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[From "The History of Dennis Henry Mongovan" by Jan Patrick Mongoven in 2012.]
Dennis Henry Mongovan was James and Catherine (Costello) Mungovan's first child. Born May 12, 1831, near Ennis in County Clare, he left his home after the Great Famine devastated Ireland. Passenger "Denis Mungavin" came to America aboard the Castor, a bark-rigged ship that set sail for America from Limerick, Ireland, and landed in the port of New York on June 9, 1853. He was twenty years of age, according to the passenger list.
Dennis and his younger brother, John, worked at the Bleachery, a...
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[From "The History of Dennis Henry Mongovan" by Jan Patrick Mongoven in 2012.]
Dennis Henry Mongovan was James and Catherine (Costello) Mungovan's first child. Born May 12, 1831, near Ennis in County Clare, he left his home after the Great Famine devastated Ireland. Passenger "Denis Mungavin" came to America aboard the Castor, a bark-rigged ship that set sail for America from Limerick, Ireland, and landed in the port of New York on June 9, 1853. He was twenty years of age, according to the passenger list.
Dennis and his younger brother, John, worked at the Bleachery, a textile mill in Lowell, Massachusetts, as of 1855. The entire Mongovan family made Lowell their American home at first, but most of them left for Illinois shortly thereafter.
As of the 1860 census, 28-year-old Dennis lived as a bachelor with his parents at Clifton, in Chebanse Township of Iroquois County, Illinois. Around 1861, in Missouri or Illinois, Dennis married Irish-born Catherine Darcy. Catherine was a daughter of John and Ann (Hayes) Darcy of Lismulbreeda, a townland southwest of Ennis in County Clare. Dennis' brother, John Mongovan, married Catherine's sister, Susan, while their sister, Catherine Mongoven, married James Darcy, who most likely was Catherine and Susan Darcy's cousin. Dennis and Catherine (Darcy) Mongovan had ten children: Henry James, Michael Stephen (who married Elizabeth Susan Traufler), Dennis (who died young), John, William Joseph, Thomas Edward, Arthur Patrick, George Arthur, Mary Jane, and Francis Dennis.
Around 1861, at the start of the Civil War, he and Catherine moved to Chicago. Catherine gave birth there to their first three children. Chicago city directories prove that they lived on Elston Road, in the northern part of Chicago near the north fork of the Chicago River. The 1863-64 city directory cites the address of a laborer named Dennis Monaghan at 22 Elston Road, near Redfield St. Could this be our ancestor, Dennis Mongoven? To determine this, the 1865 Illinois State Census for Chicago was checked, and a "D. Mongavin" family, with three young boys plus a father and mother between the ages of thirty and forty were given. Unfortunately, no names except that of the head of household were listed. While conducting a census in those days, the census taker (enumerator) typically walked house-to-house gathering information. Names were often misspelled, as many were written only as they sounded to the ears of the enumerators. It seems from all evidence that our immigrant ancestors pronounced our surname "MON-guh-ven" or "MUN-guh-ven." The neighbors of "D. Mongavin" on the 1865 census included W. Beatty, D. Naughton, and P. Naughton. When the 1863-64 Chicago directory was cross-checked, W. Beatty lived at the corner of Elston Road and Wabansia Avenue. Dennis Naughton, a laborer, was at 23 Elston Road, and miller Peter Naughton lived at 20 Elston Road. This indicates that Dennis Monaghan at 22 Elston Road was our ancestor. Next, the 1864-65 directory was reviewed. Indeed, Dennis and John Mongoven both worked at (Eber B. Ward's) Chicago Rolling Mill, although no addresses were given. The map below shows a portion of Chicago and Eber Ward's important steel rolling mill. It was located on the shore of the north branch of the Chicago River a couple blocks from Elston Road. The 1865-66 Chicago directory proves our Mongovans lived at Elston Road. Dennis Mongovan was a laborer, residing at Elston Road on the southwest corner of West Clybourn Place. His younger brother, Patrick Mongoven, was a "helper" at the steel rolling mill and lived on Coventry Street near the northwest corner of Wabansia Avenue. Patrick remained in Chicago and eventually became fairly wealthy. Dennis, Catherine, and the boys left the city after the war, according to the 1866 Chicago directory. Only a James Mongoven (Dennis' cousin? or father?), a Michael Mongoven (Dennis' uncle? or cousin?), and Patrick Mongoven (his brother) remained. James and Michael Mongoven both worked at the Union Rolling Mill, whereas Patrick worked at the Chicago Rolling Mill. In fact, Patrick soon rose to the position of "heater" within this company, and remained there for many years. An 1865 street map of Chicago shows Ward's rolling mill and the streets where Patrick and Dennis lived.
