Thomas Garahan (1847 - 1890)

Born 7 Jun 1847 in Oswego, Oswego, New York, United States

Descendants

Died 3 Jul 1890 at age 43 in Cleveland, Cuyahoga, Ohio, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Terry Zimmerman [send private message]

Biography

PVT Thomas Garahan served in the United States Civil War.
Enlisted: Apr 03, 1865
Mustered out: Jan 18, 1866
Side: USA
Regiment(s): 193rd Infantry, Company D, New York

Thomas was born in 1847 in Oswego, New York, USA to Irish immigrants John Garahan Sr. (abt.1793-bef.1865) and Marcella (Kennedy) Garahan (abt.1805-1882). His parents and older siblings arrived in New York in approximately 1835. This information was gleaned from the New York State Census of 1855, at which time the Garahans lived in the City of Oswego, having been residents of the state for twenty years. Thomas at that time was nine years old and the youngest of nine children.

In 1865, the last year of the Civil War, the New York State Census found a smaller Garahan family. Thomas's father had died prior; some unverified sources cite 1864 as the year of his death. At age 60 Thomas's mother headed the Oswego household of two daughters, Mary and Anne, while three of their men served in the war as soldiers: Mary's husband, William Sullivan, a ship carpenter, and sons Peter and Thomas who were coopers.

In July 1863 Garahan brothers James and Peter fought at the Battle of Gettysburg. James had moved to New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 1850's and from there enlisted with the Confederate Army. Peter fought for the Union. Both were injured and taken to the same Pennsylvania hospital. Both survived. This story was recounted in a newspaper article upon Peter's death.

Thomas enlisted on 3 April 1865 as a private with the 193rd Infantry of New York. Only seventeen years old, he had given his birth year as 1846. In Harper's Ferry, West Virginia, he mustered out on 18 January 1866 to return to Oswego. His brother Simon deeded him land in 1868, which Thomas sold in 1869.

An 1870 U.S. Census record for Thomas has not been located nor has a marriage license, but on 4 February 1871, his Irish immigrant wife [[Coffey-4733|Bridget (Coffey) Garahan (1847-1921)] birthed their first child in Akron, Summit County Ohio. She was Alice Lucinda (Garahan) Fuller (1871-abt.1951).

The name Thomas Garahan first appeared in a City of Akron Directory in 1873. ^[1] That year through 1875 he worked as a policeman in that city, his residence listed as the northeast corner of Main and State.^[2] Until his death Thomas was the sole Garahan listed in city directories. By 1877 he had resumed work as a cooper, ^[3], employed by Union Stave Company in 1879. ^[4]

Through that period of time three more children were born to Thomas and Bridget, John Henry Garahan (1873-1950), Mary Agnes (Garahan) Stuver (1875-1964), and Emeline Cecilia (Garahan) Smith (1877-1927). By 1877 the family's residence was established at 110 Pine in Akron where they remained for two decades.

By 1881 Thomas and five other men had established their own cooperative of coopers, a business known as "Garahan, Stein and Company."^[5] The company manufactured flour, apple, and plaster barrels. Three more daughters were born by the mid 1880's, Bertha Loretta Garahan (1880-1928), Julia (Garahan) Bennett (1883-1973), and Anna E. (Garahan) Thornhill (1886-1958).

Thomas passed away on either the second or third of July 1990. The circumstances of his death are clouded by conflicting reports among governmental entities. This solitary sentence appeared in the local newspaper on Wednesday, 2 Jul 1890: "Sheriff Bunn Tuesday took Rosella Shonte and Thomas Garahan to Newburg, where they were admitted into the Insane Asylum, and brought back Kate Miller."^[6]

A week later on Wednesday, 9 Jul 1890, The Summit County Beacon reported: "Thomas Garahan, of Garahan, Stein and Co., proprietors of the cooper shop at the rear of Allen and Co.'s brick mills, died in the Newburg Asylum Thursday. The remains were brought to the city Friday morning and the funeral was held from St. Vincent de Paul's Church at 9 a.m. Saturday. Mr. Garahan was taken to the Asylum about a week ago. Upon examination before he was taken to the institution it was thought that his mind was not seriously demented and that his case might be cured. He died from exhaustion. His age was 44 years and one month. Besides a large number of friends and relatives the deceased leaves a widow and family who live at 110 Pine Street." ^[7]

The Board of Commissioners for Cuyahoga County, Ohio (in which Cleveland is located) hold a record of Thomas's death on 2 July 1990 at the Hospital for the Insane by reason of "Acute Maniacal Exhaustion." The physician certifying the death was J. Strong. A "Record of Deaths in Cuyahoga County" dated May 28, 1892 recorded Thomas's date of death as 3 July 1990, at Cleveland Ins. Asy. (presumably Cleveland Insane Asylum), the physician as J. Strong, and the cause of death as pneumonia.

