house near her home. When she was 16, her father died and she and her mother remained on the farm.
She married Jesse Thompson McGonagle Dec 24, 1913. The couple lived with her mother until 1916 when they moved in an emigrant car to the Powell Flat. They moved to the Riverside community in 1937 where they lived until his death in 1970. She remained on the farm until 1971when she moved into the Rocky Mountain Manor. In September 1975, she moved into the Powell Nursing Home. She was active in the Methodist Church, Rebekah Lodge and Farm Bureau.
Survivors include two daughters, Mrs. Marie Grant of Big Piney and Mrs. Esther Wollam of Cody, 13 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren.
Burial will be in Crown Hill Cemetery.
Taken from the Powell Tribune, Powell, Wyoming
*************
Excepts of a letter written to Cindy Grant 3 July 1971 by Ada McGonagle.
My father John Wesley Birney was born in Harrison County Ohio My Mother Carrie Lee Birney was born in Carol Co Ohio My 3 sisters Blanche, Lizzie and Lida were born in Harrison Co. Not far from where your Grandfather was born but as far as I know the two families never met But the McGonagle family did know my father's sister Jane K Birney Pittis. In 1911 and 1912 Jesse decided he wanted to see the west. He knew James Meldrum when he (Mr. Meldrum) lived in Ohio. He was a very good friend of my Father and Mother. Your Grandfather worked for my sister Lizzie's Husband Edd Wedge, Shucking corn. My Father died August 27. 1910, and Mother and I lived on the farm 8 miles from town. Edd came to help dig a storm cellar and Jesse came too - a short time later I was at Edd's to get a load of corncobs that was what we used for fuel. Jess was shucking corn near the road. He left his team and wagon jumped the fence and asked me to go to church that night. We called it Revival Meetings. They lasted 2 weeks and I don't think we missed a night. I don’t think there were a dozen cars around there but a horse and buggy was much nicer any way Even if you could not go as far. We were engaged before Christmas and he went home to Ohio and came back in Dec 1913. Last night I got a box of his letters out and read some of them. Don’t have all of them. A few got lost and the mice got some before I put them in a little cedar chest. My father and mother and 3 sisters moved to Nebraska in 1890 or 1891 I hope this answers your question.
I was born and married in the same room. The home had 3 rooms. A new kitchen was later added. All of my sisters were born in Ohio. My sister Maggie lived about a year then she died of spinal meningitis.
My folks (Birney) practically raised James Meldrum. After his wife died he came to Nebraska and lived with us. Jesse McGonagle knew Jim in Ohio, he came to Nebraska to see the country and looked up his old friend and stayed with him.
I remember Jess walking away over the little hills when he went back to Ohio. I can still see him in my mind's eye, walking away. There was a cute little school teacher that set her cap for him, but she didn't make any headway.
*******************
Ada played dominoes and blind man’s bluff with her children.
Many of the Grandchildren have fond memories of Sunday visits at Grandma’s House. She and Grandpa would also take some of the children home to stay for various periods of time.
Nelada remembers a time that she stayed during the holidays and got very sick. Grandma sat up all night nursing her. She bathed her feverish head and body with a sponge throughout the night. She cared for her so very lovingly. When she was finally feeling a little better Grandma asked if she wanted to go home to be with her mom while she was sick. She said no she liked how Grandma took care of her.
Strawberries were a favorite part of summer visits to grandma’s. Also, they had a “box” (a small shed) where boxes of old clothing and hats and things were kept. The children were allowed to play in there.
There was almost always some kind of cookie in the freezer when the grandchildren came to visit. It might just be graham crackers stuck together with frosting. Whatever it was; it was a very welcome treat.
No comments:
Post a Comment