Sarah (OReilly) McGowan (1857 - 1954)

Born 14 Jun 1857 in Michigan

Wife of Daniel McGowan — married 5 Apr 1883 in Morris, Stevens County, Minnesota

Descendants

Died 3 Jun 1954 at age 96 in Ray, North Dakota

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Meg McGowan [send private message]

Biography

Sarah was the second of nine children of James and Bridget Lawlor O'Reilly. She was about three years old when her family moved from Michigan to Jamestown, Minnesota.^[1][2][3] The family moved again to Stevens County, Minnesota, when she was about 20.^[4][5] There she met Daniel McGowan, whose family had arrived in the area about the same time. They were married when they were both about 26 years old. They lived on their homestead on Tara township after they were first married and their oldest son was born there.^[6]

The family moved several times over the years. They moved near Kerkhoven, Minnesota, when Dan was in the cheese business with three of his brothers.^[7] They moved to West Superior, Wisconsin,^[8] where Dan worked in a steel plant and Sarah delivered two children---a baby girl that didn't survive^[9] and their youngest child, Teresa^[10]. The family moved back to Benson around 1899,^[11] where Dan took over the butcher shop partnership of his brother Patrick. The family tried farming in Midlothian, Virginia,^[12] from 1907 to 1917, but then returned to Benson.^[13][14] Sarah and Daniel celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in Benson in 1933.^[15]

Daniel died in 1935 and Sarah moved to Ray, North Dakota, in 1937 to live with her daughter Alice Donnelly.^[16] She died in Ray at the age of 96.^[17] She is buried next to her husband in St. Francis Cemetery in Benson.

Sources

1. ↑ "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M4LP-GKD : 14 December 2017), Sarah Rily in entry for James Rily, 1860.
2. ↑ "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MD4Y-36P : 6 June 2019), Sarah Riley in entry for Jas O Riley, 1870.
3. ↑ "Minnesota State Census, 1875," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MKNH-4ZY : 30 July 2017), Sarah Oriley in household of James Oriley, Jamestown, Blue Earth, Minnesota; citing p. 350, line 23, volume B - 1, State Library and Records Service, St.Paul; FHL microfilm 565717.
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZ9R-4QY : 26 August 2017), Sarah Rielly in household of James Rielly, Moore, Stevens, Minnesota, United States; citing enumeration district ED 19, sheet 193B, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 0635; FHL microfilm 1,254,635.
5. ↑ Letter, "O’Reilly Family History, prepared by Mary Spain Date: n.d. Copy in possession of Meg McGowan.
6. ↑ "Minnesota, State Census, 1885," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-11580-169286-87?cc=1503044 : accessed 28 Sep 2014), Swift > Tara > image 3 of 3; citing State Library and Records Service, St. Paul.
7. ↑ "Couple Honored at Golden Wedding Celebration Here" Swift Co. Monitor, Benson, Minnesota, April 1933, photo copy from Swift County Historical Society
8. ↑ "Wisconsin, State Census, 1895," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.2/14X2-CZW : accessed 12 Jun 2014), Daniel Mcgowan, Superior City, Douglas, Wisconsin; citing reference 12, Historical Society, Madison; FHL microfilm 1032706.
9. ↑ "Wisconsin, Births and Christenings, 1826-1926," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XRNT-YLK : accessed 14 Nov 2013), Daniel Mcgowan in entry for Mcgowan, 28 Aug 1893.
10. ↑ "Wisconsin, Births and Christenings, 1826-1926," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XRNT-THB : accessed 14 Nov 2013), Dan Mc Gowan in entry for Mc Gowan, 11 Mar 1897.
11. ↑ "United States Census, 1900," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.2/1YS1-Q2D : accessed 12 Jun 2014), Daniel Mcgowan, Benson village, Swift, Minnesota, United States; citing sheet 9A, family 153, NARA microfilm publication T623, FHL microfilm 1240793.
12. ↑ "United States Census, 1910," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MPLP-WST : accessed 24 Nov 2013), Daniel Mcgowan, Midlothian, Chesterfield, Virginia, United States; citing sheet , family 237, NARA microfilm publication T624, FHL microfilm 1375638.
13. ↑ "United States Census, 1920," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MW1R-X3C : accessed 24 Nov 2013), Elizabeth Karp in household of Daniel Mc Gorvan, Benson, Swift, Minnesota, United States; citing sheet , family 119, NARA microfilm publication T625, FHL microfilm 1820864.
14. ↑ "United States Census, 1930," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.2/1Y2X-VRX : accessed 13 Jun 2014), Daniel Mcgowan, Six Mile Grove, Swift, Minnesota, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 0025, sheet 4A, family 62, NARA microfilm publication T626, roll 1132.
15. ↑ "Couple Honored at Golden Wedding Celebration Here" Swift Co. Monitor, Benson, Minnesota, April 1933, photo copy from Swift County Historical Society
16. ↑ "United States Census, 1940," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.2/9M8B-JWPG : accessed 13 Jun 2014), John Donnelly, Ray, Ray City, Williams, North Dakota, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 53-43, sheet 7B, family 169, NARA digital publication of T627, roll 3018.
17. ↑ Mrs. Dan McGowan Rites on Saturday," Swift County Monitor, January 25, 1954, p. 1