An 1890 record of the Probate Court of Summit County, Ohio (where Akron is located) shows Thomas's death on 3 July 1990, place of death as "5th Ward," and lists his age as 44 years and 27 days. Residence was Akron, birthplace Oswego, New York, and cause of death "Inf. of Stomach" (presumably infection of stomach).

Thomas left wife Bridget and seven children ages four to nineteen. He was laid to rest at St. Vincent's Catholic Cemetery in Akron. Bridget became a principal in the business of Garahan, Stein and Company. The older children took jobs to help support their household.

Notes

The U.S. Town Clerks Registers of Men Who Served in the Civil Way, cited below, gives the parents' names for Thomas Garrahan as John Garrahan and Marsella Kennedy. ~~ Terry Zimmerman, gggranddaughter of Thomas Garahan 28 Dec 2021 ~~

Sources

1. ↑ Akron-Summit County Public Library, Special Collections, "Akron City Directory 1873-1874," A.R. Talcott and Co., Akron, Ohio, pg. 58 (https://www.akronlibrary.org/images/SpecCol/akroncitydir1873-1874.pdf : accessed 19 September 2023) Garahan, Thomas.
2. ↑ Akron-Summit County Public Library, Special Collections, "Akron City Directory 1875-1876," Burch, Potter and Company, Detroit, Michigan, pg. 90 (https://www.akronlibrary.org/images/SpecCol/akroncitydir1875-76.pdf : accessed 19 September 2023) Garahan, Thomas.
3. ↑ Akron-Summit County Public Library, Special Collections, "Akron City Directory, 1877-1878," N.H. Burch and Company, Akron, Ohio, pg. 96 (https://www.akronlibrary.org/images/SpecCol/akroncitydir1877-1878.pdf : accessed 19 September 2023) Garahan, Thomas.
4. ↑ Akron-Summit County Public Library, Special Collections, "Akron City Directory, 1879-1880," N.H. Burch and Company, Akron, Ohio, pg. 118 (https://www.akronlibrary.org/images/SpecCol/akroncitydir1879-80.pdf : accessed 19 September 2023) Garahan, Thomas.
5. ↑ Akron-Summit County Public Library, Special Collections, "Akron City Directory, 1881-1882, N.H. Burch and Company, Publishers, Akron, Ohio, pg. 144 (https://www.akronlibrary.org/images/SpecCol/akroncitydir1881-1882.pdf : accessed 19 September 2023) Garahan, Thomas.
6. ↑ The Akron Beacon Journal, (Akron, Ohio), Wed. 02 Jul 1890, "Fragments," pg. 3. Imaged. Newspapers.com by Ancestry : accessed 21 September 2023.
7. ↑ The Summit County Beacon, (Akron, Ohio), Wed. 09 Jul 1890, "Sad Death of Thomas Garahan," pg. 7. Imaged. Newspapers.com by Ancestry : accessed 21 September 2023.

• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/99267041/thomas-garahan: accessed 12 November 2021), memorial page for Thomas Garahan (7 Jun 1847–3 Jul 1890), Find a Grave Memorial ID 99267041, citing Saint Vincents Cemetery, Akron, Summit County, Ohio, USA.

"New York, U.S., State Census, 1855" Thomas Garihan, son, age 9 in the household of John Garihan. Ancestry.com. New York, U.S., State Census, 1855 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013. Original data: Census of the state of New York, for 1855. Microfilm. Various County Clerk Offices, New York.

"1860 United States Federal Census," Thomas Garrihan, son, age 14 in the household of John Garrihan. Oswego Ward 4, New York; Page: 772. Ancestry.com [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Original data: 1860 U.S. census, population schedule. NARA microfilm publication M653, 1,438 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.

"Town Clerks' Registers of Men Who Served in the Civil War, 1865-1867," Ancestry.com [database on-line], original data from "Town Clerks' Registers of Men Who Served in the Civil War, New York State Archives, Albany, New York, microfilm publication, 37 rolls; Thomas Garrahan, b. 1846, parents John Garrahan and Marsella Kennedy, City of Oswego, New York, enlisted 3 April 1865, rank of private, 193rd Infantry of New York, Company D.