Our Mongovans traveled west, settling in Clinton County, Iowa, after the end of the Civil War. On October 11, 1870, Dennis entered the district courthouse in the city of Clinton and filed a Declaration of Intention for citizenship with the clerk of the court, Noel B. Howard. Typically, an immigrant who wished to own land or vote first had to become a U.S. citizen. The initial step was to complete a Declaration of Intention, meaning the person intended to become an American citizen. Immigrants typically filed their "first papers" soon after entering the United States. Upon completing and filing this document in a local court, the immigrant was required to live continuously in America for a period typically of five years (sometimes less). If he or she remained out of trouble during that time, then "second papers" could be completed. On October 29, 1872 – three years less than the usual waiting period – Dennis appeared at the Circuit Court in Clinton. He submitted his Petition for Naturalization ("second papers") and took an oath of allegiance in which he renounced the Queen of Great Britain. In the presence of Sheriff C.H. Ingwerson and court clerk C.W. Chase, Judge Daniel W. Ellis granted Dennis his American citizenship certificate.
At the Clinton County Courthouse on March 1, 1873, Dennis bought an 80-acre farm in Berlin Township (called Grant Township by the early 1900s) from Mr. and Mrs. H.A. Hart and John Hart. The property comprised the north half of the northeast quarter of section 31. The Mongovens borrowed money a few times after that, using their farm as collateral. Family members packed their bags once again in the mid- to late-1870s. They remained in Clinton County, but moved several miles east to Camanche (Kuh-MANCH) Township, immediately south of Clinton and a couple miles west of the Mississippi River. The Berlin farm was sold to James Lange on May 15, 1882, and one week later Dennis purchased a 98.5-acre farm from the heirs of John Kahl. This property included: (1) 27.5 acres in the southwest quarter of the northwest quarter of section 21; (2) 34 acres in the northwest quarter of the southwest quarter of section 21; and (3) 37 acres in the northeast quarter of the southeast quarter of section 20. The farm was mortgaged as collateral against several loans during the 1880s – a common practice even then. An 1894 plat map of Camanche shows the location of the D.H. Mongoven farm in sections 20 and 21.
In the 1880 census, Dennis listed his occupation as "blacksmith" in Clinton. By this time, our surname had evolved to its more common spelling among those who had migrated west: Mongoven. Catherine maintained a household consisting of Henry (18), Michael (17), John (14), Joseph (12), Edward (11), George (7), Mary (3), and Dennis (1).
Conspicuous in his absence in the 1880 census is the Mongoven's third-born son, Dennis. Recall that in the 1865 Illinois state census Dennis and Catherine had three boys, all born in Illinois. Fourth son John was born in Iowa. This means that Dennis died between 1865 and 1880 (the family isn't listed in the 1870 census, so we can't know if he was with them then). Sadly, 16-year-old John died in 1882. Another tragedy took place on January 17, 1884, when the Mongovens lost their only daughter, beloved 6-year-old Mary Jane.
In the 1885 Iowa state census, the Mongovens were on their Camanche farm. Dennis Henry was 53 years old, "able to vote," and lived with his 52-year-old wife, Catherine, and their children, Thomas Edward (15), George Arthur (11), and Francis Dennis (5).
Dennis received his mail in 1892 through the Chancy post office, which served Clinton County farmers at the time. The 1895 Iowa state census shows "Dennie Mongovern" (64) and wife "Cathleen Mongovern" (60) living with sons, Henry, George, and Francis in the 4th Ward at Clinton. The family, however, was unraveling. On February 9, 1895, Dennis sold the Camanche farm to his wife Catherine so that her name was on the deed. In 1896, the court dismissed the family claim that Dennis was insane – and therefore unable to make rational decisions. An article in the Clinton Daily Age, dated September 25, 1896, had the headline: "Dennis Mongovern – Not Insane, Dismissed." Evidently, the judgment didn't stand, as he was listed as a resident at the Iowa Hospital for the Insane when the 1900 census was taken. Catherine and three of her sons, Thomas Edward, George, and Frank, remained on the farm at Camanche. The hospital was at Independence City in Buchanan County. It opened its doors in 1883 to treat a variety of people, including those with dementia, alcoholism, mental illness, and criminal insanity.
