Joseph Manus McCormick (1828 - 1877)

Born 1828 in County Donegal, Ireland [uncertain]

Husband of Catherine (O’Grady) McCormick — married 23 Feb 1859 in St. Josephs Roman Catholic Church, Macton, Peel Township, Wellington County, Ontario

Descendants

Died 1877 at about age 49 in Macton, Ontario

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Manus McCormick was born in Ireland.

Biography

Joseph Manus was the oldest child in the family of John and Cecily Gallahan McCormick. He was likely born in Donegal, Ireland, as suggested by the marriage record of his younger brother Patrick. The family immigrated to Upper Canada around 1835, when he was about eight years old. He grew up on the family farm in the community of Macton, on the Wellington county line in Peel Township.

He married Catherine O'Grady in February 1859, when he was about 30 years old. It was the first wedding performed in St. Joseph's Church, in Macton.^[1]

In 1861, Catherine and Manus were living on Manus' father's land.^[2]

Manus was named the first postmaster of the Macton post office when it was established on January 1, 1863.^[3] It was located in the Macton Hotel. A 1864 report to the the Parliament of Canada reported that Postmaster McCormick made two trips per week to Hawkesville to pick up and deliver mail, traveling on foot or by horse. The trip took about an hour and a half each way. He had a four year contract and was paid $12 per year.^[4]

In 1871, J. M. McCormick was listed in the DIRECTORY FOR THE COUNTY OF WATERLOO, as operating the Macton Hotel, assisted by Laurent Francois.^[5] He was also farming land he had bought from his father.^[6]

Manus died in the same year as his father at age 49, leaving his widow with six children, ages 16 to 4.^[7]

Research Notes

Manus purchased land from his father, on the western half of Lot 11, Concession 1, in Peel Township. The farms of Manus , Patrick, James, and John are listed in the Canadian County Atlas Digital Project.

Sources

1. ↑ GOOD NEIGHBORS TO HAVE:THE MACTON COMMUNITY, 1845-2005. Julie Schnurr and Majorie Metzger, eds. 2006, p. 8.
2. ↑ 1861Canada West Census, Wellington County, Peel Township.
3. ↑ Macton, Wellington County at Post Offices and Postmasters, Library and Archives Canada, Item, 15570.
4. ↑ GOOD NEIGHBORS TO HAVE:THE MACTON COMMUNITY, 1845-2005, p. 14
5. ↑ GOOD NEIGHBORS TO HAVE:THE MACTON COMMUNITY, 1845-2005, p. 19.
6. ↑ 1871 Canada Census, Ontario, Wellington North District.
7. ↑ GOOD NEIGHBORS TO HAVE:THE MACTON COMMUNITY, 1845-2005, p. 26.

WikiTree profile McCormick-552 created through the import of Hahn-1_2011-12-07.ged on Dec 8, 2011 by Dennis Hahn. See the Changes page for the details of edits by Dennis and others.