"New York State Census, 1865," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVNJ-6ZV6 : 8 March 2021); Thos. Garahan, age 18, soldier absent from the household of Marcilla Garahan, Ward 04, Oswego, Oswego, New York, United States.

"U.S., Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, 1861-1865," Ancestry.com [database online], original source New York Report of the Adjutant-General 1893-1906 (https://www.ancestrylibrary.com/discoveryui-content/view/3188283:1555?ssrc=pt&tid=36630901&pid=250068393586: 2021); Thomas Garrahan, Enlistment Age: 18, Birth Date: abt 1847, Enlistment Date: 2 Apr 1865, Albion, New York; Enlistment Rank: Private, Muster Date: 2 Apr 1865, Regiment: 193rd Infantry, New York, Company D, Muster Out Date: 18 Jan 1866, Muster Out Place: Harper's Ferry, West Virginia. Side of War: Union. Survived War? Yes.

"Oswego City Directories, 1866-1867," New York Heritage Digital Collections (https://nyheritage.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16694coll19/id/2342/rec/8 : 20 October 2023); Garnahan, Thomas, cooper, h. cor of E Tenth and Lappin, Oswego, Oswego, New York, page 103.

"United States, New York Land Records, 1630-1975", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:WBY8-64ZM : 18 September 2023), Simon Garahan, grantor, Thomas Garahan, grantee, 1868.

"United States, New York Land Records, 1630-1975", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:89FB-YVN2 : 18 September 2023), Thos Garahan, grantor, Wm. T. Barnes, grantee, 1869.

"Ohio Births and Christenings, 1821-1962", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X6RM-DZ2 : 16 Sep 2023), Thomas Garahan in entry for Alice Garahan, daughter, b. 04 Feb 1871.

"1880 United States Federal Census," Thomas Garahan, head of household. Akron, Summit, Ohio; Roll: 1068; Page: 116D; Enumeration District: 164; Description: 5th Ward Akron. Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010. Original data: Tenth Census of the United States, 1880. (NARA microfilm publication T9, 1,454 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.

"Thomas Garahan, Special Schedules of the Eleventh Census (1890) Enumerating Union Veterans and Widows of Union Veterans of the Civil War." Series Number: M123; Record Group Title: Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs; Record Group Number: 15; Census Year: 1890. Township: Akron. Ancestry.com. [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005. Original data: (National Archives Microfilm Publication M123, 118 rolls); Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Record Group 15; National Archives, Washington, D.C.

"Summit County, Ohio, U.S., Death Records, 1866-1908 for Thomas Garahan," Summit County Court of Common Pleas - Probate Division. Roll Content Description: A - Z. Ancestry.com. [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.

"Ohio, Summit County, Veteran Burial Cards, 1700-1941," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2QM-17B9: accessed 13 November 2021), Thomas Garahan, 03 Jul 1890; citing Akron, Summit, Ohio, United States, Akron-Summit County Public Library, Akron. Thomas Garahan served in the Civil War from 1861-1865.

"Ohio, County Death Records, 1840-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F628-Y5Z: 1 March 2021), Thomas Garrahan, 03 Jul 1890; citing Death, Cleveland, Cuyahoga, Ohio, United States, source ID v 6 cn 6351, County courthouses, Ohio; FHL microfilm 879,244. Death occurred at the Insane Asylum of Cuyahoga County, OH; cause: pneumonia.

"Ohio, U.S., Select County Death Records,1840-1908 for Thomas Garrahan." Date of death: 03 July 1890, Place: Hospital for Insane, Cause of death: Acute Maniacal Exhaustion. Source Citation: Board of County Commissioners of Cuyahoga County, Ohio; Cleveland, Ohio; Death Register; Year or Name Range: 1884-1908. Ancestry.com. Ohio, [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2020. Original data: Board of County Commissioners of Cuyahoga County, Ohio. Death Records from Cuyahoga County, Ohio.

"Find a Grave," database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/99267041/thomas-garahan: accessed 20 September 2023), memorial page for Thomas Garahan (7 Jun 1847–3 Jul 1890), Find a Grave Memorial ID 99267041, citing Saint Vincents Cemetery, Akron, Summit County, Ohio, USA; Maintained by Mary (contributor 47553305).