So, what might have led to Dennis' stay at the asylum? The Cedar Rapids Evening Gazette (April 7, 1899) related a nasty feud involving Dennis and his son, George. The article read: "A House Divided – Father and Son Accuse Each Other of Serious Crimes. Clinton, Iowa, April 7 – The scrap between members of the Mongovern family has assumed a serious aspect. George Mongovern of Camanche township swore out an information charging his father, Dennis Mongovern, with assault with intent to commit great bodily injury. A hearing was had before Justice Buckley, when the son testified that his father had struck him over the head with a wagon stake. The elder Mongovern was held to the grand jury in the sum of $200 and promptly furnished bail. But the worm turned. Yesterday Dennis procured the arrest of his undutiful son George on a charge of forgery. He alleges that the young man forged his father's name to a note in the sum of $126.71, payable to J.L. Hansen. George was arrested by Deputy Sheriff Moran and brought to Clinton."
By 1903, husband and wife appear to have settled some of their differences. Catherine and Dennis quit-claimed the Camanche farm to their son, George, on December 4, 1903. The couple was together at 313 15th Avenue in the village of Clinton, according to the 1905 state census. But time and turmoil had taken a toll. Catherine, with dementia and a heart condition, died at 325 14th Street in Clinton on December 7, 1908, at age 75. The official cause of death was "valvular insufficiency with contributory senile debility." Her eldest son, Henry James, served as the informant on her death certificate – apparently Dennis was in no shape to provide the details of his wife's life. Our immigrant ancestor, Catherine (Darcy) Mongoven, was laid to rest at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery in Clinton.
In the 1910 census, George "McGovern" was listed as head of household at the old Camanche farm. The 36-year-old avowed bachelor lived there with his oldest brother, Henry James. Henry, married but recently separated from wife Kate, was the father of two children, including Leo Vincent Mongoven. Leo became a chauffeur, bodyguard, and machine-gunner for George "Bugs" Moran and his Chicago North Side Gang in the ‘20s and ‘30s. Moran's gangsters waged battle against "Scarface" Al Capone's South Side Gang for control of Chicago during that turbulent era. Leo was one of the fortunate souls lucky enough to escape the Capone gang's bullets in the St. Valentine's Day Massacre of 1929.
Dennis Mongoven lived alone a couple miles north in Clinton in 1910. The census fills us in: Widower Dennis "McGovern" boarded with a couple other men at 409 13th Avenue. A 68-year-old widow, Julia A. Rynheimer, acted as hotel keeper at that address. Dennis called himself 65 years old – wildly incorrect as he was 78 at the time. On a bit more precise note, however, he claimed to have immigrated in 1853. His occupation was a "wiper" at the local roundhouse. This position occupied the lowest rung of the ladder for those aspiring to become steam locomotive engineers. But Dennis was an old man, so he had no such career intentions. The roundhouse was the building where earlier (one direction only) steam engines could be turned around on a giant turntable. Also, the giant engines were serviced and maintained there. The wiper was responsible for wiping down the engine and keeping it looking spotless. It was a grimy way to make a living but must have paid the rent.
Dennis died at 2 o'clock, on the morning of June 26, 1912, at Mercy Hospital in Clinton. He was 81 years old, according to his death certificate, but the truth is that most census reports and his immigration record indicate a birth year of 1833. If so, he was probably 79 years old when he died. At the time of his death, he lived at 1300 14th Avenue in the 5th Ward of Clinton. The cause of death was nephritis with chronic cystitis and contributory senility.
The following morning, the Clinton Herald contained his obituary:
"Dennis Mongovern: The death of Dennis Mongovern, aged 81 years, occurred Wednesday morning at Mercy hospital at about 2 o'clock. Funeral services will be held Friday morning in St. Mary's church here at 9 o'clock. Left to mourn Mr. Mongovern's death are four sons." [Thursday, 27 Jun 1912; page 10]
The same newspaper next ran his funeral announcement: "Funeral Services Held - Funeral services for the late Dennis Mongovern were held Friday morning at 9 o'clock in the St. Mary's church and were conducted by the Rev. Father Hartigan. Interment was in St. Mary's cemetery." [Saturday, 29 Jun 1912; page 10]
Although our Irish immigrant, Dennis Mongoven, was buried in St. Mary's Cemetery alongside his wife, Catherine, their graves seem to be unmarked with no headstones. |